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. My wife took over my small 'indie dev' app business as a non-tech CEO a few years ago as I needed to commit more time to "day-job' efforts, this is her first major release using some great friends from Jaipur as the primary developer resource.
. I've done GIS/map development for over 10 years, including on the iPad and iPhone as well as web, this combines a lot of that experience to help get her dev team working and moving through what seems to be an 'easy' thing but has little nuances
. We are using (and attributing) Open Street Map data, which is an interesting challenge, specifically loading 'on demand' for the user to our own database and then 'tweaking' for better appearance
. There were a few other similar apps out and at least one came out while we were in development, but I think we have some good features coming and this also allowed her to build a 'platform' for map apps she can reuse for other similar apps (other categories, verticals, etc.)
. Why not just use google maps? Because google maps isn't great at finding specific types of things. Apple just "sherlocked" AllTrails because their maps weren't great at finding trails. This runs the risk of being put into a larger map platform eventually -- but there are lots of 'little things' that need some specific mapping (playgrounds is just the start) that the big platforms don't need to focus on. Yes you can find playgrounds in google maps but it isn't conducive to exploring them -- and with future features like sort by 'accessible swings', etc. it could be even harder for a generic wide brush kind of app to compete with
. Android version? Working on it, it's react native so it is in process and should be soon
. Revenue? we are trying for ads, but think there is room for 'one big sponser' that could fund the app and have it's name plastered all over it....
. bugs? At some point you have to pull the trigger and release.... the team can handle rapid releases so we will fix things as fast as we get them there, but there wasn't a reason to sit on the app any longer
Wow....that's my brain dump for right now, please ask questions I'd love to answer.
Company link: http://www.bearswithapps.com Direct iOS App Store link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-playground-app/id650421192...
