So, once again, Google in their wisdom have decided to remove the app from the Play Store for no good reason.

In order to get the app reinstated I will need to make a number of changes to it, test it, upload it and it may then get removed again as it’s completely unclear if the app can actually function and still be allowed by Google.

In summary, Google have removed the app because it sends SMS messages and have said that is no longer allowed. That has a pretty major impact on the app’s main function !

I’ll revisit the app and see what work will be required in August as I’ll have some spare time due to losing my job.

Following on from my last post I’ve reviewed the app’s status and what would be required to get it back on the play store to comply with Google’s latest requirements.

It seems that I could add a privacy policy to the web site and link to that from the Google Play listing and resubmit the app. So, I put together a privacy policy, resubmitted the app and it was accepted with the new privacy policy.

I’ll add a link to the privacy policy from within the app in the next release but, for the moment at least, the Android app is available again.

Just to let Android users know, the app is no longer available on the Play Store because Google removed it without warning and with no justification.

I have decided to review the future of the app to see if it’s worth continuing supporting the Android version or not. The Android app generates far less revenue than the iOS version and gives me the most grief from users who haven’t a clue what the app does or how it does it.

I will take a few days to consider if i can be bothered to continue supporting it on the Android platform but at the moment it seems to be a lot of work for no real reward, monetary or otherwise.

It took a while but it got there in the end !

I’ve submitted the first version of the Android app to the Play Store for beta testing. I’ve tested the app myself but I only have a single Android device to test with so feedback, both positive and negative from the beta testers is encouraged.

Please make sure any results from the beta test are accompanied by your Android device details as well – Model, Android version and so on. The more information I have the quicker I can resolve any issues.

This is my first Android project so please be gentle with me…

All those that have contacted me previously regarding an Android version of the app should receive an invitation email from Google in the next 24 hours. If you’d like to sign up for beta testing use the contact form or leave a comment on this post.

I’ve managed to get some more time to work on the Android app this last week or so and made some real progress. It’s very close to being ready for beta test now with just one more settings page to complete.

The bulk of the work has gone into the map view handling from both the main screen and the saved stockades screen. The app now passes all the unit tests I’ve created for these so I can now move onto the last two outstanding items.
All those that have requested beta access or expressed an interest in the Android version will be notified as soon as it is available for testing. I’d anticipate the app being made publicly available within a couple of weeks of the beta test starting, providing feedback is favourable !

I’ve spent my spare time during the last couple of weeks starting the development of an Android version of the TKController App. I’m targeting it to run on any device running API 16 or higher (Jelly Bean). I only have a single real device to test and develop it on (Samsung S5) and so far development is progressing well.

I’m not sure what the timescales will be to release as this is very much a hobby app and work and other commitments will mean that the amount of time I can devote to it will vary.

The Android App will have pretty much the same functionality as the iOS App. The two apps will also share the device data so as new device support is added or amended then the apps on both platforms will update.