Lemonrock Editor

Blog (182)

Not Fooling Around

1 Apr 2021Not Fooling Around

During lockdown, Lemonrock has had a serious investment of my time, 5 solid months of it. I have updated software, made security improvements, and added lots of nice new features to make adding and maintaining band and venue pages quick and easy.

As well as free instant gig alerts to music fans' mobile phones, Lemonrock now gives band and venue members:

* in-page editing of gigs

* in-page editing of gig descriptions

And, as Mr Praline has already pointed out, it's an App. Lovely plumage, the Lemonrock App.

Add it to your home screen. You'd be a fool not to.

Mac

It's an App...

19 Mar 2021It's an App...

Remember the fiasco of our iPhone App (RIP 2010 - 2016)?

Apple didn't care too much about their developers, although they were happy enough taking their 30% cut. It was a horrible experience writing an iPhone App. I'm glad it's all over.

Since then though, exciting things have been happening in mobile web land.

Now (thank you Google, thank you Firefox, thank you Microsoft) we have a new standard, pulling away from Apps as you used to know them.

Apps are now websites, websites are now Apps. New technology has made this possible, and now Lemonrock is an App, reborn, not tied to any manufacturer or operating system.

It's an 'appy App!

In fact, if the Pythons had made a sketch about the new App, the dialogue might have gone a bit like this:

---

Mr. Praline enters shop holding an Android phone.

Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Lemonrock App... What, uh... What about it?

Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what it's about, my lad. It's alive, that's what it's about!

Owner: Er... it's not resting?

Mr. Praline: Nope. It's alive! It's aliver than it's ever been, and make no mistake. This 'ere Lemonrock App is a very 'appy App. and I just thought I'd come back and tell you 'ow 'appy me and my App are. That's all.

Owner: (disappointed) Oh. I thought you was goin' to start complainin' again?

Mr. Praline: Nope, never been 'appier. I just wanted to say thank you very much for this 'ere App what seems to be enjoying a very spirited new life.

Owner: Oh, all right then. Er, you're sure it's not probably pining for the fjords?

Mr. Praline: PININ' for the FJORDS?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that? No!! It's 'appy as Larry, look at it! Never seen such an 'appy screen.

Owner: No no! It's pining!

Mr. Praline: It's not pinin'! It's alive! This Lemonrock App is here and full of life! It has risen from the grave! It's defied nature! It's born again! Full of life, it has things to do, people to see, places to go! THIS IS A PROPER ALIVE APP!!

(pause)

Owner: Well, I'd better replace it, then. (He takes a quick peek behind the counter.) Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the shop, and uh, we're right out of replacements for Lemonrock Apps.

Mr. Praline: (shouting) I don't want a replacement! This Lemonrock App is working beautifully! You leave my App alone!

Owner: OK, sorry about that (gets ashamed, looks at his feet). It's just that...

Mr. Praline: What?

Owner: (with a fake moustache) Well, I always wanted to be... a lumberjack!

____

With apologies, and thanks again, to John Cleese and Graham Chapman.

Google, lighting the way

17 Mar 2021Google, lighting the way

I have my techie hat on today.

Maybe you feel strongly about all the big-boy/girl tech companies: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Google.

These giants can make us feel small, and sometimes angry.

I've gone through a wide range of emotions towards these companies over the years, but I'm gradually being befriended by Google. I think they are doing some great things for the world.

Google's latest invention is called Lighthouse. It tests your website (or any website). I press a button in my Chrome browser, and in a few seconds, it gives me a score for my website page, along with suggestions about how to improve it. Google wrote the browser, and so they know how to write websites that are fast, easy to navigate, and a pleasure to use.

We web devs (website developers) have had tools for years; my first tools were self-written and clunky, but did the job. For a while, it was Firefox who led the way, and we used Firebug and stuff to debug our sites. Google's Lighthouse has built on several ideas, seen in several tools, and now it's a breeze to test your site (or someone else's, if you were curious).

So why is Google better than, say, Apple or Facebook?

Because they are genuinely making it easier for people to do better things. To write great apps. I mean websites. Well, they are nearly the same thing now. The gap has been narrowing, and now I'd wager you that many people have no idea if they're using an app or a website. It really doesn't matter. I see Facebook and Apple as "profit-first" companies. There's so much more that these rich giants could do to improve our world, but they don't.

What does this mean for Lemonrock?

I've been looking at other sites, and I'm happy to say that Lemonrock is streets ahead. In the next month or so, everyone will notice that Lemonrock is bolder and shinier. Somehow easier to use, and always, well, just always *there*. Many apps get used once and that's it, goodbye forever. Lemonrock has a good chance of being one of your most frequently-used apps, because it's fast, it's interesting, and it's easy to use. And you can't say the same for our rivals. Take a look at Ents24, take a look at Skiddle, take a look at Davy's Rock Page. G'waaahhn, I dare you...

Mac Dev-Head

A Spring in our Step

1 Mar 2021A Spring in our Step

It's been hard. It still is. But as the COVID thaw begins, Lemonrock has been helping bands and venues back on their feet.

We are offering hefty discounts for bands and venues who have been unable to do live music because of lockdown.

There's no legal requirement that we do this. Lemonrock has had it very hard too. Our business has been ignored by the UK Government, like thousands of other small businesses have been ignored. But we're not passing on the bad feeling. Instead, we're turning the other cheek, and helping our fellow human beings.

We're making this gesture because we believe in the good of live music in this world. We want the happiness to continue.

Two other items of good news:

1. All members can now get instant gig alerts to their phones or PCs, as well as email alerts. Head over to your Favourites page and start adding all your favourite bands and venues, so you'll be the first to get notified about their new gigs. Make sure your 'Instant' alerts are on for maximum benefit.

2. Our payment service for bands, called BandPay, is now up and running. Venues initiate online payment by making the band an offer through Lemonrock. More details about BandPay here.

See you out there.

Mac, Editor

COVID-19 Discount Policy

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