Server administration tool for the iPhone/iPod Touch

[Megiddo]

What do you guys think of the idea? Could monitor chat, kick/ban players, use rcon, and maybe get push notifications whenever someone says "admin" in chat?

The only app I could find that's remotely similar to this idea is http://www.innovaso.com/TotalControl/ but it appears to be a pile of crap.

Maybe there could even be a module for ULX stuff... like manage users. But, ULX users represent such a small subset of those that would be interested in this, I don't know if it's worth adding. Maybe SourceBan support or Mani mod support would be more appropriate.

I think people would be more than willing to pay $3-$5 to keep an eye on their server that they're probably spending $20+ per month on.

The biggest downside to this is that I have to sell my soul to Apple. That includes getting an ADC membership ($100/year I think) and learning and using Objective-C, the language that by all rights should have died 15 years ago...

Edit: Almost forgot about the iPad! If I make enough money from it to buy one, I guess I'd support it.

[jay209015]

I think it would be much simpler/cheaper to just build a web-based admin system for it and have a version of it formated for mobile devices.

[Megiddo]

I think it would be much simpler/cheaper to just build a web-based admin system for it and have a version of it formated for mobile devices.

I disagree. You want the data as real-time as possible in this case, which would be really hard to do from a web-based system. I've seen some beautiful websites on the iPhone (the phone/text system I use is all HTML 5), but nothing I've seen would be dynamic enough.

[JamminR]

*sigh*<rant deleted>

Bad day at work. Short and simple, Apple sucks (imo).
Too elitist. Too costly.
Design for more of a "not just Apple" platform.
Surely you can use 'apple' compatible programming styles that wouldn't be difficult to convert to other languages used by Android, Google OS (web based mostly, right?), WinCE/Mobile, Palm, WebOS, any number of systems.
Overall idea wise, though I'm pessimistic and don't believe it would sell well due to my 8 years of Source server tinkering, meeting (online) admins, etc, seems like a fun project.

[Megiddo]

*sigh*<rant deleted>

Bad day at work. Short and simple, Apple sucks (imo).
Too elitist. Too costly.
Design for more of a "not just Apple" platform.
Surely you can use 'apple' compatible programming styles that wouldn't be difficult to convert to other languages used by Android, Google OS (web based mostly, right?), WinCE/Mobile, Palm, WebOS, any number of systems.
Overall idea wise, though I'm pessimistic and don't believe it would sell well due to my 8 years of Source server tinkering, meeting (online) admins, etc, seems like a fun project.

It used to be possible to make it compatible across multiple platforms (without going to a web app), but Apple removed that ability in the newest user agreement. Basically, the agreement is that if it's on the iPhone, it will be written in objective-c and nothing else... which means it can't run on anything but the iPhone. This is a pretty simple project though, really. The interface will be the hardest thing to get right.

[JamminR]

which means it can't run on anything but the iPhone

Which just adds to my 'why I dislike Apple' list.

[Megiddo]

I never knew you were such an Apple hater JamminR.

Apple is restrictive and locked in, there's no doubt about that. But I think the best description is that the restrictions are "keeping the doors to firmly closed". The android market place is pretty scary...

[JamminR]

I hadn't really been an Apple hater until recently actually.
I figured they were just like any closed lip company. Corporate America typical conspiracy stuff.
Then I really started seeing the closed doors..with big bars, and scary guards with large guns.
Personal experience - the 'hackintosh' I'm messing with...I see bits and pieces of proprietary inner workings. Opens my eyes.
Then the news has just been "We're Apple and we own you" lately.
Just a few words to Google by; Apple + prototype or Adobe or Ipad lockdown or SDK lockdown or app broke due to new apple requirement or app rejection irregularity or .... )
Apple's got some bright minds and ideas... I just have a bad taste of late.

Re: Android. Yes. From what I've read, Every carrier in the world has done their own version of android and that alone makes it difficult to support.
Still....the fact they could do it doesn't bother me. I don't blame Android. I blame the carriers.

Bit more back on topic.
You asked what I thought.
If I had your talent, I personally feel it would be wasted on Apple.

[Megiddo]

If I had your talent, I personally feel it would be wasted on Apple.

Thanks for the compliment. I do support Apple though (well, most of what they do). I just think this app will be a nice, fun, short jaunt from my usual work with garrysmod. Maybe I'll even find a new home there. It just strikes me as one of those things I can't pass up, it's something really simple (that I have, in fact, done before) that isn't really done well yet, and has the potential of making the experience worth my time. Speaking of money, I've already cleared it through my scholarship program. They said as long as my grades don't suffer, they don't care what I do or how much I make from something like this. I couldn't ask for a better opportunity to dip my feet in new waters.

In the end, you'll probably get to yell "I told you so!" anyways JamminR.

[JamminR]

So, if you proceed...doesn't the fact it does similar to Total control give Apple cause for rejection?
Or do they only seem to balk when you attempt to copy something and do it better than an Apple controlled function already does.

[Megiddo]

So, if you proceed...doesn't the fact it does similar to Total control give Apple cause for rejection?
Or do they only seem to balk when you attempt to copy something and do it better than an Apple controlled function already does.

Only when it's a copy of an Apple app or a verbatim copy of another app in the store.

[MrPresident]

Personally, I would buy this for my iPod Touch. But if you COULD or WOULD make something like this for more than one platform like Jam suggested I would definitely buy it for my Android.

[Megiddo]

Personally, I would buy this for my iPod Touch. But if you COULD or WOULD make something like this for more than one platform like Jam suggested I would definitely buy it for my Android.

It's a project that would be easy to port, but I don't have an Android.

[MrPresident]

Not soliciting because I love my iTouch and I would have gotten the iPhone if they weren't locked into AT&T (also.. nothing against them.. just not that great in my area). However I got the HTC Incredible which runs Android and let me tell you.. for the week I was home on leave... that thing is amazing.. leaps and bounds over the iPhone right now in my opinion. The Marketplace is a little to be desired compared to Apples Store.. but I have the feeling it'll get better as more people dev for it.

[Stickly Man!]

*Insert Palm Pre / WebOS rant here*