FRC Spyder for iPhone with Push

[Dave Flowerday]

Following up on the release of FRC Spyder for Android we have released an iPhone version that is available now in the App Store. The major features are the ability to mark teams and events as favorites, view teams and events that are currently competing/happening, and the ability to refresh on each page to update whatever data that is currently being shown. Also, there is my favorite feature: push notifications for team results. You can register to receive live push updates for up to 3 teams* and as soon as a match result for any of those teams is posted your phone will be alerted, even if you are not using the app at that time. Hopefully this should be a great way to keep track of some of your favorite teams as they compete, even if you are not able to watch them in person or on a webcast.

* Right now we're limiting you to 3 teams for push updates. This may change in the future as we get a better idea of server usage etc.

[Fireworks 234]

Very cool app! How do I favorite teams?

Edit: Nvm...Not looking in the right place when i asked

[Matthew2c4u]

FRC Spyder
My team mentor was a bit freaked out when he found it on his Droid.
-Matt B Team Spyder 1622

[Dave Flowerday]

Version 1.1 became available last night in the App Store. There is now a Menu button on every page with a Refresh option.

Perhaps I should have explained more before, but whatever page you refresh from, it refreshes only the data needed on that page (for speed purposes). One of the ways I used this app last weekend was to set a handful of teams as favorites that I wanted to follow from various regionals, then from the Favorite Teams page just refresh periodically. On that page it shows you their current ranking and SPs, so during qualification matches it's a great way to keep track of all your friends right from one spot.

All the data you see in the app is pulled from official FIRST sources, and as long as the Twitter feed is functional we have score and rankings updates typically within 15-30 seconds or so of the score being posted. If/when the Twitter feed goes down, then we have to poll for the updates so then it takes a few minutes to get the latest rankings.

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by Dave Flowerday

One of the ways I used this app last weekend was to set a handful of teams as favorites that I wanted to follow from various regionals, then from the Favorite Teams page just refresh periodically. On that page it shows you their current ranking and SPs, so during qualification matches it's a great way to keep track of all your friends right from one spot.

Exactly what I was doing over the weekend and for the next few weeks.
Thanks for making this for those of us that can't/dislike programming.

[Greg Marra]

This app looks great! I am so glad to see the community building tools for itself.

I am slightly worried about fragmentation. There are now two FRC iPhone apps, both of which are closed source. Are we doing ourselves a disservice by not collaborating to create the single best experience for students, mentors, and parents that we can?

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

I am slightly worried about fragmentation. There are now two FRC iPhone apps, both of which are closed source. Are we doing ourselves a disservice by not collaborating to create the single best experience for students, mentors, and parents that we can?

Greg, I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. People see a need and they fill it, it's as simple as that. There's actually already at least 4 different iPhone apps, and they all do something different.

Mike and I created this app for a few reasons. First, we both wanted to learn about development for the iPhone and Android. Second, we wanted an app to make the process of following team rankings easier than just constantly reloading FIRST's rankings page on the phone over and over. To my knowledge, no other apps offer that, so that seemed like a need we could fill.

Really, I don't think this is any different than the multitude of websites that are available as resources for people in FIRST. The existence of CD, usfirst.org, and FIRSTwiki didn't stop you from creating thebluealliance.net... because you saw a need that wasn't quite fulfilled by any of the other sites out there and you had the time, knowledge, and interest to do it.

[Jared Russell]

Dave (and Mike):

Thanks for this app. It is definitely the most intuitive and complete FRC app available right now.

One request: is there any chance you could add the awards page for each event? (Even if it is just an HTML link to the appropriate usfirst.org page)

[Brandon Holley]

Hey Dave,
App is awesome thus far.

I'm having trouble figuring out how to "follow" teams to get the push notifications. Could you provide some insight?

Thanks
Brando

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

Hey Dave,
App is awesome thus far.

I'm having trouble figuring out how to "follow" teams to get the push notifications. Could you provide some insight?

Thanks
Brando

Starting at the main screen, select Teams, find the team you want, select them, then press the Menu button at the top. In the menu you can Favorite them, and there's also an option there to "Receive Live Updates" - that's the one you want. Unfortunately right now there's no way to do it from the Events page.. Maybe in the future I'll add that.

[d-dub]

This app looks awesome!

However, I only seem to be getting 2010 data. I've tried deleting all data and then refreshing, and I've even tried deleting and reinstalling the app.

Any ideas why I'm not getting the 2011 data? The "About" tab on the main screen does not list an application version, BTW.

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by d-dub

Any ideas why I'm not getting the 2011 data?

The 2011 version has not been released yet. A version has been submitted for approval by Apple but it's still in waiting.

[d-dub]

Originally Posted by Dave Flowerday

The 2011 version has not been released yet. A version has been submitted for approval by Apple but it's still in waiting.

I wondered if that was the case. Thanks for the info!