Wherespresso iPhone App V1.02 – freezing bug fix

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Tim M

Wherespresso V1.02 Bug-fix

With downloads now approaching 800, the app is pretty solid now. The bugs we’re finding are the edge cases that the original beta testing didn’t pick up.

The latest version, 1.02, fixes a freezing bug whereby when you entered optional information when Adding a New Venue, then pressed “Back”, the app froze. Thanks to users Shannon L, Dan M, Chrizzle, Vadim and others for taking the time to give me the heads up.

We’ve pushed an update to the AppStore, which you can now download.

V1.03 News

V1.03 of the app will enable syncing of your favourites between the app and website. Whilst I really wanted to include it in the first version of the app, sometimes you have to make hard choices to exclude things in order to get something shipped. Given the app was 18 months late, I made the decision we could live without syncing.

This has unfortunately meant each new version of the app has caused the saved favourites list on the iPhone to be deleted. I know this is an utter pain, so this is the first thing I want to get fixed now all the bugs are pretty much fixed.

V1.03 will be released soon so stay tuned.

V1.04 onwards

There are multiple functionality sets and interface improvements slated for the app, and as usual, I’ll release those one by one to minimise the risk of new functionality causing an issue with the app.

The cafe rating input will be improved, opening hours entry fixed to be much easier; these are just to start with!

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Reader and beta tester madman Chris had a great feature suggestion for Wherespresso which led me to think: what other great ideas have you Wherespresso-philes got that are worth considering.

Before I throw open the floor, I’d like to highlight the Wherespresso Design Philosophy, which can be summarised thusly (yes, hugely inspired by our heroes 37Signals):

If you have an idea for Wherespresso (the site or app) I’d love to hear it. I can’t promise it will get implemented, but, if it’s a good idea, is in keeping with the Wherespresso Design Philosophy and makes the Wherespresso experience better for users, I’ll definitely consider it.

Some things to keep in mind.

  1. Features cost money. Each feature costs money to implement on the web site and in the app (2 sets of costs). Additionally, each feature causes feature loops (increased complexity). If I can’t remove a feature I generally won’t introduce one.
  2. Each feature request has to earn the right to be included (each request is met with a “no” at first).

And in case you’re worried that your request has dropped off the radar, I forget about each feature request until I keep seeing it get requested. Or, unless someone makes a really good case for it. So, don’t be upset if it appears as though it’s fallen on deaf ears; I am just making it earn its place.

So, Got a Request?

Drop your requests below in the comments.

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Tim M | Leave a comment

The Wherespresso site and app experience (UI and UX) has been hugely influenced by the guys at 37Signals. There’s no one who influences my thinking more than these guys (apart from maybe Seth Godin).

I wrote a case study on the Wherespresso Design Philosophy on one of my sites Get Implemented (GI is my small-business consulting business).

I think it makes for interesting reading – the WDP can be summarised thusly.

  • Have One Big Idea – Our big idea is to help you find and share the location of the best coffee. That’s it.
  • Build Less – We’re all so time poor these days that the last thing I want is to complicate things further. Keep it simple.
  • Perfection for Wherespresso will be reached not when everything is added, but when there is nothing left to take away.
  • Less Mass – this means simple and clean interfaces, making mistakes (but less of them) and everything else that goes with being lean and fast moving.
  • Embrace Constraints – Wherespresso has real constraints; constraints on having loads of money to be spent is the big one. I use my wages to fund development so funding is a good problem as it focuses the mind on what is truly important for end users and sustainability of the site.
  • Our Site and App takes sides – by building less, I remove decisions for users. Whilst this might piss some users off – “Oh why can’t I do such and such” – in reality, less decisions for users means more decisive action and a simpler user experience.
  • Build what matters – my first consideration with any new feature (suggested by someone else, or even that I think of is): “does this really matter? How will it make the user experience better”.
  • Feature Requests – are forgotten and met with a no, until the call for their implementation is too hard to ignore and I have to consider their worthiness.

This is a brief summary of a more in depth explanation, which you can read on GetImplemented if you’re interested.

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Tim M | Leave a comment

Why Isn’t There an Android Version of Your App?

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Tim M

I’ve had a lot of people Tweet and ask why there isn’t an Android version of the Wherespresso iPhone app.

Mobile Development is Expensive!

Mobile app development is expensive – mobile apps cost a lot of money to make. Think in order of $3,000-$5000 for a product you will essentially give away. On top of that, adding another platform means any changes to the site then have to be rolled out to two mobile platforms which makes things doubly expensive.

The feature roadmap for Wherespresso over the next 6-12 months is so strong and intense, that I would prefer to implement these features and get everything to where I want it to be, then implement an Android (and pure mobile) version. These development priorities will drive revenue, so they naturally crowd out a significant investment in a product that won’t directly drive revenue (yet).

Android Marketplace a Bit Flakey

Compared to Apple’s closed garden environment, the Android marketplace isn’t as clean and cohesive for users and developers (for those interested, I encourage you to read this article about the problems with Android).

Whilst this obviously is a result of Google’s choice to have a more open marketplace, it contrasts with Apple’s decision to concentrate on user experience above all else.

When the Android marketplace and the app ecosystem becomes a little cleaner, it will help the decision immensely.

Android Still on the Roadmap

Having said that, I definitely have an Android version on the roadmap, so I encourage Android users to show their support by signing up to the “Please Give Us an Android Version” mailing list here. By signing up, I’ll get a clear indication of the level of support for the Android version.

At the end of the day, Wherespresso has a clear revenue model that will see the iPhone app remain free forever and an almost total lack of monetisation through advertising – because really, when you think of features you’d like to see on a site, do you really say “I want more advertising!”? No way. So the planned features will help drive revenue, which will help support the rest of the site in a sustainable manner, which will see it grow for years to come, so we all win.

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Wherespresso V1.01 Bug fixes + new feature

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Tim M

Wherespresso V1.01 Bug-fix

Well, after over 500 downloads, I have been pretty chuffed at the lack of bugs. We’ve had some, but our core group of beta testers (6 people) caught 80% of the bugs (Pareto’s Principle in effect once again!).

However, thanks to a few people who took the time to send emails and screenshots (Steve H, DrMitcha, @ThomBrookePhoto), we found we had two bugs.

We’ve pushed an update to the AppStore, which you can now download.

Bug Fixes

  • Users were having difficulty signing up with a WSP account in-app – this is now fixed
  • Users were having difficulty signing up with Twitter (token issue) – this is now fixed
  • Cafes with long names had their names chopped off – this is now fixed

New Feature

Directions from your current location to a cafe is now included in cafe detail screen.

We’re in Constant Beta

As an aside: Wherespresso will never be done as a web-app or mobile app. Wherespresso is in constant beta.

Got an Idea for the App?

Drop a comment below or email me from the contact page. Most ideas won’t get implemented (you learn what you truly stand for when you say “no” to things), but some ideas might. Start throwing ideas at me and we’ll see what sticks.

Read more here for my philosophy on feature requests.

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We’re in Constant Beta

As I continue to evolve the website and iPhone app, it might occur to you that Wherespresso is in constant beta.

What this means is that I will never have a perfect product. Rather, I’ll be constantly improving and refining the app.

The benefit of this approach is that you guys can throw ideas at me for the app, and help make the app better over time.

I’m already working on V1.5 of the app, which is going to have some cool new features.

They won’t be huge, just small incremental changes that incrementally improve the usability of the app.

I’m a big fan of constantly shipping. Read more here about this philosophy from the masters, 37Signals.

Get the Wherespresso iPhone App

Get V1.01 of the iPhone app here.

Got an Idea for the App?

Drop a comment below or email me from the contact page. Most ideas won’t get implemented (you learn what you truly stand for when you say “no” to things), but some ideas might. Start throwing ideas at me and we’ll see what sticks.

Read more here for my philosophy on feature requests.

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Tim M | Leave a comment

I thought you guys might find this interesting. After two weeks I’ve been able to sit back and have a think about how the iPhone app has gone. I’m pretty happy with the numbers; nearly 500 downloads in two weeks and running at 15/day. It’s pretty healthy as even an average of 10/day is an installed base of roughly 3500 users after 1 year.

I use AppFigures to pull reports for the app, and below I’ve shown you screenshots of the downloads per day, and downloads by country.

This shows the downloads of the Wherespresso iPhone app since launch. It clearly demonstrates a power law distribution, or more simply, the long tail.

Interestingly, the growth in reviews in the past two weeks has clearly demonstrated Pareto’s Principle; 80% of the activity on the site has come from 20% of the users. This known as the rule of the vital few; that is, a few of you guys are madly running around submitting reviews (hi Tom, Angus, Raddles, Tico, egotripp, Paren, The_FishmanAU).

Similarly, roughly 20% of the number of countries generate 80% of the downloads (in this case, 2 countries actually account for most of the downloads so it’s more like 90/10 but the basic logic still applies).

This sort of distribution, particularly in regards to launch is pretty normal, and will repeat (although probably with lesser numbers) for any app updates (we are testing an update at the time of publishing), or if a big hitter on Twitter, Facebook or the net, mentions the app.

App Downloads by Day

App Downloads by Country

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Tim M | Leave a comment

Winners of the iPhone app launch KeepCups!

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Tim M

Well it’s been an exciting week for me. With the iPhone app finally released, I was excited to see what would happen.

Some of you have clearly been very patient as the app has been downloaded 350 times in a few days and the reviews are coming through nice and steadily – I’m totally humbled to think there are a bunch of you who like using the app.

Anyway, down to business! I originally planned to give the first 10 people who downloaded the app, one of the new KeepCup XS cups. Stupidly, though, I didn’t think to check that I’d be able to see who downloaded the app – I can’t – so I’ve compromised by giving a Keep Cup to the first 10 people to submit new venues to the site, via the app.

You can check out review of the KeepCup here.

So, to the winners! The people below were the first 10 to download and get a new venue review from the new Wherespresso iPhone app onto the website. Well done! I’ll be contacting you via email or Twitter if I can get your details, otherwise email me or Tweet at me, @wherespresso. Snowman and SteveNorth123, I need you to email me.

1 Thomob – DiBella
2 ChrisR – DiMarcos
3 AquaBoogie – BikeGallery (AquaBoogie – coolest name on WSP so far!)
4 Angus – Merlo
5 NathanG – Nashi
6 StevenNorth123 – RedCup
7 DrMitchA – Liason
8 Davycam – Dandelion and Driftwood
9 Snowman – Cafe Vinyl
10 Tony – Cafe Deraileur

Well done to all the winners! If you don’t want an XS (good for espresso, short blacks, macchiatos), email me asap as I have a few S and M ones.

Stay tuned for some more info about an update to the app.

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The Great Big Wherespresso Update

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Tim M

Where have you guys been?!

The site had outgrown WordPress, and I have a bunch of cool stuff coming up that just isn’t compatible with WordPress. WordPress was never intended to help support a website acting as a web app!

Anyway, so here’s what has happened in the 8 months since the last update!

  • Wherespresso website upgraded and now running MUCH faster.
  • New submission form to help make the submission process simpler, as well as supporting the iPhone app better.
  • User accounts introduced, with other users able to see your account – mine is here!
  • Submissions blocked from anyone except logged in users – this helps improve transparency and prevent spam.

The biggest and best piece of news is that – drumroll – the iPhone app is finished and sitting with Apple awaiting approval!

I’ve included a couple of screenshots below. The iPhone app has been a sorry saga – it’s over a year late, the original developers were totally incompetent, but luckily, I found the excellent Ed D, who turned the app around in 2 months.

I’ll have a lengthy post about the app later.

Cafe View

Near Me

Suburb search (Richmond 3121, Australia)

Suburb search (Richmond 3121, Australia)

Favourites

Favourites

So, what next?

Well, I have some very cool stuff being developed which I can’t talk about just yet.

The app will see a version 2 released pretty quickly with some improvements already planned.

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Wherespresso Submissions Working

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Tim M

I’m really sorry for the muck around on this, but the Wherespresso cafe submission form is back up and running.

We had some bugs in the code stopping the image uploads working properly.

Once again, I am really sorry for the time it took to sort this. Our developer dropped off the radar and it took a while to find the right person.

Anyway, some exciting stuff in the works for Wherespresso.

Posted in Cafe | Leave a comment