14 Day evaluation of "mctraveller" now available

[Guest fozzie]

I'll have a good think about how I cache weather for additional cities and your suggestion.

Thanks a lot. By additional cities, I presume you mean the additional 3 cities of the 4 that are currently selected? I wouldn't expect (or need) to have weather information cached for any other cities, and if I replace a city with another one from the 'n' thousand that you support, I would expect to lose the associated cached weather info. :)

[Guest FizzSoftware]

One other minor bug - the default time zone for Pretoria is incorrect.  It should be '(GMT+02:00) Harare, Pretoria' which doesn't have Daylight Saving, and not '(GMT+02:00) Athens, Istanbul, Minsk' which does have DST :)

Just been looking at this - please let me explain. When you entered Pretoria and selected CityLookup, I request city information from an internet city database (our weather partner). I'm returned an approximate timezone (GMT+2), so all I can do is to set to the first timezone that matches - we have 5 or 6 GMT+2 zones with differing DST. The HTML docs have a very small footnote saying the timezone may need 'tweaking'. For this initial release I may have to leave it this way - sorry :cry:

[Guest fozzie]

..............I'm returned an approximate timezone (GMT+2), so all I can do is to set to the first timezone that matches - we have 5 or 6 GMT+2 zones with differing DST. The HTML docs have a very small footnote saying the timezone may need 'tweaking'. For this initial release I may have to leave it this way - sorry :cry:

Ok - not a major drama but one for the To Do list ;) Thanks again.

[Guest fraser]

Great app, I'll be buying this one myself.

One question? Why use a propretry tasks (itinery) database? The phone already has a very good tasks system, using the standard SmartPhone DB system. This gets sync'ed up via Outlook and is accessable through several applications, not just the rubbish "Tasks" program that comes with the phone. Check out the free "Oxios ToDo List" as a replacement for the one that is pre-installed.

If the mcTraveller application were to use the same database, then I can see a point in it. Otherwise, all you have for the tasks stuff is very limited functionality compared to the others, with zero interoperability. I doubt anyone would use it to be honest, the in-built system is very good.

[Guest FizzSoftware]

One question? Why use a propretry tasks (itinery) database?

Its a good question - and the honest answer is we'd like to 'optionally' link to the built in database at some point in the future. We have partially prepared the way by supporting many of the same field types needed.

Watch this space.

[Guest fozzie]

FizzSoftware - one little annoyance I've noticed. When you press 'View' to bring up the icon bar, the currently highlighted icon is not always the last one you pressed. i.e. If you go into Weather and then press 'View' a different icon is highlighted. It seems to be different depending on what you are currently viewing. I think it would be better if the icon you last slected was selected when you press 'View' i.e. the icon for the currently viewed element.

Talking of weather :) When you look at adding the functionality to be able to 'Fetch Forecast' for more than just the currently selected city, it would be good if you could have say two options:

1. Fetch Forecast current city.

2. Fetch Forecast multi cities.

And then, have some form of 'Include in multi forecast fetch' option that can be set against each of the 4 available cities.

I appreciate that it would be easiest just to get either 1 or all 4 cities but please have a look at the multi option :o

Thanks.

[Guest FizzSoftware]

Thanks for the heads up with regards to the icon bar. Somebody else has also commented on this. This may make the release version, if not it will be included in a free upgrade.

As for the weather - we're thinking along the same lines.

We would probably add a new screen instead of squeezing the checkboxes in somewhere - this will also be part of a free upgrade.

[Guest fozzie]

That's excellent news. I can't wait :)

Posted from my SmartPhone!

[Guest]

FizzSoftware - Fantastic Product! :) Just one little bug I've noticed. When you goto 'Settings' and you attempt to 'Update device time' I receive the 'Confirm' page with Yes/No option as below:

Update Device Time

GMT=2003/07/29

16:45:27

Yes No?

When I press yes the phone hangs with the egg timer spinning around. The only way I can get this to stop is to pull the battery off. :cry: Will this be fixed in the final release?

Thanks.

[Guest FizzSoftware]

FizzSoftware - Fantastic Product!   :)   Just one little bug I've noticed. When you goto 'Settings' and you attempt to 'Update device time' I receive the 'Confirm' page with Yes/No option....

When I press yes the phone hangs with the egg timer spinning around.  The only way I can get this to stop is to pull the battery off.

Howie,

Do you use the calendar and have you any idea how many entries you've added ? If you wish to take this off-line, please use the support email on the tapandgo site.

Reason I ask is we call a single API to set the device time and this API can take AGES !!! My gut feeling is this is a problem with the OS - You can see this in Settings->DateTime: Change the device time by a minute and press Done, you should see a similar delay.

We believe its making sure the time for all entries in your calendar are correct.

We have two devices, one with no entries, the other with many entries. The one with many does indeed take a long time, but it will return eventually.

I will again try to find a better solution or answer to this but it may not make the release. Sorry I cannot be more positive but we do know about this and will actively search for a solution.

Peter

[Guest fozzie]

Another comment :) I think that when creating a new alarm, the default should be to have the sound enabled and one of the sounds pre-selected. I would have thought that most alarms that are set, people would want an audible warning. Having it on by default would prevent people from setting alarms and then not hearing it because they didn't realise or forgot to go into the additional options screen - of course I've never done that :P

I would also suggest that the alarm is set by default to repeat with a 5 minute snooze.

Keep up the good work :o

Posted from my SmartPhone!

[Guest FizzSoftware]

Sounds good. I'll make the changes :)

[Guest nickcornaglia]

I didn't read this mentioned before....

If you choose Farenheit as your preference...the maps still come up in centegrade. Is it possible for the program to look at your preferences before going to download the appropriate C or F map? Assuming there is a F map available.

[Guest FizzSoftware]

If you choose Farenheit as your preference...the maps still come up in centegrade.

Yes - This is a bug :oops: - I will try to fix this for the release.

Thanks.

[Guest]

Howie,

Do you use the calendar and have you any idea how many entries you've added ? If you wish to take this off-line, please use the support email on the tapandgo site.

Reason I ask is we call a single API to set the device time and this API can take AGES !!! My gut feeling is this is a problem with the OS - You can see this in Settings->DateTime: Change the device time by a minute and press Done, you should see a similar delay.

We believe its making sure the time for all entries in your calendar are correct.

We have two devices, one with no entries, the other with many entries. The one with many does indeed take a long time, but it will return eventually.

I will again try to find a better solution or answer to this but it may not make the release. Sorry I cannot be more positive but we do know about this and will actively http://smartphone.MoDaCo.com/search.php>Search for a solution.

Peter

Thanks for the reply. I do have many calendar entries on my phone so I guess this is what is causing the problem. I tried syncing the time again and left it to complete it's task (which took ages), but since I'll only be syncing every now and again, I don't see it as being a major problem. The weather and currency converter more than make up for this small problem. Thanks again for the explanation.

You have developed a great product which I'm sure people who travel frequently will find very useful (almost a killer app!). I will definitely be purchasing a copy.

Howard.

[Guest Trancedancer]

I have been trying the program out for a couple of days and I have to say I REALLY LOVE IT! :)

I am really looking forward to purchasing the full version when it is released! Let us all know it here!!!

Good Luck with future developments and coming upgrades!

*TRANCEDANCER*

[Guest pete1312]

I'm having a problem in updating currency rates. I've been testing this prog for well over a week (daily), but my currency rates still show a latest update date of "2003-06-27", which I assume is 27th June.

When I try to update, it seems to go through all the motions, i.e. it connects to GPRS, downloading, updating rates, disconnects (sometimes), but all rates still remain as originally loaded.

How often are the rates updated - surely should be daily?

Anyone else having this problem?

[Guest FizzSoftware]

I have been trying the program out for a couple of days and I have to say I REALLY LOVE IT!  :)

Will do - If all goes to plan it will be next week. I'll let you all know.

Thanks for the support.

Peter

[Guest FizzSoftware]

I'm having a problem in updating currency rates. I've been testing this prog for well over a week (daily), but my currency rates still show a latest update date of "2003-06-27", which I assume is 27th June.?

Please don't panic - If you didn't get an error connecting and it went through the motions, every thing is in order. I'll update the rate table later today so you can confirm this ( 31 july 2002 )

We are still sorting out our webserver to run scripts on a regular basis so the automatic update is currently not running :cry: . When released it will initially be updated a couple of times a week, but as soon as possible it will be done on a daily basis. :)

Sorry for the confusion - I should have said something in the trial download.

Peter

[Guest fozzie]

Hi (again) :)

A couple of points to help finely polish this great app.

The weather menu options are a little inconsistent across the various screens e.g. the options wording and order changes. Also, if you select '5 days' it stays on the menu with a tick next to it. If you select '48 hours' it disappears from the menu. I prefer the tick option.

May I suggest the wording and order (from the top) to be:

Select a city

48 hours

5 days

Maps

Thanks again :o

Posted from my SmartPhone!

[Guest fozzie]

Oh no - my trial runs out in 2 days :o Will the full version be available by then or can you extend the trial? I'm going on holiday on Saturday and would love to be able to use the app. :)

Posted from my SmartPhone!

[Guest FizzSoftware]

Oh no - my trial runs out in 2 days :P Will the full version be available by then or can you extend the trial? I'm going on holiday on Saturday and would love to be able to use the app. :)

Fozzie,

I am desperately trying to get this code signed before the trial runs out. You would not believe the bureaucracy involved. Faxes, documentation, passport photos, everything but a DNA sample - its crazy and I'm slowly becoming so :evil:

The release version should be available by the end of the week, but depending how quickly Smartphone.net and Handango.com move, PayPal may be your only way to get a quick turnaround. I prefer PayPal anyway.

So, I hope to be able to have everything finally configured today allowing me to, ready for this :

- Locally sign,

- Upload to Geotrust who resign everything and send it back,

- Repack everything, locally sign again

- Upload again for another resigning and get back the final package.

I'll keep you all informed.

ps.We've added most of the comments raised on this thread to the final version, but the multiple city weather fetch will come in another release - free upgrade :o

[Guest Tosh]

Good luck with the signing, eagerly awaiting the final version.

[Guest FizzSoftware]

8th August 2003

mcTraveller code signed & released and available at :

Smartphone.net ( now )

Handango.com ( make take a couple of hours )

FizzSoftware.com ( PayPal later today )

I'd like to thank all on this thread for the comments & suggestions.

We've tried to add as many as possible to the release, the rest will be coming.

$9.99 for a limited time so please grab it while you can.

An addition clock face pack for more clock customisation will be released later today or tomorrow.

Regards,

Peter

[Guest fozzie]

Excellent news. Just managed to grab it before going off on hols :)

Thanks.