Wow! The last few days have been pretty amazing and I’d just like to thank everybody for the overwhelming positive response to my X-wing Targeting Computer app.
I’ve had desperate Star Wars geeks begging me to release it on the Android Market. Others have even resorted to threatening me with physical violence if I don’t 🙂
My original teaser post was a little vague – I honestly wasn’t expecting such a reaction – so I thought I’d take a little time to answer some of the questions that have been put to me via email or posted on the various sites out there:
- Is it real or fake?
- It’s real, although still in development.
- Will you be releasing it on the Android Market?
- Yes.
- What version of Android will I need to run it?
- Initially it will run on Android 2.2.
- When will it be available?
- It’s written using Adobe AIR for Android. I’m aiming to release the Targeting Computer app to coincide with the public release of AIR, which is itself still in development. Adobe has yet to announce a date but I’m hopeful that it won’t be that far off.
- What about older versions of Android?
- My priority is the Android 2.2 version but support for older versions of Android is a possibility.
- What about an iPhone version?
- What! You mean turn to the dark side? Actually I’m looking into it – wouldn’t want all you iPhone fans feeling left out.
- Symbian, Blackberry, Windows Mobile?
- Depends on time, resources and demand. If you want to see it on any of these platforms then please let me know. Come to think of it, it would probably look really good on the upcoming Nokia N8.
- So are you a super nerd/geek yourself?
- A girl I used to work with once said I reminded her of the Rain Man. I mistakenly took it as a compliment. Does that answer your question?
- How much do you like Star Wars?
- I paid to see the Phantom Menace nine times when it was originally released. I tried for a tenth viewing but unfortunately they stopped showing it at my local cinema before I had the chance. So yeah, I like Star Wars a lot. I prefer the original trilogy though.
I hope that has helped clarify things.
I’m sure a lot of you can now sleep more easily knowing that you’ll finally get the opportunity to know how it feels to be an X-wing pilot hurtling towards the Death Star’s exhaust port.
Until you do though, take it from me, it feels pretty damn awesome!
Thanks for the answers Chris, excellent news, may the Force be with you.
Awesome. Excellent news. Hopefully Android blogs will continue to pick up on your efforts.
Evidently AIR will be available for Android some time in 4Q 2010.
http://bit.ly/aNjNxw
I’ll be keeping an eye out for this 🙂
I’ve just started reading about Android development (using java, not AIR at the moment), people like you are an inspiration !!
I am really looking forward to this.
When I was young, my family and I would always say “allllmost therrrre” as we arrived at places on car trips. If you could include a few “alllmost theerree” it would MAKE the app. I didn’t hear it in the vid and was pretty disappointed. And I have a N1, so I will be sure getting it, either way!
I would die for this on my Blackberry Tour. I have ~9 months left until I can renew my contract & snag a Droid. PLEASE consider a Blackberry release so I can survive those 9 months. 🙂
Don’t worry Smitch, “allmost theerree” is in the app 🙂 The radio chatter is randomly selected to keep it a little different each time you use it.
Please tell me it says “Alright you’re all clear, kid. Now let’s blow this thing and go home” when you’re within like 500 feet of your destination. Or maybe if you take a wrong turn and you start heading away from your destination it says “Negative, it didn’t go in, just impacted on the surface”
I can’t imagine sitting through the Phantom Menace in the theater 9 times.. That movie sucked.
The irony being that Luke bullseyed his thermal-exhaust-port-right-below-the-main-port Wamp Rat with his targeting computer switched *OFF*, people!
I still want it. I was always more Wedge than Luke. In that I got wedgied a lot at school. Now give me the ruttin’ app already. 😉
This is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. 🙂 Great job!
Would love to see a Windows Phone version please.
Cheers!
Oh, and OT all the way!
I agree with Flowah, those would definitely be awesome to have part of it. I can’t wait for it Christopher. Keep us updated. I’ll keep checking back (and I’m sure others will too).
Being a huge fan of Star Wars, this app got me bouncing off walls with pretty much everything it has! After watching the clips there was just one thing that remains unclear: the targetting computer seems to work quite flawlessly on a straight bit of road, but how does it tell you, you’re about to come a cross a round about and you need to take the second exit? Or turn left from a crossing for that matter?
Otherwise, I’m so looking forward to this!
omg.. this is easily the coolest looking app I’ve ever seen… but… I’m on a Windows Mobile phone (HTC Touch Pro 2, wm6.5), and unfortunately not on an Android (the wife made me do it :'( lol).
Like someone else said, I would love to see a Windows version also, I’d even pay for it (which would be the first app I’d pay for lol) 😀
Seriously, even if you do not bring it out on Windows, it must still be the coolest app ever! I might have to give my my current phone to my baby daughter so she can break it and I can get this app on an Android phone 😀 (that actually brings me to an idea lol).
Great job, and please consider WM 😀
Btw, just looking at the app again (still think it’s awesome lol).. And you know, I was just thinking it would be cool if the speed of the graphics would be linked to the speed the GPS gives. Like faster when you pull up and gain speed and slower when you slow down (and it stopping when you’re standing still, of course). I kind of think there should be a limit to the maximum speed it displays though, coz when someone drives like 100 mph, it might be going a bit fast on the display lol.
I am not sure how exactly it works but since most navigation programs know how to display a speed, I figure it should be possible with this app as well? Think about it, it could be another cool addition to this app 😀
I want to take the time to thank you for acknowledging us iPhone people, you sir have one of the few apps I will actually pay for with a smile on my face.
wow! great work! since im not paying for a new droid until the fabled 4g one comes out, this will b a perfect addition to my r2d2 droid1 that i have made!! keep up the good work. now physical violence threats are a little much…but lets see if you can feel this *force choke*….is your collar tighter now? I AWAIT YOUR RELEASE!!
Hi Chris, any updates on this yet? when can we hope to see the app released?
Is Adobe Air still on schedule?
cant wait.
Some more info about the app’s progress can be found here: http://www.yeahbutisitflash.com/?p=1900
I don’t yet have a firm release date for the app but it’s coming along nicely.