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WSLI – skobbler in 2012 (CW 2 / 2012)

by Karoline on January 14, 2012

Like any WSLI-blog post, this one has two parts. First, you get some inside info on what’s currently happening here at skobbler, then you’ll get some useful info for the use of our apps. Today, we let you know our New Year’s resolutions. You’ll also get useful information on navigating abroud with our GPS Navigation 2 app.

WSLI in CW2 2012

skobbler has finally finished its hibernation this week and started to get back to working on the next versions of our apps. On the iOS side, we’re preparing the next update of GPS Navigation 2, while the Android team has ForeverMap 2 in the works. We’ve pledged to enhance our current product line with the features that have been required the most by you guys. That’ll be quite a handful, but we’re confident to offer you some really useful improvements in all of our upcoming updates.  We’ll also try to repeat the tremendous success our app has seen over the past months in a variety of new countries. With GPS Navi 2 currently topping the navigation category in 8 countries, it seems as if we’re not too far off.

Practical tip of the week: How to make a trip abroad

As you know, one of the major new features in our GPS Nav 2 is that you have the possibility to navigate offline. For this purpose you need to download and install the countries or continents you want to navigate in.
If you are abroad and want to use the offline navigation you have to choose the map you want to search for an adress in. Just go to Navigation, then to Dest. address and click here on the little country flag in the right upper corner. In the next screen, choose the country where you wish to search for an address. Please note, however, that the maps you want to use offline need to be already downloaded and installed so that you can pick them in this section.

We wish you a nice and pleasent weekend.

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Happy 2012

by Marcus on January 1, 2012

The entire skobbler Team wishes you a happy and successful 2012. Let the fun begin!

 

 

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WSLI – skobbler news update (CW49-11)

by Karoline on December 12, 2011

What’s going on at skobbler? Regardless of whether product updates, frequently asked questions in the support or company-internal news – we want to keep you posted with all the interesting things that are going on in the skobbler universe. Therefore we will give you a little weekly update from now on to provide you an insight into skobbler.

Today we want to start with very good news: The first, great GPS Navigation 2 update is on its way! While it was already release in the UK and Ireland, it will be released in the US next Tuesday. We are very much looking forward to presenting you several significant improvements like pedestrian navigation, additional funny voices and much better performance and stability. We hope you will like it as much as we do.

We wish you a superb week.

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Right in time for the weekend: our new FAQ section is online!

by Karoline on October 28, 2011

How can I use offline maps? What about the pedestrian mode? And are purchased maps also available for multiple devices?

For all those questions we have a new FAQ section in our forum now.

So whenever you have problems with GPS Navigation 2 or questions regarding the app, take a look at the FAQs. Perhaps you’ll already find all the answers you need.

We wish you a nice weekend.

A BIG THANK YOU AND A PROMISE

by Karoline on October 17, 2011

We haven’t expected that:

  • GPS Navigation 2 is on rank 1 rank in the UK overall download charts.
  • GPS Navigation 2 is on rank 1 in the Irish overall download charts.
  • GPS Navigation 2 was in the top 3 of the German overall-download-charts (currently on 5th rank).
  • GPS Navigation 2 is on rank 1 in the top grossing charts.
  • GPS Navigation 2 is in the top 3 of the navigation download charts in the USA

Thank you very much for such great feedback! We’re absolutely overwhelmed by this awesome interim result. We have worked on Nav 2 more than a year and had to cope with a lot of things before and also after the release (especially with the simultanesously released iOS 5).

We really appreciate your thoughts and are greatful that most of you are happy with the new app. That said, we know that there are still some of you who have problems with crashes or other inadequacies. We are currently working on the next update which should bring along some essential improvements. We hope that we’ll be able to send it to Apple for approval early next week.

And it won’t stop there: GPS Navigation 2 will improve fast and constantly – we promise.

Problem with GPS Navigation 2 after iOS 5 update

by Karoline on October 13, 2011

You have problems with our new navigation app after your iOS 5 update? Unfortunately the iOS 5 firmware update deletes parts of our app. Consequently the app doesn’t work anymore.

This is something we couldn’t foresee or test and we are very sorry for any inconvenience.

Here’s how to solve the issue: Just delete the app and re-install it. The app should run smoothly again afterwards.

Already purchased upgrades (e.g. maps) can be easily downloaded again at no in the “Upgrades” section in the main menu:

Either click on “Available for download” or repeat the steps of your initial purchase. You will not be billed in any case.

We are already working on an update which should solve the essetial startup problem and we hope, it will be approved by Apple soon.

Close call: The next navigation generation has been approved by Apple

by Marcus on October 8, 2011

That was close: just in time before the public availability of their iOS 5 on Wednesday, October 12, Apple has tested and approved the iOS 5-compatible successor to our navigation app. Therefore, the launch days of our ‘GPS Navigation 2? are finally certain:

It will be available on Wednesday, October 12 in the US and in the UK/ROI.

All our current users will get the usually paid-for next generation app as a complimentary upgrade. In order to be eligible for this free upgrade, new customers can download the current version in US store for free. As outlined before, all UK/ROI customers are strongly encouraged to download the currently free premium version including speed cams from the UK App Store. The former skobbler Lite version will be discontinued on October 12. Find more info on the discontinuation of skobbler Lite in our previous blog posts.

Reminder: UK-skobblerites are encouraged to switch to the premium skobbler navigation app for free!

by Karoline on September 29, 2011

In case you haven’t noticed yet, our UK iOS skobbler Lite version will be discontinued within a short time. By switching to the premium version for free you ensure to also get a free upgrade to navigation 2 – the next generation skobber app, which will be released very soon.

Find out more

3 questions – 3 answers: Thoughts from a different angle (Part 1)

by Karoline on September 26, 2011

You always wanted to know, what WE think about the new app? What we’re proud of? What our visions are? Great – exactly this is the topic of our little interview-series which starts today.

Philipp Kandal – our CTO and leader of the whole development-team – breaks the first ground:

Philipp, the new app is (almost) completed. What are you especially proud of?

Basically there are three things: above all the hybrid navigation. We will be offering navigation online AND offline – depending on what the customer wants to use. Besides, we have worldwide maps for the first time. This means, the new skobbler version can be used all over the world without expensive roaming charges, as you can use the already-mentioned offline maps.

But I’m also proud of the completely new user interface. It looks simply awesome, works on all iOS devices (iPhone, iPhone Retina, iPad..) and you can use it either in the portrait- or in the landscape mode.

What has been improved in the new app?

First of all: the navigation. :) Naturally, our focus was to improve the navigation – we hopefully succeeded in that. The routing is much faster (especially on-board), even with a bad GPS-signal the app works properly and also the quality of the routes has been significantly improved. But I also want to mention the map display. Especially the “map mode” is a real highlight, as we’re able to display the map in all imaginable zoom levels now.

Which market environment and technical circumstances have been considered for the conception and development?

There are many things you have to consider when developing a new app. It was important to us to support all Apple devices with GPS. This means an iPhone 3G as well as an iPad 2 with 3G. When our last nav app hit the market, Apple hadn’t invented the retina display – now we have to support it. You always have to adapt to the latest technical innovations, if you want to develop a new app.

Another thing that naturally has to be considered is the OpenStreetMap. It grows at blistering pace and becomes more and more detailed. The consequence: Our rendering engine had to be tuned notably to be able to cope with the mass of data.

Last but not least – the price. The price shall be affordable. Consequently, we have to keep the costs for our server infrastructure at a reasonable level.  It was a challenge to provide all our 1.5 million customers with the few servers we have – but fortunately we’ve been successful.

Thanks for the interesting interview, Philipp.

skobbler discontinues free iOS navigation App (skobbler Lite) in the UK – customers are encouraged to switch to the premium version for free

by Karoline on September 22, 2011

The launch of our new (and pretty nifty) iOS Navigation 2 by skobbler approaches. It will hit the market in October. As you know, we have currently two different skobbler nav apps in die AppStore,  a lite- and one premium-version.

There is one important thing to take into account for our UK users though: We will have to discontinue the free app (skobbler Lite)! Only the premium version will be continued and updated However, all users will be able to get the premium version FOR FREE, until Navigation 2 is available. The best thing: this will secure anybody who switches a free upgrade to Navigation 2 as well.

Here is how it works:

From today on, the premium skobbler will be available FOR FREE in the AppStore.

All you have to do is:

  1. Go to the Appstore
  2. Install the premium version (and benefit from stationary speed cam warnings!)
  3. Wait for your upgrade to Navigation 2 (here you can get a glimpse of how it looks like)

As soon as Navigation 2 is launched, the Lite version will be withdrawn from the AppStore. It will not work anymore! So take your chance, switch the version and ensure to be part of the next skobbler generation.

An early version of Navigation 2 - the next generation

 

 

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