It's that time of the month again!
| Posted By:
Genius
@ 02 February 2010 - 10:42 PM |
No, not that time of the month. We're talking about donations! Donations are open for the month of February, and our goal is $650. Apptrackr and Hackulous are paid for by you, the community. Generous donations have been the only thing keeping us online for more than a year, and we plan to keep it that way! $650 allows us to pay for four dedicated servers each month which operate Apptrackr and Hackulous.
In order to keep apptrackr online (which has been fast and available since it was released) and our forum running as well, we need your donations. Your proceeds go toward both Hackulous and apptrackr and allow us to continue to release updates and improve things.
Last month we received enough donations to pay for our servers in a few short days, because we released apptrackr beta which sparked interest. We closed donations last month once we reached our goal, so those of you who wanted to contribute to apptrackr and/or Hackulous can do so now this month!
I want to make a donation!
Great! Go here!
Why donate?
To keep apptrackr and Hackulous online, of course! Also, as a donator, you will be given access to beta projects and repositories. You get exclusive previews to updates of apps like Installous, for example.
Why do you need $650?
One word. Servers. Apptrackr is currently running on THREE servers, that's right, THREE. These dedicated servers cost money. While we can't go into any details, the specifications that these servers have enable us to provide an enjoyable and accessible experience. Hackulous has also been upgraded to dedicated server, due to our increasing population. Your donations enables us to afford these dedicated servers, which in turn ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Which sites do the donations help fund?
Hackulo.us & Apptrackr.org
Donations will only be online as long as it takes for us to meet the goal. So, if you want to reap the benefits of donating and be proud that you contributed this month, please donate as soon as possible!
You guys are money-greedy whores.
If that was the case, we'd ask for more. $650 is not a lot in donations when you take a look at the size of the community. We have FOUR dedicated servers in order to run Apptrackr and Hackulous. On top of that, these servers have received top-of-the-line upgrades in order to allow us to run smoothly with millions of visitors monthly. These donations don't go to us, they go to you, the community.
UPDATE 1: We're currently experiencing an error with our completion form. We'll have it fixed shortly so that we can process your account upgrades! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!
UPDATE 2: All current orders have been processed, and all account upgrades have been issued! If you didn't receive your account upgrade, please fill out this form here!
Thanks for all your support!
|
|
Comments: 64 ::
View Comments
|
Pigs do fly. Apptrackr has been released.
| Posted By:
Dissident
@ 18 January 2010 - 02:08 PM |
Apptrackr has been released. Go to apptrackr.org.
If you've been hiding under a rock for the last few weeks, earlier this month I announced apptrackr, a replacement for Appulous. We took the time to make apptrackr very nice looking, and I've done my best to optimize it and increase its performance to handle a large, large audience of users.
First and foremost, I'd like to thank all of our beta testers (Advancements) for not only their contributions but for making so many great suggestions and finding quite a few bugs for us to fix. Without you, apptrackr would not be here today!
Apptrackr is advantageous to Appulous for several reasons. In theory, the website should be faster than Appulous (considering we're on three times the hardware that Appulous is) and the website's caching functionality is advanced (it uses ideas from Kyek's RECache algorithm). The website is much better looking, running a theme that we've refined for the best presentation and user experience. We also support most iTunes stores, instead of just the US store, for app submission.
You can use apptrackr by visiting http://apptrackr.org/. Make sure that you're going to apptrackr.org and not a scam website!
Details, details, details....
Here are a few screenshots from the Apptrackr desktop template (some things aren't exactly the same as they are now):
Here are some screenshots from the Apptrackr mobile template (running in MobileSafari):
       
Some things you should know!
You may already be registered!
Apptrackr runs on a backup of Appulous from a few days ago, so if you registered on Appulous before last week (or so) you may already be registered. You can log in and use the website without a hitch!
Apptrackr is a bit cleaner.
Appulous has a ton of applications, but a lot of them are dead links on old filehosts that we no longer support. Only good filehosts were migrated to Apptrackr, and only apps with links were migrated as well.
How do I access apptrackr on my iDevice?
Apptrackr has a mobile template which allows you to surf the website using MobileSafari. We suggest installing Installous from our cydia repo, cydia.hackulo.us. Note: Installous does not use Apptrackr yet. It will automatically be moved over in the next 24 hours.
If you use install0us 3, MadHouse has released a plugin.
The API is available.
Apptrackr has an API which will allow developers to support apptrackr on their websites and applications. Documentation can be found here.
If you want an API profile, please read this thread.
We have support forums!
Apptrackr has an "Apptrackr Talk" forum here on Hackulous. Please visit that forum if you have any questions, suggestions, or if you find any bugs. If you want to tell me something in confidence, you can private message me on here. I get lots of PM's, so please only message me if it's important!
Why haven't you added _______? or When will you make a _______?
The goal of initial release was to completely replace Appulous' functionality, so advanced features (such as ratings, reports, statistics, requests, comments, etc.) have not been included. I will be happy to work with our staff to develop features similar to those which add content to the website and make it easier for people to share applications. While we're open to suggestions, please make sure I haven't already recognized a suggestion (don't repeat what someone else has said).
You can view a list of features being considered here.
One of the top priorities of apptrackr is protecting the security of our users. Therefore, any features that we consider will only be applied if we can do it in a way that does not jeopardize user privacy.
I want to contribute!
I realize there are a lot of people out there that have web development and design skills, and I appreciate their suggestions and feedback. What I can't do, though, is include people outside of the scene on this project. We have to protect the project's integrity, so we only work with people who we trust and have worked with for a long time. Those people include the Hackulous staff and various other well-known programmers and reverse-engineers in the scene.
What's going to happen to Appulous?
Kyek runs Appulous, but it is was funded entirely by Hackulous. Now that apptrackr is the main community resource for iPhone and iPod Touch apps, donations will be diverted from Appulous to apptrackr. A problem that Kyek pointed out is that users donated in faith that their donations would go to Appulous, and to rectify this I am not and have not accepted any donations to apptrackr that were made toward Appulous.
Back on topic, I'm not entirely sure what Kyek will do with Appulous. He probably should redirect it, but it is his website and he can do whatever he wants with it. Apptrackr serves as a replacement of his website, and is now the official Hackulous appdb.
Where can we keep track of updates?
I'm very eager to make continuous progress with the website, with the help of our staff. I have created an Apptrackr Blog which will maintain all updates (including some technical details for fellow nerds) about the operation of Apptrackr.
Why were you searching for 'Russian Girls' in one of the screenshots?
Shut up. 
Again, I am sincerely grateful for our large, supportive community which has motivated me to make apptrackr. Enjoy!
|
|
Comments: 319 ::
View Comments
|
New Server
| Posted By:
Dissident
@ 15 January 2010 - 05:24 AM |
Hey Hackulousians!
We have a brand new server set up and currently running Hackulous. The new server is faster and won't crash as often!
Also, we've updated Hackulous Security to reflect on the new server, so get your update! 
Thanks,
Hackulous Staff
P.S. If you tried to register within the last 12 hours and didn't get an email, try to register again or check your spam folder.
|
|
Comments: 31 ::
View Comments
|
Introducing Apptrackr
| Posted By:
Dissident
@ 04 January 2010 - 07:26 AM |
Greetings to everyone in the cracked apps scene! My name is Dissident, and it's my pleasure to come forward today with some optimism and signs of progress. Today is a landmark.
What's with Appulous?
Appulous is the largest iPhone and iPod Touch application database in the entire world (except for iTunes, of course  ) and has been the scene's number one source for over a year now. It was created by Kyek, who knew that the scene needed a large application database to ensure quality and organization.
However, due to Kyek's personal life becoming more and more hectic, he is unable to manage, optimize, develop, or scale Appulous to meet the demands of millions of users. The website has suffered from his inactivity, and has gotten extremely slow and periodically unavailable. This isn't just pissing off normal users, this is bothersome to crackers who find it difficult to make submissions to Appulous due to its slow speed.
What's the solution, then?
We can't just wait another half a year for things to get better like last time. After the introduction of the troll bridge, Appulous quality and speed has gotten so poor that we have been begged to solve this problem.
The solution: I have created a new website called apptrackr which will completely replace Appulous, which is shutting down soon. Apptrackr will inherit the Appulous database and be managed by not only myself but several designers and programmers from all-around!
Where to begin?
We need to ask ourselves the question: if we could redo Appulous, what would we change? There are many answers to this question that I can make as a software engineer, and there are a lot of suggestions that all of you could make in regards to the user experience. But one thing we can agree on is that the most important thing to improve is the speed of the website. Appulous is so slow now that users can barely ever submit applications. In order for apptrackr to succeed, we must do what Kyek has been unable to do recently and scale out the website. We need state of the art caching, a better static data distribution model, and heavy software optimization. This kind of stuff doesn't just happen overnight, though, and it will take a while to perfect. But so-far, I believe I've given it my best shot.
Other areas of improvement include management. Policy decisions (whitelist, budget) need to be managed properly and securely. For this reason, policy decisions will be left to an advisory committee which contains many responsible and well-known figures in the scene. Aside from this, we need transparency and continuous progress.
Additionally, we need to focus on functionality. We need a working API, a faster and more optimized mobile website, and to leave room for improvement in the future. Not just plans, but implementations.
As an added bonus, we need to improve the user experience and graphical quality of the website significantly.
It does everything Appulous does, and more!
All of Appulous' core functionality has been replicated in apptrackr, but not copied. I have created my own iTunes scraper which is compatible with all iTunes stores, while Appulous only supports the US store. Our application database has been populated with information that Appulous has extracted for well over a year now. There are also some subtle changes here and there which differ significantly from Appulous. These changes were made to improve the user experience and/or make deployment easier.
In order for Apptrackr to scale out, it must scale out static content. Therefore, our submission system has a built in queue system which processes new submissions within a minute or two, and will distribute content like screenshots and app icons to the appropriate servers. This allows us to, later, add automated link analysis and moderation.
The user experience is a lot better.
Apptrackr has an improved template which makes it easier and nicer to browse and search for applications. It uses as much AJAX as possible to ensure efficiency, and content changes in quick fade-ins and fade-outs. You will now see never-before-seen (outside of staff and a select few) screenshots of apptrackr. Click on a thumbnail to see a full-sized image.
Highlights of the user interface
- Ajax is used for almost all operations, making the website more responsive and faster. Javascript will render and construct the page instead of our server.
- App icons are fully rounded instead of being sometimes rectangular and ugly (like on Appulous).
- Screenshots are viewed in a small frame which can be navigated with buttons. The screenshots will fade/slide in from each other.
- Categories and sorting options are easy to access and manipulate.
- Search is easy to operate.
- Default options on submission are tailored for mass-submission.
When is apptrackr being released?
Apptrackr beta is online now, but only our Advancements, Developers, Moderators, and Staff can use it. More information can be found here. Want to be an advancements user? Donate! (proceeds go to apptrackr, obviously)
Apptrackr isn't done yet and can't be fully released until it is. We still need to make an API, a mobile template, and add usergroup specific functionality (like, for example, moderator tools). We may still touch up several things with the interface, optimize components, and much more. We should be able to finish all of that and release apptrackr to replace Appulous this month (if all goes well).
I have a suggestion!
Sweet! PM me.
|
|
Comments: 213 ::
View Comments
|
Santa brought a little present for you!
| Posted By:
Genius
@ 24 December 2009 - 11:01 PM |
We would like to wish each and everyone of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Thank you for your continued support of Hackulous, and as a token of our appreciation, we have a little gift for each and everyone of you! What is it? Well it's not something that you can see on your normal computer - you guessed it, it's the mobile theme for Hackulous! We've made the mobile theme available for everyone! All you have to do is visit Hackulous from your iPhone or iPod Touch, and you'll see it!
Stay tuned for new things we have planned for the new year!*
Merry Christmas!
- The Staff of Hackulous
*no pigs were harmed during the creation of our project
Update: Santa's server is being hammered by the barrage of new iPhones and iPods, so as a result we've turned on "performance mode" for the forums, which while does turn off a ton of features, allows for a better forum experience.
|
|
Comments: 67 ::
View Comments
|
| | | |
Our Board Statistics
| 746 active user(s) (in the past 60 minutes) |
| 162 members, 584 guests, 0 anonymous users |
| Yahoo, Google, kevinleeV1, iamevn, man64, Hjkjohn, Gessebsb, alex13, jo5u3, Secretss, metaclam, curey, Adrianr2z, Kaizyu, MSN/Bing, Playb3yond, Redclaw, j26mol, st3vo66, zkquintana, Rthomas04, Goons, herry251, Joejama, henrybrent1974, bpranke, jenyip33, aznyungstar, deadeye, olramos, haxor, Tcraw, garfield1, Blackmac, Averym2, goobot, Lilly, wizo, syazani, Jordan, Ramsey, Brandon64, littoazndogg264, Manofcheese, bauerhockey, GeorgeJQ, longshot, klub242, supaazn, bob92, ganef, Duquelicious, 25TonCanary, signori, Dracovoltard, Jackiejj, Anonymous13, Linaki, Koyreas, migueltherocker, Beth, MadHouse, Ask Jeeves, Happydude666, solidsnake32292, caneskessler, Johng941, Johntable, harrisdaniel, vuxxx, joelixny, cougerz, boxster, FoxMcWeezer, ivanperdomo, Gergroy77, noinhibitors, sebitttas, suspct, weeman, ae2k10, joelferrell, Lordjegjeg, kennyleeme, zeropur, Beast6885, Dissident, DjUrii, Baconboy3502, jalcalaque, elric, Cheldoll, snuupy, ra1nb0wz, LeiKez, GADeputy, pizzazz, Qorqoor, ilovemonkeys, FR33, baseballboy64116, Banunricky, unitlow99, Tazmanian23, mrmattlocke, HeadShot1919, movieologist, anonewu, Steve4066, CyanideDN, lucasfeitoza, 13lade, aznboi504, biggiev99, aznriceboi13, hyperx136, jamesatletu, changho, jester67, reaper1988, 91008617, sturracovich, AppPlayer, hans4440, ven000m, TheSexyPenguin, g8rguy2010, kabu181, artcsmota, playlife3, rplesoiu, Eyebrawl, xenzy, Dlbin9274, idale3gs, yokot4c, gex00, Bohushek, Zerozx, maestropupuye, paplu, Gnarohuy, Kokkis, thasiccest13, pcinc01, MadHouseKilla, Nighthawk441, FeandMo, scotty963, BoomBox420, GregChiss, stevep445, sunilkt, TheGee, cogs2010, Altair4, RaNa, kohala, rwblue, junitothekingofking, nickbarb, nedodal, fusen, NightShade32, villyidol, TeddysMoo |
| Show by: Last Click or Member Name |
| 0 member(s) have a birthday today |
| No members are celebrating a birthday today |
| Our Board Statistics |
Our members have made a total of 167077 posts
We have 223945 registered members
The newest member is littoazndogg264
Most users ever online was 9453 on 16 November 2009 - 06:51 AM |
|
Sign In
Register
Help
