Tapatalk & The Garage Journal Mobile App

[Ryan]

The Basics:

The Garage Journal App is ran by Tapatalk. On top of that, some of you use the generic Tapatalk App to access the site as well.

The History:

We began using the BYO Garage Journal App and supporting Tapatalk very early in the game. As such, we were sort of grandfathered in to their old TOS.

The Change:

Since we've changed from VB to Xenforo, Tapatalk no longer wants to honor the original TOS.

The Effect:

If we run on the new Tapatalk TOS, Tapatalk will gain access to your forum cookie and begin tracking you even when not on garagejournal.com. They also store all external link clicks from websites indefinitely with no ability to delete the data or stop the tracking. One top of this, it would be well in their rights to sell this data that they collect - including your email address.

These offenses are so bad, that Tapatalk was removed from many app stores earlier this year.

The Garage Journal Reaction:

Under no conditions will I allow our user's data to be accessed, collected, or sold.

Tapatalk's Reaction:

They've refused to communicate.

What Does This All Mean?

There's a very high likelihood that Monday will be the last day that The Garage Journal (or any forum in the Atomic Network) will support Tapatalk or the native apps they built for us. Regardless of user feedback, usability, or anything else... I refuse to be the guy that lets data leak and privacy be intruded upon. It will not happen on my watch.

So... This is just a warning fellas. I'd say there's a 99.9% chance that all Tapatalk support is removed on Monday. I just wanted to make you guys aware so you can prepare and do what ya need to do before that happens.

 

[engineer2]

Thank you for the info! Just deleted TapaTalk from my phone.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Can only speak for myself, but the desktop view works great on my phone with the new format. I see zero reason to use tapatalk

 

[Gunfixr]

So then, what are my options?

 

[Ryan]

So then, what are my options?

As for accessing TGJ on a mobile device? Your browser...

However, I am setting up some meetings and thinking about building my own mobile app...

 

[Ryan]

Ultimately... at this point... Even if they came around and agreed to the older terms of service, do I really want to be doing business with a bunch of jokers looking to take advantage of unknowing people's privacy?

They make money by selling people's data... and most of those people don't know their data is being sold or exactly what Tapatalk has access too.

And yes, if you have Tapatalk installed on any device I would HIGHLY recommend uninstalling it. The Garage Journal app is safe for now... but I don't imagine it will be around much longer.

 

[zmotorsports]

I generally use the desktop version of garagejournal but I must admit the biggest benefit of Tapatalk was uploading pictures directly from my phone. I hate typing on my phone so I would usually just use the Tapatalk app for picture uploading.

 

[doublearon98]

Thanks for the info Ryan. Tapatalk can shove the rock hard **** they seem to be sucking on, up their ***.

For all those that use mobile, here is what I've done:

1. While using the chrome app, go to www.garagejournal.com

2. Click the 3 dots in the top right.

3. Scroll down to "Add to Home screen"

Note: steps 1-3 are optional, it just makes it easy to go to the website. This adds an app shortcut to the garage journal website.

If enough people request the option for push notifications (so you get you GJ notis straight to your phone like a regular notification) Ryan can enable it. Ryan please correct me if I'm wrong on the PN option.

 

[RPH]

Never used tapatalk at all. But I applaud you for drawing the line and standing firm about it.
We need more people to show integrity in our world.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

No complaints from me on that. I don’t want my information sold. And this format is the best anyway. Looks like that will just make that much more space on my phone. I appreciate you Ryan for not wanting our information sold.

 

[Earp69]

I'm game and I appreciate you having the nads to stand up for our rights even though I'm sure you'll get lots of flack from guys on here. Not many stand up people out there like that, it's much appreciated.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

 

[mike93lx]

Thanks for fighting the good fight

 

[mindheavy]

Full support on protecting user data. Screw tapatalk.

I've very much enjoyed the refresh on this site and the change has actually resulted in me being more active instead of lurking.

I don't have any issues using the forum on my phone's browser, it works well. Keep it up Ryan!

 

[Old Man Roger]

I generally use the desktop version of garagejournal but I must admit the biggest benefit of Tapatalk was uploading pictures directly from my phone. I hate typing on my phone so I would usually just use the Tapatalk app for picture uploading.

With this new format, posting pictures is like one click on my phone. Keep in mind, I was one of the ones that did not want to see the change LOL

 

[Gunfixr]

Tapatalk has been kind of a pain lately, and i've already bern thinking of dumping it.

If they're selling what little I gave them, even more reason. Just like the social media platforms, like fb, sell you daily, hourly.

Chrome sells also, I don't use them.

 

[doublearon98]

Tapatalk has been kind of a pain lately, and i've already bern thinking of dumping it.

If they're selling what little I gave them, even more reason. Just like the social media platforms, like fb, sell you daily, hourly.

Chrome sells also, I don't use them.

Pretty much everything data mines on the internet, you cant avoid it. Some just do it more than others.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Full support on protecting user data. Screw tapatalk.

I've very much enjoyed the refresh on this site and the change has actually resulted in me being more active instead of lurking.

I don't have any issues using the forum on my phone's browser, it works well. Keep it up Ryan!

This.

Never used Tapatalk, and post upgrade the site is fantastic on mobile just using a browser.

 

[Gunfixr]

Alright, so here I am on browser. Can actually see everything, the app was just a plain white page.
I had about 6-8 forums on it, got all but one to browser. Been on it so long, before I changed email, and can't remember password. So, i'll have to keep Tapatalk for it, until I can get that straight.

 

[16again]

I’m a dinosaur! This morning my better half’s iPad asked if I wanted tap talk or safari when I logged in. I chose Safari!


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[NUTTSGT]

Can only speak for myself, but the desktop view works great on my phone with the new format. I see zero reason to use tapatalk

Never used Tapatalk before and the new XF version is looking pretty good... I'd set Tapatalk out with the trash Tuesday morning.... doubt the trash is getting picked up Monday with it being a holiday weekend.

 

[Kaizen]

I’m with you brother. Only reason I use it is other forums are there as well so easy to see all. Potential for gj app to add other like forums


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AJHD]

I don't use Tapatalk, ever. Never have, never will.
But thank you for not giving in regardless. We are tracked enough as it is, we don't need more.

 

[niget2002]

I used Tapatalk. I noticed it started acting up earlier, so I've been using the browser. The new browser interface is pretty good. It's really not that big of a deal one way or the other.

 

[StillTooManyHobbies]

I tried Tapatalk a long time ago and never found it useful. Now it sounds even less useful and becoming intrusive. Kick them to the curb. Thanks for taking care of us.

 

[Glemon]

Same here, I remember trying Tapatalk many years ago on a different forum. I was not very impressed, and for the most part try to avoid using apps if something works fine on the browser. Have tried a few, like eBay and Amazon, just go back to browser based. Most of them are for the benefit of the developer owner, not the user.

Ryan, thanks for letting us know about this and I support you efforts, though for reasons stated no skin off my nose.

 

[06switchback]

Thanks for the info I just deleted Tapatalk I never really liked the way the app worked I just used it for the convenience of everything in one place

 

[txvwnut]

Never understood the need for an app to view a forum when a browser works just fine. I did try TT a couple of times and didn’t like it.

 

[58Yeoman]

Never used tapatalk at all. But I applaud you for drawing the line and standing firm about it.
We need more people to show integrity in our world.

Same here.

 

[darrowco]

100% support - I have no interest in Tapatalk or other data brokers. Old school BBS software is totally adequate. Thank you for standing firm!

 

[darrowco]

I found your Alliance link and figured it was about time I signed up - your site is a great service!

 

[TMcCay]

Thanks for the heads up, Ryan. and for keeping the good fight for us. Just deleted tapatalk from my phone.

 

[Jinks]

Never used tapatalk at all. But I applaud you for drawing the line and standing firm about it.
We need more people to show integrity in our world.

That makes two of us! Thank You Ryan for your integrity!

 

[quickfarms]

I use Tapatalk all the time because when I have spare time I am typically in the field and nit in front of a computer

The Tapatalk format is much easier to view. I do like the fact that they show the recent post in the preview and I typically look for the new pictures. Reading the text is much harder and this is compounded by the fact that the web version uses smaller colored text and has a bunch of stupid small icons and displays some unrelated image.

All this makes the Tapatalk platform much easier for my TBI to deal with

 

[justanengineer]

Dam, that ***** and will likely limit my use of this site going forward. I really like Tapatalk bc it commonizes the formatting and controls, is a helluva lot safer than visiting forums directly, and speeds forums up by allowing me to block ads and large attachments. JMO but I give two dams about websites selling data, if I did I wouldn’t connect at home much less shop on the internet, have social media accounts, post on forums, own a smart phone or smart home device, or buy a modern vehicle. I appreciate wanting to protect folks’ metadata but ISPs and browsers are doing so whether or not the website wants to, so the point is rather moot.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[niget2002]

Does Tapatalk mine everyone's data, or just the users using it?

If it's just the user's data that are using it, then shouldn't it be up to the end user to decide if they're OK with it or not?

I use Tapatalk because a good portion of the forums I read are still running systems that don't play well with phone browsers.

This one's not so bad now and I can deal with it in a browser if I have to. Tap just makes it easier.

 

[4miller1]

Thank you for supporting out privacy. Getting hard to hang on to whats left.

 

[Ryan]

Does Tapatalk mine everyone's data, or just the users using it?

If it's just the user's data that are using it, then shouldn't it be up to the end user to decide if they're OK with it or not?

I use Tapatalk because a good portion of the forums I read are still running systems that don't play well with phone browsers.

This one's not so bad now and I can deal with it in a browser if I have to. Tap just makes it easier.

if it was just the user’s, I wouldn’t care. People can fend for themselves.

They want access to the entire db.

 

[Ryan]

Dam, that ***** and will likely limit my use of this site going forward. I really like Tapatalk bc it commonizes the formatting and controls, is a helluva lot safer than visiting forums directly, and speeds forums up by allowing me to block ads and large attachments. JMO but I give two dams about websites selling data, if I did I wouldn’t connect at home much less shop on the internet, have social media accounts, post on forums, own a smart phone or smart home device, or buy a modern vehicle. I appreciate wanting to protect folks’ metadata but ISPs and browsers are doing so whether or not the website wants to, so the point is rather moot.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Chrome is the most user abusive browser by a very long shot. Read their TOS and then go read Tapatalk’s. Sounds like you are fairly educated on this stuff… you will see…

 

[niget2002]

if it was just the user’s, I wouldn’t care. People can fend for themselves.

They want access to the entire db.

Thanks. You're decision makes a lot of sense, then. Thanks for watching out for everyone.

 

[Ryan]

It’s now official… The Garage Journal App has been removed from app stores and we no longer support Tapatalk in any way.