Bug in latest version

We've discoverd two bugs (and have one squashed, working the other).  The first bug is as follows:

1) Run a meeting

2) Exit the app

3) Double Home button and kill the app

4) restart the app...

At this point the app will lock up.  What should happen is that Wasted Time should ask if you want to continue the meeting.  If you touch anywhere but the continue button then the counters reset.  This was designed for low memory condition on your device and a long meeting.  We have this fixed on iOS 4.3 and iOS 5.0 on the iPhone, and are experiencing an inconsistency between iOS 4.3 and iOS 5.0 on the iPad.  We hope to have a fix posted very shortly.

The second bug has been fixed which is the screen orientation on the iPhone.  It was starting in Landscape mode, and we have resolved this.  However, given that this is not a major issue we are holding this fix until we can resolve the iOS 5 iPad problem.  Stay tuned!

The Loss of Steve Jobs

It is with a heavy heart that the team here at ApApp, Inc. submits our update to Wasted Time to the App Store.  We had planned on getting the iOS5 version ready for submission today (the day that Apple would allow apps to be submitted), but when we heard of Steve Job's death... Well It certainly made us pause.  It was obvious when he stepped down for Apple that things were not going well.  And watching the iPhone 4s launch with the open chair in the front row, after hearing all the rumors that maybe Steve would be there and do a formal hand off to Tim Cook, it foreshadowed the loss that we are feeling today.

We are still submitting WastedTime tonight, and we are removing any cost on the app.  We have changed it to add supported, with only one small add on the newly re-added help screen.  We hope that you will manage your time with the app, in a small way like Steve managed Apple.  Helping the world enjoy the experiences, and not get too bogged down in what other people think.  Focus on the details, in order to enjoy the big picture.  And to paraphrase the Science guy, dare we say it, "Change the world!".

Working on iOS5 Updates

We've decided to do a bit of code clean-up and help improve the experience with Twitter for Wasted Time under iOS.  To that end, we've been completely redoing our Twitter integration.  Gone is the function that tweets for you without letting you make any changes.  We are going to use the new iOS built in Twitter support, which will check for your default twitter account on you iOS device and then present you with a Modal display, prefilled with information on the meeting. You can then either hit Send or Cancel, or even add your own comments.  As soon as Apple relases iOS5 we should have this version of WastedTime available. 

In addition to this change we will be removing the Twitter support from people who use older versions of iOS.  Given the number of people tweeting, we are sure this won't be a big problem.  We will also be removing any future cost for this app, and make it ad supported.  Ads will only display on the help screen, as we feel that they should not impact your meetings.  If you want to continue to support us, please support our ad sponsors by clicking thru when you can.

thoughts on wasted time

It's been a while since we've posted updates. Let's be honest, wasted time has had it's run. The downloads are down. Android hasn't really taken off. It was a great way to learn the two platforms. So what have we learned?

1) People don't really want to know how much time they are wasting. And if they do, they certainly don't want to tweet about it. Out of the almost 2,500 people who downloaded the app, only one of them actually tweeted their results.
2) iPhone and iPad universal binaries are not really that hard to create. I've been amazed that so many app developers want to charge for the second iOS device. Apple has made it so easy to create universal binaries, why can't everyone just develop them. I know,I know you get a second revenue stream, but given that most people who use an iPad already have an iPhone, you are not getting any good will from your customers.
3) Android is different than iOS. Let me count the ways. Different language. Different controls on the screen. And people expect together the apps for free. Oh yeah, and unless you have a huge install base, don't expect to get rich on ads either.
4) It's tough to get good feedback. We had some serious bugs in our universal binary, very few people let us know about them.
5) building community is hard.

So what are we doing about it. Well, it's time to have some fun. We've decide to develop a game. We will ensure that Wasted Time continues to function on future versions of iOS and Android, but unless we get lots of requests for new function, it is considered complete.

The game will most likely be similar to the Avalon Hill Bookcase games of the late 1970's and early 1980's. Turn based, strategy games. Think "Axis and Allies" and their like, but with a modern take.

We'd love to get your take on this thought. We are in the early stages of designing the game play. Thinking that the universe will be similar to the "Firefly"!!

We are Live on Android!!!!

Go check out the brand new Android version of wasted time.  We are available on THE Android Market.  We'd love your feedback on this new version.