Food and Drink NEW messaging app, need testers and feedback!

**AustinChief** · 02:40 AM

ok, so I had another hairbrained idea and decided to try and see if I could do it. After exactly two weeks of learning the Android SDK and relearning Java.. I think I may have something worth testing.

Here is the basic idea...

In a town like Austin, you have a ton of youngish people who go out a lot. They also tend to go all over to different spots depending on whats going on, specials, etc... So, my idea was to make an app that facilitates that. Basically like an instant Evite/Facebook event type of thing.

So the app installs on your phone (Android right now, if it doesn't suck I'll add iPhone and Windows) then you can create groups from your phone's contact list. Now, when you decide to go out, you click the app, click a group, then you get a screen where you pick a day/time and you get a dropdown of LOCATIONS... these are prepopulated based on your area. (right now it is hardcoded to Austin but could be anywhere) .. when you pick a location (bar) it shows you info on the place and what is going on, then you can hit NEXT and send the prepolulated message. The message reads like "I'm headed to %LOCATION% around %TIME/DAY%. You should join me! -%name%" It then adds a LINK to the bottom that says "click here to let me know if your coming"

This is the cool part. The people you sent to will get a text with a unique link that they can click and get a mobile page where they see the same bar info with a map link and a yes/no button to let you know if they are coming. They can also click to see who else is coming and if those people have said yes/no or not responded yet.

That's the basic gist of it.. there is a lot more and future plans.. if it doesn't suck. What do you guys think so far?

APK for android phones http://www.rucom.in/apk/MeetMeOut.apk

MOCK UP is now online at http://rucom.in/mock/index.html

**AustinChief** · 08-12-2012, 04:41 AM

OH, almost forgot. It also instantly sends a notification to your phone to let you know who responded and if you click it, open the app to the RSVP page to show you who is coming.

I had to buy a shortish URL to use for the links.. so I got RUCOM.IN .. so at the bottom of the text it will read like...

"Click below to let me know... http://RUCOM.IN/4x2g I plan to work on the .htaccess file and set it so it will instead look like RUCOM.IN?--6d76

The data is all pulled from EventZombie and eventually I plan to integrate it into the app so you can browse EventZombie until you find a spot then have a button on the page to let you directly launch the app and send invites.

**Shogun** · 08-12-2012, 04:41 AM

So its like Foursquare?

**AustinChief** · 08-12-2012, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shogun

So its like Foursquare?

You're the second person to say that. I have worked with 4square(in their API) since they started at SXSW a few years back and I don't see much similarity. 4square only lets you know where someone is AFTER the fact and has no true interactivity. It's not like I see a friend has checked in somewhere so I rush across town to meet them. but yeah I need to address the confusion on that point because obviously people THINK it is similar.

This is much closer to Evite except text message based and much simpler/easier.

On a side note.. I did a test to see if it truly save times/hassle.

On a standard Android phone to send a group message you have to 1)open text messaging 2)create new 3)open contacts 4)open groups 5)pick the group 6) pick members of group (we'll assume one click on SELECT ALL) 7) confirm 8) type your message 9)hit send

Not a huge hassle but not exactly streamlined

With this app you 1)open app 2)click MEET UP 3)click the group 4)pick time 5) pick date (it is set for NOW already so you could skip these steps, most times skipping the day at least) 6) pick location 7)click next 8)edit prepolulated message (again most times skipped) 9)click send

so AT MOST it's the same number of steps but normally it is a few steps less and you don't have to type out the message.. and of course the real advantage is that you get bar info at you fingertips AND the people you send to get the same info and map etc AND it tracks it all so you know who is coming.

**AustinChief** · 08-12-2012, 04:54 AM

It also lets' you add custom location that will be saved for future use.. so you could put "Phil's Turkish Bath" and then next time you use the app it is in the dropdown list for your convenience.

I'll probably also add a way to save custom messages in case you don;t like the default one... of course you can always edit it before sending either way.

**Shogun** · 08-12-2012, 04:55 AM

Well it sounds like it could be helpful. Whenever its ready i'd try it out and see what its all about

**AustinChief** · 08-12-2012, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shogun

Well it sounds like it could be helpful. Whenever its ready i'd try it out and see what its all about

cool! I have a rough ALPHA on my phone now.. but it is very rough right now. It will be awhile before I am at a point to make it look nice, right now I just want it functional. BUT I'd love to get some feedback before I go much further. I'll try to get an APK up shortly.

**AustinChief** · 08-12-2012, 05:22 AM

Ok here is the APK...

WARNING! This has only been tested on my phone (Samsung Galaxy SII) and various emulators.

Also, it REALLY sends text messages, so you may want to make a test contact that has you own phone number and add just that contact to your test group. That is how I am testing and it works fine and let's you see both sides of what is going on.

OK.. the APK is at http://www.rucom.in/apk/MeetMeOut.apk

To install it, just go to that link on your phone and it will download the file. Once the file is downloaded, just click it and it should install.

**Gonzo** · 08-12-2012, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Ok here is the APK...

WARNING! This has only been tested on my phone (Samsung Galaxy SII) and various emulators.

Also, it REALLY sends text messages, so you may want to make a test contact that has you own phone number and add just that contact to your test group. That is how I am testing and it works fine and let's you see both sides of what is going on.

OK.. the APK is at http://www.rucom.in/apk/MeetMeOut.apk

To install it, just go to that link on your phone and it will download the file. Once the file is downloaded, just click it and it should install.

No good with IPhone, (safari issue).
I'm sure you knew that but just wanted to make sure.

**AustinChief** · 08-12-2012, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzo

No good with IPhone, (safari issue).
I'm sure you knew that but just wanted to make sure.

oh yeah, DON'T download the apk for iPhone.. APKs are just Android apps.. I will make an iPhone version if this one seems viable. Problem with iPhone is that I will have to buy a freakin Mac to do it... they only let you program on Macs. bastards!

What's cool about this app is that it will still work for SENDING to people with ANY type of phone that can receive texts and get online. So even though you can't use the app to send, if I sent you an invite you could click the link and RSVP anyway.

**AustinChief** · 08-12-2012, 06:49 AM

OH, and right after I put the APK up I realized that I left a major issue unresolved... upgrades! I just added a new section to the code that lets me send a secret message out to anyone with the app that forces them to upgrade next time they use it. This way if a bunch of people download it to beta test and then I change a ton of stuff... it won;t just BREAK the app but instead let them know to d/l a new apk.

(That's what I've been doing the last hour)

**AustinChief** · 08-12-2012, 07:27 AM

Anyone who doesn't want to test the app, can at least see what the text would look like when you click the link.

This works on desktops but is formatted for phones.. so it'll be much better if you use your phone to open it.

http://rucom.in/f

**AustinChief** · 08-12-2012, 07:31 AM

JUST A HEADS UP.. I know the UI is crap. This is just a test of functionality... that said, I'd love any feedback anyone has regarding how it should look or the general flow of things.

**AustinChief** · 08-12-2012, 06:31 PM

No one daring enough to try it on their phone yet?

Dr. Johnny Fever · 08-12-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

No one daring enough to try it on their phone yet?

Can I try it on a GoPhone? How about a rotary landline?

08-12-2012, 04:36 AM
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $-614998	NEW messaging app, need testers and feedback! ok, so I had another hairbrained idea and decided to try and see if I could do it. After exactly two weeks of learning the Android SDK and relearning Java.. I think I may have something worth testing. Here is the basic idea... In a town like Austin, you have a ton of youngish people who go out a lot. They also tend to go all over to different spots depending on whats going on, specials, etc... So, my idea was to make an app that facilitates that. Basically like an instant Evite/Facebook event type of thing. So the app installs on your phone (Android right now, if it doesn't suck I'll add iPhone and Windows) then you can create groups from your phone's contact list. Now, when you decide to go out, you click the app, click a group, then you get a screen where you pick a day/time and you get a dropdown of LOCATIONS... these are prepopulated based on your area. (right now it is hardcoded to Austin but could be anywhere) .. when you pick a location (bar) it shows you info on the place and what is going on, then you can hit NEXT and send the prepolulated message. The message reads like "I'm headed to %LOCATION% around %TIME/DAY%. You should join me! -%name%" It then adds a LINK to the bottom that says "click here to let me know if your coming" This is the cool part. The people you sent to will get a text with a unique link that they can click and get a mobile page where they see the same bar info with a map link and a yes/no button to let you know if they are coming. They can also click to see who else is coming and if those people have said yes/no or not responded yet. That's the basic gist of it.. there is a lot more and future plans.. if it doesn't suck. What do you guys think so far? APK for android phones http://www.rucom.in/apk/MeetMeOut.apk MOCK UP is now online at http://rucom.in/mock/index.html Last edited by AustinChief; 08-24-2012 at 02:40 AM..
Posts: 20,005

08-12-2012, 04:41 AM	#2
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $-614998	OH, almost forgot. It also instantly sends a notification to your phone to let you know who responded and if you click it, open the app to the RSVP page to show you who is coming. I had to buy a shortish URL to use for the links.. so I got RUCOM.IN .. so at the bottom of the text it will read like... "Click below to let me know... http://RUCOM.IN/4x2g I plan to work on the .htaccess file and set it so it will instead look like RUCOM.IN?--6d76 The data is all pulled from EventZombie and eventually I plan to integrate it into the app so you can browse EventZombie until you find a spot then have a button on the page to let you directly launch the app and send invites.
Posts: 20,005

08-12-2012, 04:54 AM	#5
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $-614998	It also lets' you add custom location that will be saved for future use.. so you could put "Phil's Turkish Bath" and then next time you use the app it is in the dropdown list for your convenience. I'll probably also add a way to save custom messages in case you don;t like the default one... of course you can always edit it before sending either way.
Posts: 20,005

08-12-2012, 05:22 AM	#8
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $-614998	Ok here is the APK... WARNING! This has only been tested on my phone (Samsung Galaxy SII) and various emulators. Also, it REALLY sends text messages, so you may want to make a test contact that has you own phone number and add just that contact to your test group. That is how I am testing and it works fine and let's you see both sides of what is going on. OK.. the APK is at http://www.rucom.in/apk/MeetMeOut.apk To install it, just go to that link on your phone and it will download the file. Once the file is downloaded, just click it and it should install.
Posts: 20,005

08-12-2012, 06:49 AM	#11
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $-614998	OH, and right after I put the APK up I realized that I left a major issue unresolved... upgrades! I just added a new section to the code that lets me send a secret message out to anyone with the app that forces them to upgrade next time they use it. This way if a bunch of people download it to beta test and then I change a ton of stuff... it won;t just BREAK the app but instead let them know to d/l a new apk. (That's what I've been doing the last hour)
Posts: 20,005

08-12-2012, 07:27 AM	#12
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $-614998	Anyone who doesn't want to test the app, can at least see what the text would look like when you click the link. This works on desktops but is formatted for phones.. so it'll be much better if you use your phone to open it. http://rucom.in/f
Posts: 20,005

08-12-2012, 07:31 AM	#13
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $-614998	JUST A HEADS UP.. I know the UI is crap. This is just a test of functionality... that said, I'd love any feedback anyone has regarding how it should look or the general flow of things.
Posts: 20,005

08-12-2012, 06:31 PM	#14
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $-614998	No one daring enough to try it on their phone yet?
Posts: 20,005