40 comments

  • Sean LesterSean Lester, almost 9 years ago

    NOT ON THE INTERNET, #ONLYONTHEAPP that you must download using an internet connection, and then connect said app to the internet.

    20 points
  • Tierney CyrenTierney Cyren, almost 9 years ago

    Apparently:

    On Android, it wants permissions for contacts/calendar, location, phone, photos, Wi-Fi connection info, device ID & call info (including your phone number, as far as I can tell).

    Totally going to download this right now.

    13 points
    • Kyle ConradKyle Conrad, almost 9 years ago

      All of those make sense though given what the app does. Android permissions are weird.

      3 points
      • Pedro Pimenta, almost 9 years ago

        What does it do that needs my contact and calendar? Serious question, I don't live in America and can't know.

        2 points
        • Kyle ConradKyle Conrad, almost 9 years ago

          Not sure about calendar, but I imagine there's a "sharing" function in the app (i.e. texting or whatever your friends) that would require access to your contacts.

          On iOS, it would only ask for this permission when you actually went to share something. With Android, you get asked up front for all these permissions without even knowing why.

          2 points
          • Kyle SKyle S, almost 9 years ago

            Sharing doesn't require contacts permissions. Any app can fire a share intent, the app you use to share it is the one that should need your contacts.

            1 point
  • Ryan McLaughlinRyan McLaughlin, almost 9 years ago

    It's almost like they want us to all be talking about their company and website by pulling a stunt...

    11 points
  • Zach ReedZach Reed, almost 9 years ago

    To be fair, they didn't kill pages for SEO. For example, all of these pages still exist if you Google them:

    It looks like they just redirected the homepage. I am also guessing they only do this for X amount of time to hype up the app.

    7 points
    • Jeremy Sallee, almost 9 years ago

      Good catch!

      This makes much more sense. A temporal marketing promotion for their app. Otherwise it sounded completely crazy that any marketing people from such a huge food company would wipe out their entire site from the internet to bring them in an app.

      0 points
  • Bowen LiBowen Li, almost 9 years ago

    Say what you will.... 4.5 stars with 579 ratings aint bad.

    4 points
  • Taron GhazaryanTaron Ghazaryan, almost 9 years ago (edited almost 9 years ago )

    Seriously? Who thought this was a good idea?

    Image alt

    4 points
  • Kyle ConradKyle Conrad, almost 9 years ago

    I actually really like this strategy, if only for the fact their TV commercials are ALSO "blacked out" - it shows like 3 seconds of a commercial then basically cuts out and says "It's only on the app."

    3 points
  • Jeff DoanJeff Doan, almost 9 years ago

    For a static site serving basically just images, they have the site making 10 http requests. [face pam]

    3 points
  • Kyle UnzickerKyle Unzicker, almost 9 years ago

    It's safe to assume this is an extremely temporary strategy. I think it'll probably achieve exactly what they are aiming for - an increase in app downloads which will then help it climb up app store charts thus increasing its visibility - then they can put the website back up. Short term, there's not a huge downside.

    3 points
  • Adam Brace, almost 9 years ago

    So only iOS and Android users can eat unhealthy food?

    3 points
  • Oscar von HauskeOscar von Hauske, almost 9 years ago

    It's cool to see that someone is willing to do something like this, so many companies would never dream of taking out the 100 links on their homepage.

    2 points
  • Daniel FoscoDaniel Fosco, almost 9 years ago

    Bold move from a branding perspective, and, as Chris mentioned in the thread already, their data might support this decision. I don't see it as a healthy long-term strategy, however...

    I can't avoid cringing when I see a site so poorly done, though. It's almost as if the shittyness of the website is part of the joke.

    2 points
  • Sasan HezarkhaniSasan Hezarkhani, almost 9 years ago

    I have a windows phone. I can't visit the site with my laptop OR my phone! Great decision making there TacoBell.

    1 point
  • Jonathan CutrellJonathan Cutrell, almost 9 years ago

    We will never make a 32-bit operating system. – Bill Gates, 1989

    The truth in no online database will replace your daily newspaper, no CD-ROM can take the place of a competent teacher and no computer network will change the way government works. - Clifford Stoll, 1995

    Probably not fair to call it "Ridiculous."

    1 point
  • Travis VocinoTravis Vocino, almost 9 years ago

    Ridiculously smart, you mean.

    1 point
  • Peter MüllerPeter Müller, almost 9 years ago

    This is just a webspecial and probably a quite clever move in the end.

    1 point
  • Vincent MillikenVincent Milliken, almost 9 years ago

    The app is basically 30MB, if im using my mobile data, it will cost me 30MB of my monthly usage to view this site...

    1 point
    • pjotr .pjotr ., almost 9 years ago

      Welcome to 2014. You should seriously consider getting an unlimited data plan. Click here

      3 points
      • Vincent MillikenVincent Milliken, almost 9 years ago

        Unlimited data would great, but here in the Netherlands its too expensive. Just having a quick look on T-Mobile it would cost €42 for 10GB. That is only for the data, so your monthly cost would be around €70-€80 per month...

        0 points
        • Kyle ConradKyle Conrad, almost 9 years ago

          Wow, that's... really cheap. I'm getting 2GB a month for like $95 on Verizon here in the US.

          2 points
          • Tim GauthierTim Gauthier, almost 9 years ago

            42€ is 53.14, a bottle of water is .20€ and a big mac is 7€, and considered expensive. Things are considerably cheaper in Europe and thats a LOT of money to spend on your phone bill each month when that could be spent on food, transit, or rent.

            0 points
        • pjotr .pjotr ., almost 9 years ago

          Compared to US prices that doesn't seem too bad. I pay $80 per month on T-Mobile with unlimited everything when before I was paying $220 for unlimited talk, text, and 6GB of data on Verizon. Verizon is the joke among jokes, the ass among asses and the jerk among jerks. Never do business with big telcos.

          0 points
        • Bjarke DaugaardBjarke Daugaard, almost 9 years ago

          Wow, up here in Denmark it is €20 for 100GB

          1 point
      • Bryce DriesengaBryce Driesenga, almost 9 years ago

        To be fair, isn't there essentially no unlimited plans w/o throttling in the US? Maybe Sprint has one?

        0 points
  • ChrisArchitec t, almost 9 years ago

    interesting/wacky play. Mobile first is now Mobile only - for this niche space of restaurant/food chains. They looked at stats and realized they don't need a website? It's possible I suppose.

    Also, reminding us that avg users call the 'browser' - the 'internet'

    1 point
  • Calvin FennellCalvin Fennell, almost 9 years ago

    Interesting move. I suddenly have a huge craving for greasy cheese and dubiously edible beef product. Must have worked.

    0 points
  • Andy LeverenzAndy Leverenz, almost 9 years ago

    I'll download when they offer delivery

    0 points
  • Michael SaccaMichael Sacca, almost 9 years ago

    lol - what agency sold them this line?!

    0 points
  • Art VandelayArt Vandelay, almost 9 years ago

    At least they use vh units...

    0 points