f'king software... grumble, grumble

Chicon app update:

We should have the test file available today.  We thought we had it an hour about but the build doesn't load on iPhone and currently we can't figure out why.

For iPhone users, the latest version is available as a webapp at: http://staging.viafo.info/chicon/

Things we know about this:
- There are still Reno logos in here
- The 'upcoming items' tab breaks the app - don't press it...  this is because the feed is missing (we're looking at 2 fixes for this)
- The Convention Floor Plan map is missing - a file didn't get copied... it'll be there later
- Maps don't zoom...  we are currently fucked if we know why
- The dates are in UK data format...  this is currently a feature, not a bug.  At least that's what my UK based developer says

On the first run it might be a bit slow while it handles a 1MB JSON file of data.

Chicon 7 Android App APK for Alpha Testing

Because of the delays we had with the offline functionality there’s still some problems in this so please read the RELEASE NOTES.  I’m looking for crashes, stuff that doesn’t seem to work (outside of the items listed)…

The oldest device we’ve run on is a Samsung Galaxy S running Android 2.3 – it works, but the performance is pretty poor.

INSTALLATION

1. 1.       Get the APK file from here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12566352/Chicon7.apk
2. 2.       Connect your Android device to the phone
3. 3.       Copy the APK to the file system
4. 4.       Find the APK in the File Explorer
5. 5.       Run the APK
6. 6.       The App currently appears as something called “MainActivity” it’s a known bug, it will be fixed

RELEASE NOTES: i.e. stuff we know is broken… mostly minor

1. 1.       There’s no icons and no splash screen
2. 2.       The Android App throws an ‘error’ on launch, click on the OK and the app will load fine
3. 3.       Upcoming and Program Changes are currently broken – if you press these, something bad will happen – this will be fixed shortly
4. 4.       Navigation – we have a problem with portrait mode, you have to press an item to the right hand side of the menu and ‘slide’ it across… we’re working on that
5. 5.       The Convention Floor map is missing
6. 6.       Zoom isn’t working on maps… we are currently buggered if we know why

Anything outside of this, let me know.

FEATURES BEING WORKED ON:

1. 1.       Add custom event to My Program
2. 2.       Zoom on Maps
3. 3.       Search

I can’t guarantee we’ll add any of these at this stage.

EDITS:

• It might mention it's not a Marketplace app - ignore this, it isn't yet
• Settings on Android doesn't do anything...  this is a wrapped HTML5 app...  settings are in the About section
• The UI can be laggy on older devices...  not a lot we can do about that.  It's not great on an iPhone 3 either

Colour me happy

Ok, good feedback so far on the app.

The replies fit into 'sane' buckets:

1. Crap that's broken that we knew was broken
2. Crap that's broken that we'd missed (YAY for testers)
3. Crap that's broken and we know we can't fix it (BOO!)
4. Features people don't like - sorry
5. Feature requests - if they can be done in 8 hours of coding they may get in
6. People unhappy with the quality of the data...

Item 5 is tricky because there's a) bugger all we can do about it and b) some of the junk characters make things look bad.

Anyway, given it now works off line, and, I hope will have search by tomorrow, I think this is going to be great.

I just wish we could have got 'zoom' working.

Dear Gun Loving Idiot from Jay Lake's Blog

1) If you can't find information about the facts of what Tony Martin did - learn to use Google(1)
2) Go away and learn some basic maths.  You're off by quite a lot in your maths - and, btw, the UK homicide rate is 1.5 per 100,000 not over 4
3) So the fact that 79% of the population don't want more guns trumps some fuck wit on YouTube?
4) And I'm going to say this slowly.  THE GUN OWNERSHIP RATE IN THE UK PRE-1997 WAS TOO LOW TO AFFECT CRIME RATES EVEN IF SUCH A CORRELATION EXISTS, WHICH IS NOT CLEAR

Basically, you're an idiot.  Stop while you're behind.

Oh and if you want me to take you seriously.  Stop posting from an anonymous account and sign your fucking name.

(1) But I'm kind so here's a link - http://www.mail-archive.com/cybershooters@mail-it.com/msg00033.html

The things about Tony Martin is there are actually very few states in the US where what he did wouldn't have landed him in court.  You don't get to shoot someone, leave the scene of the crime and return the next morning and find a dead body where they won't arrest you on the spot.