I'm the developer of this app, and have talked to a some of you here. I'm not in the habit of posting or commenting or posting links - I don't ever want to cross the line into spam. I decided to make a post today since I know a number of Shoppers here do rely on this app as one of their tools, and the iOS 7 update forced some changes. I don't want anyone to be surprised or taken off-guard. Obviously if you don't use the app, disregard the following.

- Our update will be live in the store today. It is optimized for the larger screen on newer iPhones and for iOS 7. It also solves a 'title' issue introduced by 7, and loads much faster. The texting interface now looks like ios7 standard texting.

- If you have an older phone with the original screen size, you may not wish to update. Though it will work fine, it won't accurately emulate the appearance of the texting screens that you are accustomed to. If unsure, you may want to try the free 'Lite' version update to see how you like it.

- If you do update, please test the recorder before using it on a shop. iOS 7 for some reason restricts access to the recording function on some phones until it is re-set by the user. It's not a problem - just go to your privacy settings and give "Shop It" permission to access the recorder. Shouldn't need to do that again once it is set.

If anyone experiences any problems, please just let me know.

Regards,
Lynn B.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2013 06:11PM by dkdshop.

It is Shop It with a space and it is priced at $1.99 for the above app.

I just looked at this and found a video. When it showed the "mark time" button and how you can combine all the features in one app I gasped. If it works as great as the video makes out I am getting this right now. Luckily I have gift funds left in my itunes store.

[www.youtube.com]

Thanks for posting about this.

I works just like the video portrays. It should be noted that it is for the paid version. The free "Lite" version does not let you tap the screen to mark times.

I use it mostly for dining when you have to time your entrees. I'm very happy with it!

Too bad you don't make an Android version (or is there one now?). More people are using Android these days.

I just tested this out on my new iphone. It's fabulous. I love that it looks like you're texting. The touch to record timing is great for dining!! Love it.

mleighb, I'm so glad you like it!! It's been fun developing it. I introduced myself a while back on the forum so won't repeat everything, but basically I'm not an app developer by trade (far from it). Like many on here I have a 'day job' and am entrepreneurial by nature. My husband and I had joked about making an app since we first got our iPhones. I got this idea after learning about MS'ing from a friend and giving it a try myself. I envy those on this forum who have the ability to memorize the endless stream of data, but I'm not in that category and always used my phone on the shops.... but it seemed like there had to be a better way. I pitched the idea to my husband and he said go for it. It's a hobby and is my pet project. Sales are currently still 'paying me back' (I "shopped my way" through the initial costs- it was a great way to Beta Test, and made me very intolerant of bugs).

Boutique, I originally thought we would do an Android shortly after the iPhone. I use an iPhone so it was natural to start there. It was much more complex (and expensive) than I ever expected to develop and test... and I really wanted to concentrate on getting this version how I wanted it. Lately I've been seriously considering it again, just for the challenge. Do you think there's interest? It would be fun to explore...

-------------
FYI to all - I've hesitated to interact on the forum lest it be taken as spam .... so I asked Jacob for permission, and received his very kind approval. (Thank you!)

Lynn, I am so glad the title issue got fixed! I used it last night on a burger shop and it works not so much better. I have a iPhone 4S (so the older screen) and it still works good on iOS 7.0.

Only thing I can think of that might be nice for the next release of updates would be to have a "panic" button that takes us to candy crush saga, a crossword puzzle, or some kind of game.

Maybe also have customizable buttons...like someone that does Arches restaurants a lot might customize their buttons to have a macro that will insert "end of line", "total", or "food" when they are pressed.

Keep it up! I don't think I could do fast food shops again the old school way. This app spoiled me!

Lynn

Yes, it would definitely be worth it. If you read the tech news Android purchases are now exceeding IPhones and it is a trend that is expected to continue. Just like in the computer world Apple isn't the dominant system.

Thank you for creating this! I bought it and will be trying it for fast food shops this week.

One suggestion for an awesome feature if it's even possible with iOS, there is an android app that I use that let's you start the timer with the volume up/down buttons and then add time stamps each time you hit either volume button again.very stealth.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/2013 08:32AM by quiettime.

Boutique Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lynn
>
> Yes, it would definitely be worth it. If you read
> the tech news Android purchases are now exceeding
> IPhones and it is a trend that is expected to
> continue. Just like in the computer world Apple
> isn't the dominant system.


I know android has a higher percentage of the market. My son is a big android fan, and often reminds me of this fact! .... Ironically, though, app sales are very different. The latest stats show about 73% (of $ spent on app downloads) for iPhone users vs 27% android/other. I guess the question is, would Android users be willing to pay for an app? The gap is slowly closing (about a year ago it was closer to 80/20).

I've read different opinions for why this disparity exists, but I don't know. Please read the following simply as points for discussion. Who know, my next phone just might be a Droid!!!

- Apple makes it easier/more fluid to purchase apps (I don't know if this is true??).
- Another thing is quality control.... A neat thing about Android is that there is no review process for apps and a very low fee to upload them to google. Programmers and developers really like this open platform from a creative standpoint, but it might make for a perception problem. The apple review process certainly doesn't prevent worthless apps, but it does cut down on them I think by raising the level of investment.
- And this last one is a concern of mine - there are only 3 or 4 versions of the iPhone to have to test for compatibility (and boy, did we test and test and test.....). There are thousands of different Android devices out. The potential for issues related to different hardware is on my mind..... This app simply can't be unstable. It's hard enough keeping up with Apple.

I am not looking to get rich off of apps - that isn't going to happen, but I would need it to at least pay for itself (I don't mind putting in the time - that would be fun).
I would love to be convinced! Is there a market?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/2013 10:37PM by dkdshop.

I am definitely going to check this out. I have an iPhone. I REALLY like lbw's idea of a panic button! That would be wonderful!

Just downloaded it and it's awesome!! Will definitely be using it on some fast food shops I have to do this week!

I love all the ideas for future enhancements - and I, too, really think the panic button is brilliant! That one may not be too hard to incorporate..... Hmmmmmm

And I need to see if it is possible to use the side buttons for time stamping....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2013 01:30AM by dkdshop.

I download the free version a year ago? Anyway, I never got it to work on my iPhone5, so I was not impress enough with it to buy the full version. The camera and rec does not work. I would gladly pay for a full version, but this is not giving me a good feeling about it.

Cubbiecat, I'm really sorry it didn't work.... There are honestly no known issues. Wish I had known!!! We jump through hoops to address any problems (usually it comes down to a setting on the phone, but that's also why we update as iOS changes).

There have been several updates in the past year. Would you consider trying it again? If something doesn't work, please contact me. Do make sure the app has access to your photos and recorder (you can do this in settings). It should be automatic, but I've known of a few phones that need it done manually for some reason.

Please let us all know - if there is a problem I really want to be aware of it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/2013 01:44PM by dkdshop.

Add me to another that would love a Droid version.

dkdshop Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cubbiecat, I'm really sorry it didn't work....
> There are honestly no known issues. Wish I had
> known!!! We jump through hoops to address any
> problems (usually it comes down to a setting on
> the phone, but that's also why we update as iOS
> changes).
>
> There have been several updates in the past year.
> Would you consider trying it again? If something
> doesn't work, please contact me. Do make sure the
> app has access to your photos and recorder (you
> can do this in settings). It should be automatic,
> but I've known of a few phones that need it done
> manually for some reason.
>
> Please let us all know - if there is a problem I
> really want to be aware of it.

Lynn, I'll PM you and see if we can resolve the issues. I just want to make sure it works before I pay for the full version. I have iPhone5 and I updated to ios7.1.

Edited to add, the only thing that works is if I hit the "Notes." The "Rec" and camera icon are frozen on the screen.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/2013 07:42PM by cubbiecat.

I don't blame you, cubbicat! I wouldn't buy an app if the lite version wasn't working for me. That's why we made the lite. I sincerely want people to be able to test drive it so they will know if it is what they expected.

Yes, please install the latest update of Lite and give it a run, then let me know. If it is still having issues, we can check a few settings.

-----------------
Edited to say: Thank you for pm'ing, Cubbiecat - I'm glad it's working; hope you find it useful.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2013 10:15PM by dkdshop.

I guess I can see the value in having a tighter review process - lots of crappy apps are available for Android.

dkdshop Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Boutique Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Lynn
> >
> > Yes, it would definitely be worth it. If you
> read
> > the tech news Android purchases are now
> exceeding
> > IPhones and it is a trend that is expected to
> > continue. Just like in the computer world Apple
> > isn't the dominant system.
>
>
> I know android has a higher percentage of the
> market. My son is a big android fan, and often
> reminds me of this fact! .... Ironically,
> though, app sales are very different. The latest
> stats show about 73% (of $ spent on app downloads)
> for iPhone users vs 27% android/other. I guess
> the question is, would Android users be willing to
> pay for an app? The gap is slowly closing (about
> a year ago it was closer to 80/20).
>
> I've read different opinions for why this
> disparity exists, but I don't know. Please read
> the following simply as points for discussion.
> Who know, my next phone just might be a Droid!!!
>
> - Apple makes it easier/more fluid to purchase
> apps (I don't know if this is true??).
> - Another thing is quality control.... A neat
> thing about Android is that there is no review
> process for apps and a very low fee to upload them
> to google. Programmers and developers really like
> this open platform from a creative standpoint, but
> it might make for a perception problem. The apple
> review process certainly doesn't prevent worthless
> apps, but it does cut down on them I think by
> raising the level of investment.
> - And this last one is a concern of mine - there
> are only 3 or 4 versions of the iPhone to have to
> test for compatibility (and boy, did we test and
> test and test.....). There are thousands of
> different Android devices out. The potential for
> issues related to different hardware is on my
> mind..... This app simply can't be unstable. It's
> hard enough keeping up with Apple.
>
> I am not looking to get rich off of apps - that
> isn't going to happen, but I would need it to at
> least pay for itself (I don't mind putting in the
> time - that would be fun).
> I would love to be convinced! Is there a market?

Boutique Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess I can see the value in having a tighter
> review process - lots of crappy apps are available
> for Android.
>

That's unfortunate.....

I like the review process, but am really disappointed in one thing with iOS 7 from a developer standpoint....
Now that we have invested in updating Shop It for iOS 7, none of our reviews show in the App Store (unless you click through several levels to reviews for older versions). I'm sure they have their reasons......

So, it looks like we have no ratings even though we do have a 5 star rating! (Those are all real reviews btw, no relatives or friends! ). It sort of punishes the developers who put out the $$ and time to keep the apps current. (Apps that haven't bothered to update still show their ratings).

Anyway, if those who use and like the app would be willing to leave good review (or if you have already left a review, update it), it would be a huge help and most appreciated!!! It takes 5 reviews before the stars show up... (As always, please let me know if you have issues or questions and I will do everything I can).

Many thanks,
Lynn

I'm going now to leave a positive review. I used this app just 2 days ago for a very lengthy restaurant shop and this app was amazing. So quick to type a word or two and it registers the times when you tap the screen.

I get a full list of all the times and then I email myself the shop and have it up on my screen when doing the report. It's really great - and the fact that it looks like I'm texting is also a plus. I have had my "notepad" out a few times and that's a dead give-a-way.'

The final report looks a little like this:

entree ordered
(time)
busser came
(time)
Server checked back
(time)
check dropped off
(time)

My reports are totally accurate! Thanks again!

Just downloaded it and it really is a very good app. I'm looking forward to using it this week. I second the comments on using the volume side buttons to record times, and the panic button would be awesome.

CoastieWife
Proudly shopping from behind the Redwood Curtain

I would be interested in an Android app.

Now, I can't wait for my iPhone to get here. I've been a droid person forever but decided today I wanted to upgrade to the new iPhone. This will be the first app I buy for it.

Add my voice to those who clamor for an Android version! We buy fewer apps because there ARE fewer good apps for Droid. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy!

I'd like an Android app also. I've often thought of creating one myself. Maybe we could talk if you didn't want to do it, feel free to PM me!

I also think there are fewer people that PAY for apps on the Android platform as there are more FREE apps that are worth it. They're often even free on Android and pay on iPhone.

Android Version.... Wow - you all just about have me convinced

Believe me, it would be fun just to offer the apps for free.... But I just really need them to at least pay for themselves (like I said earlier, this is a hobby and not a money maker - in fact the latest update cost me over 6 months profit... and I have untold hours invested in design and testing). It's sort of like someone who crafts and then sells on Etsy... You hope there is profit eventually, but in the meantime you want sales to at least pay for your raw materials... and you stick with it because it is something you enjoy doing and you take pride in a good product.

Ironically the apparent simplicity of "Shop It!" is exactly what made it so challenging to develop. The more intuitive and simpler the app, the more background code has to support it... and I have the added responsibility of protecting valuable data (someone who develops a game doesn't have to worry so much... if the game crashes, no-one loses real money). So, there are many safety features and auto-saves built-in (even if the iPhone itself crashes) that are not apparent to the user and which often caused a domino effect during programming. This is probably more info than needed so I'll stop, but just wanted you to know that it isn't as easy as it looks, and there is a lot more 'under the hood' than it appears. Android is going to have the same considerations, plus a lot more devices to test for stability....

I'm tentatively talking with a programmer. I could use your input, though. Do you think Droid users would pay $1.99 ? I don't like the idea of ads to support it - but is that preferable? I don't even really know what the texting interface should look like - if a few of you android users could send me screenshots of a typical text conversation so I can see what it looks like, that would help me to start envisioning it.

Thanks!!

BTW - you can send those screenshots to info@just-shop-it.com

Thanks much appreciated

Yes! I would pay $1.99 for the Android app!