FillLPG Android app - new version under development

[OnTheFenceDev]

Hi Everyone

My name is Dave from On The Fence Development - the developer of the FillLPG Android application that some of you may be using (not the site, just the app).

I thought I'd drop by and let you know that a shiny new version is in the pipeline which makes use of the new Google Maps service as well as making the user interface a bit more friendly and easy to use (and not so ugly). I've also taken a few comments on board so there are some new features coming too - such as being able to view which stations were updated/added/deleted instead of just the counts.

I will be looking for Beta testers shortly so please feel free to contact me if you would be interested. I see most users are using the Samsung Galaxy S2/S3 but I'd be interested in users with different devices as well. I should point out that the new version will be suitable for Android 4.0+ devices only at this time - there is an amount of work to support earlier devices and I'm keen to move forward with the development and get the new version released.

I have good news for all you Apple users out there because I am also working on a version for the iPhone/iPad - although it will not be ready to release until after the new Android version (there are only so many hours in the day). No screenshots available yet but I will post here when they are - I'd be interested in some feedback.

[Tubbs]

I'm a mac user. So would be happy to beta test it.

[john_d]

got a s3 and htc dhd waiting

dont waste ur time with that iphone muck

[sijones]

dont waste ur time with that iphone muck

what's an iphone?

[john_d]

an over priced POS

[Gilbertd]

dont waste ur time with that iphone muck :oops:

Seconded, but I'd like a Windows phone version........

[LPGC]

Will the app work on a landline?

[OnTheFenceDev]

Thanks for all the feedback/interest.

The app is a few weeks away from Beta at the moment and will probably require a couple of iterations to get any kinks ironed out. The initial development was my first taste of Android development so with a bit more experience and the improvements in the platform itself I hope that the next version will be a much better user experience.

[gasguzzla]

Seconded, but I'd like a Windows phone version........

the main site works fine on my Nokia running Win 8 phone. Tab set for the map and it opens in a couple of seconds.

[Gilbertd]

Problem I've found is that you can view the map no problem but if you tap on a station it doesn't give you the details. Not important if you are just looking for a filling station on a main road but it is if you want to look up the postcode for a Calor depot or similar. That's on a Nokia Lumia 925.

[Brian_H]

Problem I've found is that you can view the map no problem but if you tap on a station it doesn't give you the details. Not important if you are just looking for a filling station on a main road but it is if you want to look up the postcode for a Calor depot or similar. That's on a Nokia Lumia 925.

Is the windows phone app not suitable ? > http://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/store ... a80988727d

The current Android one works pretty well just something i've noticed i have a group of 3 stations around the equator for some reason (resetting the app data didn't fix but its obviously something misbehaving as its now showing a different 3 stations around the same place!, they aren't on the main filllpg site either)

[Gilbertd]

Is the windows phone app not suitable ? > http://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/store ... a80988727d

Damn me, didn't know that existed. Just downloaded it and it seems to do just what looking at the website in Explorer on the phone doesn't, brilliant.

[Brian_H]

Is the windows phone app not suitable ? > http://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/store ... a80988727d

Damn me, didn't know that existed. Just downloaded it and it seems to do just what looking at the website in Explorer on the phone doesn't, brilliant.

Could do with a link off the site really if possible. Its been out quite a while but i guess doesn't get that much visiblity as windows phones aren't that popular yet, athough it seems to be moving in the right direction for them now.

[Morat]

I'm up for some testing!
I've got a Note3, 2x Galaxy Note2 (one is my wife's) and a couple of Xoom2 ME tablets so we're covered from ICS to Kit Kat.
Most of them are left over from testing another project, but the Note3 is pretty much up to date.
I currently use the What Gas app, but I don't get on with the lack of filtering options or weird integration with Google Maps.

Will your app have "take me to the nearest LPG" and "Show me the LPG stations on my current route" options? I realise they're probably hard to implement, but would let you sweep the board

[Gilbertd]

No idea about the Android version but the Windows version that I've been playing with since last night shows me the nearest stations to my current location and if it tap on any of them I have the option of getting directions. That integrates with the inbuilt sat nav application. I can also input a route and it will show me all stations along the route too. So all in all it seems to do everything you want. I must admit I had been wondering how I could upload a POI file so I could have the ability to navigate to nearest stations (as I had on my old, well out of date, Garmin) but I don't need one now.

[Morat]

I just installed the app and the "Navigate to" option works well. I also like the way it is dedicated to LPG stations. Nice app.

[Brian_H]

No idea about the Android version but the Windows version that I've been playing with since last night shows me the nearest stations to my current location and if it tap on any of them I have the option of getting directions. That integrates with the inbuilt sat nav application. I can also input a route and it will show me all stations along the route too. So all in all it seems to do everything you want. I must admit I had been wondering how I could upload a POI file so I could have the ability to navigate to nearest stations (as I had on my old, well out of date, Garmin) but I don't need one now.

You need to use poi loader to do that - its available free, you put the bmp file and csv one into a folder then follow the wizard to transfer them. Its more of a faff than tomtom's method (just dropping the files into the map folder) but does work once you get used to it. But as you say the phone app makes it a bit less needed anyway.

Android one works in the same way though i tend to find the satnav more useful to find the stations, then the app to check the price.

https://www8.garmin.com/support/downloa ... jsp?id=927 for poi loader for windows, think theres a mac version as well if your that way inclined.

[Gilbertd]

That's the POI loader for the Garmin which I don't use any more as the maps on mine are over 5 years out of date. I'm using the Nokia Drive app on the Lumia Windows phone these days which doesn't appear to support user customised POI files. But, with the FillLPG app being integrated with Drive, then a POI file isn't needed. Not for LPG stations anyway.

[Brian_H]

That's the POI loader for the Garmin which I don't use any more as the maps on mine are over 5 years out of date. I'm using the Nokia Drive app on the Lumia Windows phone these days which doesn't appear to support user customised POI files. But, with the FillLPG app being integrated with Drive, then a POI file isn't needed. Not for LPG stations anyway.

Ah I see wasn't aware you could do that with them. Thought you were still using the Garmin. It does what you want anyway so thats what matters!.

[Gilbertd]

Nowt is the matter now I've found that the app exists! Yes, all the Nokia Lumia Windows phone range come with the Nokia Drive app (even the most basic ones, my wife has just got the Lumia 520 as a free upgrade and even that has it!) which looks and works remarkably similarly to a TomTom. In all respects except there doesn't appear to be any way of uploading POI files to it. However, it does include free map updates for life and will either work from an online map or you just download the countries you are interested in to the phone so you don't run up a huge data download bill. It includes live re-routing and traffic information too. If there's a road closed due to an accident, it will automatically find a route around it.

With the FillLPG app, all I need do is look at the nearest filling station, tap on it and tap the directions button and it opens the Drive app and takes me there. Who needs a separate sat nav and POI file?