direct assist - phone directory app

[Guest oh_stewie]

just downloaded this app called direct assist from coolsmartphone.com. this thing is freakin hilarious. it's a phone directory on your phone. i searched for myself and...found myself. it's great. the downside is that you can only download a trial version and so far it looks like it only applies to the U.S. and australia, but still...pretty cool.

[Guest coop]

Is there a Malaysian version?

[Guest ej]

I downloaded it too. It is a shame that it isn't free. The official site (www.directassist.com.au) says that Germany, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and the UK will be added to the list. When that happens I will pay for it.

[Guest foshizzle]

there is no need to wait until all the countries are added. i bought the key because the updates for the software are automatic. so when another country is added it will be updated on your phone at no extra cost.

[Guest chucky.egg]

I think I'll wait til they're actually available - it wouldn't be the first time development has just stopped on an app

How does it work though - I thought it referred to web-based directories, not copying anything to your phone?

[Guest foshizzle]

from the website:

"Direct Assist® is a straightforward, search tool that allows you to access multiple third party web based directories from around the world via your Windows Mobile powered device (Pocket PC or Smartphone)"

as far as i can tell, having subscribed to the service for 2 yrs myself, the other countries are a guarantee otherwise i wouldn't have subscribed.

[Guest coop]

What date will the Malaysian version be out?

[Guest chucky.egg]

It lists dates for other countries somewhere on the website

[Guest coop]

Where? I cannot find it.

[Guest ruprekt]

It's on the "about" page. But there is no date for it yet. :)

[Guest chucky.egg]

That's odd... there *were* dates in there, they must have been removed!

UK was due some time in the first half of this month.

Maybe it's an indication that they are having problems

[Guest chucky.egg]

Found the dates:

http://www.directassist.com.au/directories.shtml

1. Malaysia (Expected: 07/09/2004)

2. UK (Expected: 27/09/2004)

3. Canada (Expected: 13/09/2004)

4. Singapore (Expected: 04/10/2004)

5. Germany (Expected: 11/10/2004)

[Guest chithouse]

very cool application. You can search both residential and business

[Guest chucky.egg]

It's odd that it doesn't find my dad though.

He's in Cammeray (North Sydney), but no combination I've tried so far lists him.

I wonder if the lists might be out of date, or whether some search providers are "better" than others.

Of course, he *could* be ex-directory - but I don't think so

[Guest chucky.egg]

Mine's now saying that "this version has expired. An update will be available shortly"

That might mean that the one of the new directories has been added.

@coop - I would guess that's yuor Malaysian dir if it is true!

[Guest thesandman]

There is a 'Check for Update' button in the Options Menu. This will update the software to add Malaysia and upgrade the expired version. At least it let you know it needed to be updated :wink:

[Guest oh_stewie]

I just subscribed to the service. Damn this thing is awesome! :lol:

*searches for himself*

there i am! lol :)

[Guest chucky.egg]

and maybe the best thing is that they are keeping to their schedule!

but i only really want the UK

version ... am i going to have to update everytime they release a new dir?

anyone done it from their handset?

how much data was transfered?

Posted from my SmartPhone!

[Guest ej]

Chris, if you don't update how are you supposed to get the current version? :shock:

[Guest chucky.egg]

But the only difference with the "current version" is the Malaysian directory, and I don't know anyone out there

What I mean is that once they include the UK directory (which is all I'm after really) I don't want to have to download an update for the other directorues (which I'll never use).

I doubt that the software that connects the app with the on-line directories is changing... it's only the addition of a new directory.

[Guest ej]

You have a point but I don't see the harm in having extra directories. Just don't use them if you don't need them. Besides, I can't imagine it takes long to update the software anyway. It'd be just like installing an application right, so it wouldn't even take 2 minutes.

[Guest oh_stewie]

correcto! the update function in the menu makes it easy to update. no extra instructions or installations. takes 2 secs

[Guest thesandman]

Does anyone know if they are going to release a version for the Philippines?

[Guest chucky.egg]

OK, I took the plunge - basically because they added the Malaysian directory when they said they would so I'm hoping they will do the same with the UK directory

It forced me to do an update (I hadn't done one since the app first appeared) which took about 3 minutes I guess - not too long really - but it used 360+Kb

My point about the updates is that if I have to update again to add the UK directory (and assuming the size is the same) then fair enough, but I don't want to have to update via the phone again to add other directories I won't use. Having the directories is fine, but I don't want to use up such a chunk of my precious GPRS bundle downloading something I don't want.

Anyways, here looking forward to telling those 118 services "I've got your bloody number too, mate!"

[Guest fozzie]

Why not just update using pass-thru and ActiveSync ?

Posted from my SmartPhone!