[APP] Straits Times Mobile (Singapore Broadsheet) 02-06-2010 V0.694

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Hi to All and specifically to Singaporeans,

Do you live in Singapore and are quite peeved that you cant read straits times in your Windows Mobile handset?

Well this is the app for you. With UI similar to metro, it allows you to read full articles without the need to visit Straits Times' website on your phone.

Now with offline reading capabilities for your transit needs!

The app needs CF3.5 and is created with the help of the excellent sliderlist by Obelix_A

Current Features
- read full articles available from StraitsTimes.com Free
- view pictures and captions related to the articles
- change font size for articles
- offline syncing
- low-bandwidth mode (by displaying images only when articles are read)
- auto updater

Planned Features
- reading of articles from a specific date
- bookmarking articles

Known Bugs/Issues
- application is known to crash for Omnia2 and OmniaPro devices, upon a selection of a section





download fromhttp://appslah.com/stmobile.cab Version 0.694

i would appreciate feedback and feature-requests.

GOOD JOB!

I'm SO downloading this.

thanks for the support

Some initial comments and thoughts about this app:

- The tick at the top right feels naturally clickable. I guess that's because to the average windows phone user, that top right has always either been an "OK" or a "X" so it's somewhat natural to assume whatever icon is on the top right is clickable

- The physics of the flow of the menu items are very very sensitive. If I drag them for a distance equivalent to half of my screen height, they disappear for quite some time before they bounce back. It is also kind of laggy. I understand alot of this has to do with windows mobile OS itself, so I'm not blaming you on this. This is really a good UI effort.

Otherwise this application feels way beyond good comparing with the average windows mobile application. Its metro-like UI is REALLY appealing for a change for my windows mobile device. All functions are working great and browsing the news is a pleasure.

Definitely recommend this app to any windows mobile users in Singapore. I'm gonna spread this app to some friends and partners of mine in Microsoft. I'm sure they will be impressed with this! Good work!

Tested on: HTC Touch Diamond 2 (Topaz) running Windows Mobile 6.5

Originally Posted by aeronex

Some initial comments and thoughts about this app:

- The tick at the top right feels naturally clickable. I guess that's because to the average windows phone user, that top right has always either been an "OK" or a "X" so it's somewhat natural to assume whatever icon is on the top right is clickable
ahhh its the sync icon. will display some other icon instead of the tick in next releases... did not occur to be since i been using 6.5.3 for some time

- The physics of the flow of the menu items are very very sensitive. If I drag them for a distance equivalent to half of my screen height, they disappear for quite some time before they bounce back. It is also kind of laggy. I understand alot of this has to do with windows mobile OS itself, so I'm not blaming you on this. This is really a good UI effort.
did not really got to test it with resistive devices. But much of the credit for the physics of the slider goes to Obenix. I think he has done a great job with that wonderful control. i would refer to him on the matter of being able to lower the sensitivity for non capacitive models

Otherwise this application feels way beyond good comparing with the average windows mobile application. Its metro-like UI is REALLY appealing for a change for my windows mobile device. All functions are working great and browsing the news is a pleasure. Perhaps an addition of font size option perhaps in the forms of + or - will be good.
i was hugely inspired and loved metro UI when it came out. was around the same time when i was designing the backend, so heck decided it should follow the WP7 design elements.
The A + or - was orignially a feature request from 'wm007' of mobinauts, credits to him for that idea. Will follow your advice and add the option to change the font size for all other windows in the next release as well. thanks

Definitely recommend this app to any windows mobile users in Singapore. I'm gonna spread this app to some friends and partners of mine in Microsoft. I'm sure they will be impressed with this! Good work!
lol chris chin knows about it, am waiting for market place approval before i proceed to submit the other local news outlets apps (unoffical)
Tested on: HTC Touch Diamond 2 (Topaz) running Windows Mobile 6.5

Most of the best pillars of this app would not be without the input or ideas of fellow users. thanks once again for the input.

oh ya, and here is the app compared against other variants on other platforms:

I have tried it on Omnia II and the application is well designed but abit of laggyness in scrolling up and down in the tiles section and the stories text section, if u reach the very end of the text, and overscrolls it, it will take a while to jump back to the text area. Overall i find the application simple and light
Btw, i noe the app through aeronex haha...

Wow! Great! Haha I guess the developers network for Windows Mobile in Singapore is indeed quite small! ^^ I know of several other windows mobile developers also working with not only Chris but also many other peeps in Microsoft.

In any case, The HD2 has the most capable processor, so I'm not entirely sure if it's a very fair test, but I can definitely vouch that this user interface is the best I've seen. I love it!

Apologies about the font + and - actually. I just realized that your app already has the small and big "A"s which in my opinion is more than enough. Very strange I missed that just now, apologies ^^

Originally Posted by aeronex

Wow! Great! Haha I guess the developers network for Windows Mobile in Singapore is indeed quite small! ^^ I know of several other windows mobile developers also working with not only Chris but also many other peeps in Microsoft.

lol ismael? he seems quite busy with WP7 these days

In any case, The HD2 has the most capable processor, so I'm not entirely sure if it's a very fair test, but I can definitely vouch that this user interface is the best I've seen. I love it!
the only other wm i have is a LGKS20, it has the bounce lag issue. Also the part where the screen is QVGA and cannot "sense" the clicks on tiles. news loading times are averge. lol will do a comparison with all 4 devices next time

Apologies about the font + and - actually. I just realized that your app already has the small and big "A"s which in my opinion is more than enough. Very strange I missed that just now, apologies ^^neh, its ok. i kinda feel the news list needs it too... i personally find that font big... others says its small.... might as well leave it customizable per user

CNA app also done. will PM you when i have a beta of it ready

Originally Posted by hazeline

I have tried it on Omnia II and the application is well designed but abit of laggyness in scrolling up and down in the tiles section and the stories text section, if u reach the very end of the text, and overscrolls it, it will take a while to jump back to the text area. Overall i find the application simple and light
Btw, i noe the app through aeronex haha...

Known Bugs/Issues
- application is known to crash for Omnia2 and OmniaPro devices, upon a selection of a section

i am glad its working for you. i am still trying to find a permanent fix for my other samsung users who face the "outofmemoryexception". Do let me know if the app hangs for your device or what nots errors. So far this problem seems peculiar to the two samsung devices only.