James Purser [INSERT WITTY CATCHPHRASE HERE]

Okay, here's version 0.4 of planningalertsau, the android app I'm building based on the Planning Alerts API.

In this version I've fixed the following:

Map crashes when there are 0 alerts

• Added About dialog
• Preferences Menu option now works in AlertsDisplay
• Alert TextView now clickable (calls AlertWebDisplay and displays Planning Alerts Page for specific Alert)
• AlertDisplay now shows a message if there are no results

Now, there are still councils for whom Planning Alerts doesn't have results for and they are still looking for help, so if you want to contribute please head along and let them know

As always if you have a bug, please submit it here. It would be helpful if you could include the following information:

• Suburb
• State
• Postcode
• Longitude and Latitude

It'll help me when testing to see if the issue is a Planning Alerts or planningalertsau issue :)

I finally had enough time to sit down and have another crack at the Android App I'm building based on the very cool planning alerts api.

This new release has added basic google maps integration. Once you have successfully returned a list of alerts you can hit the menu button and select Map to view the various alerts.

How to use it:

On a fresh install, before you select an option, you need to fill out your address details, to do this, select the Menu button and then Preferences. Fill out your details and you'll be set.

Future Features:

Saved Searches: Currently the app pulls down a fresh set of results with every call. This needs to be changed so that the user can select a search that they want to keep track of

Request Settings on Initial Launch: Users need to be directed to fill out their details when they first launch the app

Future Bug Fixes:

Error Handling: currently there is really very little error handling within the app. This means we have situations where the app will crash if you attempt to view a null list of alerts.

Any way here's the QR Code:

Edit:

And thanks to Simon Rumble for the first "defect" :)

Hey Google,

Look, I have to say, I love the Android. It represents all that Apple is not, a truly open platform that lowers the barrier of entry for new developers across multiple industrial segments (you know, phones, tablets, tv's and so on).

However I had to do something I really didn't want to yesterday. I had to buy an ipod touch so I could start learning how to code for the iphone family. Do you know why? Because I can't sell apps in the android marketplace, and neither can anyone else unless they're in a very small group of countries. Sure I can distribute apps for free (which I will be doing once the openaustraliasearchdroid and planningalertsau apps are at version 1.0) but seriously, if you want to tap that market of iphone developers, you're going to have to open up the market.

Why can't I sell any apps? Is it due to the fact that the Google Checkout system doesn't appear to support Australian merchants either? I've tried looking for an official explanation but I've struck out. There's lots of assumptions and rumours, but nothing there to re-assure people that the issue is going to be dealt with soon.

Look Google, I like you (I don't trust you completely, but that's another story). I love Wave, Gmail and your search rocks my world. Hell I've interviewed twice with your unique HR process. The people I've dealt with in Google have been decent, enthusiastic and knowledgable, let's not let a simple thing like a borked marketplace programme  get between us hey?

 Well, here's my first Android App. Essentially it's a recreation of my Google Wave Robot - OpenAusBot, well at least the House of Reps member search.

Right now, it just does basic member searches based on Federal Seat, returning name, party and date elected. Still working on the ImageView.

Further plans are to build postcode search and geo-search.

What I don't have (yet) is a real android phone, so if anyone wants to download the apk attached to this post and make sure it works (it uses the Android 2.0 SDK), that would be great, thanks.