We originally planned to release this update in November but as we developed more ideas for enhancements just kept coming.
So, this month we have released a whole host of new features and feature enhancements to the web app.
Info Windows:
- Info Windows now have direct SatNav links when the web app is used from a smart phone or tablet. Just look for the little car icon.
- The Info Windows for searched places now contain more information and action buttons (see below as well)
Sharing:
- Sharing searched places
When you search for a place via the search bar you get a little red marker appear on the map showing the location of that place. Clicking the marker brings up an Info Window as always, but now you have a ‘Share’ icon that allows you to share that location and you can even add your own title to the share.
Adding a title is particularly useful if you are holding an event at a venue, for example. So, if you are holding a conference at a public venue you can use the title to include the name of your conference in the share.
Give it a go, and note that the titles that you add to your share are only visible to people you share the link with – the titles are not added to the map for other visitors to see! - Sharing your location
When your location is displayed on the map its Info Window now contains a ‘Share’ icon that allows you to share your current location and even add your own title to the share.
Titles added to ‘Your Location’ shares work in exactly the same way as searched place share titles in that they are only displayed to people that you share your link with they are not stored on the map for others to see. - Ad Hoc Sharing Marker
If the location you want to share is not searchable and not tied to a particular Blue Badge / disabled / handicap parking location you can use the right-click menu to drop a ‘Sharing Marker’ anywhere on the map.
A sharing marker gives you the ability to specify a title and address for the location and to share that location with anyone you like.
Once again, the title and address are only visible to people you share the link with. The shared location marker is not added to the map for other people to see, just those who receive your link. - Sharing via AddThis
When you use the ‘AddThis’ icons across the top of the sharing screen to share any location the share will include more specific information about the location being shared.
For example, if you share a searched place the place name will be included, and if you add your own event name/title that will be included as well.
General improvements
- Follow Me / Tracking enhancement
When ‘Follow Me’ is switched on (i.e. when your location on the map is being constantly updated to show your position in real time) you can now unlock the centering of your location simply by dragging the map. This allows you to display a whole route and monitor your progress towards it.
To re-enable the auto-centering simply tap the ‘Go To My Location’ button and the Follow Me function will move your location to the center of the screen and maintain it there.
- Improved Map/satellite view buttons
The map and satellite view buttons now have an indicator showing which view is selected. - and a few bug fixes…
Android App news
Some of the above features were directly related to the work we are doing on a completely new version of our Android App.
We are completely rewriting the app as a native Android app so that we can bring you a far better app experience including offline functionality. We have a lot to do, and it is taking a long time, but we hope to launch an interim version very soon. This interim version will effectively be an enhanced version of the web app (and as such will not include any offline functionality), but will put you on the release channel for any and all new app features as we launch them.
As always, there’s more going on behind the scenes as well, so watch this space for further announcements.
BlueBadgeParking.com 