webDate review | By: rhombus
Yet another dating software review which will talk about a solution with name webDate. This is one of the packages produced by WebScribble. The software has not too many features. The standard package includes only 19 features, several others can be purchased additionally. But the most important thing is not the quantity, but the quality. So, I’m writing this webDate review to find out how good or bad it is.
Let's make a point by point dating software review.
1. System requirements.
• PHP 4.1.2 or higher with safe_mode disabled
• Zend Optimizer 2.6.2 or higher
• Unix/Linux or Windows Apache webserver (Windows IIS Servers are not compatible with webDate)
• MySQL database
• FTP access
• HTML experience if you wish to modify the templates
The last line is interesting:
HTML experience if you wish to modify the templates
Is that the list of the server requirements or the requirements of the owner of the site? Have never seen such a requirement for the server…
We can see Zend Optimizer in the list of the requirements. Conclusion – the software is encrypted. But webDate could just mention the files which are encrypted, or what kind of modification is possible.
2. Pricing.
webDate for one domain – 199 USD
Multilanguage support – 99 USD
Premium template 1 – 45 USD
Premium template 2 – 45 USD
Live Chat – 99 USD
Live Video – 149 USD
ZIP Code Locator – 50 USD
Photo Rating – 50 USD
Forum – 50 USD
Authorize.net – 40 USD
CCBILL - 40 USD
PayPal - 40 USD
WorldPay - 40 USD
So, with the main package for 199 USD you can't even charge your users, there is no Live Chat or VideoChat. You'll need to get all those things separately.
The price includes support for 12 months, but there is no information concerning the price if you want to get support after the first 12 months have passed.
Let's try the demo of webDate for this dating software review.
3. Design/look.
The look of webDate is not bad, however I don’t understand why the content is aligned to left. Too much empty space. This is not comfortable.
The colors are well chosen and the site looks good.
The following thing is a security lack:
We can see the PHPSESSID in the address bar which can be used to gain unauthorized access. Such things should be paid attention to. This is a paid solution.
Here should be a link on “read more”. However there is no link there:
Let’ register and dig deeper.
4. Registration.
Pretty simple registration field. No input check, no mention regarding the obligatory fields. Also there is not a place to chose the city, you can just chose the country of residence.
I’ve registered and logged in.
Well, the first thing which I want to pay your attention at. I’m registered and logged in. Then what is the use of REGISTER and SIGN IN buttons in the main menu? Don’t like such static menus. Dating site is a dynamic site and everything should be dynamic there. This shows the level of on which the implementation is held.
The layout seems to be from the middle of 90-s. The main menu, which is not needed when you’re logged in is bigger than the menu which you need to use there:
Don’t see anything which I can use here. No any kind of chats or messaging systems. No upload sections. webDate says:
And where are those things? Where is the upload video clip section, member blogs, photo slideshow? Not so good to announce things which are not available.
Let’s continue webDate review.
5. Admin panel.
Admin panel looks like Windows XP folder view:
Here we see Forum, Live Chat, Live Video, etc., but we didn’t see all those things in webDate user part.
Let’s go to Site Configuration and see what we can configure there.
Here’s that page with the description of each menu. webDate states that you can mange the table fields, edit them or add new custom fields. So, let’s see how it is being done:
Seems you can just add new values to the fields, but you can’t edit the default ones and can’t delete them. Not good.
Now let’s see the languages section. It is very important to have an ability to edit the languages or translate the site.
Here what we can see in the “Multilanguage” menu of admin panel:
Too bad when files are not found on demo site…
The same is with the “Payment Gateways” menu:
Seems it is the time to finish this part of this dating software review.
6. Usability.
Usability could be performed better. Static main menu, which is absolutely not needed after logging in but is being shown. The menu items which are needed are written with a too small font size. A lot of things aren’t available in the menu.
7. Custom design.
No custom design option is available. There are just 2 templates which you can purchase separately. 45 USD per each.
8. Support.
Support is On-line:
But let’s see what support is that which is on-line:
Just Sales is on-line. No comment…
This is the end of webDate review.
simply don't ! | By: john trepdas | Aug 24, 2010
this script is horrible.
I bought it and kept on handling with bugs and bugs and bugs
the support was awful which caused me to give up the idea of creating my own dating site with this script.
dumped money to trash.
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Worst | By: Ozzie | Dec 11, 2009
Webscribble is the worst company I have ever dealt with. I bought their webdate program for my site, which helps people with HIV to meet others with HIV. They do not respond to emails, their tech support is terrible. I was at my wits end with them. It was so frustrating! Even w...
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owner | By: unhappy customer | May 9, 2009
I purchased webdate and the support is terrible at this time. I have repeatedly reached out by phone and email and no response. When I first bought the software several years back the support was reasonable. But now it is practically null and void. And I'm not sure what the l...
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