Check out my app: GasBot

[justjimjpc]

Hey Chris I have a question. If I pay for the app and then say I have my phone replaced or have to do a factory reset, would I have to pay for the app again when I download it?

One thing i was told by TMO, was that they store all apps on their servers whiich you have downloaded ... So if you uninstall one, and then look in your downloads you will still see the Program there ... Currently you will see many (uninstalled) that will show as "Free" in your download list.

Now if you need to have a phone reset or phone replaced .... you will do a restore by just downloading from your "server saved" list. How this might relate to purchased apps I think may have to so with how the App provider records your registration ... Like "Cell number", IMEI, etc....

I think it will be a "to be seen" and a case by case basis ...

 

[GasBot]

Hey Chris I have a question. If I pay for the app and then say I have my phone replaced or have to do a factory reset, would I have to pay for the app again when I download it?

Not at all. The license is bound to your phone number so if you got the new phone in, slip your SIM card in and download GasBot it'll work just as it did on your old phone!

 

[Ageless Stranger]

Not at all. The license is bound to your phone number so if you got the new phone in, slip your SIM card in and download GasBot it'll work just as it did on your old phone!

A great way to help thwart piracy, you register the app you just paid for and spread the serial around the web, and then suddenly someone else tries to activate with the serial number you paid for. Before you know it, you get a call from the developer calling you a jerk. I like it

 

[GasBot]

A great way to help thwart piracy, you register the app you just paid for and spread the serial around the web, and then suddenly someone else tries to activate with the serial number you paid for. Before you know it, you get a call from the developer calling you a jerk. I like it

Haha, it's even better than that. There's no serial to worry about and if you ever need support, you easily know your user id.

Not to mention you'd have to go through the trouble of changing your phone number every 2 weeks in order to circumvent buying the license.

 

[DarkTLRrider]

Thanks that was the only thing keeping me from buying it. Also I have seen a ton of suggestions for your app. Some suggesting to do some complicated algorithms to figure out if it is worth driving the extra 10 miles to get the cheaper gas was worth it. I am more in favor of about what you have now is as complex as I would want it. If we ever get true navigation it would be cool to use that to find the gas station though. That being said maybe you should think about a standard version and a Pro or advanced version. You could charge more for the more advanced one, and people that won't find the extra features valuable could stick with the basic version.

 

[GasBot]

Thanks that was the only thing keeping me from buying it. Also I have seen a ton of suggestions for your app. Some suggesting to do some complicated algorithms to figure out if it is worth driving the extra 10 miles to get the cheaper gas was worth it. I am more in favor of about what you have now is as complex as I would want it. If we ever get true navigation it would be cool to use that to find the gas station though. That being said maybe you should think about a standard version and a Pro or advanced version. You could charge more for the more advanced one, and people that won't find the extra features valuable could stick with the basic version.

Only thing there is I'd have to charge for both of them as I have to pay the data licensing fees. Either way, don't worry, if I implement some more advanced features, I'll make it so that you can turn them on and off as you see fit. You won't be forced into working around a bunch of complex and convoluted features to get to the core data.

 

[Coz]

Hey, yeah actually I was thinking about sharing over SMS. That way it could be shared with anyone on the go. I guess the only thing missing would be the map and directions, but a link to Google Maps could always be thrown into the text.

I think the best way to share this information would be SMS, since nearly everyone has a phone that allows them to receive texts (some users have it turned off, I realize). Basically it would just need to include the Name, physical address, prices (since you dont know which octane they may want to buy) and a chance to add a note.

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, I'm guessing someone has, but most gas stations are actually under a different name than the one on their sign. Like the gas station might be a Shell or Texaco, but it has the owner or company name on the actual map description with the address. To circumvent this confusing detail, the aforementioned note for the person you're sending it to could help clear this confusion (i.e. The one on the way to ___'s house, or "The Texaco with the subway"). So basically there could be a button that opens your SMS and inserts the info for the selected station, but allows you to add a note before sending it to the user.

And also... there would need to be a way to pick the person you're sending it to. Like open your contacts or something, or have people pre-added to the program so there is a list to choose from. Typing their number in each time would get old after a while, I'm sure.

Just my .02

 

[GasBot]

Just an update for you guys, version 1.0 is coming along well. So far here are the new features...

Pulling the GPS coordinates has been moved from the point where you start the app, to the point where you tap the By Location button. Right now the start of the app has a small (1 or 2 seconds) where it's checking for updates available, and then you'll see the home screen. This should be good for those who search by address alot. That way you don't have to wait for the GPS receiver to get a fix.

I've also added a setting in the settings menu to allow you to change the timeout on the GPS. As of right now the system polls the GPS receiver and waits 20 seconds. If it hasn't returned any coordinates in that time, it'll ask for the network location or pull the last known location (if your network loc is turned off). With this new system you can set it to wait less or go longer in an attempt to get a more accurate position.

Beyond that, there is now the option to map all stations in your result set. This will bring you to the map view and show all of the stations with their logos as pins.

The standard map view (when you open up the more info about a station and tap the map button) will look the same, except instead of seeing the gas pump to signify the station, it's a pin with their logo.

I'm also going to be adding the data logging feature where you can log your odometer, date, price of fuel, etc. and it will allow you to track your MPG. This will open up a lot of future functionality where you can get different reports based on that data as well as possibly export the data in a CSV format to submit into an accounting application that tracks mileage. (This would be used mostly by corporate fleets).

 

[GasBot]

Woohoo! I just got off the phone with my main data provider and they're giving me a break of $2 off the licensing fees until Christmas so I guess we have a little GasBot Christmas sale!!!

Until December 25th GasBot will be $5 instead of $7.

I've set it up on the site already so you should see the new price when going into PayPal. http://www.gasbot.net/GetGasbotLicense

 

[kkozuch1]

Hi, i did have a question on the reliability of the data that is provided. I found the cheapest gas around me that said on gasbot it was 1.43, but when i got to the station it was 1.63. in gasbot it said it was last reported about an hour before if not less. So who reports the data in the system, is in the gas station it self? If it was they could just be reporting lower to get you to come to that station.

 

[GasBot]

Hi, i did have a question on the reliability of the data that is provided. I found the cheapest gas around me that said on gasbot it was 1.43, but when i got to the station it was 1.63. in gasbot it said it was last reported about an hour before if not less. So who reports the data in the system, is in the gas station it self? If it was they could just be reporting lower to get you to come to that station.

Was it a grocery store gas station or something? The data gets collected from credit card transactions. So no one actually reports it. The one problem I've seen with the data is that sometimes there are stations that have big rewards programs, so someone could save up some rewards and get a bunch off per gallon, and then that gets put into the system. Sorry about that man. Usually you can tell if you know that that station has a rewards program and they're a good deal cheaper than everyone else on the list.

 

[kkozuch1]

Yeah i looked for that first but i didn't see any rewards program on that station and i know there was not a gas with wash price. It was a citgo station, but it may have been someone who had something else that was separate or something. In gasbot is it reported by that last person that got gas? or how does the system choose what credit card to take the price from?

 

[GasBot]

Yeah i looked for that first but i didn't see any rewards program on that station and i know there was not a gas with wash price. It was a citgo station, but it may have been someone who had something else that was separate or something. In gasbot is it reported by that last person that got gas? or how does the system choose what credit card to take the price from?

I wish I knew, that's all handled by the data providers. All I know is that they get pricing from credit/gas card transactions and that they won't report a station if it hasn't been updated within the last 4 days.

 

[justjimjpc]

Wondering about the latest update from the Apps Market... I ran GasBot and it said I needed to update, however the listing in the MarketPlace says two week trial. I have paid some time back for a year's use and wonder if this has reset that ... my understanding is my registration should be recognized from my phone number ... Chris please update us on this matter.

 

[GasBot]

Wondering about the latest update from the Apps Market... I ran GasBot and it said I needed to update, however the listing in the MarketPlace says two week trial. I have paid some time back for a year's use and wonder if this has reset that ... my understanding is my registration should be recognized from my phone number ... Chris please update us on this matter.

Hey, yeah if you paid for the app then your license is still valid. You won't have to pay for the app again. You can ignore the trial text if you've already paid. I just have to add that otherwise I get a bunch of people bitching much like you see in the comments (although they bitch regardless of what text I put on there.)

 

[GasBot]

UPDATE: GasBot 1.0 has been released!

In the new version it will wait to pull the GPS coordinates after you've clicked the By Location button. This way if you use stored addresses more often than not, you won't have to wait for it to get the GPS fix before entering the app like you did before.

There's also a new setting in the Settings screen that allows you to set the GPS timeout. This gives you the ability to essentially set it to 0 which is in effect just using network/cell tower location. Or you can adjust it up to a minute to allow the GPS time to get a clear fix on your current location.

There's also a new Map All Stations button on the station listing screen that allows you to see where all of the stations are around you using their logos as pins. The new logo pins are on the single station maps as well.

I'm currently working on the data logging features and am going to push those out with the next release.

 

[justjimjpc]

UPDATE: GasBot 1.0 has been released!

In the new version it will wait to pull the GPS coordinates after you've clicked the By Location button. This way if you use stored addresses more often than not, you won't have to wait for it to get the GPS fix before entering the app like you did before.

There's also a new setting in the Settings screen that allows you to set the GPS timeout. This gives you the ability to essentially set it to 0 which is in effect just using network/cell tower location. Or you can adjust it up to a minute to allow the GPS time to get a clear fix on your current location.

There's also a new Map All Stations button on the station listing screen that allows you to see where all of the stations are around you using their logos as pins. The new logo pins are on the single station maps as well.

I'm currently working on the data logging features and am going to push those out with the next release.

Thanks Chris, Keep up the good work .... I went this pass weekend on a trip with friends (iPhoners) and I used Gasbot to Find GasStations for Gas as well as and emergency restroom need ... I couldnt help but smirk at my friends and their iPhones and dazzling them with Gasbot but also doing multitaking magic emails, im and mapping all at the same time .... their iphones need a bit if Viagra or Cialis

 

[GasBot]

Thanks Chris, Keep up the good work .... I went this pass weekend on a trip with friends (iPhoners) and I used Gasbot to Find GasStations for Gas as well as and emergency restroom need ... I couldnt help but smirk at my friends and their iPhones and dazzling them with Gasbot but also doing multitaking magic emails, im and mapping all at the same time .... their iphones need a bit if Viagra or Cialis

Haha that's awesome man. I love sticking it to the iPhonies with all of the great things the G1 and its software can do!

 

[roylive]

I guess I worry that the last post on this subject was in Dec 2009 - I also worry about all of the negative comments on the Market place for Gasbot. I wonder if I have made a mistake in paying the $7.00 on this product. I paid for the final version and can not get the program to get over the License Expired notice. I sent an E-mail yesterday to chris@gasbot.net asking for help with no reply. I guess I am asking if there is anyone on the forum that can help me or has additional information to get me going or should I just wrap it up and try to get my fee back from paypal. Any help would be appreciated