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Timer suggestions

August 30, 2024 08:47AM
I used and loved my Mystery Shopwatch app by appgurrl for many years. And, now I cannot get it on my fancy new phone because it is only compatible with older versions of Android. Also, you can no longer download it from the Google Play store or anywhere else that I found. I was wondering if anyone uses a timer app they really like that is at least as good as MShopwatch was? Any good suggestions?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/2024 08:48AM by Chix.
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More About Equipment for Mystery Shopping
August 30, 2024 09:58AM
I have Shop It (iPhone version), but I'm still getting used to it. I'm not sure it's any easier to use than just the regular stopwatch that came with my phone and texting myself.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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August 30, 2024 11:19AM
@drdoggie00 wrote:

I have Shop It (iPhone version), but I'm still getting used to it. I'm not sure it's any easier to use than just the regular stopwatch that came with my phone and texting myself.

I also text myself. And I take screen shots to mark certain moments when I don't have time to write. So I can see the time on my phone (in the screen shot).
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August 30, 2024 03:22PM
This has been posted a couple of times now, and I don't think anyone has found an app quite like Mystery Stopwatch.
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August 30, 2024 06:47PM
The stopwatch on my son's Samsung S23 Ultra works very well, there is no way to annotate the "laps" but when you're done timing, or even in the middle of doing the timings you can do a screen shot and send it to yourself in a text message or on messenger and make whatever notes you need to go with it.
Unfortunately, Google thought they could do better and the stopwatch is mostly useless in my Pixel.
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August 30, 2024 07:16PM
If you take a screenshot it is saved on your phone so there's no reason to send it to yourself. Just send yourself notes in text messages.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/2024 07:16PM by wrosie.
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August 30, 2024 09:24PM
rosie, Yes, but it keeps the timing together with the notes so I don't have to keep changing screens to get the information I need.
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August 30, 2024 11:10PM
I just use Laps on the stopwatch that came with my Pixel. I also have a Notes template setup like:
Time in
Hostess name
Time to greet
Server name
Drinks
Appetizer
Soup/salad
Entree
...
Etc, etc
Just fill it in as I go. I keep my stopwatch app open until I get home and get the survey done to verify times.
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August 30, 2024 11:40PM
@R.Robot wrote:

I just use Laps on the stopwatch that came with my Pixel. I also have a Notes template setup like:
Time in
Hostess name
Time to greet
Server name
Drinks
Appetizer
Soup/salad
Entree
...
Etc, etc
Just fill it in as I go. I keep my stopwatch app open until I get home and get the survey done to verify times.

I do the same. I think sometimes you can overthink things. And I understand there are people who need that precision in everything they do. I'm just not sure it matters.
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August 30, 2024 11:46PM
I use a basic combo stopwatch/timer for Android called "Stopwatch & Timer" by DOSA apps. You can annotate the laps, which is good! It's free but there are ads in it, so you'd have to be OK with that. But it's a real good, basic stopwatch/timer app!
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August 31, 2024 01:05AM
I have adapted to using the stopwatch lap function on many shops, such as drive throughs and drive-ins, without much issue. What gets me are shops where I have to take timings while I am in full view of the employees, such as Panda Express shop where I have to go inside. Any advice appreciated.

For those who do great with timings, how do you use the stopwatch discreetly? Is there a way to do it without looking at the screen and tapping in an obvious way? Or do you stay looking at you phone the entire time playing it off like you are doing something else?

If you use screenshots, do you have your phone set up to push one button, or are you dextrous enough to push both buttons discreetly? Or do you have a phone model with this fuction as an option on the screen? And how do you get seconds? Do you screenshot a stopwatch?

Thanks in advance.
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August 31, 2024 06:00AM
@R.Robot wrote:

I just use Laps on the stopwatch that came with my Pixel. I also have a Notes template setup like:

I do the laps, but I can't take a screen shot of the stopwatch, the time flashes and always comes up blank in the screen shot. It doesn't work the way I need it to. I will be going to a different android phone when this awful thing is paid for. I've never disliked a phone this much since Motorola made the Razr with the keypad that always quit working.
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September 02, 2024 12:24PM
I do the same thing!
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September 02, 2024 01:10PM
I use the Exact Time app in dark mode, and my iPhone is setup to do a screenshot when I do a double tap on the back/side.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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September 03, 2024 01:47AM
@mystery2me wrote:

For those who do great with timings, how do you use the stopwatch discreetly? Is there a way to do it without looking at the screen and tapping in an obvious way? Or do you stay looking at you phone the entire time playing it off like you are doing something else?

I bought a privacy screen. It's awesome. You can't see anything unless you are looking at it head-on.

If you use screenshots, do you have your phone set up to push one button, or are you dextrous enough to push both buttons discreetly?

Both buttons

And how do you get seconds?

Stop watch function, nothing special.

Do you screenshot a stopwatch?

Sometimes. If I am worried I am going to reset the stopwatch or if I need it again, I screenshot it and then clear it.

I answered inside the quotes.
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September 03, 2024 03:21AM
I don't do many shops that require precise timing. However, when I do, I just record my shops and play it back later. That's when I calculate the time it takes for things to happen, since the audio recording shows the time.
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