LiveATC iPhone App Now Available

[dave]

Dave,
Any idea when V1.0.2 will be available?

It is available now...sorry, I forgot to post that here.   You should get updated immediately when you sync.

Dave

[dave]

Cool new features coming soon in v1.1 of the iPhone app:

- Nearby (uses iPhone location to show you airports near you, along with distance)
- ATC channel keeps playing while you navigate for new channel
- Top 50 Channels

Looking for 2-3 more good and interested beta testers.  If you have not purchased the app PM me.

[dave]

1) Still looking for another beta tester or two.  Has to be someone who has not purchased the iPhone app already.  Email or PM me.   

2) If you like the app, please give it a good review in iTunes - good reviews really help out.  We are doing well so far, but can always use more help.  Some reviewers complain about things that have nothing to do at all wth the app, but that's part of the risk of running a service that an app interfaces with. 

New, cool features coming in version 1.1 pretty soon!

[romeoyankee]

is it necessary to update the whole database once the application loads?  99% of the time I am opening the program and going to my favorite feeds.  I dont need a full database update because I am not going to be searching through the feeds.. What if you did it per page or something.  Click on USA and old the USA gets updated.  Might save some bandwidth and some load time.

just a though.  other then that its great

[WEStJet91DL]

is there some way you could get it to keep playing while navigating different parts of the iTouch/iPhone? like how the standard ipod app does? just an idea.. 

[dave]

is it necessary to update the whole database once the application loads?  99% of the time I am opening the program and going to my favorite feeds.  I dont need a full database update because I am not going to be searching through the feeds.. What if you did it per page or something.  Click on USA and old the USA gets updated.  Might save some bandwidth and some load time.

just a though.  other then that its great

The database changes pretty often.  But, we only fully load it (despite what the message says on launch) when there is a change.  The app checks whether any changes have been made every time it launches, and only pulls a new database if changes have been made.  It takes very minimal bandwidth to do this.  If it seems a little bit slow, that is just network latency if you are on a slower connection. 

To disable this for some users based on a stored preference would add a layer of complexity that most folks don't need, in my opinion.  Trying to keep things simple.  But will keep it on the list of wishes in case it fits in with future planned changes.

[dave]

is there some way you could get it to keep playing while navigating different parts of the iTouch/iPhone? like how the standard ipod app does? just an idea.. 

I don't know of any audio player besides the iPod player that is allowed to do that.  You have to be as cool as Apple (and own the platform) to be able to do that. 

Version 1.1 (in final testing) of LiveATC Air Radio keeps the stream playing when you navigate around the app looking for another feed to tune in. 

[romeoyankee]

Thanks for the reply Dave!  Just figured it would save some time. Not that it really takes that long anyways.

As for the app playing in the background isn't that stipulated in apples tos that every app must kill on exit?

A sweet way around that is jailbreaking the iPhone and downloading an app called Backgrounder. This let's you minimize apps to the springboard without having to close them. So you can listen to liveatc while browsing in safari or sending a text.

[athaker]

How about a dedicated app for blackberry now that iphone is up and running?

[dave]

How about a dedicated app for blackberry now that iphone is up and running?

I am looking into a dedicated app for the Blackberry.  But no ETA on it at this time.

Also looking into some other platforms - stay tuned.

[romeoyankee]

How about a tab with an iPhone optimized version of the forums?

[sunburn]

How about a tab with an iPhone optimized version of the forums?

^^ i second this. i'm always checking the forum through the iphone.

[dave]

There is a built-in mobile version but it is set up for WAP, which doesn't offer much in terms of features (i.e., not worth it).  Definitely does not offer posting.  When the new version of the forum software comes out (it is in Release Candidate status) I will look at upgrading, especially if it offers better mobile access capability.

[romeoyankee]

hey dave have you looked at some of the SMF themes that force the forum ONLY if using an iphone/ipod touch?

i have seen a bunch of them and some look good...

heres a quick link to one.. (i really havent looked too hard into it but i have the one working for my wordpress blog working pretty well)

heres a couple links i just found quick on google.

http://www.perkiset.org/forum/smf_discussion/the_iphone_smf_theme_project-t1343.0.html

http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=206561.0

[romeoyankee]

or just find a good iphone optimized theme and add it.. that way the user could choose to select the theme individually.  I normally only access the forums on my iphone.  so I set it and then it only gets seen by me once i log in.  nothing saying that it has to be system default.