FREE Android app - Garda safety vans

althinking · 10-06-2011 03:30AM

Thanks @scouserT yes I can rollout a new update to the database if there are new locations (not sure the Gardai intent to do that, but if they do it's no preblemo.)

Al

althinking · 10-06-2011 03:39AM

I released version 1.2 this morning with 4 updates that should improve things:
(The app is here, web market takes time to update; it's on the app market search for irish safety camera locations)

When entering a zone: Screen wakes up (if asleep).
When going through a zone: a short beep will periodically remind you; i.e. by popular demand - no repeating sirens, lol!
When exiting a zone: The Warning Notification will automatically cancel itself, and give an audible alert, and the screen will sleep (if it was asleep before the alert).
If GPS is disabled when the app starts, it will ask you if you want to enable GPS & bring you to the Settings screen.

N.B. I tested having silence during a zone, but found that on long zones where it's a couple of minutes driving I wondered if the app was doing anything. I knew it was because I looked at the output on the laptop, but I found the beep reassuring that it was still detecting. There will be 4 or less beeps per minute.

Hope this makes the app better to use, tbh enjoyed it more. It still ain't perfect, but it's improving imho.
Thanks for you suggestions and please be generous with your rating on the app market

Al

Slaanesh · 10-06-2011 08:41AM

Consider possibly making the delay and notification noises user configurable.

althinking · 10-06-2011 02:34PM

Slaanesh wrote: »

Consider possibly making the delay and notification noises user configurable.

Absolutely. From feedback I'm getting people want choice & customization:

So the next release will have options so you can tell the app what do when entering a zone, while in a zone, and when exiting a zone. The options will be whether to play a sound, vibrate, switch screen on; each of which will be customisable for each of the above 3 scenarios.
I'll also try to include picking the sounds from the sounds already on your phone. - it seems the siren is love/hate, so choice is power.
[bugfix] I'll also get it to respect the mode the phone is in (silent/vibrate).

Al

srsly78 · 10-06-2011 02:46PM

Can I get the icon in corn-flower blue please?

tallus · 13-06-2011 08:45AM

Working fine on my Desire HD.
Thanks OP.

Lochlannach · 24-06-2011 12:00PM

I seem to be having an issue with this on my desire. I installed yesterday evening and started the service (and gps) when leaving the office. My drive home takes me through two of our "safety" camera zones and I got no alert for either. Tried it again this morning but no better. It doesn't seem to be locking the gps - i.e. the icon seems to be constantly in search mode. As soon as I fire up anything else that uses the gps it is fine? Anyone have any similar issues?

althinking · 24-06-2011 11:16PM

Lochlannach wrote: »

I seem to be having an issue with this on my desire. I installed yesterday evening and started the service (and gps) when leaving the office. My drive home takes me through two of our "safety" camera zones and I got no alert for either. Tried it again this morning but no better. It doesn't seem to be locking the gps - i.e. the icon seems to be constantly in search mode. As soon as I fire up anything else that uses the gps it is fine? Anyone have any similar issues?

Hi Lochlannach,
Firstly, thanks for the feedback

1) Can you check the database is 100% (from version 1.1 on there's a button to do this)
2) The app needs to have visibility of GPS satellites to get a location fix; so locating it on the car windscreen is optimal. Having it on the centre console tends to give unreliable GPS fix - unless of course you have an open-top car lol
3) The app periodically checks the location - so it will tend to check - get a fix - wait - check - etc. If it can't get a fix then it will persistently blink while it searches.
4) I've just released version 1.2.1 this evening - it contains a minor bug fix to do with playing media files - so not related to the issue you're reporting.

Let me know how you get on.

Lochlannach · 24-06-2011 11:27PM

1) Database confirmed as 100%
2) I mounted it on the windscreen in the same way as when using it as a satnav. I also confirmed that the satnav software (sygic) was able to get a gps lock at the time I noticed the issue with this app.

I will be travelling to and from Mayo tomorrow and therefore will be crossing in and out of several zones - I intend to use this as an opportunity to test the app and will post up tomorrow night with my results.

Thoie · 24-06-2011 11:51PM

Just installed it on the HTC Desire Z and the install went OK. I'll take it out on the road for a trial tomorrow, there's a zone not too far from me so will see what happens.

I pressed the "Test" button and nearly went through the roof though - glad I tried it out before hitting a zone or I might have crashed the car

I was expecting a gentile beep, or a "You are entering a safety camera zone".

althinking · 25-06-2011 12:14AM

I just road-tested the latest version (1.2.1) and it's working as expected.

fwiw I always test the app before publishing it, when satisfied I publish it, then download the updated version directly from the app market and road-test it again.
But there are so many different android platforms and potential bugs it's always possible something will pop-up. It's very helpful to developers when a bug is reported (hit the Report button). When you do that, the developer gets (anonymous) info indicating where in our code the bug appeared - then we can try fix it

Lochlannach · 27-06-2011 12:17PM

Right I further tested this app on the road on Saturday. I'm not sure what happened the previous time I was attempting to use it but it worked fine for my Kildare - Mayo - Kildare run.

I have a slight question mark over the accuracy of the detection of the zones. In Mountmellick I was apparently in a zone all the way through the town but there are in fact two zones at either end of the town - it may be that it tracked me as entering the zone one end though in reality I use the roundabout at the beginning of the zone from another direction and then didn't "let go" until I got out through the zone the other end of the town?

Something else I noticed was the app doesn't appear to distinguish between the route being travelled and any crossing routes which may have zones on them. An example is the zone on th R417 which crosses the M7 near Monasterevin. The app gave me a warning while travelling on the M7 whereas the zone is on the R417. I must also check sometime whether it gives another false positive on the M7 between Newbridge and Kildare town - the zone is on the old Dublin road but this runs right beside the motorway.

I would agree with the requests to make the alerts user configurable. I would also like to see the notification be a little more obvious - maybe a pop-up of the camera icon - as with the radio on it's not always easy to hear the notification and just having the screen turn on is not all that noticeable?

thebman · 27-06-2011 02:28PM

Would be great if you could integrate this to Navit.

Their dbus page is here:
http://wiki.navit-project.org/index.php/Dbus

Would be awesome if you could get it to popup a message on this or something along those lines

You can hop on their IRC to get more info I guess. I was on there earlier and they are friendly and helpful on IRC.

I was talking to them about getting Loc8 integration so if we could get this and Loc8 integrated, Navit would be sorted for Ireland

FREE Android app - Garda safety vans

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