It would be great to create something parallel to the Identify tab in app form. It could be part of the existing app but might be better as a standardized app. It could be set up so you can save filters and then page through “cards” of observations to ID. It could have algorithm and species list functionality and could function like that dating app where you “swipe” one way or another if you want to mark something reviewed, captive, agree, etc.
this may be a longer term thing, I realize, but would be nice. Lots of times I can use my phone but not the computer.
As long as you don’t get confused and mark your dates as “wild” 
3 Likes
For a short time a large percentage of my reviews were from the app. Then it got so much easier to identify on the computer and I had so many bugs on the app that I completely stopped. I definitely agree that this should be one of the higher priorities as it is about the easiest way I know of to increase the number of good identifications on the site.
7 Likes
actually… all those times on the train or bus… waiting at the doctors rooms… an app version of needs ID would be awesome!
9 Likes
While there’s only eight official votes, there’s definitely the demand for this. As evidence, I present a string of related feature requests aimed at making it easier to identify from a mobile device:
7 Likes
A feature such as this is desperately needed!
I think the biggest showstopper for attracting new identifiers is the lack of proper identification functionality in the app. The identification screen on the website is great and extremely versatile but many people today don’t own computers anymore, for them iNat is just an app, if they can’t use it to add IDs effectively, chances are low they will ever do it on a regular basis.
I myself I am missing that functionality. I do own a computer and I am doing most identifications at home using the website, however when I am on the commute or travelling I do have quite some spare time I could use for adding IDs. Unfortunately, once getting used with the website, adding IDs via the app feels cumbersome and frustrating. Fiding those observations which need an ID is not easy and also, very useful information like disitribution maps is missing altogether, so I usually give up after a few minutes… I would surely like spending more time adding IDs via the app if proper identfication functionality would be added.
4 Likes
I ID sometimes on current iNaturalist android app, and yes I agree it nor recent iNaturalist next for android are suited for consistent identifiers, they are only fine (and designed towards) if you are adding few identifications here and there.
- Fixing filters: I usually give up after adding dozen IDs on app at a time - because the single most pain point is filters - they have to be changed everytime for everything i care of (why isnt sticky last used filter options at minimum considered yet? and ideally few such saved filters to readily switch, last time I tried iNat next android beta the filters arent even multiselect on kingdoms) - and for consistent identifiers on app, revamping these filters is essential.
- Remembering last scroll point and option to go there on app restart: and then once app hangs - which it does often in both android and next android (yes i am aware that is beta) as reported on forum multiple times - going back to last IDed observation in all that scrolling by again setting the filters is .! so done for day,
- Species list and maps for ID suggestions: also as noted by others, often times I want to see observations in that region or superregion for niche species that arent in CV and almost no help for that - except toggling CV to see RG observations for area (no control on area level or seeing non-RG in area in ID suggestions) - I dont want to go do another search for that taxa level and region and see list which is the only option now.
- Cache of taxa list for IDs: A small cache of manually searched species list AND then search prioritizing this list first is better than letting app call autocomplete every single time - guess this is helpful in Website too. (because 90% of IDers will be IDing only as far fewer nodes so often, ignoring power identifiers who can ID in thousands in day) - even better also showing those 10 recent selected IDs by IDer (toggle option of this list if CV is enabled, or directly show if not) like we see list of recent places cache in search filter for current android app.
Ability to control first tab: on opening observation, if I am IDing I want to see the Identify tab and that list rather than DQA or map/annotation tabs - ability to manually set this tab priority is helpful than switching every single time.fixed in inat next beta.
few more things in current iNat next beta app to fix for identifiers experience
2 Likes