Development stuff [updated]
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 Comments 9Posted in Blog, Geode, Weekly Update
Update: Figured I’d attach a few screenshots at the bottom, enjoy!
I thought I’d put out a quick update on development progress made this week and stuff that’s still remaining to be completed.
First off, I’ve re-written the GPX parsing and database code for a performance improvement of about 80%. This involved migrating the code from using the slightly-more-friendly NSXMLParser class to the slightly-less-friendly-but-more-efficient libxml2 library. A huge performance gain was also had by making use of bulk transactions in SQLite during the import process.
Several cosmetic changes were also implemented. The cache listing screen was cleaned up and we made room to show the cache size, difficulty, terrain, and compass direction to the cache from your current location – all while keeping it clean and usable at a glance. The search feature of the listing screen has had some bugs removed and has been enhanced to be more visually intuitive. The cache details screen has been slightly rearranged and now has some new features. We’ve got an integrated browser for navigating to the original cache page, as well as pulling up travel bug details.
There are several things currently in progress:
- Adding support for recording notes and photos with caches
- Adding Found / DNF indicators to the logs
- Completing the settings screen
- Getting mapping implemented
- Getting the compass functioning
- Getting the sync apps written
I’m sure there’s more that I’ve left out. I’m spending as much time as I can working through these features to get a version out there in the app store for everyone that’s been waiting. I don’t have a timeline to promise anybody, all I can say is I’m working as fast as I can. I’ll try to get a new video up soon.
Annaud
October 7, 2008
Thanks for updates! They really makes me fell satisfied with waiting
Peter
October 8, 2008
Thank you for the update. In the meanwhile, Groundspeak has published their iPhone app to the Appstore, will be release within the next 1-2 days (according to the forum entries).
I think, a lot of Geocachers will buy the Groundspeak app, but first let’s see how usabe and robust it is – I will wait for the first reviews before I take any decision about buying it or waiting for Geode to be released.
Hope your product will be released soon too!
Greetings from Germany
Peter
Nero
October 8, 2008
Thanks im glad to see an update on development.
Matthew Roberts
October 9, 2008
How much will the app be when it is launched?
LargeNoggin
October 12, 2008
The screen shots look very impressive. I have purchased the geocaching.com application. It looks very nice, but is not very functional yet. Cache limit is 20 and most all “veteran” geocachers will be frustrated by inability to filter and/or use GPX queries.
I suspect future updates may bring this functionality.
I know you want this to be perfect when you release it, but…..
I think most people don’t mind a small investment in a “work in progress”
ErikJ
October 12, 2008
I bought the geocaching.com application today. It seems to have problems figuring out my current location, which makes it useless. The geopher Lite does a better job of it and I’m sure the Geode application will be the best! I’m still looking forward to buying it when it comes out.
matt
October 13, 2008
@matthew – the application will be less than $10. i’m not certain the exact price yet.
@largenoggin – i agree about releasing it before it’s absolutely perfect. the only part that we have to get working before we do that are the sync apps, so people have a way to get GPX files on to the device. i’m hoping to get those working soon.
LargeNoggin
October 13, 2008
Yes…the ability to get the gpx files on the phone is a must.
I mentioned how the geocaching.com application is useless in that area. I forgot to mention,however, that the igeocacher application does have the ability to load GPX files on the phone and it works very,very well.
Also, to those that wonder if the iphone is “accurate enough”….I haven’t had a DNF using the iphone exclusively. probably 8-10 caches.
Zashkaser
August 5, 2009
I’m glad that after surfing the web for uch a long time I have found out this information. I’m really lucky.