Contributor Resources

SEED MOBILE USER GUIDE

This Seed Mobile User Guide outlines how to download, navigate, and use the Seed Mobile application. It also references the application’s features and how it differs from Seed.com. This User Guide will be updated as enhancements are added to the application.

How is Seed Mobile different from Seed.com?
Seed Mobile: What’s New
Seed.com: You Still Need It For …
Connectivity and Seed Mobile
Download Seed Mobile
Seed Mobile At-A-Glance
Accessing Seed Mobile Menu
Seed Mobile Menu Contents
Claiming, Editing, and Submitting an Assignment
Article Assignments
Photo Assignments
Seed Mobile Support

How is Seed Mobile different from Seed.com?

Seed Mobile was developed to augment and be a companion application to Seed.com – allowing you maximum flexibility to file assignments on-the-fly. While it has some features not available on Seed.com, it also serves as a pared-down version – meaning there are a list of features and tasks you will still need to access and manage by logging into Seed.com from your computer.

Seed Mobile: What’s New

Nearby Category: Receive assignments based on your location – bringing new meaning to being in the right place, at the right time. Each time you re-launch the application, it will search for Nearby assignments first. If there are none, it will auto-load the Assignments screen listing all categories.
Breaking News Photo-Feature: Whether it’s hard news, humorous, or human interest – if you see an image worth capturing, now you can. Just snap, summarize and send.
Interactive Performance Graph: Located on the Performance tab, this graph allows you to interact with various data points to track your performance and PVs by day.
Respective Editing: Claim or start an assignment on your phone and finish it on the web version, or vice versa. (Note: This feature cannot yet support HTML or Rich Text Formatting until right before being submitted. If it is, you will receive a message indicating that the article can only be finished on the last platform that the assignment was worked on.)
Single Log-In: Seed Mobile keeps you logged in when you re-launch the application.
Mobile Memory: When you re-enter the application after sitting idle or using other applications, it will return you to the screen you were last on.
Multi-Tasking: You can use other applications and your phone while in the Seed Mobile application.

Seed.com: You Still Need It For …

Signing up for Seed/establishing Seed account
Setting up and managing your financial and billing information
Viewing earnings and requesting payment
Viewing and changing your Settings
Accessing Seed’s image library
Formatting assignment text (via text editing/link buttons)
Editing your assignment after you have submitted it
Sorting by article or photo assignment
Deleting rejected submissions from Completed Work folder
Composing long assignments

Connectivity and Seed Mobile

Your cell phone connectivity is reliant on being in an area with good cell phone reception or a strong wireless connection. If you experience connectivity issues when using the Seed Mobile application, this may be marked by a ‘Connectivity Error’ message at the bottom of the application screen.

This is most always likely tied to your phone’s data reception, and not the application itself.

To resolve this, please make sure you are in an area supported by good cell phone or wireless reception. You may need to:

RE-LOCATE and wait a few minutes
REFRESH the Seed Mobile application (option available from your pop-up menu)
RE-LAUNCH the Seed Mobile application

With this in mind, as with anything you write in an online or word processing environment, be sure to save early and save often to help prevent losing content.

Download Seed Mobile (free!)

1) Android: You can download the application in two ways:

-- Tap on Android Market icon (access the Android Store), search for Seed (not AOL Seed, but simply Seed) and tap to download.

-- Text this URL http://market.android.com/details?id=com.aol.mobile.seed to your Android phone and click on it.

2) BlackBerry (RIM): You can download the application in three ways:
-- Access BlackBerry Store, search for Seed and click to download http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/6580
-- Launch it withint the appworld on your BlackBerry http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/clientlaunch/6580
-- Text this URL http://wap.aol.com/portal/menu.do?id=5721 to your BlackBerry and click on it.

3) iPhone: You can download the application several ways:
-- From computer: Download directly from iTunes (search for AOL Seed)

-- From phone: Access iTunes Store, search for AOL Seed, and tap to download

-- Click this link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aol-seed/id355947489?mt=8

Mobile At-A-Glance

Seed Mobile is a simple and intuitive application to use, housing only three tabs:

Work
Assignments
Performance

To navigate throughout the site:

iPhone/Android: Tap, tap, tap!
BlackBerry (RIM): Use your roller ball to toggle and click

Assignments Tab:

1) Tap/Click ALL to review all assignments

-- Assignments are listed in order of shortest to longest due dates

-- Anything with a current-day due date will list hours remaining before the deadline in DARK RED

-- Tap/click assignment title to view assignment details

2) Tap/Click NEARBY to review any local assignments

-- Each time you re-launch Seed Mobile, it will search for Nearby assignments first. If there are none, it will auto-load the Assignments screen listing all categories.

-- If you actively tap/click on the Nearby category and there aren’t any local assignments, you’ll see message: ‘There are no assignments in this category.’

-- If you tap/click the small edit link next to ‘Nearby’ header, you’ll be directed to a new screen where you can enter your current location (city, state). This is great for when you’re traveling on vacation or a business trip.

3) Tap/Click on ANY CATEGORY to view assignments on that topic

-- No matter what category list you’re viewing, tap/click the Categories button to return to the full listing again

-- iPhone users: The iPhone includes a search bar on the Assignments page that will allow you to search assignments by keyword. It pulls data from the assignment title, so you can’t search for photo vs. text assignments – since the data isn’t pulling from assignment type. Still, it’s a terrific feature to have.

Work Tab:

1) Displays Drafts / Completed assignments, even those you started from your computer

-- Tap or use roller ball to click between the two lists

-- The lists include work started on Seed.com, though you cannot work on an assignment started in the other application (Seed.com or Seed Mobile) at this time. If you attempt to do so, you will see a ‘This article can only be edited using your computer’ message.

-- Titles in these lists appear in most to least recent order

2) You can edit work up until you submit it. After that, if the request is still open, you can’t edit after submission (but before the deadline) like you can from your computer.

Performance Tab:

1) Displays current cumulative Total Page Views that your purchased assignments have generated to date

2) Interactive performance chart allows you to view page views (PVs) by day:

-- iPhone/Android: Tap individual daily data points to view daily PVs.

-- BlackBerry (RIM): Use roller ball to toggle and click daily data points to view daily PVs

-- Note: At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see ‘Last Updated’ status. While the ‘Last Updated’ status on the Assignments and Work tabs updates in real time, this update status is tied to your personal activity, so it could easily read something like, ‘Last Updated 4 days ago.’

3) Helpful tips: Pencil icon indicates text assignment; Camera icon indicates photo assignment

-- If you don’t want to claim assignment, tap/click Back button to return to assignment list

-- If you do want to claim assignment, tap/click blue Claim button

Breaking News Photo-Feature: Submit photos of interesting things you see

-- Android: Located in pop-up menu. Access by clicking your phone’s MENU button.

-- BlackBerry (RIM): Located in pop-up menu. Access by clicking BlackBerry button to left of roller ball.

-- iPhone: Located on-screen. Tap to access.

Helpful Hints:

-- When you submit a Breaking News photo item and it moves to your Completed folder, it will be notated with an icon that looks like a transmission tower and two lightning bolts. This is the only user-generated icon in Seed Mobile.

-- The Breaking News photo-feature submission process follows the Photo Assignment submission process (see Photo Assignment section below, noting all dark red Breaking News Notes.

Breaking News Photo Submission Tips:

1) What to submit: Photos of breaking news stories, e.g. plane flying through a building in Texas. Photos of interest to local or specific audiences (e.g. celeb sightings).

2) Copyright: Only submit photos that you have shot and for which you own the copyrights

3) Captions: Include Who, What, When, Where, Why

4) Authenticity: Photos should be accurate and should not be digitally manipulated, retouched or modified in any way

5) Size: Photos should be a minimum of 3 MG (megapixels)

Nearby Category: Find assignments in your area

-- Location-specific assignments (e.g., Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC)

-- Assignments based on local angles (e.g., Best family restaurants in your hometown)

-- Each time you re-launch Seed Mobile, it will search for Nearby assignments first. If there are none, it will auto-load the Assignments screen listing all categories.

Android: Most Android phones have a MENU button. Click to access Seed Mobile menu.
BlackBerry (RIM): Access by clicking BlackBerry button to left of roller ball.
iPhone: Tap Settings application on iPhone. Scroll down to Seed and tap to manage Seed Mobile email and password.

Seed Mobile Pop-Up Menu Contents

1) Android / BlackBerry (RIM):

Breaking News photo-feature
Settings:

     -- Allows you to turn GPS Access on or off
     -- Displays mobile app version
     -- Connectivity options (defaults to Automatic)
     -- Current connection: (probably set to Direct)

Identity: Sign-in screen

     -- You only need to sign in once to Seed Mobile, and it will remember your login
        and password
     -- This is also where a friend who is a Seed user might change the login/pw information
        to log in from your phone.
     -- The app will retain this data until you switch it back to your own information.

Refresh: Updates the application with current data
Close: Quits the application

2) iPhone

Tap Settings application on iPhone. Scroll down to Seed and tap to manage Seed Mobile email and password.
To close the application, press the Home button at the bottom of iPhone

Claiming, Editing, and Submitting an Assignment

Article Assignment

1) View and Claim Article
-- Tap/Click on assignment with a pencil icon (for article) in the listing/queue (if the option is there, click ‘More Assignments…’ to view additional assignments)

-- If you’re viewing a certain category, tap/click the Categories button to return to the full Assignments listing

-- Review assignment detail screen

-- Tap/Click Claim button

2) Compose Article

-- You are directed to a New Article screen

-- Fill in required fields (title, synopsis, article)

Fill in title and synopsis. Notice that your article title will also populate in the top title bar on the screen.

When you type in your article, you will notice an active word counter on your screen – helpful when trying to hit a certain word count for the assignment.

-- Fill in optional fields (sources, tags)

Add/remove data by tapping/clicking on plus/minus sign

Note: These are optional but definitely enhance the article if you include them.

-- Tap/Click Add Photo button to add photo (only one allowed)

Unlike Seed.com, Seed’s image library is too large to feature on the mobile application. Instead, you can only pull from your collection of personal photos.

Note: NOT including a photo will NOT hurt your chances in getting published – unless the assignment specifically asks for one. If your writing is good, our editors will find a photo to accompany the article.

3) Save and Edit Article

-- Tap/Click Close button at bottom of screen.

-- You’ll get a popup menu to select either Save, Don’t Save:

Save: Article saved to Drafts/In Progress folder in your Work tab.
Don’t Save: Returns you to the Assignments tab/listing.
Cancel: Returns you to the New Article page, so that you can keep working.
Note: Unlike the experience at Seed.com, you can only Save/Edit up until submission. Once you submit the assignment, you can no longer edit it.

4) Submit Article

-- When you’re ready to submit assignment, tap/click Next button at bottom of screen.

-- Review assignment category, price and publishing reminder.

-- Tap/Click Submit button.

-- Review popup reminder message:

Cancel: Returns you to the present page. (Default; must actively select Submit button to proceed.)
Submit: Triggers a ‘Submitting…’ progress window. When finished, the app returns to the Assignments tab.

5) Delete Article (Same as Cancel Pull Claim function in Seed.com)

-- Can only do in progress/draft mode

-- Scroll to highlight assignment title (doesn’t work if you click from within assignment)

-- Access pop-up application menu

-- Select Delete option

-- Prompt window will ask if you are sure you want to delete the article. Tap/click Yes or No button.

Photo Assignment

1) View and Claim Article

-- Tap/Click on assignment with a camera icon (for photo/gallery) in the listing/queue (if the option is there, click ‘More Assignments…’ to view additional assignments)

-- Review assignment detail screen

-- Tap/Click Claim button

2) Upload Images

-- You are directed to a New Gallery screen

Breaking News Note: Submitting images follows the same process for Breaking News and Photos. If submitting Breaking News, then the screen will say Breaking News at top; follow below instructions to submit a Breaking News photo item.

-- Fill in required fields (title, synopsis)

When you type in your title and description, you will notice an active word counter on your screen.
Add/remove data by tapping/clicking on plus/minus sign

-- Tap/Click Add Photo button to Insert photo(s)

Find your photo you want to insert. Tap or select with roller ball.
You are directed to a screen where your photo will appear:

Fill in required field (title). Notice that your photo title will also populate in the top title bar on the screen.

Fill in optional field (description), if desired.

When done, tap/click Done button, which will return you to the New Gallery screen, and you will see a thumbnail of your image inserted into the Photos field.

You can either add another photo or tap/click Next to submit.

3) Save/Edit Photo Assignment

-- Tap/Click Close button at bottom of screen.

-- You’ll get a popup menu to select either Save, Don’t Save:

Save: Gallery saved to Drafts/In Progress folder in your Work tab.
Don’t Save: Returns you to the Assignments tab/listing.
Cancel: Returns you to the New Gallery screen, so that you can keep working.

4) Submit Photo Assignment

-- When you’re ready to submit assignment, tap/click Next button at bottom of screen.

-- Review assignment category, price and publishing reminder.

Breaking News Note: If submitting Breaking News photo(s), you will need to indicate the suggested price following the format example ($X.XX). Simply tap/click into the grayed-out ‘Suggested $0.00’ text to add your suggested amount.

-- Tap/Click Submit button.

-- Review popup reminder message:

Cancel: Returns you to the present page. (Default; must actively select Submit button to proceed.)
Submit: Triggers a ‘Submitting…’ progress window. When finished, the app returns to the Assignments tab.

5) Delete Photo Assignment (Same as Cancel Pull Claim function in Seed.com)

-- Can only do in progress/draft mode
-- Scroll to highlight assignment title (doesn’t work if you click from within assignment)
-- Access pop-up application menu
-- Select Delete option
-- Prompt window will ask if you are sure you want to delete the article. Tap/click Yes or No button.

Seed Mobile Support

You cannot access any technical support or help via the Seed Mobile application. Instead, you can contact or access the below options from Seed.com:

Product or issue support: Contact us at contact@seed.com with questions.

Other general resources:

http://academy.seed.com
http://blog.seed.com
Follow us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/aolseed)