Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Apple expedited version 6.5 - available now

Good news!

I found out that Apple has a process for expediting the app review and release process.  This can only be used in extraordinary circumstances, but I tried my luck as I thought the Streetcar issues and iOS6 bugs were quite bad.  They agreed - so this release was reviewed in about 17 hours (as opposed to a week). This may be the only time I'm allowed to do this.

Here is what version 6.5 contains:

  • Full support for New Portland Streetcar Central Loop Line, including Streetcar map. (The original data all the developers were given was wrong so I had to do a quick update to make it work).
  • iOS6: Fixed crash when GPS finds no nearby stops (a hidden issue that only showed up on iOS6).
  • iOS6: Fixed calendaring (users have to give permission to use the calendar)
  • iOS6: Fixed orientation issues.  (Here's what happened:  Apple changed the way that apps detect that the device has be re-oriented in iOS6, and I didn't notice).
Bad news!

I know of one bug remaining - the stop at NW 10th and Northrup (ID 13604) only shows CL line arrivals.  I think this is a news stop on the NS line also, judging by the ID,  so I missed it.  A fix will be presented for this next week.

Here is the new streetcar map in action:



Friday, September 21, 2012

Version 6.4 will be available today!

This version is all about iOS6!


  1. Support for the new streetcar loop DOES NOT WORK.  The problem is all the developers were given incorrect information about how the data would work, and it is too late for me to fix in this release!  I will update this next week, I already have the code updated but it takes time to test.
  2. Initial support for new iOS6 map routing - if you ask for a transit route in the map and the route starts and ends within the TriMet area, the new map app will load up PDX Bus and use the routing in PDX Bus.
  3. Initial support for iOS6.  Full screen iPhone 5!
  4. Unfortunately this will not support the original iPhone running iOS3 or anything earlier than iOS 4.3.  If many people ask I could make a new app just for that - but very few people are still using those devices.

There is a known bug:  in iOS6 PDX Bus will crash if the location services screen fails to find a stop. I found this too late - it is also in the previous version so this is no worse.  :-( I have the fix, it will also be fixed next week.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

PDX Bus, new street car loop and iOS6

There is a lot going on in the iPhone world.  Here's an outline of what I am doing:

The next release (6.4) will contain:
(1) Initial support for the new streetcar loop.  (The data for the street car comes from a different company than TriMet, and the app has to do work to "mash up" the data to make it look seamless.  I can't really test this in advance so I hope it will work!).  This is only partial support as detours and station search will not yet work.
(2) Initial support for new iOS6 map routing - if you ask for a transit route in the map and the route starts and ends within the TriMet area, the new map app will load up PDX Bus and use the routing in PDX Bus.
(3) Initial support for iOS6.  I don't yet know if I will support the new screen size for iPhone 5 in the first drop - but I am getting one on the 21st (wooo hoooo!) so I will be working that eventually.
(4) Unfortunately this will not support the original iPhone running iOS3 or anything earlier than iOS 4.3.  If many people ask I could make a new app just for that - but very few people are still using those devices.

Release 6.5 will contain:
(1) Full support for the new streetcar, maybe even a map, station search and detours.
(2) Full support for iOS6.