Cycle Deluxe 1.1 on the way…

The next version of Cycle Deluxe has been submitted to Apple for approval. A key feature in this release is the ability to quickly tell the app you are either ‘taking’ or ‘returning’ a bicycle. This switches the RED & GREEN pin colours. So, provided you tell the app what you want, simply look for GREEN or PURPLE pins close to where you are.

The screen shot here, currently shows the selection for ‘taking’ a bicycle.

For users on iOS4, you have the option to tell the app you are ‘About to ride, time me!’. This presents a screen of all the tariff levels, just tick the levels you want to be notified at, quit the app & start riding (even if you restart your iPhone or iPod Touch these are remembered). Cycle Deluxe will warn you 5 minutes (more for longer hire times) before your reach the end of each tariff boundary & tell you what the next one will will cost. You also have the option of choosing from a range of alert sounds.

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London Cycle Deluxe

A new app is on the way :] Many people have been asking me if I would write an app for the newly launched Barclay’s Cycle Hire scheme. At first I didn’t think I’d be able to offer or add much more to what was already out there. But the ideas came and since I signed up for the scheme, well, I wanted to write something that I’d use myself. Continue reading

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Presselite: Cease & Desist

I have instructed my lawyers to send a cease & desist letter to Presselite regarding their blatant copying of my London Tube Deluxe icon. They now have this, as do Apple.

UPDATE 11 Aug 2010: Presselite have now changed their icons for London Tube & London Bus. I am guessing their London Tube for iPad icon will change soon too.

UPDATE 16 Aug 2010: The ‘London Tube for iPad’ icon has now also been changed by Presselite. Let’s hope this is the final run in I ever have with this company.

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Presselite 102: Claim ‘Original’

Presselite reached new levels of desperation over the weekend. Now that have stolen my icon and applied it across 3 of their applications (London Tube, London Bus & London Tube for iPad). They are now telling everyone in the app descriptions that together with the copied icon their apps are the ‘Original’ versions. For example: Continue reading

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Presselite 101: How To Fool The Market

Now that Presselite have decided to rip off my icon & ride off the goodwill I have worked hard for over the last 2 years. It’s time I highlighted, their behaviour when they release updates. Continue reading

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Presselite Copy My App Icon

It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, if this is the case then I am very flattered by Presselite. For years they ripped off the Official TfL logo when they had no rights to do so. Now they have decided to rip off mine instead. My application, London Tube Deluxe has used the same logo & icon since being released on 1st Jan 2009. On the 26th of July 2010 Presselite released an update to their application with a remarkably similar one don’t you think?

Perhaps TfL finally caught up with Presselite and got them to remove the logo? Or maybe instead of putting in the effort to make their product better it’s just easier to copy my logo in a feeble attempt to gain more sales and cause market confusion.

The old 'London Tube' icon

I have chronicled the behaviour of Presselite over the years. They have done everything from making false legal claims, fake reviews against my apps, fake reviews against compeditors and now this. They even lie in their press releases, as Fast Company found out when they reviewed one of Presselites Apps.

UPDATE: Now Presselite steal my icon for another one of their apps! London Bus.

This application too used to use the official TfL bus roundel. All developers are now prohibited from using any official TfL logo’s in their apps. Because Presselite had to change theirs, they’ve just decided to steal mine instead.

UPDATE: As expected, Presselite now use a copy of my icon for their iPad App too. This is a total of 3 Apps they have copied my icon for.

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BBC ask… “How do you make money?”

In time for Apples stellar quarterly earnings announcements, Adam Shaw from BBC Radio 4 joins me in the kitchen to ask how I make money as a full time iPhone developer, download the full Today show interview.

Breakfast TV also paid a visit, view Cashing in on Apple’s success.

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Tube Deluxe 5.3 for iOS4

Tube Deluxe 5.3 for iOS4 has been submitted for approval. This is an iOS4 compatible update ONLY & has been highly optimised for the new OS, including retina display graphics for the iPhone 4. Other iOS4 features include Fast app switching & significant speed improvements throughout the application. Continue reading

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Why iOS4 only?

I figured moving NextBuses, London Bus & soon, Tube Deluxe to iOS4 only would spark some passionate debate. Why have I done this? Do I have any respect for my users at all?

Someone recently put to me, Apple has pulled a “corporate con” on us all. This is a very interesting analysis, it’s the same criticism that was often levelled at Microsoft in their glorious days of Windows 95; remember after that came Windows ME, Windows 98, XP…then Vista. And don’t forget all those Office upgrades!

I am moving my apps to iOS4 for a number of reasons, mostly technical, but part of my reasoning is business based. Continue reading

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iPhone apps: British designers on the key to creating a hit

The Guardian | The Observer interview me regarding iPhone app development. Really interesting to see what other developers & designers have done & some robust conversation follows on the comments. Read more at…

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jul/04/technology-software-iphone-app

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