GeyserTimes for iOS Beta
Some of you have already been waiting for this moment for quite a while, and now it has finally arrived. Today we are announcing the first beta version for the GeyserTimes for iOS app that can be installed using TestFlight. If you can’t wait, skip ahead to the section How can I get it?.
There are some important limitations currently that you should be aware of and which will be addressed in future updates. Mainly, the ability to login and enter eruptions and notes is missing, but we feel ability to browse GeyserTimes data while offline might already prove useful to some of you. Rest assured that the other features will be added as soon as possible. This post serves as an overview of what has been done and what is planned for the future.
What has been done?
Most of the items related to viewing data from GeyserTimes have already been implemented. As with the Android app, everything is available offline so it can be accessed without any internet connection, something indispensable given Yellowstone’s spotty network. The main screen displayed when starting the app presents the day summary or timeline. You can switch to the current predictions and the Old Faithful streaming webcam using the tabs at the bottom.
Tapping on an entry will take you to the details, including any comments, confirms, flags or attachments available for that entry, which will be displayed below the detailed entry information. Tapping on a geyser or user will take you to the appropriate detail page with their recent entries. You should find all information displayed on the website within the app. One notable exception is the lack of statistics (min, max, mean and median intervals) which will be added later.
If you require any support using the app feel free to contact us at webmaster@geysertimes.org and we will do our best to help out.
What is planned for the future?
Apple has two types of releases, both of which go through the App Store review process. Store releases are reviewed more thoroughly and are available to download from the App Store that most of you know. Beta releases are only available for download within the TestFlight app from Apple, which is designed to distribute beta releases as well as ease the feedback process. The GeyserTimes for iOS app will likely go through a couple of Beta releases before it will be made available as an App Store release.
The obvious next step will be the implementation of account functions (login and logout) as well as the ability to enter, edit and delete eruptions and notes, after which a new Beta release will be published. After that comments, confirms, flags and attachments will be tackled, probably in a separate Beta release. We will let you know once those are ready in a different blog post. Once all this is done we will make the app ready for a wider release in the App Store.
Unfortunately, we can not give a time frame when this is going to happen due to frequent changes in the time available for development. We would like to thank you all for your patience in this matter.
How can I get it?
The GeyserTimes for iOS app is only available as a Beta version at this time, which is why it can’t be downloaded directly from the App Store. The few extra steps necessary are outlined here. Just follow these step-by-step and you should be good to go.
- Send an empty mail with the subject “GeyserTimes for iOS Beta” to webmaster@geysertimes.org from the email address you use for your Apple account.
- Wait for a mail inviting you to join the beta testers for the GeyserTimes for iOS app. Since we need to manually add all testers this might take a few days. We will try to process those as fast as we can.
- Download or open the TestFlight app provided by Apple using the button present in the invitation mail. This should guide you through the process of installing the GeyserTimes for iOS app.
We hope you enjoy this new addition to the GeyserTimes ecosystem and don’t encounter too many issues. Be aware though that this is beta software, so the occasional bug is expected. Feedback can be provided using the TestFlight app or any of the more established channels for communications. We already look forward to hearing from you!
Thanks for your continued support and happy gazing,
The GeyserTimes development team
