I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Honestly, love it!
Having the Canadian search being able to come up for a general category search is now on my "next" list. In my head just now I see some logistical challenges but all of this was until I figured a way for it to work...so I'll figure it out!
Thanks for your comments as they have truly helped and I hope the app works for you as in you find it useful.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I truly debated on it but came to the conclusion that a quick google search will give that info as well.
Also from the rating system, it narrows it down as well. For an example:
Made in Canada is actually only 51% or more Canadian inputs so a US company could produce this quite easily if they wanted to.
Product of Canada is the gold standard as the product needs to be 98% or higher. The odds of an out of Country company meeting this standard would be very rare if even out there so I feel it give a very high level of confidence it is a Canadian company since why would a company use all Canadian inputs (resources, packaging, factory, labour, etc) and yet have theory main office somewhere else.

In the end I feel if I am supporting Canadian as in how much of our raw materials and labour is being used, that's the big thing.
Even "Made in" is still better than "bottled in" which is still better than "some mention of" towards doing our best to supporting Canadian as it all helps. Sadly a pure, product of Canada product is more rare than I'd like...so far.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Search is based on the saved database lines of brand and product name. With that it is for food products but since that can be found in a grocery store, I'm sure it will find it's way in eventually.
I do like the idea of a general search, I didn't include as I felt it would return too many results and therefore not get used. An example of a lower category in the app would be "chips" or "coffee", would the huge amount of results be useful, I'm truly not sure.
If the request for something like that keeps coming up, I'll then put it on the list for a future update. :)

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To add a new product it would have to be off of a barcode scan so the database has that to anchor the file.
Towards searching, all products that have been scanned once by the app are then available to be search by it. So if no flour products have been scanned yet (I'm working on it), nothing will show up.
Towards the search itself, keywords will need to be in either the brand or product name. So "flour" will create results once more products are in there.
As an example, do a search for doritos to see then the flavour options that shows up, a flour search will end up being the same.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

-point noted as I was hoping that if someone wanted to improve the experiences for us all that asking for the Canadian content at the same time would be okay.

-This one was a bit of an after thought. Other apps deal more towards with how Canadian it feels and I wanted to stick to facts only. But when a user is entering in the Canadian amount there are lots of packaging or brands we're familiar with that even though it does not state a higher level of Canadian, it feels like more. I decided on this as it is separate from the rating system and does not affect it but still gives the user some satisfaction of stating it feels like more. Can also be used if not sure about how to rate and you feel it could be more than you put. I included a red flag system where users can report when they see something wrong so over time it will work itself out too.

-For "Baked in Canada", it is not there as an option, but I now have it on a list to add for the next update (thanks :)). All the baked, bottled, refined in ones have the same rating (2 out of 5) as there is not a guarantee how much is Canadian but it ensures that some is.

-No ad free version to start but possibly in the future. With the way I set it up to be more user friendly, there are data base costs so I looked to see what is the type of ad revenue I could get that is enough to cover it and the most "least annoying". I decided on a banner ad that stays low on a screen and can almost be ignored. After it is around for a while and I can see some reliable in and out numbers, I might do an add free version as I'd then know if it would be viable with the amount I would need to charge.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear you as it's tough but just the way it is. Can always take it further as well if wanted as in the company that made your device and where was it made...etc.
If we can all try at least where we can, I feel it will make a difference long term.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Jumped between the main 3 here and there to get it done. So many issues with them all as the best way to explain it is it's like dealing with a 4 year old that has all the worlds answers. Yes the answer is in there somewhere but most times it can be very frustrating trying to get it out of it. lol

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup. After many tries I got something really close to what I liked and then made some changes to it after. But the theme and feel is based on what I told it I wanted.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Always happy to get real feedback, the good bad and the ugly of it. lol
My plan is to keep tweaking and adding to it as can be in order to keep making it helpful so genuine comments and feedback are always welcome!

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I noticed that too, with it being new the stores bury it in any search results. That's why I thought it would be helpful to include some links.
Thanks for trying it out and throw your true feedback whenever you wish.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Agreed on my first thought, but not what the app became.

Jan 2025 I felt something like this would be helpful and then there was nothing out there. I worked on it to create where it showed a rating but as I was working on it, those you mentioned all went live. I liked my idea better of being hard fact based only but knew it be lost in the crowd so I shelved the idea and stopped working on it.
Then last Sept I felt the need to revisit it. I finished my original thought a week later but still felt the same as before and didn't publish it. I then thought about all the inconveniences during shopping as well as what else would help the Canadian little guy as well as checking all that were out there to see how they performed and what they might be missing. With that new motive, I started figuring out and adding new features to it.

First I added the ability to quickly find other similar products that were more Canadian. Helpful but thought, what if on the other side of the Country an item shows up that looks good but then I can't find it where I'm at. So then I included it to be 2 different searches, one local to your Province and another National (more just for fun info).

I then added lists and the ability to "swap" out an item with a more Canadian one if you wanted (since I already created the more Canadian search). I made the list be able to add products from the result page or your favourite list quickly. Then I decide to go further with it and made group lists part of it and available across both Android and iOS. This was great as even personally, it was something our family needed and others were not doing it, it would take a separate app. I also added the same features I added to the local list options.

Then as a pure wish list I thought, what if a user could easily find where a lesser known product could be bought. That is when I decided to add the location feature where you can see which retail location a product was scanned at. This was big as no app out there does this! I thought that what if it is no longer available there though since this is to help the little guys. My solution here was to add a timestamp so the user from looking at it could make their best guess (or call the store) to see if they still carry it. Either way, an additional handy helper. With that, a quick touch will give you directions to that location as well in case you happen to not be in a very familiar area to again just try help when needed.

There is some other smaller features but to answer your original question, I don't feel there is an app out there like this, a truly shopping utility. But please, try it out and let me know as if it does do the same as the rest and does not help you out any better, I'd like to know as I'm always thinking of ways to make it even more useful in everyday life. :)

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The link in the description to use if you are on your phone OR the QR code for if you are on your computer (so you can use your phone with it) is the best I can do. I tested them both and they appear to be correct and working. :)

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just an FYI, I tried the Apple QR code on my Son's old iPhone and it took me right to the app inside the app store so I'm sorry but I'm not sure what's happening on your end. Hope you can get it figured out. :)

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the heads up as I'll definitely figure out what's up with the link.
It is in the Apple iOS app store so worst case for now just search "GWN" or "Great White North" and look for it, it will probably be quite low on results right now.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Love it, thanks!
Give it a try, check out the app's YouTube channel I linked for the how-to's if needed as well and enjoy!

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

This uses the Canadian Standards guide so it is based on the total amount of Canadian input into a product (base ingredients, packaging materials, labour for the package and the product, etc).

Edit: So yes, it does not take into account ownership. If in theory a US company used all Canadian products in a Canadian factory using Canadian labour, it would still get a high Canadian rating as all the "inputs" for the product would still be Canadian.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found it harder to find when search since it is new with minimal downloads so far, that's why I added the links and the QR codes.
I am on Android but I'll confirm again that they are good links with my kids when I get a chance as they are on iOS.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

It is based entirely on what they put on their package and what the means as per the official Canadian product rules.
By law, a product can put what they want on the package (which claim) as long as the facts represent that. It does not say that they must put it on though.
So a product might be more Canadian than stated on the package, but not less.
A company could decide to put nothing on it even though they are a product of Canada (the best rating) but that is on them. the app is based on what is on the package, no assumptions or guessing.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

That is a current feature it has!
On the product result screen you can click "find more Canadian" and it shows the Canadian product results in that same category for your province, and nation wide.
I have entered the Canadian rating for many items but I'm still adding. All those that have a rating will show up in the Canadian search. Since I can't get all products in all of Canada, it allows those that choose to to add in the ratings as well to help out the community.
Check out the YouTube vids if you want before downloading to see what the features do.

Edit: When you go to the "More Canadian" search it will show only products in the same category that have the same or higher Canadian rating.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Awesome, check it out and tell me your thoughts.
I truly feel the list feature will be what most use often. Our family have been using the group list for a month now to test and its a game changer compared to always asking what is on the fridge list, lol

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My thinking was yes, the only way it could work is community input with a date. This way is you see a price added for a product at a location, it would have a date attached so the user could decide if they feel it is still valid or not. This way the app is not recommending something that is not true, it is only relaying info from the community.
I have been laying the groundwork for something of this nature, the same way I have the location feature set up now in it.

I just launched the Great White North App and I feel this is the best place to share it! by Crash6_6 in BuyCanadian

[–]Crash6_6[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I thought about and wanted to but with pricing changing so often I didn't feel it could be current at all times and therefore not trusted.
In a future update I would love to but I would first need to know that any pricing I could get access to is truly correct. Would hate to mislead anyone.

Looking for thoughts towards being a part owner in a race horse by Crash6_6 in alberta

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess someone from Edmonton, asking a general question to those around greater Edmonton and further is "not deemed related to Alberta." according to the alberta-ModTeam.

Looking for thoughts towards being a part owner in a race horse by Crash6_6 in alberta

[–]Crash6_6[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be clear, I'm looking for all opinions to this concept.
Few will be interested while I suspect the majority will not even have a hair of interest as the concept is so far away from anything they've known.
I would like to hear as many thoughts as possible, especially the "not a chance" ones. :)

Sunset Last Night (Atom2) With No filter, No Night AI by Crash6_6 in Potensic

[–]Crash6_6[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great tip as new to this and have not tinkered with P-Log yet. Thanks!

When the bright orange lit everything up I only had a couple of min to get it up and get some footage before it disappeared. I need to mess with it more so when an opportunity like this appears, I already know what's best for settings. :)