TransitTimes iPhone app comes to Canberra

c_c said :

Jim Jones said :

All in all, it’s a *lot* easier to create and distribute an iOS app than an android app.

I actually disagree. As an Android and iPhone developer, trust me when I say its MUCH easier to develop on Android, and even easier to deploy. With iPhone you have to deal with certificates, a limited number of UDID’s, a pre-defined set of graphics, a 99$ yearly fee alongside a mandatory Mac to develop, AND an approval process which can take up to a month in my experience. With Android, you have 1 certificate, unlimited test devices, no approval process, on any Desktop OS, and much more open in terms of graphics. Granted, if you dont know what you are doing, iPhone is better because it takes care of a workable UI for you and through the approval process ensures its good, but if you do know what you are doing like you would hope most developers would, the upsides to Android outweigh the downsides 20 times over.

thatsnotme said :

So I guess if you’ve got a Wi-Fi only iPad or iPod Touch, it might be useful. For everyone else, I guess they’re hoping that ignorance of free alternatives, and/or a prettier interface will be enough to make them some money.

For Android users and iPhone now I think, there is that MyBus app those uni guys made..Imagine Team I think it was. It works really well…it doesnt have a trip planner like this one, but I guess if you’re looking for free and solid, use Google Maps along side the MyBus app if you already know your bus routes and wanted to check up the times. Besides, wasn’t it them that got the GTFS data used in Google Maps to begin with? Lol.

I guess the main thing this app has going for it versus using Google’s transit info is that it doesn’t require an internet connection. Although I’m assuming that the ‘Includes up-to-date official service alert information’ feature would need a connection…otherwise it’d be fairly not up to date. On the other hand, the current ‘service alert information’ is lacking at best, so it’s not a big loss.

So I guess if you’ve got a Wi-Fi only iPad or iPod Touch, it might be useful. For everyone else, I guess they’re hoping that ignorance of free alternatives, and/or a prettier interface will be enough to make them some money.

Marquis-boy said :

*confused* I just used Google Transit for free via the Maps app on my Android phone.
https://www.action.act.gov.au/googletransit/default.html

Action’s page mentions both ios and Android. Assuming Google maps is a free service on iphone, why pay for this app?

I had a similar experience. I havent caught a bus in 20 years and needed to the other day. It was as simple as going to the Action website on my Iphone, typing in where I was and where i wanted to go, it took me to google maps, showed me the route and then gave me exact instructions on what to do. Walk 300m to bus stop, catch 313 etc. Worked perfrectly.

*confused* I just used Google Transit for free via the Maps app on my Android phone.
https://www.action.act.gov.au/googletransit/default.html

Action’s page mentions both ios and Android. Assuming Google maps is a free service on iphone, why pay for this app?

Jim Jones said :

All in all, it’s a *lot* easier to create and distribute an iOS app than an android app.

Thats very true. Theres a lot of evidence now that developers are souring on Android because of fragmentation.

Having to cope with multiple builds, on multiple devices with different specs and with multiple manufacturer overlays.

People make a big deal about choice and how Apple is a walled garden. Well, a walled garden never held RIM back in its heyday and we can see the method to such “madness” now that Android has matured.

Windows phone too is suffering from this. Microsoft has refused t confirm current handsets can update to WP8. Which certainly makes Apple’s planned obsoleteness look generous by comparison.

Deref said :

Odd, considering that Android significantly outsells iOS AFAIK. You’d think they’d go with the more popular OS first.

(My phone runs neither iOS nor Android.)

iOS apps are sold from a single market place – Android apps have a feckload of separate providers.

iOS apps outsell Android apps fairly significantly.

All in all, it’s a *lot* easier to create and distribute an iOS app than an android app.

Odd, considering that Android significantly outsells iOS AFAIK. You’d think they’d go with the more popular OS first.

(My phone runs neither iOS nor Android.)

davo101 said :

Zeital said :

i had a look at the icon and all i can think is why did we get the one with the boat?

Yes, I was having the same thought as I travelled to work this morning by–train.

Touché, but at least we do have a train going out of canberra XD

Zeital said :

i had a look at the icon and all i can think is why did we get the one with the boat?

Yes, I was having the same thought as I travelled to work this morning by–train.

i had a look at the icon and all i can think is why did we get the one with the boat?