Hi all,
I've started to develop an app which is location-based. It makes it easy to get directions from Google maps (include mass transit trips), finding businesses and other establishment near to something, (by name or by keyword), and keeping your own database of important points. It also interfaces with a GPS receiver, and should remind you of items as you come near to them (location-based reminders instead of date/time ones). I'm not sure what features should be in this app, and so rather than looking for beta testers, I'm looking for folks who wish to test out the app as it is at the moment, and could help me envision what features are needed; and given what it does do, how could it do those things better? This is especially important to me as I don't have a lot of time to work on it, and so would like to come close to what's useful to everyone right from the start. Below is the little descriptive bit I've written for the help at the moment: Beta Software! This app is very very beta; it's being distributed to ask the opinions/suggestions of others as to how it might be designed better, what features would be most useful if included, etc. It's not at the stage where I'm concerned about flushing out every little bug (yet). This app requires the shared object app named "GPS" to be installed. If it isn't present the app will offer to download and install it for you. You should allow this to happen. The GPS app can interface with a GPS receiver, but one is not required. The GPS app however is still needed even if you do not have a GPS receiver connected, as it provides support location-based programming. This app will eventually allow you to create and edit two databases: one of points of interest (using GPS coordinates), and the other of reminders related to specific points in your points of interest database. Add points to the app's points of interest database (either from your current GPS location or from an address), and then you can add reminders to the app's reminders database which are linked to the points. One of the expected features of this app will be if you have a connected GPS receiver, when you come within the specified range of a point which has a reminder, the app will take the specified action (play a sound, speak a message, etc.). (this functionality is not currently working in this beta). This app also gives you access to some of the Google+, Google Places, and Google Maps features such as showing you near-by places to a location, showing you places based on searching criteria, and access to Google Maps directions for driving, walking, or using mass transit to get from one location to another. The locations can be addresses you enter or points in your POI database, or some location near-by to one of these. The "Get Directions" feature of this app is the one which is likely to function the best at the moment. It does require an internet connection to use. This functionality is available via the menu items of the Apps menu for this app. Some of the other app features do require that the app knows your current location; if you aren't using a GPS receiver, then right now you need to be running Windows 7 or later and you need to go into the control panel and enter your current address (via the "Location and Other Sensors" choice; and then choose "default location"). I'll add a way to store your default address in the app's .ini soon. If you are using XP, you can still experience some of the functionality; you can add a point, and when its address is fully specified in the dialog, you can make use of a command-button in the dialog to see "near-by places", but you will not be able to use the "Search near-by" app menu choice. If you'd like to hear me demo it as it is, you can download an mp3 demo from the link below: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/11745142/rmw.mp3 If after hearing this you'd like to try it out and help with suggestions for design, you can download the app from: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/11745142/Remind_Me_Where.wepm It's all open source and contains many examples of interacting with web sites using XML, and keeping data in large access databases, as well as utilizing GPS coordinates for any developer who'd like such examples. Please let me know if you try it, and what you think as to what it needs (even if what you think is that it's not for you after all). Thanks. Chip [email protected]
