UKC

Friday 5th April Update

Feedback so far has been good, and I've got some work to be getting on with around fixing some crashes. I'm going to suspend allowing new beta testers for the moment although feel free to download the beta and try our the free crags that are available. I will however be releasing a new version to the open beta stream in the next week or so at which point I will allow people another chance to try all the content.

Thank you to everyone so far that has provided feedback and tried the app.

The Rockfax Android App is in the final stages of preparation and we are looking for beta testers to use the app on their Android devices. 

System Requirements
Android version 4.4 or higher

The app is available as an open early access version via the Google Play store. To download the app simply open your Android device, go to the Google Play store and search "Rockfax". 

From here you can download sample crags and use all the various features within the app. If you would like to access all Rockfax content for the beta period please comment in this thread and we give your UKC account full access. You will then need to login using your UKC details within the app either when prompted when first opened or through Home->MyAccount.

Please note that file sizes for crags are listed and can be quite large. A downloading without wifi connection dialog isn't currently present so please keep this is mind.

3rd party content such as SMC crags are not accessible in this public beta.
The beta version will lock after 60 days.

Feedback
We welcome all general feedback. Simply using the app and all it's features will provide us will valuable information. Crash reports are collected automatically but any additional information on reproducing crashes would be especially useful. This information is best sent to martin[at]ukclimbing[dot]com.

Thanks,
Martin

Hi Martin - I'd like to access evrything for the beta period please!

Cheers

Steve

Hi Martin

I'd like to test the app during the beta period

Regards,

Hi, exciting to see its here, please could you add me to the access list

Hi. I'd be keen to test drive the Android app.

Cheers

Hi Martin,

I'd love to beta test the app!

Thanks,

Danny

Sign me up!

Hi all,

I've set you guys as beta users. I'm trying to keep replies to confirm this to a minimum. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread closely today so if you ask for access assume you'll get it swiftly after that. You'll need to close and reopen the app for those permissions to be picked up.

Cheers,
Martin

Hi Martin

Could I be added to the access list as well please?

Thanks

Please can you add me to the access list.

Thank you

Fiona

Me as well please

Hi Martin, 

I'd like to join the list too if possible!

Thanks

I'd be interested too.

Cheers

Happy to help out with the beta testing. Thanks.

I'm keen too. Cheers!

Yes please!

I've been waiting for years!

Cheers

Tom

No doubt I'm being dumb, but I can't find it in the Google play store (including in the current list of early access apps).

Yes please

Ah, actually I've just looked at it looks like by default beta is only available in the UK, I'll need to tweak that. Are you searching from another country? I'll add some European countries just now.

Yes - Cyprus.  Cheers.

That's updated, although it will maybe take a while to show for you.

Hi Martin

Please may I be added to the list. I installed the app but it said my UKC wasn't active, I assume this is because I haven't granted access yet?

Cheers
Pete

I would be interested in trying out the beta version.

Thanks

Hi Roof,

Yeah, you've not been granted access. You'll need to reopen the app for these changes to kick in.

If you have any issues logging in/getting access please let me know.

Cheers,
Martin

Hi, 

Very interested please add me,

Thanks,

Alasdair

Hi Martin, would love to help out with the app, cheers.

Works OK in Saudi Arabia!

Hi Martin, 

Happy to help, please sign me up. 

Cheers

I'd like to be a beta tester please.

Hi Martin, I'd love to help test the app & access all the content. Thanks.

Can I please be added to the beta testers list, thanks! 

All above are now added as testers. You'll need to reopen your app for changes to kick in. Please let me know if you have issues.

Cheers,
Martin

I'd like to try it too - please can you add me to the list.

Cheers Martin!

I'd be happy to have a look Martin.

Hi Martin,

Could you add me to the list , cheers!

I'd certainly test this with my own special level of OCD and pinickityness please.

Me too please

Me too please. I'm good at breaking things. 

In reply to:

Me me me! I'd love to have a play. I've been waiting for this for ages! 

Ooh, sign me up please.

I've only had a little play so far and download 1 crag but I'd just like to say, this is a really really good app! Especially love the highlighting of the different routes

Hi Martin,

I'm would like to give it a try, could you add me to the list?

Mike

I'm interested too please! 

Please can I have access.

All above not have access. Again, if you've logged in already just restart the app for the beta permissions to kick in.

I'm glad you like it BattyMilk.

I'm interested in testing it too. Can I please be given the full access?

Thank you

Yes please.

Hi Martin,

I would like access too.

Many thanks

Jack

I'd happily be a tester.

me as well please

Hi Martin,

Could I be given access aswell please?

Cheers.

Hi Martin,

Would be great to give this a try, could you add me to the list?

Thanks

Matt

Hi Martin. So far, so good! Well done.

I'll have a proper play tonight.

All the above are now testers. If you've already signed into the app simply restart for the changes to kick in.

Cheers,
Martin

Me too please

Thanks

Marl

Hi Martin,

Could be added to the access list as well, please?

Regards,

Carlos

Also keen to beta test please.

Also keen, thanks Martin!

In kalymnos for 2 weeks so the kaly one would be good please 

That's everyone added as testers above.

Feedback so far has been great. We really appreciate it.

Murd, I hope you get to use the app out there but please don't rely on it entirely. We may stop the beta with little notice.

Can you add me to the list, please?

Thanks.

Thanks Martin, waiting to board the plane! have a guide book as well. 

Hi Martin, please could you add me to the list also. Thanks, Alex.

Yes please. Add me to the list

Could you please add me to the beta as well? Thanks! 

Could you add me please  

Yes please!! keen to be added on

I would love to help you Beta Test it, i had a number of crags on my iphone before switching to android and losing them all! 

Thanks,

Ash

All of the above are now testers.

Again, any feedback welcome either in here or by email.

Cheers,
Martin

i am in ....  please

I'd be very keen to access the whole content!

and me likewise

Thanks

I would also like to test this if possible, cheers

Yes please

Hi Martin,

Could you please add me to the beta as well? Thanks

Happy to join the merry crew, many hands make light work...

Hi Martin, having an issue where I try downloading certain crags, I managed to download maeshafn but any other wall says I have to have an active rockfax account, am I missing something or have I not been given beta access?

I'm logged into my UKc account.

Cheers.

I'll try it, Martin.

I'm keen to test it out too.

Hi,

I've checked your account and you should have access. Can you try restarting the app and see if that makes a difference?

There seems to be a login issue that has affected some devices, I wonder if you're also experiencing this. Can you tell me what device and version of Android you're running? One way to verify if your having this issue is go to "My Account", click logout, now click "Connect to UKClimbing Logbooks" and login again. If your username doesn't display on the right hand side of that button then part of the login process has failed.

I have a fix for it already I think although I've only tested it on an emulator. If you can verify that you are affected I'll invite you to a closed test and you can try and see if this fix works.

Cheers,

Martin
 

Hi, can i get beta access please?

I'd love to test it all down here in Dorset!

Hi Martin

I'd like to test the app during the beta period

Thanks, Helen

All of the above now have beta access. You'll need to restart the app for that to kick in.

Cheers,
Martin

Hi Martin, would love to test as well please.

Thanks!

Well once I found my way to "west country climbs" it was a simple 1 click on the blue blob to start the process to download them all.

Then the devil in me found out that it was 1 on the red X click to delete them all again. Perhaps this ought to be behind an "are you sure" - that was a bit over-easy to remove. And sods law says that fat fingers will remove the set you are looking at, when you have no mobile coverage 8-)

Hi, 

Sorry, about that. We're still trying to finilise the UI and text around there a bit. This includes the dialog to warn about data usage and also the dialog to uninstall.

It'll be in the final version  

Cheers,

Martin

Me too please!

Hi Martin

Keen to get involved in the beta for this!

Cheers

Hi Martin, I'd like access for testing please!

Thanks 

Simon 

Sign me up, please. 

Is like to do it

Hi Martin, keen to help with the beta.

Thanks

Liam

I'd like to sign up too please

keen to try

I'd like to sign up too please!

I would love to have access to the beta and help you guys test!

Adam

As others, I would appreciate access to the App to be able to test and provide feedback.

I would also like to test the app.

Cheers,

Goran

Hello, I'd like to test the app, please! Loved it on my old iPhone, gutted when I learned it wasn't on android after I switched!

Yes please Martin.

I'd like to test  the app please.

I would also like to test the app please 

I'd love to try out the app during the beta period (and beyond!). Sign me up

Thanks

Charlie

Could you add me to the testing crew as well?

Thanks!

Hi Martin. Can you count me in please.

Hi Martin, I would like to test the app please 

Hi, 

I'd like to test it as well please. 

All of the above should now have access. Restart the app so it kicks in.

Cheers,
Martin

I would be keen to help.

Thanks

James

Beta access for me too please. 

Am keen to be involved too

Hi Martin,

I've been looking forward to this for a while! I'd be more than happy to beta test it.

Thanks,

Fergus

Sign me up please

Happy to help!
Sign me up please

Hello!  I'd definitely be keen for beta testing, thanks!

Hi Martin, 

I'd love to help! 

Thanks,

Rory 

Been looking forward to the Android Version for a while, sign me up for the BETA please

Thanks

Hi,

Please sign me up, I would like to help with the beta.

Thanks

I would be keen to access it for the test period.

cheers , George 

Please can you add me to the access list.

Thank you

Nathan

Hi folks,

All of the above are now marked as testers. Please restart the app for the beta access to kick in.

Cheers,

Martin

Just used it for 10 mins, very impressed   intuitive and simple  good design

Where do you want feedback

Route 36 @Kilnsey does not work

Late to the party but can I be added to the list please!

Ta

I'd be interested in testing this! Really excited the Android app is finally on its way.

Keen to give it a go as well

Yeah buddy, im in to help 

Hi Martin,

Any chance I could be added for the testing period?

Thanks!

I'd like to be on the list also please

Can you add me please?

Hi, I would like to test the app

Alasdair 

Hi 

I'd like to test the app.

Steve 

Hi Martin,

Looks like you've got lots of people but would love to test out the new app too if possible!

Cheers,

Andy

hi Martin

Please could I be added to the list to test out the Android version of your app

cheers

George

Add me in if you're still looking for testers

cheers

I'd like to beta test the app. 

All of the above are not marked as testers. Please restart app to let the changes kick in.

Cheers,

Martin

Me too

Hi Martin

Please could I beta test the Android version of your app. 

Thanks! 

Sam

Yes please Martin, I'm keen to test it out

Hi Martin, if I haven't missed the boat I'd also be keen to test the app. Many thanks!

Would love to help test this! Count me in

Would love to beta test the app

Afternoon Martin,

Would love access for the beta period, thank you!

Rob

keen to be added to the list to help if possible!

Down load ready for action

Cheers Marti

Very keen for this!

I'd be interested in this. Thanks!

Me too please

All sorted. Restart the app for permissions to kick in.

I'm planning on releasing a new build to the test stream in the next few days that will hopefully fix a few crashes.

Cheers,
Martin

Hello

Could you let me know if this App is still planning on using the previously proposed subscription model?

Many Thanks

Macca

Ive diwnloaded and am looking for GR and where to park.  cant copy crag locations.

v happy to help.

Happy to test the beta app as well,

Best,

Dan 

Would love to have access to the beta testing 

All the best James 

Hi I've downloaded the app - could I get access to download the South Wales sport? Its allowing me to download Austria. Many thanks Helen 

could I please have access to the crags? Thanks

Hi Martin - I'd like to access everything for the beta period please!

Cheers

Nick

Hi Macca,

Yes, the app will be subscription based although we've discussed the pricing point at length. The app will be £4 a month, cancel at any time, or £36 for the year (working out at £3 a month). 

I think that's pretty good value for what you get really (access to all the Rockfax back catalog and other publishers that publish via the Rockfax app). We intend to continually add and update crags at no additional expense. The old one off purchase system would basically require us to resell packages to users that contained updates.

One thing we are also exploring is being able to offer the app version of the guide when you buy the paper guide via the Rockfax store. Now we have more control over our content delivery on the app and with the ability to link users to books this will hopefully be possible, although we need to overhaul the Rockfax site first, so that is a bit off.

I hope this answers your question.

Cheers,
Martin

That sounds like good value. Please could you add me to the beta testers.

One comment i'd have is to enable crag download over mobile connection as well - some people have large download limits nowadays. Perhaps have it toggable with it defaulted to off.

Does this mean that there will be no backdating of purchases?

For example i own paper copies of many of the rockfax guide books, i also purchased a number of them on my iPhone before switching to Android about a year ago. Now i would need to buy them all again or pay a subscription on my Android? 

In terms of feedback, adding background downloading feature would be nice (or a download manager so i could queue up downloads). I have my phone connected to WiFi, plugged in to a charger, but need to keep tapping it to stop it going to sleep and pausing the RockFax download.

@Ashley,
If you purchased on iOS then you will be able to access what you purchased on an iOS device. We will also make sure that iOS legacy purchases will be accessible on Android if you do/have switched. This feature won't be immediately available upon release but we'll try deliver this feature a few months after the Android version goes live. Regarding the paper guides previously purchased there is no way to verify who purchased what guide and no mechanism like a QR code within the book to redeem the app version, so this isn't an option for us unfortunately.

Background downloading should be working, although this and installing crags seem to be the main area around where crashes are happening. I'm currently reworking some of this to fix crashes but this will work in release. You can send all feedback to me via email, martin[at]ukclimbing[dot]com.

@ewan
You can download currently over data. I do it all the time seeing as I have a 20Gb limit each month. The warning I put in the OP was purely because areas can be around 500Mb in size! Some of the images in the app are very large in order to get the detail we wanted.

Cheers,

Martin

I'm willing to test it on Android, can you please add me to the list.

Cheers 

I'd be  very interested  to have a go at Beta testing

Thanks

Yes please

Yes please, I'd like to test the beta, however I'm working n the Netherlands and can't see the download.

Hi Martin

Many thanks for the detailed response and well done for listening to the feedback on the price point for the subscription.

"One thing we are also exploring is being able to offer the app version of the guide when you buy the paper guide via the Rockfax store. Now we have more control over our content delivery on the app and with the ability to link users to books this will hopefully be possible, although we need to overhaul the Rockfax site first, so that is a bit off."

With regards to the above does that mean you will only have access to the crags in the app that you have purchased the guide for? If so does that mean that you will be able to purchase individual crags on the app and keep them rather than subscribe to all?

I along with a few others I imagine would like to be able to purchase a crag / local area rather than subscribe to the whole world!

Thanks again and good luck with it

Macca 

Yes, but this would be for future guidebook purchases. There are a number of things those we have to consider for this though and quite a bit of work though in order to get this going. This isn't going to be something that will happen in the short term and isn't a definite. 

For the moment it will be a subscribe and get everything model. There are many reasons why we decided on this as the model to go with. Books and apps are very different products. Once a book is published there is no work required to keep it up and functioning, people just buy a book that is that. Apps require constant maintenance so there is an ongoing cost associated with that and a subscription model helps support this.

The other reason is we went with subscription is it means there is no need to resell updates to users. When we publish the latest edition, or new guide everyone will just be able to download this at no extra cost. In the book world of course you'd need to buy the latest edition. We can also include more routes and more obscure crags because we are not limited by page count.

There are other reasons around people's perception of digital purchases. I think the main thing is hitting the right price for the subscription model to be appealing either in addition to owning guidebooks or as a stand alone product. Hopefully we'll achieve that.

I'd like to avoid discussion about the subscription though in this thread as it's really intended for technical feedback, but I hope that helps you understand our reasonings.

Cheers,
Martin

Please give me access too,  Martin. 

Thanks,  Dave. 

Hello folks,

A bit of an update....

Feedback so far has been good, and I've got some work to be getting on with around fixing some crashes. I'm going to suspend allowing new beta testers for the moment. I will however be releasing a new version to the open beta stream in the next week or so at which point I will allow people another chance to try all the content.

Thank you to everyone so far for trying the app and providing feedback. 

Cheers,
Martin

Much appreciated thank you for taking the time. Especially when i imagine you have a lot of feedback to get through!

Hi, I have ebeen using the app on android version 9 and it's awesome! Have noticed no issues so far however would love to use it for some crags near me in Bristol. I don't need access to all but could you please enable access to cheddar gorge or Avon? I am going to snowdonia in a few weeks so any up there would be useful. This way I can try out the GPS and see how accurate the info is! 

Hi Martin,

Downloaded from play store .Can't, at the moment download anything .Can't link with rockfax account?

Paul

Hi Martin

I'd like to test the app during the beta period

Cheers,

Mark

Hi Martin, sounds great! Could you add me to the beta testers too please? 

Best wishes

Simon

Very keen to be included in the beta. Thanks.