Description:
WikiToGo would be a mobile app that allows you to browse wikipedia, wikitravel, or other wikimedia sites while you're not connected to the internet. There is currently an iphone app out there that does this, Encyclopedia, and it's popular, but it has a number of limitations:
- It's iphone only, no android version
- It takes *forever* to download wikipedia. I'm talking days. There's no way to do it in stages and use the service while it's downloading. This could be such a valuable service for underdeveloped communities (free knowledge base), but there's no good way to download it. I have some thoughts on how to 'tier' content to the mobile device.
- Search *really* sucks, you can only search document titles, not the articles - but there are db size issues that we probably can't get around
- Wikipedia is built on the efforts of millions, for free, yet this app is $8.99. I think it should be a free app. We could do in-app upgrades for 'premium' services, but still give away wikipedia for free.
People Involved:
- Vinnie Lauria @vlauria (added the project idea)
- Interested in hacking it up? [please add your name below]
p.s. I'm currently using the Encyclopedia app, so don't want to trash it with my shdh project suggestion. I have wikipedia and wikitravel installed on my iphone. - I kinda feel like I have the real "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" in my pocket - it is so useful while travelling to foreign lands and I give props to the developers who first put this out and continue to maintain it. - Vinnie Lauria