Android App Brainstorming

[polbrieuc]

Hello all,

Some visitors of my site requested an app, so they can not only browse the mobile version of the site but also get notifications about weather conditions (or also traffic alerts in my case)
Instead of doing an app just for my site, I thought I could try to build one that could also serve other MT site owners need.
That why I open this thread to gather your ideas, feedback, concerns or comments.
Here are a few things I have in mind :

• The core functionnality is to display the mobile version of the site.

• The app is just another way to access MT sites and TOS of Meteotemplate fully apply (free, non-commercial use, etc)

• MT sites owner could register (on Meteotemplate.com ? ) to make their site available in the app.

• Users can choose which site to display. The nearest station is suggested but they can also filter by country to chose any site available.

• Site owner can predefine notifications they make available to users (new content on the site, specific announcement, specific weather condition alert, traffic alert, tip of the day, etc). Ultimately, the user is always in control and can subscribe/unsuscribe to any notification.

• Users create their own notifications based on data provided by the site (Temperature above thresold defined by the user, traffic alert for a specific route, etc)

• Users can register and login. Not sure about that one. Site by site registration ? global registration valid for all sites ? Is it really needed ?

• Users can rate and review the site they visit (5-stars rating) . Ratings and reviews are available only to app users. Site owner or Meteotemplate admin can moderate ratings and reviews

• Users can share notifications through social networks

What else ? What do you think ?
Note that I there is almost nothing done so far and I learn to developp an android appon the fly... (the app published on my dev page does not really count). If you are interested in beta-testing an app and agree to have your site included in the list of available sites during testing phase, please let me know.

Go ahead, share your thoughts, it's brainstorming mode, there is no bad idea...

[Johnny]

All sounds cool to me, please include me in any testing of your new app. With regard to registering and logging in, I'd prefer that one to be excluded if at all possible, see what others have to say.

[nitrx]

Sounds very ambitous count me in for testing , did you think about language / units etc.

[jay_hoehn]

polbrieuc,
I would be interested to test this for you. Sounds like a good project thinking about the formatting issues with the mobile site on different screens.
Thanks,
Jay

[Jachym]

There will be a major change in the mobile version of MT in v17. Im almost done with it

[polbrieuc]

@Johnny : Thanks for participating to testing phase. Regarding user registration, I have also my serious doubts. Maybe just by retrieving the user credential within the app we can do something to personalize the experience site by site. Still in brainstorming mode on this one. Any input welcome.

@nitrx : Language is taken care of in Android. There will be some translation needed for the interface but it should be a limited number of word/sentences. Regarding units, the site will be displayed with the default units and the user can change his settings in the same way that he can on the mobile version. For in-app alerts and other potential features, I did not think about it but I will add units to the preference settings. I will add your site the the test site list.

@jay_hoehn : The app will display the mobile version of the site (starting at indexMobile.php) so any format/display issue will also occur in the app. This is an hybrid app, leveraging all the work already done on the site, only a couple of features will be built directly in the app. This being said, it is always possible to redirect the user to a third version of the site built specifically for the app. Or to replicate a couple of blocks in the app (as long as the API is available on the site for data). I will add your site the the test site list.

@Jachym : Great news about the new mobile version. Looking forward to see it.

I am learning Android dev the hard way so progress is slow on my side but I shall have something to share early Jan 2018.
In the meanwhile, keep sharing your ideas/concerns. Like what the app name should be (for now, it is Meteotemplate) ?
A couple of screenshots :

[nitrx]

@ polbrieuc looking forward to the test apk (hope it works on a samsung galaxy s5 android 6.1 and mayby a nexus 10 tablet android 5.1)

[iatros]

@ polbrieuc; what a great idea!

In the meantime, could you maybe just add a setting in the App which allows us to select our own mobile MT page ?

Martin

[scadie]

Hi,

If you need more user to test the application on android, I will be happy to assist. I'm using a Google Pixel 2 running android 8.0

Thank you

[kd7eir]

I think this is a great idea. I can help with testing on multiple devices (tablets and phones.)

[MJW]

In also interested, I use a nonstandard setup (OnePlus One running AOSP 8.1) that could be useful in testing.

[polbrieuc]

Hello everyone and Happy New Year !

Thanks to those who showed interest in being guinea pig to test the future app.
So far, the following brave individuals have stepped forward :

• Jachym http://www.meteotemplate.com/template/

• kd7eir http://www.kd7eir.net/weather/

• scadie http://www.scadie.com/template/

• iatros https://meteo.dubler.com/

• nitrx http://www.apeldoornmeteo.nl/

• jay_hoehn http://www.jayswoodfurniture.com/meteo/

• Johnny http://www.watfordweather.uk/

• Polbrieuc : https://www.elspinars.es/

• MJW : I would need your site url if you want it to be included in the testings.

Progress is slow but I hope to release something before the end of the month.
Some screen shots of what we have so far :

- Site can be selected by name or by distance to the current user.
- Changes in units are reflected on the site (I would need to get rid of the settings icon on the site if the request comes from the app).
- Menu on the left is still dummy, I was thinking among other things to include an entry for webcam.
- Setup for the app would be through a plugin (short description, standard alerts, webcam, etc).

I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,

Pol-Brieuc

[staccermaccer]

Hi,

You can also count me in for testing, i have also some basic skills in coding so let me know if i can help...

Marc,

[meteocaldas]

Hi Pol-Brieuc
Happy new year.
You have been doing an excelent work!
You can count on me too, for testing and for sugestions


http://www.meteocaldas.com/mtp

[Pavel]

Hi, I'm also reporting for tests, mobil Samsung S4, tablet Lenovo Yoga 2

[polbrieuc]

Hi all,

Progress is still slow but we start to have something to test.
Version 0.2 can be found here : https://www.elspinars.es/dev/app.php (remember that Meteotemplate T&Cs apply : free, non-commercial use only)
Those whose site is included in the list of available sites for testing must install the plugin if they want their site to reflect properly in the app (if not, users units will not update, webcam and current conditions won't be available).
The app does not much for now :

• It displays the mobile version of the choosen site and allows the user to navigate it

• Allows the user to select the site they want to see (sorting the sites by name or by distance to the user's current location)

• Allows the user to choose its units and reflects their choice on the site.

• Displays current conditions

• Displays Webcam

Next steps will be to add some simple site description and location, add notifications (for alerts on temperature, rain, wind, etc.), fix the multiple bugs that will surely appear and include any features that would be requested by a reasonnable amount of users. Later will come localization/translation.
In the meanwhile, I would appreciate if some of you could test the app and report any bug through the contact form or sending me an email at [url=mailto:tiempoelspinars@gmail.com]tiempoelspinars@gmail.com[/url]

Cheers,

Pol-Brieuc

PS : The app triggers a dummy notification for traffic in Barcelona. It is for testing purpose and you can disregard it.
PPS : A couple of screenshots :

[jay_hoehn]

Pol-Brieuc,

I have tried the app on my Acer tablet and it took installing it twice to get it to go, but is working now.

I also installed the Plugin and I can't get farther than trying to save the settings file. Every time I try to open the plugin it says a settings file needs to be created. I'm not sure what this plugin is supposed to do.

Jay

[polbrieuc]

Pol-Brieuc,

I have tried the app on my Acer tablet and it took installing it twice to get it to go, but is working now.

I also installed the Plugin and I can't get farther than trying to save the settings file. Every time I try to open the plugin it says a settings file needs to be created. I'm not sure what this plugin is supposed to do.

Jay

Hi Jay,

I see that the plugin did install correctly on your site (I know that because I can see your current conditions in the app).
The fact that the plugin setup page is asking to create settings (instead of edit settings) is because the plugin did not save any php settings (just JSON values).
I corrected that and republished it but it does not have nay impact on the plugin working correctly.

Cheers,

Pol-Brieuc

[nitrx]

do i ve to upload those php files from the plugin to my site ? And if so where do i upload them , i dont understand the plugin, my site is avavailble through the app but i dont see the popups like your screenshots

[jay_hoehn]

Nitrix,
Install the app folder on your server in the plugin folder just like any other plugin.
Jay

[nitrx]

Nitrix,
Install the app folder on your server in the plugin folder just like any other plugin.
Jay

ofcourse it s a plugin
thanks Jay i will do that tommorow

[iatros]

plugin and app updated without problems. What's the idea of "current conditions"? It's the same as the block on my mobile hompage (old style)?
thank you, Pol-Brieuc!

[polbrieuc]

plugin and app updated without problems. What's the idea of "current conditions"? It's the same as the block on my mobile hompage (old style)?
thank you, Pol-Brieuc!

The current conditions dialog is a copy of the first part of the current conditionblock.
It provides the same information (actually less as it does not include trends) with a direct access (and potentially not everyone display this block on their homepage).
It will also be a landing point when notifications are triggered (ie the app triggers a notification for high temperature, the user clicks on the notification and lands on the current conditions dialog)
Obviously, this is open to discussion if the majority think this dialog is redundant, we can think about taking it out (or make it optionnal).

[Johnny]

Hi Pol-Brieuc,

I've installed the app on my Android mobile and it works great - thank you very much for all your work on this.

thankyou.png (8.33 KiB) Viewed 12612 times

[i_fiorentino]

What a great idea!
I want to be included in the testings page
My site is www.meteopistoia.it - Italy.

Thank you so much.
Regards,



Alessandro