Official PDGA iPhone App

[jksenior]

Saw in Discgolfer mag that the PDGA is putting out an app for smartphones. Anyone have any info on this? Hopefully it'll come out soon.

[cgkdisc]

For iPhone, Ipod touch so far. Gave it a beta test this past weekend and it worked well for scoring our group. Fast and easy to enter. I think Theo may have shown a proto around to some people at Beaver State. It still has a few tweaks and improvements being worked on before official release. Stay tuned.

[rhett]

is there an Android version in the works? I choose not to do Apple.

[jksenior]

Only had iPhone listed. I suspect an Andoid version will follow.

[cgkdisc]

Android in the plans but maybe 3-6 months later once the PDGA sees how the initial iPhone app is going. The overall goal is to eventually support the mobile op systems with reasonable market penetration so that live scoring can be done from the field from each group among other cool things.

[ChrisEads]

What is the ETA on this app being ready for the Iphone/Ipad?

[cgkdisc]

Maybe this month. Just used the latest beta to score my group for two rounds this past Saturday at a B-tier. Fast and easy. Good cross-check for paper scorecard totals, especially since we played a 27-hole course.

[ChrisEads]

So will this app also allow TD's to upload scores directly to the site. I saw a TD do this at the KC Wide Open as each card came in and I would like to have this capability for my tourney later in the year.

[cgkdisc]

Not the initial version but it's headed that way. The problem for iPods specifically is they only have wireless capability and very few courses have wireless signals at all or public signals. However, any current smart phone with Internet access (Apple, Android, etc.) can already be used to upload scores directly to the PDGA site. That's how live scoring has been done for years. TDs get a password to do this.

[Jeff_LaG]

Originally Posted by ChrisEads

So will this app also allow TD's to upload scores directly to the site. I saw a TD do this at the KC Wide Open as each card came in and I would like to have this capability for my tourney later in the year.

What you probably saw was the Round entry option in the standard PDGA Tournament Administration. From the main Admin menu in the PDGA Live Tournament Administration, simply choose "Round Entry" and one can enter players' round scores by division.

[tpozzy]

After almost a year of planning and development, the official PDGA iPhone app is about to be launched! The first ad was placed in the Summer 2011 magazine, and the Apple app store submission process is under way. We can't give you an exact date due to unknowns with the Apple process, but it's going to be here soon!

We are creating this discussion topic on pdga.com as a way to have a dialog between the development team and the disc golf community regarding questions and features about the app. We will answer any questions we can, and will add any new feature suggestions to our list (it's pretty long already!).

The first version of the app is going to have the following key features:

Search for courses - This is the only app that uses the official pdga.com online course directory

Scorecard - Keep scores for up to 6 players in a round. Scores are saved and can be emailed

Round Ratings - This is the first tool players (including non-members) can use to calculate round ratings for non-tournament rounds!

We will have a new web page with screenshots and additional details on pdga.com in the next few days. In the meantime, feel free to ask questions. In addition to the development team, we had a large active group of testers (listed below) helping us make sure that this application is easy and fun to use. We think you're going to like it!

The development team:

Mike Dietrich, #39858
Neal Dambra, #200
Theo Pozzy, #14166
David Gentry, #17153

The testing team:

Dan (Stork) Roddick, #003
Doug Korns, #1510
Chuck Kennedy, #4949
Juliana Korver, #7438
Dave Nesbitt, #13707
Brian Pearson, #13723
Brian Donahue, #14686
Bob Decker, #17745
Cris Bellinger, #18301
Steve Ganz, #21439
Jay Harbour, #21464
John Borelli, #23492
Chad Francis, #30662
Marcy Borelli, #37881
Aaron Hagner, #42151

[jksenior]

Having recently gone through the apple cert process, it should take about two weeks from submission. They approve on Fridays, so hopefully next week?

[tpozzy]

I just started a thread that the dev team is going to use for feedback, feature suggestions, etc. You can find it here:

http://www.pdga.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=35744

-Theo Pozzy
PDGA iPhone App Dev Team

[Jeff_LaG]

If the PDGA iPhone app is accessing the same PDGA server which the rest of the PDGA website runs on, then the app is doomed to fail. Both this DISCussion Board and the website have become intolerable to use in recent weeks. To wit, I tried to access the DISCussion Board nearly this entire afternoon and most times, nothing would load.

No matter how great a job both the development team and the testing team may have done with this app, if the data refuses to load (just like the rest of the PDGA website) then the app will be a complete failure.

[keithjohnson]

Originally Posted by Jeff_LaG

If the PDGA iPhone app is accessing the same PDGA server which the rest of the PDGA website runs on, then the app is doomed to fail. Both this DISCussion Board and the website have become intolerable to use in recent weeks. To wit, I tried to access the DISCussion Board nearly this entire afternoon and most times, nothing would load.

No matter how great a job both the development team and the testing team may have done with this app, if the data refuses to load (just like the rest of the PDGA website) then the app will be a complete failure.

It's relatively speedy at 3:28 in the morning.

I've stopped coming on here until after Midnite to keep my sanity - it drives me nuts that it takes longer to wait for the page loading, than to read all the stuff I've waited to load.

[cgkdisc]

The good news is that accessing the PDGA Course info via the app has been instant throughout the testing phase since it's just grabbing data from the database and not having to display web pages.

[Jeff_LaG]

Well the final version had better be "instant" as well. Most people don't play disc golf at 3:28 in the morning.

And whatever is causing the PDGA website to be the slowest loading website on the internet needs to be fixed, stat.

[cgkdisc]

Yep. Just got and tested the release version being submitted to Apple. Course info pops up quickly.

[WhiteyBear]

Originally Posted by Jeff_LaG

Well the final version had better be "instant" as well. Most people don't play disc golf at 3:28 in the morning.

And whatever is causing the PDGA website to be the slowest loading website on the internet needs to be fixed, stat.

Just food for thought, but even when the websites are incredibly latent on a PC, they load just fine though a mobile device, no matter what time of day. That includes this past week, and I'm on here alot.

[cgkdisc]

It's a good thing that's the case or live scoring wouldn't work very well when they do it.

[omegaputt]

What's the cost going to be for the app? Is it free it your a member?

[tpozzy]

Originally Posted by Jeff_LaG

Well the final version had better be "instant" as well. Most people don't play disc golf at 3:28 in the morning.

And whatever is causing the PDGA website to be the slowest loading website on the internet needs to be fixed, stat.

Jeff,

We're in the final stages of developing a new website that is intended to address the performance issues on the current site. We will be coordinating that effort closely with the launch of the app, which depends on the real-time data (course info) available from pdga.com.

-Theo

[tpozzy]

Originally Posted by omegaputt

What's the cost going to be for the app? Is it free it your a member?

If it's less than the price of an average disc, would that be ok? That's kind of how I look at the value.

If you want to compare it to apps that are free or a buck or two, then I recommend you compare the usability, features, and whether you want to support the mobile application development effort. The PDGA Board has funded the initial development of the application, but is expecting ongoing development to be funded by revenue.

This is the only app that accesses real-time PDGA course directory data and calculates PDGA round ratings. It's pretty cool (my biased opinion). We hope you all buy a copy, to enjoy the features, and to help support all the cool things we have planned if it's successful!

-Theo and the dev team

[ChrisWoj]

Originally Posted by tpozzy

Jeff,

We're in the final stages of developing a new website that is intended to address the performance issues on the current site. We will be coordinating that effort closely with the launch of the app, which depends on the real-time data (course info) available from pdga.com.

-Theo

I am rather disappointed. beta.pdga.com, birdie.pdga.com, and eagle.pdga.com aren't being used, so there's no way for me to sneak a look at it. I can't even do a google search for "pdga.com lorem ipsum" this time. Lame.

As for the app - Is there anything down the pipe for an Android App? I'd buy it.

[Furthur]

Originally Posted by tpozzy

If it's less than the price of an average disc, would that be ok? That's kind of how I look at the value.

If you want to compare it to apps that are free or a buck or two, then I recommend you compare the usability, features, and whether you want to support the mobile application development effort. The PDGA Board has funded the initial development of the application, but is expecting ongoing development to be funded by revenue.

This is the only app that accesses real-time PDGA course directory data and calculates PDGA round ratings. It's pretty cool (my biased opinion). We hope you all buy a copy, to enjoy the features, and to help support all the cool things we have planned if it's successful!

-Theo and the dev team

So the price point hasn't been decided upon? While I understand the reason for explaining the reason for a non-free app, why not just disclose what you're looking to charge?

[tpozzy]

Originally Posted by Furthur

So the price point hasn't been decided upon? While I understand the reason for explaining the reason for a non-free app, why not just disclose what you're looking to charge?

The price for the app is probably going to be $4.99. I'm sure we'll get some feedback that it should be less. However, Apple takes a good piece of the pie (30%). If we can't generate a decent revenue stream, we won't be able to make the investments in the features we want to add, which include:

* Uploading your scores to a personal page on pdga.com
* Sharing scores via Facebook
* Using the app for live scoring at PDGA events
* Enhanced course directory features, including detailed layout information (hole lengths, pars), maps, etc.
* Round stats - fairways in regulation, putts, etc.

Once we add some of these additional features, there will be a free version of the app, which will be limited to the initial scorecard and course directory search features. The free version will include sponsored ads. The free version will most likely not include the ability to generate round ratings.

Anyone who buys the initial version of the app will be entitled to future upgrade for an indefinite period of time. While I'm sure there are people that are going to say that $4.99 is too much, I really feel that the value you are getting for that investment, especially with unlimited upgrades, is a pretty sweet deal.

-Theo

[Furthur]

4.99 seems like a fair price, if the app has a good UI that's easy to understand. Round stats and enhanced course maps would make this well worth the price as well.

Will the free version one of these days include the live scoring option?

[cgkdisc]

The ability to enter live scores from the course has been accessible for quite a while with any smart phone having Internet access and the password provided to TDs for each event. I believe future app enhancements would simply provide easier and direct access for passing hole scores being entered in the app to the live online web display without needing to open a browser.

[MTL21676]

First off, I love this. This is a fantastic idea. The GPS course locater is long overdue. People complaining the money...IT'S FIVE DOLLARS.

Now that I've said that....

I really support this app being free. I don't see many recreational disc golfers buying this app and I certianly don't see those who really don't know what disc golf is buying the app.

This is a unique opportunity to introduce new players to the sport and turn recreation players into more competitive players. 4.99 will turn away many people from the app. Those of us like me who know the sport and play it, it's an instant buy. But of course, I'm very knowledgeable of the sport.

[Furthur]

Originally Posted by cgkdisc

The ability to enter live scores from the course has been accessible for quite a while with any smart phone having Internet access and the password provided to TDs for each event. I believe future app enhancements would simply provide easier and direct access for passing hole scores being entered in the app to the live online web display without needing to open a browser.

I remember the last time I entered scores on the PDGA's site using my computer, it had a very unfriendly mobile interface (little text boxes). This has been changed to allow for ease of use on a mobile device?