River Thames Guide App updated and still free

[Rascal Joe]

The free River Thames Guide for iPhone, iPad and iPod has been updated again: iOS 7 improvements; better, cleaner icons for facilities; updated map-rendering engine.
Features in this ad-free App include:
- journey planner (time, distance and number of locks between any two points
- interactive river map with overlays for locks, boatyards, food and lodging, bridges, river highlight
- lock details (everything form depth to lock-keeper's phone number)
- bridge heights
- safety on board guidance (RNLI approved)
- boat buying guide

all of the above without any Internet connection.

- five day weather for selected locations
- river conditions

you can download this ad-free and free of charge app here: here

Please note: because the maps are built-in to the App it is quite large so can take a while to download (but, hey, its free...)

 

[Chris_d]

Is this downloadable to a laptop or other device?

 

[Rascal Joe]

Is this downloadable to a laptop or other device?

At the moment the River Thames Guide is available only for the iOS platform (iPhone, iPad, iPod); with nearly 2,500 downloads and only one request for an Android version and this one request for a laptop version, it is unlikely that any other platforms will be supported in the short term.
if that changes details will be given here.

 

[Chris_d]

Ok guess its a world ruled by Apple then, mind I was only curious but with over 30 years on the river I haven't ever found a need for a guide, kind of spoils the fun.

 

[jaws]

If it's on the Apple App store you're hardly going to get Android or other users requesting a version for their device. I hadn't heard of it until I saw this post. That 2 extra requests already then.

 

[Jegs]

If it's on the Apple App store you're hardly going to get Android or other users requesting a version for their device. I hadn't heard of it until I saw this post. That 2 extra requests already then.

Make that three.

 

[boatone]

I understand that the BMF are working on an app that will replace the BMF/EA Cruising guide and should be available early next year.

http://www.britishmarine.co.uk/what...iations/bmf_thames_valley/cruising_guide.aspx

 

[Thames Tyrant]

Just asked the lads at work 10 of us. 4 apple 6 android all of us use the Thames one way or the other

 

[Rascal Joe]

I understand that the BMF are working on an app that will replace the BMF/EA Cruising guide and should be available early next year.

I believe that is the case although the initial information suggest the BMF app is somewhat less functional that The River Thames Guide, is not free, and pushes ads at the user.
But, there is nothing wrong with competition especially when The River Thames Guide is, and will remain, free of charge (so, why wait for something else??)

 

[byron]

I believe that is the case although the initial information suggest the BMF app is somewhat less functional that The River Thames Guide, is not free, and pushes ads at the user.
But, there is nothing wrong with competition especially when The River Thames Guide is, and will remain, free of charge (so, why wait for something else??)

Maybe the BMF should think of saving a fortune in development costs and thrash out a deal with you or is that too sensible for such as them?

 

[Rascal Joe]

Maybe the BMF should think of saving a fortune in development costs and thrash out a deal with you or is that too sensible for such as them?

Sensible idea...
My many years in corporate UK leaves me (more than) slightly cynical towards IT projects (having been in that business for c 50 years I feel qualified to comment) - any decent manager will always start from the premise of 'don't build if we can buy' and 'don't buy if we can partner' but IT guys like to insist they can do it better/cheaper/quicker etc. And that simply is not the case (from the NHS to your corner shop more money is wasted on unnecessary IT development than just about any other capital expenditure).
Corporate IT can always throw more resources at a pet project but they will never compete with (the likes of me) because they don't have the enthusiasm for the end result. I do hope the BMF App is useful and finds a gap in the market but I'm not holding my breath and feel sorry that they are not using the (not insubstantial) development monies for something else...