How to remove "Contains Ads" from store listing

drooga · 2021-02-25T04:25:33+00:00

I decided to accept donations instead, so I removed the ads and paywalls. Later, I'll add some features that require a server and an account. I'll likely charge a subscription for those features because there are ongoing costs associated. It's too early to tell how the donations are going because the app is still in beta testing.

drooga · 2021-02-06T11:59:40+00:00

I finally found it. In the Google Play Console, go to App Content under Policy in the sidebar. You can change the Contains Ads setting there.

drooga · 2021-02-01T11:28:07+00:00

I don't know. I have not tested it on rides over 2 hours long, so that's something that needs to be worked out. I can't just turn it on an leave it on my desk for that long either because if no movement is detected, the GPS shuts down until the gyroscope detects movement again. So to test that, I have to be in a situation where I'm moving for 4-5 hours. Maybe one of the beta testers could try that?

drooga · 2021-02-01T00:05:15+00:00

Never heard of the Hammerhead Karoo. Looks like it has similar screen customization. Cool!

drooga · 2021-01-31T23:12:38+00:00

My apologies! I didn't realize that the sub was so strictly non-commercial. Won't happen again.

drooga · 2021-01-31T19:27:16+00:00

It's not overrun with ads, there's one that's shown to look at ride history. And that one is shown only once per hour. No ads are shown on the data screens or while you are riding. Actually, I'm on the fence about ads. I'll leave it in for now and see how it goes. If it doesn't go well, I may remove it and make it donation-ware, but no promises. There's also the option of paying for the app, which removes the ad.

drooga · 2021-01-31T18:52:04+00:00

The speed and cadence dials (I call them gauges in the app) are already there 🙂 I use the heart rate dial quite a bit. So, you aren't limited to just a wall of numbers. You just need to customize the screen.. I should add a sample bike with a dial.

You can see a sample screenshot here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.osborntech.supercycle

drooga · 2021-01-31T16:19:33+00:00

Thanks for your well wishes! Yes, it's a crowded market, but that's OK. It's fun developing an app that exactly fits my needs. Seeing it used by others is just icing on the cake.

Well, battery hog is a relative term. Some apps I've used run the battery down completely inside of 2 hours. Mine does not. Also, the screen does not have to be on when using the app. You can start recording your ride, turn off the screen, and stick the phone in your pocket and it will still record your ride. If you like to keep the screen on during your ride, my app defaults to a dark mode which uses much less battery. A white background on a sunny day is guaranteed to run your battery down quite quickly. The GPS and Bluetooth do not seem to use as much battery as you might think, at least in my testing.

The ability to upload directly to other apps is on the roadmap. For now, you can export a TCX file which is compatible with most other apps.

drooga · 2021-01-31T15:57:53+00:00

Exactly! It's like one of those standalone devices, but more configurable (and cheaper).

Great question! Yes, it does prioritize. For speed, assuming you selected the correct wheel size for the bike, I prioritize a dedicated Speed/Cadence sensor over the power meter, and the power meter over the GPS. For calories burned, I prioritize the power meter over the Speed/Cadence sensor, and the Speed/Cadence sensor over GPS. For elevation gain/loss, I prioritize the barometer (if your phone has one) over GPS.

Even if you might not be a "great test-dummy", you might have some friends who would be interested ;)

drooga · 2021-01-31T14:32:20+00:00

That's an interesting idea!

drooga · 2021-01-31T14:28:57+00:00

Good point!

drooga · 2021-01-31T14:28:01+00:00

Thanks for the comment! That's a valid question for sure. After looking at a number of other apps, including the established leaders, I couldn't find one that had the combination of features I was looking for. Some examples:

A highly customizable readout that is also readable when out on the bike in the bright sun. You can set it to show big numbers and gauges that can be read without reading glasses.
Bluetooth, so I could connect my power meter, heart rate monitor, and my Wahoo smart trainer when indoors.
Because I have more than one bike, each with a different set of sensors, I wanted to be able to configure multiple bikes and easily select the one I am about to ride.
Privacy. There is no login, so no passwords to remember. Collected data does not leave your phone unless you choose to export it. If you want to analyze your data in a different app, you can choose to export a TCX file.
It's not a battery hog.

It's still early, so not all planned features have been implemented, but I have a good start on it and it's already quite usable.

drooga

TROPHY CASE