AutoAlert

There’s been lots of stories about individuals making bundles of money on the app store although with thousands of apps out there this tends to be the exception rather than the rule

However, I’ve just noticed that there are a number of apps in the top 25 today. They are cheap apps selling the ability to see through a friends clothes or track ANY mobile telephone. It appears to be a joke and when you read the description it does clearly state what the app does or doesn’t do but lots of people seem to be downloading them regardless.

Three of the apps are below. 2 are from the same developer, all have got really bad reviews and all appear to be very simple apps to put together.

X Ray Scanner to see under your friends clothes

Phone Tracker: Location any mobile phone

Sex position game

What ceases to amaze though is how many people seem to be surprised that the app doesn’t do what they thought.

I take a few learning from this and i’d be interested to hear your views.

1) People don’t read the descriptions (or at best they skim read)

As an app developer we’ve seen this ourselves. No matter how clear you try and make the description and how much information you provide on your website; people will still download the app but often have completely different expectations to what it actually does.

The same is true for help and instructions. No matter how clear you’ve made your instructions (or how clear you feel you’ve made your instructions) people will still have problems.

2) The cheaper the app the more bad reviews you’ll get

The more expensive the app, I assume the more research people will do before purchasing. The cheaper the app the more likely people will download it without really knowing what it does, then be upset when it doesn’t do what they thought.

3) Bad reviews don’t matter

As a developer we put a lot of effort into trying to create good apps which will be useful to our customers. When we first released our applications we always took it personally if someone wasn’t happy. Of course we still want to make the best app possible but given the above it seems that reviews shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Obsviiously constructive critisms can help you develop your app further, but bad reviews appear to make little difference to sales.

4. If you want to make a lot of money quickly, release a really bad app

The apps I mentioned above were obviously quick to make and appear to have upset a lot of people. However, they are in the top 25 paid applications as well as the top 50 grossing applications today. If you create a buzz in the app store, even if for the wrong reasons then it appears that your app will get priortised. Sensationalism sells!

By the way, before any one thinks this is just another marketing ploy for these apps, thiese companies have nothing to do with us!

I’d be keen to hear your thoughts, both around marketing of applications as well as on a lighter note, some ideas for equally bad apps which could sell millions.,

Have you ever left your car somewhere then had that sinking feeling when you’ve realised you can’t remember where you parked it.

With AutoAlert you don’t need to worry.  Simply open your AutoAlert iPhone Groups application, send your location then access the Radar screen to see where you are in relation to your vehicle.  Leave the application tracking and you can watch yourself home in on your cars position.

If you haven’t got an AutoAlert GPS Tracking Unit in your vehicle, you can still use the AutoAlert iPhone Tracking app to leave your location when you get out of your car then see your current position relative to that location when you are trying to find your car later on.

And if you don’t have an iPhone, you can use any colour mobile telephone to check the last known position of your vehicle by pointing your phone at http://www.autoalert.me.uk/mobile/ then logging in with your account details.

For any other help and advice using any AutoAlert product, check out our AutoAlert Support pages

We get numerous questions via our http://www.nocongstionchargefines.co.uk website from worried motorists trying to find out when they have to pay the London Congestion Charge or if they are liable to fines.

Unfortunately thousands of people each year get fined when they do not realise they are in the London Congestion Zone, when they are not sure what time the fines operate or from those who simply forget to pay.

Fortunately our iPhone and portable GPS tracking applications help people reduce the risk of fines by showing when you are in the zone, allowing you to pay there and then via your iPhone or providing a text message reminder later in the evening if you have forgotten to pay. However, for those that didn’t have our application there is still help available if you know where to look for it.

Check out our website at http://www.nocongestionchargefines.co.uk/london_congestion_charge.html for more information on the London Congestion Charging Zone. There is also a wealth of information available on Transport for London’s website at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/ although finding the right information can be difficult.

One of the questions we get asked a lot, is from people that have already received a fine and want to know whether it is worth appealing.  Finding out this information from Transport for London has been notoriously difficult.  However, a recent freedom of information request meant that TFL had to publish the attached document.

London Congestion Charge Appeals Process

This sets out the decision making process for TFL and when they will accept or reject a decision.

Following conversations with our customers, we found the following ten reasons are those most likely sited for using GPS vehicle tracking technology.

Customer Service – this was cited as a key requirement.  By knowing where all your vehicles are, if a customer rings you can immediately tell them what is happening and when to expect a delivery with out having to ring the driver, find out where they are and then ring the customer back.

Reduce costs – By monitoring mileage, routes taken, idling times, or just through better scheduling of drivers, it is possible to make big savings in fuel costs – one of the largest costs for transport companies.

Environmental awareness - As above, reducing mileage also directly reduces harmful exhaust emissions.  Furthermore, by having access to real time data it is possible to monitor trends and have key information at hand.

Reduced administration - Using the working time reports means less reliance on job sheets or overtime sheets.  I’ts also a lot easier to see when a vehicle is used, for what purpose and why.

Improved working conditions - Putting the information in the fleet managers hands reduces the need to constantly ring the driver to see where they are.  This is safer for the driver and also reduces stressful situations often caused by poor communication.

Challenge parking tickets/speeding tickets or supplier fines – Time stamped satellite imagery and historical reports make it easy to prove where a vehicle was at a specific time or what speed it was doing.  This could reduce parking or speeding tickets or even fines from suppliers such as ports who often charge if a delivery is not made within a particular time frame.

Enhanced fleet performance – With less paperwork and key information readily available, it is easier to manage your fleet and spend time on the jobs that matter.

Security – You can see where your vehicles are at all times, set up alerts if they enter or leave particular areas and get text message alerts to potential problems.

Peace of mind - this is particular relevant to our motorhome or classic car customers.  With AutoAlert you check the position of your vehicles whenever you want and wherever you are through your mobile telephone rather than relying on a distant call centre which only tracks your vehicle after it has gone.

Job security - Improved performance, efficient operations and reduced costs allow for investment in new revenue generating areas.

Having recently spent 6 hours stuck on a snowbound road on the Penines, I know all too well the dangers of driving in the harsh conditions currently sweeping much of Europe.

Obviously if you don’t have to drive then don’t. Sit in your warm home and watch the travel report on the TV.  However, if you do have to drive then a bit of preparation can help you avoid the worse.

First, check the route and don’t just listen to the first directions provided by your satnav.  With AutoAlert I can get the directions from my vehicle to my destination.  However, rather than taking the first route offered – over the Pennines.  Perhaps I should have thought first and then taken a slightly longer route south, sticking to the bigger roads and motorways which was always going to be the more sensible option.

Once you have selected a route, check the traffic conditions and weather if you can.

Ensure your vehicle is serviced, the battery is charged and the tyres are not worn to reduce the chance of mechanical wear and tear leaving you stuck whilst everyone else drives off into the sunset.

Top up the water in your windscreen washers and ensure it has anti freeze.  The screen soon gets clogged with snow and grit making visibility difficult.

A bit of practice is always good.  Ok, so we got in trouble when we were young skidding our parents cars around disused car parks.  However, understanding how your car will react and knowing how to get the best traction will reduce stress whilst everyone else is skidding into each other or finding it impossible to get up hills.

Keep some extra jumpers and socks in the boot of your car.  Perhaps if your are extra cautious then take a duvet as well.  Hopefully the snow in the UK is never going to be as bad other countries but with a bit of wind and heavy drifts you never know.

If your car does get covered in snow then be wary of carbon monoxide poisoning.  Ensure the exhaust pipe is spewing its noxious fumes into the clear environment rather than back into the cabin and don’t keep the engine on continually if you can help it.

Some chocolate, food and hot drinks will also help if you’re stuck for a while and take something to keep you occupied. There’s only so much you can take from a Radio DJ.

Make sure people know where you are going.  If you have AutoAlert installed then friends and colleagues can track your progress.  If not, at least ensure your phone is charged and that you have notified people before you leave.

Other than that,  Sit back, relax and enjoy the countryside at a speed in which you actually get to see it.

We did a few minor enhancements to our Tracker Application, submitted it to Apple last Friday 11th December and low and behold, just a few days later its been approved. Surely a new record.

Get it now from the Apple Store

There is lots of talk and frustration around the Apple iStore approval process.  It is opaque with what seems to be often arbitrary decisions as to what gets in to the store and what gets declined.

However the situation is improving, and with a bit of common sense you can improve the chances of getting your applications approved, and getting it approved quickly.  Our latest application  - the Milan Ecopass Check and Remind app was released in just a month whereas our latest upgrade to our Tracking application went through the whole process in about 2 weeks.

So how did we do it?

Firstly, understand the approval process.  Apple has over 100,000 applications in its store.  All the applications are checked by Apple employees, it is not outsourced or done by freelance employees.  This should improve consistency however it does mean that these approvers are busy.  Make the application clear and simple and provide as much detail in iTunes connect  so that the approvers know what the app is for and understands how it works.

A good tip, is to include information such as links to your other approved apps which may have the same features and provide feedback you may have received from Apple within the Demo Account – Full access section of the detail for your application.

Also, understand the Apple Human Interface guidelines.  Apple wants a consistent look and feel across its applications.  The user should be able to understand intuitively how your application works.  There should be clear information so the user knows what is happening, i.e., if the application is connecting to the internet then highlight this to the customer rather than showing a blank screen which may look as if the application has stopped working.

Obviously good coding is also paramount.  Ensure your application is not seeping memory which would cause it, or other applications to stop working.  Use lazy loading techniques to ensure it works quickly and efficiently.  Test the application thoroughly and with as many people as possible.  If you can understand how different people use the application and ensure it works smoothly no matter how it’s used, then this will help you with the approval process but also provide a better application to your customer.

Finally, if you do get stuck get to know people at Apple.  It is a large organisation and sometimes difficult to get through to.  However, they do appear to be making an effort and getting in touch by email and phone.  Get to know people there, keep a record of their name and contact details and if there is a problem then pick up the phone.

We hope this helps, send us your comments or get in touch!

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Our AutoAlert Tracker Application V2 is now live in the iTunes store.

Upgrade the application for free and get a host of new features including:

• Send your location to the AutoAlert system so that you can monitor and track your locations.
• View your current location from within the application as well as see the latitude and longitude sent to the AutoAlert System.
• View the latest location of all registered devices on your account using our unique Radar feature.
• View alerts when you, or any of your registered devices have entered or left preconfigured areas.
• View maps, directions, reports, send messages and much more through the AutoAlert website,

The application is also quicker and with improved look and feel to aide your tracking experience

Download now!

The most common methods of vehicle tracking vary somewhat depending on the size of the vehicle fleet. Large fleets tend to use equipment that is more elaborate because they can afford the greater cost, while small and medium sized fleets generally use less expensive systems that provide less functionality. New technology, however, is rapidly changing the cost effectiveness and quality of tracking systems available to these small and medium sized fleets.

LARGE FLEETS

Large fleets that can take advantage of economies of scale typically use some form of GPS tracking and a central base station or dispatch point. The vehicle units can be quite expensive, as can the base station infrastructure and staffing requirements. Only the largest fleets can usually afford the capital investment that is required and the long timeframe that is needed to gain a return on that investment. Additionally, these types of systems require a monthly fee that can quickly become quite expensive.

SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED FLEETS

Most small and medium fleets will use some variation of vehicle tracking that is less costly to implement and maintain. For some this means using radios and a dispatch center, mobile telephones and a central office, or something similar. They may have a computer-based tracking process in the central location or, for very small fleets, they may opt instead for a simple map and manual tracking.

Quite a number of small fleets, in the range of one to ten vehicles, do not use active vehicle tracking at all. This may be due to the costs involved, lack of experience with tracking processes, or lack of awareness of the significant benefits that can be realized by an effective vehicle tracking system.

NEW TECHNOLOGY

The newest technology available has the potential to radically alter the affordability and efficiency of vehicle tracking systems. Pioneered by AutoAlert, this system uses a small unit installed in the vehicle and a web based interface that is accessed by a standard mobile telephone, laptop computer, or PC.

The advantages are many. First, the start up cost of the system is extremely reasonable due to the relatively low cost of the vehicle unit itself. Second, there are no ongoing subscription or maintenance fees, thereby minimizing operating costs. And third, fleet managers can access tracking information from wherever they may be with just their mobile telephone. This allows them more freedom to get out of the office and into the field where their time is best utilized.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN

For the first time, small and medium sized fleets can gain access to an economical and easy to use vehicle tracking system. This means they can start reaping the benefits of reduced driver downtime, more efficient dispatching, field replenishment of supplies, etc. In a competitive business model, the extra edge gained from efficient vehicle tracking can mean the difference between a fleet owner prospering or just getting by.

After months of development, a radically new AutoAlert Tracker is on its way…

We’ve submitted a new version 2 of our AutoAlert Tracker application for approval. This is a massive upgrade, in fact it was a complete rewrite in some parts!

The core feature remains the ability to use your iPhone as an alternative to an installed unit within your vehicle. However, now there are a number of additional features which provided a lot of the functionality of the AutoAlert website but on your phone.

Now you can view your own location on a map, view the location of all connected devices through our unique radar and see alerts from any of your connected devices.

What’s more, we’ve also updated the look and feel of the application with additional help and support directly embedded into the application.

FEATURES:

• View a map of your current location
• Send your location to the AutoAlert Control centre
• Send alerts to the AutoAlert Control Centre if you are in difficulty
• Share your locations with friends and collegues by adding new connections to your account easily
• View all your connections locations and alerts
• View reports and tracks through the website A
• Change your views
• Help and support embedded within the application

ENHANCEMENTS:

• Faster communication between the iPhone and AutoAlert Server
• New look and feel