Introducing the Custom Saber Shop iOS App!

[davethomas691]

Hey everyone!
Just thought I'd drop in and give you a sneak peek of the new TCSS iOS app. It is mostly complete right now, just a few more tweaks left and then its off to Apple for approval. I'll be using this thread to keep everyone updated on the release progress.

Features include:
All MHS Parts including Pricing, Details, and Images
A reinvention of the Saber Builder on the website. (Powder coating support will come in the next version)
Support for Landscape and Portrait orientations
In-app email to contact TCSS



Check out the screen shots below
http://gallery.me.com/david.l.thomas/100174/1/web.jpg?ver=129168153000021

http://gallery.me.com/david.l.thomas/100174/2/web.jpg?ver=12915217240001

http://gallery.me.com/david.l.thomas/100174/3/web.jpg?ver=12915217260001

http://gallery.me.com/david.l.thomas/100174/4/web.jpg?ver=12915217280001

http://gallery.me.com/david.l.thomas/100174/5/web.jpg?ver=12915217300001

http://gallery.me.com/david.l.thomas/100174/6/web.jpg?ver=12915217320001

http://gallery.me.com/david.l.thomas/100174/7/web.jpg?ver=12915217350001

http://gallery.me.com/david.l.thomas/100174/8/web.jpg?ver=12915236490001

Questions/Comments are welcome. Feel free to leave them here or contact me at david@davidthomas.org

[iamdrake]

Looks to good to be true

[equinox13]

here's some feedback... make it for android.

[cardcollector]

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!

NO WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!

AWESOME!! and the saberbuilder too?!?!

*sniff sniff* I just knew this day would come. *happy tears*

Any release date? any price?

[Knighthammer]

here's some feedback... make it for android.

Agreed - as I also run android.
But the app looks awesome - great job!

[dgdve]

I always knew my iphone would pay off... but dont make the mistake so many app creators make.... DONT OVERCHARGE (Ooo and be sure we get multi tasking support)... I can only imagine having to ignore calls because I'm playing with the mhs builder.. Enable fast app switching!!

[xl97]

curious as to the builder portion..

you can drag all the parts around? how do you update parts? snap to? thread hints? like how do you pick parts/navigation?


thanks


edit:

I see the 'add to builder' button now..

are you loading parts/images in dynamically?

[Strydur]

Maybe I will have my son make a Android one. I had him start playing with the app inventor the other day, seems pretty easy to use.

[equinox13]

Maybe I will have my son make a Android one. I had him start playing with the app inventor the other day, seems pretty easy to use.

i'll be a tester! ^_^

[davethomas691]

Thanks for the comments!

xl97- You got it, you add parts to the builder going through the list view to the individual part detail view. The part images are loaded dynamically to the builder view. The parts can be dragged around and double tap deletes them. Snap-to and powder coating are the top features on my list for version 2, then threading and an in-app screenshot/gallery view. Currently, you can take screenshots to the Photo App using the home+sleep button.

I currently have no plans for an Android version, since I don't own an Android device. The Nook Color does look very tempting though. Also, doesn't the regular Saber Builder function properly on Android since you have Flash?

[equinox13]

and so it does work fairly well! though there are some issues with scrolling... and some HTML formatting for it to fit the screen right would be nice, though i imagine that would be a bit on the complicated side... it's usable and i have no issues other than that.

in that case, can we get the new parts put into the MHS Saber Builder?

[iamdrake]

i'll be a tester! ^_^

I will be one also!! (I can test on Android or iPod touch)

[J73sport]

Awesome !!!!! I’ve been hoping an app would be released soon. I can hardly wait!!!

[bk_renesis]

This is not good... So now I can design, price, order, pay and track my sabers off my iPhone... This is evil, EEEEEEVIL I tells ya!
Is it possible that we can actually log in to the store and order off the app?? Either way I'm wrapped. It'd be good if we could actually order and pay via paypal. Might be an option for V2.

Can't wait!!!!

[iamdrake]

Since it was submitted tonight it looks like we are looking at a week or two before we can get it. So will it be for sale or for free?

[equinox13]

unless it gets rejected as too fantastical... sometimes i wonder about the people at the apple store...

[davethomas691]

I finished submitting the app Sunday night. On average, it takes about 5 days for an app to be approved. Cross your fingers and keep an eye out for it this weekend. I'll be posting here when it goes live on the app store.

Also, Tim and I decided to release the app for free.

[equinox13]

excellent enough i suppose.

on another topic, Dave Thomas, why haven't you opened a Wendy's in Japan near me yet?

[cardcollector]

Tim and I decided to release the app for free.

Huzzah!!! :mrgreen:

[Vazan Maceu]

Uber-coolness condensed in an IOS app! Will it also work on the iPad?

[davethomas691]

excellent enough i suppose.

on another topic, Dave Thomas, why haven't you opened a Wendy's in Japan near me yet?

Japanese focus groups showed little interest in Spicy Chicken sandwiches... however the Junior Bacon Cheeseburger performed remarkably well.

As of right now, there is no iPad support. Look for that in January. I need to spend some more time using iPad to fully understand the interface requirements.

[JamoUp]

super excited about this. I will beta the heck out of it! and a freebee? yow! very cool.

[bk_renesis]

Any updates??

[davethomas691]

Rejected Friday night due to use of Apple's private API. I fixed it and resubmitted it Saturday morning. Hopefully it will be approved before they shut down for the holidays on the 23rd.

[dgdve]

ohhh I'm soo excited

[Jedi Ranger]

Very cool! Too bad I use WinMo. :-/

[davethomas691]

The app has been approved and is now LIVE in the app store. Go now! Get it! Rate it! Enjoy it!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-custom-saber-shop-builder/id409722735?mt=8

[iamdrake]

Updating to iOs 4.2 now to install!!

Working great!!

[bk_renesis]

This is too good now I'll never get off the phone... (wife is giving me dirty looks already!!)

[dgdve]

Got it!! (hey shouldnt this thing get its own button or a link on the MHS builder tab at the top of the forums?)

[Strydur]

I will figure something out for that soon.

[JamoUp]

downloading now!

[cardcollector]

Downloaded it, played with it, loved it, rated it! :mrgreen:

[Jin Ke]

outstanding.... I am downloading now, and will rate after I play around a bit.... :)

[xl97]

no iPhone here.. =(

but still think its great.

how about an un-official rating of thumbs up?! =)

[davethomas691]

Thanks for the great reviews/ratings everyone. Make sure to tell your friends about it. Is anyone in the 501st or Rebel Legion that could give it a plug in that community?

[davethomas691]

Here are some screens from version 2 of the app.
http://gallery.me.com/david.l.thomas/100194/Screen-20shot-202010-12-30-20at-204-02-08-20PM/web.jpg?ver=12937430840001
http://gallery.me.com/david.l.thomas/100194/Screen-20shot-202010-12-30-20at-204-02-21-20PM/web.jpg?ver=12937430850001

Also, my plans for V2 features

(CHECK) Fix the Contact TCSS bug
(CHECK) Add Powder coating support
(CHECK) Add Up/Down buttons (ex: Mail Application) for navigating through Parts
In App Saving/Loading of Builds
Gallery of Other Users Builds/Real pictures of MHS sabers
Shopping Cart/Part purchases
Preset builds based on canon lightsabers (Obi Wan, Qui Gon, Luke etc.)
Add builder images for the remaining parts that don't currently have them.

As always, if you have any suggestions for features, throw them at me here or at david@davidthomas.org. If anyone would like to help create the images for the parts that are not currently represented in the builder, let me know.

Do you all want more options for powder coating past the canon black, gold and bronze?

[bk_renesis]

Bring it!!!! Or as they say:

"if you build it... They will come..."

[dgdve]

I'm super impressed with how this has developed, thanks so much for this

[xl97]

I like your idea of showing pre-built canon replica sabers built form MHS parts.. luke/obi..etc

[Strydur]

I have my son working on a Android version.

He has it set up so you can view all the MHS parts so far (well the functionality anyways, he is still adding the items)

Not sure if he will be able to figure out the builder portion of it though.

[Azmaria Dei]

I have my son working on a Android version.

He has it set up so you can view all the MHS parts so far (well the functionality anyways, he is still adding the items)

Not sure if he will be able to figure out the builder portion of it though.

WOOT! ^_^ i'm patient - just hurry up! lol - just knowing that there will be one is a MAJOR morale booster. Thanks Tim & Son!

[dgdve]

I have my son working on a Android version.

He has it set up so you can view all the MHS parts so far (well the functionality anyways, he is still adding the items)

Not sure if he will be able to figure out the builder portion of it though.

Thats right boy, time to start paying back your old man!! (lol) hehehe so funny Tim

[Rafalema]

Sounds great!
Especially since I just got an Android phone as a Christmas gift. :cool:

Now hurry up!!! :p

[sithlordfaust]

NOOOOOOO! it requires iOS 4.2... anyway you can change that? I tried to get it on my ipod touch 1stgen and was ano go

[cardcollector]

NOOOOOOO! it requires iOS 4.2... anyway you can change that? I tried to get it on my ipod touch 1stgen and was ano go

Just plug your iPod into iTunes and upgrade your OS. It is free and should prompt you as soon as iTunes recognizes your software isn't up to date.

[sithlordfaust]

not so with 1st gen itouch and iphones the highest it goes 3.X.X. there are many an app us 1st gen users cant use

[Azmaria Dei]

then it seems that you have to upgrade the same way every other mac user upgrades - get a new system. sorry. ^_^

[cardcollector]

not so with 1st gen itouch and iphones the highest it goes 3.X.X. there are many an app us 1st gen users cant use

I am sorry- I misunderstood.
Gotta say, the new IPhones are pretty amazing...:rolleyes:

[BeamiestRocket4]

Just got the app and it is very usefull. Was on a long bus ride and designed a couple. Very easy to use.

[Strydur]

Can someone test downloading the Android app.. there is a link on the main page of the store.. just browse to it with your phone.

[Azmaria Dei]

big, doesn't have anything but pommels, doesn't rotate that well. also needs to actually be installable to the memory card. i 'moved' it and it takes up 3MB instead of 5...

it's a good start, but has a long way to go still.

[Strydur]

It so happens that even though android made this nice little app maker they decided to not let apps made on it be downloadable via appmarket or some such crap so it took my son forever to figure out how to share it lol. Now that that is done he can go back to working on the actual app. This was more of a test to see if we could share it this way.

[Azmaria Dei]

yep - that works. ^_^ i might have to make a scannable barcode thing for that link... like this...

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1567589/Lightsaber/TCSS%20android%20app%20QR%20code.jpg

[Rafalema]

Just downloaded and tested.

As Azmaria said, it has only the pommels right now...

There is a lot of room for improvement, but it's coming along great.