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Sunday, July 31, 2011

MetrO for Android: preview

Android
It has been a long time since I first wrote about a version of MetrO for Android. I did not think then that it would take more than one year to achieve something and I apologize to all of you who expressed their frustration.

Today, I am very happy to announce that you will finally have something to install on your Android phones. It is really not much (hence the "preview" in the title and its "0.1" release number) but it will at least let you find your way in the more than 400 transportation networks we currently cover.

Installation

MetrO for Android should work on any phone with a system version equal or greater than 1.6 ("Donut"). It is optimized only for "regular" screen sizes (320x480 pixels) at the moment but should not have any problem with other sizes and densities (otherwise, please let me know).

To install the app and since it is not yet ready for the Android Market, you will first have to enable "third-party app installation" in the "developper" settings on your phone (for instructions, see here, for example). You can then download the application package here and install it manually on your device.

How to use

If you have used MetrO on other platforms, you should not be surprised: being no design wizard, I have just reproduced the same interface you already know.

On the first launch, you will see the city list panel and you will be invited to connect to the Internet to load the current list.

MetrO for Android - Screenshot

After you have installed some cities, they will appear in the list with a green robot icon, whereas the other available cities ares shown with a lightning icon (they will require an Internet connection to be loaded). Whenever possible, the files will be saved on the memory card.

The buttons let you switch between the complete list and a list of the cities present on your device, while the last one ("Update all") checks for updates on all the files you have already installed.

Besides other options available on a long press (discover them for yourself), you can download (if necessary) and open a city by simply pressing on its name.

The main screen, where you can find a route in the selected city, will now appear. Note that the last city you have opened will be automatically loaded when you restart the app.

MetrO for Android - Screenshot

You should now see the familiar text fields where you can enter your starting point and your destination. After you type 3 letters, a list of suggested matches will be shown, where you can select the stop or POI you are looking for.

Press the "Go" button and your route(s) will appear:

MetrO for Android - Screenshot

Among the features that are available in this release, the day and time button lets you change ... the day and time of your planned trip. There is also a hidden trick: shaking your phone will reset the contents of the screen (it may need some tweaking, though).

Now, if you open the menu, you will notice that there is still some work to do. The only option that is presently active is the one ("Cities") that gets you back to the list of cities, where you will be able to load a new one or check for updates.

MetrO for Android - Screenshot

What remains to do

The app is available only in English right now. I will add other languages when it is sufficiently advanced.

Obviously, the options that are grayed out in the current version will become active in time: access to the lists of stops, transportation routes, POIs, detailed information, a few preferences...

In addition, I will have to implement the geolocation and search by street address features, that will let you find a route from/to any place without knowing the stop names (in more than 50 cities, now).

Please comment

If you try out this preview release, do not hesitate to post your comments and/or issues or, better, to send me a mail.

I hope to come back soon with updates and new features!

Update (08/07/2011): a new release has been published.

Paris (bus)

RATPAfter I noticed a change on one bus route in Paris (France), I have revised the entire bus network and brought it up to date.

Košice

P. Absolon sent another minor update for our database for Košice (Slovakia).

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Toulon

Réseau Mistral
L. Kieffer provided again a few additional routes for our Toulon (France) database.

Friday, July 29, 2011

New York (works)

NYC MTAOur special "works" database for New York (USA) has been updated with the latest advisories from the MTA.

Download the new database here or with our online update services.

In addition, the current long term disruptions on subway line 5 are ending today. Our regular file has been updated accordingly and can be downloaded here.

Next update planned on or around Friday, August 5.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Montréal

STM
G. Nani noticed that our data for the airport express bus in Montréal (Canada) was outdated.

Unfortunately, I am afraid that in the (long) years since our last update, many more changes have gone unnoticed. I would need serious help to improve our database.

Madrid (works)

Metro MadridWorks on metro line 7 in Madrid (Spain) are extended to the entire section between "Estadio Olímpico" and "Hospital del Henares" until mid-August.

Download the special "works" database here or with our online update services.

Next update planned on (or around) August 14th.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Paris (works)

RATPWorks on subway line 1 in Paris (France) will mark a pause next Sunday.

Use our online update services or download the "temporary" files here:

Next update planned on (or around) August 1.

Berlin (works)

BVG Works at station "Hohenzollernplatz" on subway line U3 in Berlin (Germany) have ended. The trains now skip station "Dahlem-Dorf" in direction "Krumme Lanke".

Download our newest "works" database here or with our usual online update services.

Next update planned on (or around) August 1.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Tehran

Tehran MetroA new station ("Kahrizak") has opened on metro line 1 in Tehran (Iran).

Bayonne - Biarritz

Chronoplus
M. Dulerm submitted a new version of the bus network of Bayonne - Biarritz (France), after it has been entirely redesigned.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Paris (works)

RATPStation "Bastille" has reopened on metro line 5 in Paris (France) and works at "Malakoff-Rue Etienne Dolet" on line 13 have ended.

Use our online update services or download the "temporary" files here:

Next update planned on (or around) July 25.

Friday, July 22, 2011

València

MetroValencia
F. Martínez reported the opening, a few months ago, of a new rapid bus line ("Metrorbital") in València (Spain).

New York (works)

NYC MTAOur special "works" database for New York (USA) has been updated with the latest advisories from the MTA.

Download the new database here or with our online update services.

Next update planned on or around Friday, July 29.

Houston

Houston Metro
D. Pillow reports an error in our database for Houston, TX (USA), due to missing connections on the included bus routes.

Nuremberg

VGNThanks to C. Eyrich, I just discovered an annoying spelling error in our database for Nuremberg (Germany).

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Košice

P. Absolon reports a few changes in the transportation network of Košice (Slovakia), including bus line 28 being closed on August 1.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Berlin (works)

BVG Works are now affecting tram lines M10, M17, 27 and 37 in Berlin (Germany), with part of their respective routes replaced by shuttle bus services.

Download our newest "works" database here or with our usual online update services.

Next update planned on (or around) July 25.

Paris (works)

RATPIn Paris (France), the T3 tram service is suspended between "Porte d'Ivry" and "Porte d'Italie" for a few weeks and, like every summer, the RER C is not running between "Austerlitz" and "Invalides".

Use our online update services or download the "temporary" files here:

Next update planned on (or around) July 22.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

New York

MTA New York J. Pazmino reported the opening in June of a new "enclosed" transfer at Court Square in New York (USA), along with minor changes on the corresponding stop names.

Berlin (works)

BVG Works on tram lines M1 and 12 in Berlin (Germany) have ended. New disruptions now affect the M8 and 12 lines.

Download our newest "works" database here or with our usual online update services.

Next update planned on (or around) July 18.

Friday, July 15, 2011

New York (works)

NYC MTAOur special "works" database for New York (USA) has been updated with the latest advisories from the MTA.

Download the new database here or with our online update services.

Next update planned on or around Friday, July 22.

The MetrO Blog got a lifting!

MetrO
As you may have noticed, the "MetrO Mobile" blog (now simply titled "MetrO Blog") has a new look and new features.

The previous design was built with an older version of Blogger and it was getting so difficult to manage that I had to make the switch. With the upgrade, I have been able to introduce a few additional features such as the "share" buttons at the end of each post or a mobile version.

I hope you'll like the new design!

Delhi

Delhi Metro RailAn extension was inaugurated yesterday on the metro blue line in Delhi (India), comprising 2 new stations.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Bogotá

TransmilenioAfter the recent update to our Bogotá (Colombia) database, I have geocoded all its stops, which will allow for location- and address-based routing in our web and iPhone versions of MetrO. I also made the data available in our layer for the Layar augmented-reality browser.

Paris (works)

RATPInterim versions of our "works" databases for Paris (France) are available to prepare for disruptions that will soon affect the T3 and RER C lines.

Use our online update services or download the "temporary" files here:

Next update planned on (or around) July 17.

Berlin (works)

BVG Many disruptions will affect the tram network of Berlin (Germany) this summer (e.g. lines M8, M10, M17, 12, 27, 37). Consequently, I built a new version of our "temporary" database to prepare some of the changes entering into effect over the week-end.

Download our newest "works" database here or with our usual online update services.

Next update planned on (or around) July 16.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Bogotá

TransmilenioL.A. Palomino reported an error on one route (G90) in our Bogotá (Colombia) database.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Bucharest

MetrorexA new extension has opened on metro line 4 in Bucharest (Romania), with 2 new stations.

As with the previous update (and without any help in the meantime), I'm afraid the rest of the network in our database (trams, trolleys and buses) is outdated...

Toulouse

TisseoM. Dulerm reports that some bus lines (17, 30, 31, 44, 51 and 71) in Toulouse (France) are suspended for the summer, while line 48 is operating for the same period. Line 2 and 34 also had their route changed.

Don't forget to come back in September for the next update!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Baku

Baku Metro
A new metro station has opened in Baku (Azerbaijan).

Ajaccio

TCAL. Alvarez sent an update for our Ajaccio (France) database, including significant changes on some bus routes.

Saturday, July 09, 2011

Berlin (works)

BVG Tram lines M1 and 12 in Berlin (Germany) will be replaced by bus services on part of their routes next week.

Download our newest "works" database here or with our usual online update services.

Next update planned on (or around) July 16.

Friday, July 08, 2011

New York (works)

NYC MTAOur special "works" database for New York (USA) has been updated with the latest advisories from the MTA.

Download the new database here or with our online update services.

Next update planned on or around Friday, July 15.

Dresden

DVBH. Geisler reports some changes in Dresden (Germany), mainly related to the opening of a new extension on tram line 10.

Manchester

MetroLink
I. Charles reports the opening of a new "South Manchester" MetroLink line in Manchester (UK), along with a new stop ("Abraham Moss") on the "Bury" line.

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Paris (works)

RATPStation "Franklin D. Roosevelt" in Paris (France) has now re-opened on subway line 1.

Use our online update services or download the "temporary" files here:

Next update planned on (or before) July 18.

Monday, July 04, 2011

Berlin (works)

BVG The extra disruptions of the week-end on tram line 21 Berlin (Germany) have ended. Beginning today, lines 60 and 61 are replaced by a bus service between Adlershof and Schloßplatz Köpenick.

Download our newest "works" database here or with our usual online update services.

Next update planned on (or around) July 9.

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Paris (works)

RATPWorks on the RER A in Paris (France) have ended, while subway line 8 is interrupted between "Ecole Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort" and "Charenton Ecoles" for the summer.

Use our online update services or download the "temporary" files here:

Next update planned on (or around) July 5.

Friday, July 01, 2011

New York (works)

NYC MTAOur special "works" database for New York (USA) has been updated with the latest advisories from the MTA.

Download the new database here or with our online update services.

Next update planned on or around Friday, July 8.

Berlin (works)

BVG Works on tram line 21 Berlin (Germany) will affect services between Bersarinplatz and Schöneweide this week-end.

Download our newest "works" database here or with our usual online update services.

Next update planned on (or around) July 4.

Paris (works)

RATPStation Franklin D. Roosevelt in Paris (France) will be closed on subway line 1 on Monday evening, after 8 PM.

Use our online update services or download the "temporary" files here:

Next update planned on (or around) July 2.

Paris

RATPI prepared a minor update to all our databases for Paris (France), with the fare increase entering in effect today.

Prague

DPPF. Kadlec reports a change on transportation fares in Prague (Czech Republic), entering in effect today. We also took into account the temporary service interruption on line 2, for the summer.

São Paulo

Metrô de São PauloM. Luz reports that services on the new metro line 4 in São Paulo (Brazil) are now extended until 9 PM. In addition, he noticed that the operating times on lines 1, 2 and 3 were inaccurate in our database, since services end at 1 AM on Saturday nights.