Preparing for Handicap 1.1 Release
Since I launched Handicap for the Android platform I've been busy tweaking the UI and looking at ways to improve the application. I have gotten a few suggestions from friends and acquaintances about how to improve the application. The changes I've made since launching the app have been made in an effort to improve quality and value.
I decided to add the ability for people to track their nine hole handicap as well as their 18 hole handicap. Each course has a separate rating for their front nine and back nine to allow for the calculation of the correct nine hole index. This information can be obtained from the USGA's web site. I'm now displaying the nine hole index on the Handicap tab.
I decided to add the ability for people to track their nine hole handicap as well as their 18 hole handicap. Each course has a separate rating for their front nine and back nine to allow for the calculation of the correct nine hole index. This information can be obtained from the USGA's web site. I'm now displaying the nine hole index on the Handicap tab.
In an effort to make my app easier to use I have also added Help screens to every view. Now when you click the Menu button on your phone you will see an icon for Help. This will open the general help activity screen displaying general help for using the application. This will also be a way for the user to email for support or visit the blog.
I have a few more ideas for future releases but will decide on the growth of the app if I will continue on them. I'd like to add GHIN support as well as a service for looking up golf courses from a central database. I still have to research these options out to see how expensive of an undertaking they will be. I am also looking at releasing an ad supported version with limited functionality.
The main UI changes have been around making sure there are safe guards in place and everything on the screen looks good. I have added some data validation on creating courses so that you can enter nothing at all and still create a course. I am defaulting the course name and number of holes. I will also calculate a high value handicap if you post any rounds at this course.
On the list screens I fixed a couple minor issues with alignment and display. I've adjusted the application to line the columns up by setting their with to a fixed value. I emulated this on multiple display so hope this looks ok on multiple devices. I have also fixed an annoying issue with scrolling through lists where the background would go black. This took some research to figure out what was happening. I also fixed an issue with buttons being cut off the screen when viewing the data entry fields in a horizontal orientation.
I have a few more ideas for future releases but will decide on the growth of the app if I will continue on them. I'd like to add GHIN support as well as a service for looking up golf courses from a central database. I still have to research these options out to see how expensive of an undertaking they will be. I am also looking at releasing an ad supported version with limited functionality.
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