[Macworld]

Post your comments for Review: TripLog/1040 for iPhone here

[Adwiz]

The best trip log program for mobile devices has been TealAuto from TealPoint Software. Their stuff works on the Palm OS and Windows Mobile. I'm not sure when or if they plan to produce iPhone versions of their software (I'm sure it's inevitable at some point), but nothing currently available for the iPhone even comes close. That's a shame, because TealAuto supports multiple vehicles, configurable categories, trip mileage tracking, reports that can be exported as Excel files, gas mileage tracking, and even automobile service tracking.

[desler]

My favorite Palm app of this type was AutoSlate by Stand Alone. Not only did it record gas, oil, tires, and other automotive "events" it also recorded trips. You would enter start and end odometer readings, the type (business, charity, etc.) and the destination. It was an all in one solution. Perhaps if we email the developer at info@standalone.com they will develop an iPhone version.

[stevenscreek]

It's unfortunate the reviewer chose to post this review without even the courtesy of consulting us, the developer of the software. Version 1.1 of this software, which addresses a number of the interface criticisms in this review, has been finished for weeks, but is still awaiting posting by Apple which is horribly backed-up at posting such updates. A QuickTime movie showing the operation of the software (the new version) is available on our website at http://www.stevenscreek.com; I strongly encourage anyone interested in this software to watch the movie and judge the software for themselves.
In addition, the courtesy of consulting the reviewer would have eliminated such incorrect statements in this review as "there’s no way of removing individual entries."
Again: watch the movie and judge for yourself: http://www.stevenscreek.com/

[wilco]

"In addition, the courtesy of consulting the reviewer would have eliminated such incorrect statements in this review as 'there’s no way of removing individual entries.'"
The very need to consult you (the developer) in order to utilize the application's basic functionality speaks to how poorly the UI is designed.
Rather than defending yourself in a review comment section, wouldn't it be more productive to observe the market's reaction to your product and improve upon it accordingly? Clearly you did not spend the time or money on streamlining usability during development, and are now suffering the consequences (negative reviews, and likely no sales volume to speak of). Why not learn from this and create something people want to buy?

[trekker10000]

I watched the video. Interface is improved, but still hard to use. why can't i just input the starting odometer number and the ending odometer number and let the program figure out how far i drove? why do i have to do that math and then enter it?
i was hoping to buy this because i need something like this, but i sure hope someone else with a much better sense of what end users want and need -- and a better sense of design -- is also working on a similar program.

[dogpaw]

I too was concerned and hesitant to purchase the first version of this software. Although I had a pressing need for an app for mileage tracking on my iPhone, I waited. I guess I was optimistic that the developers would listen and update the software. I just saw the post from the devs and watched the video on their site and am impressed. Many of the negatives outlined in this review are in fact resolved/updated.

I look forward to seeing the new version loaded to the app store.

Thanks.

[stevenscreek]

trekker10000 writes:
"I watched the video. Interface is improved, but still hard to use. why can't i just input the starting odometer number and the ending odometer number and let the program figure out how far i drove? why do i have to do that math and then enter it?"
Apparently you didn't watch the video to the end, because that is PRECISELY what you do. Indeed, you don't even have to typically do even that much, because the starting odometer is automatically set to the ending odometer from the previous trip, so if your trips are consecutive (i.e., no personal trips you don't want to track in between), you need only enter the ending odometer reading. There's no math involved.

[stevenscreek]

wilco:
"The very need to consult you (the developer) in order to utilize the application's basic functionality speaks to how poorly the UI is designed."
The need to consult the developer, which is basic courtesy when doing a review, is essential to avoid making misstatements which simply propagate misinformation into the world. Not to mention it would be the only way to know that there has for many weeks been a new version which already addresses many of the complaints in the review.
As far as "basic functionality," the only thing mentioned in the review that the reviewer couldn't figure out was how to delete an individual entry, which is something most people will never do with the application (why would you?). Hardly "basic functionality."
wilco: "Rather than defending yourself in a review comment section, wouldn't it be more productive to observe the market's reaction to your product and improve upon it accordingly?"
Well, that would be fine, except for one little detail which perhaps you are unaware of - Apple provides no such information to iPhone developers. We don't even know how many copies of the software have been sold, and won't until 45 days after the first month is over, much less the names and email addresses of those purchasers. So we have no way even to correspond with our users to get feedback from them, outside of the handful who write to us with comments.

[wilco]

"Well, that would be
fine, except for one little detail which perhaps you are unaware of -
Apple provides no such information to iPhone developers"

That does make things difficult and I can certainly understand how difficult Apple has made it for developers (given the NDA is also still in effect), but I was thinking more along the lines of reviews like this and the comments that follow. Many of the reviewers gripes do seem to be addressed in the video which is great, but it still seems there are some fundamental issues with the UI that are discouraging people that would otherwise be interested.

[BigFatDuck]

2 complaints:

1- Are we seriously going to waste forum space filling it up with review after review of the hundreds and hundreds of iPhone apps?? It's getting a little ridiculous. Why don't you wait a little while and write a review comparing several apps that do the same thing? That would be helpful.

2- I'm also sick of these posts that link to macworld articles that give absolutely no useful information other than the headline. Can't we at least get a quick breakdown or punchline of the article without having to follow a link to another page? This is a forum, not an RSS reader.

[Xander55]

This app really needs some major interface work. The 1.1 is a little better but its still really bad compared to pretty much every other iphone app. In the end no matter how useful the app may be to me i simply wouldn't pay $13 for something with that UI. If you want my money then make it more intuitive and improve the ui so it looks like an iPhone app not a palm app

[stevenscreek]

Xander55: The fact is that every single iPhone app which collects data could look exactly like the data entry in the Contacts or the Calendar app - a table of fields, and every single field that you tap slides over to another screen where you enter the data for that field, then back to the main screen, tap another field, enter that information, and so on. If that's your idea of the ultimate in UI design and how you want all your iPhone apps to look like, have a ball. Personally, I find going through eight different screens to enter a new Contact rather annoying, and, more importantly, time-consuming. It might be fine for something you do relatively rarely, like entering a new contact. For something you do once or twice a day, the appropriate UI design is quite different. At least, we think so. If you don't agree, of course you shouldn't buy it, whether it costs $0.99 or $12.99 or $29.99. Although please don't pretend like $13 is a lot of money considering the device itself costs many hundreds and you're paying $50 or $60 or $70 PER MONTH to use it.

[wilco]

Arguing with potential customers isn't going to sell your software. Listening to them and creating what they want will.

The fact is that every single iPhone app which collects data could look exactly like the data entry in the Contacts or the Calendar app

This philosophy has obviously worked for Apple. The core functionality the iPhone provides has been available in countless mobile devices long before the first iPhone was released. The iPhone outperformed the competition by making an investment in streamlining the user experience. I'm not sure one could conclude the same for your approach.

You can argue that your way is right until the end of time, but in the end it doesn't really matter. People will buy what they want to buy, so one may as well listen and adapt.