NZ COVID Tracer app for Android and iOS

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1181 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 605

#2539811 12-Aug-2020 22:57

You could just use the Rippl app. It scans and records the official QR codes as well as custom ones.
https://www.paperkite.co.nz/rippl/

Stephendnz

51 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2539822 12-Aug-2020 23:36

For an app that cost sooooo much $$$$$ to develop you'd think they could get it to work on all phones..

I have a - perfectly adequate - for my needs - Samsung S4 Mini.. And the app wont run on it.. I raised it with the developers at the time I first tried to download it.. and they just said there will be updates to come,,, I am still waiting.. and it still doesn't work on my phone.. running Android 4.2 I think..

I am pretty sure there are people in this country with phones older than mine.. The government tells me I have to use this app.. Do you think they could fund an upgrade phone for me? Does anyone else have this problem?

Oblivian

7345 posts

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#2539826 12-Aug-2020 23:45

They don't tell. They suggest it's use as a centralised memory/logging tool with notification and easy user contact abilities

Unfortunately it's the way software driven devices are. Live in 2013. Dead a few years later. And due lack of support/development the permissions and requirements modern apps needs fall short to work across all the versions that lack the features in previous versions.

Google drives for a common framework. While advancing and making older redundant. I have a tonne of apps legacy from an S3 that are falling over as time goes on. Unfortunately the way it is.

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4797

#2539828 13-Aug-2020 00:55

I tried to install it on an elderly persons Samsung J something phone that is perhaps 3-4 years old. It however couldn't find the app beucase the phone is using andriod 5.1.1. That was probably an old version when they purchased the device beucase it doesn't look like it was updated. I thought they had changed the app so it worked on older devices. Apparently about 6% of users still use lollipop, and I suspect a lot of older people use older phones and older android versions.

pvjones

42 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 14
Inactive user

#2539835 13-Aug-2020 07:18

Android has the same tedious issues it’s had for years. Phones not getting updates & far too many bugs after they do get updates. Phones having to be restarted due to camera app not working properly is quite common so no surprise that Covid app works poorly on some phones.

Technofreak

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#2539839 13-Aug-2020 07:48

neb:
Oblivian:

Take it to them? This threads not going to fix it or defer those who don't find it such a holdback.

Good idea. We could crowdsource a redesign, the main issues I see are: 1. Use a less dense QR code to make it easier to scan. 2. Make it immediately come up with the scan-QR-code op when it starts. 3. Get rid of the *&^#*& lockout. 4. Allow automatic location-based logging if you enable it. Option 4 would be the biggest deal in terms of making it useful. Sure, a small portion of tinfoil-hatters will refuse to use it, but if we can get at least 50% adoption we've achieved a 24900% increase in performance.

I had similar thoughts.

I'm sure there's people on somewhere like Github or Openrepos that could knock up a much more user friendly app with better features.

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dafman

4054 posts

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#2539845 13-Aug-2020 08:16

Just emailed them requesting ability to open app directly on record a visit.

I know other have previously requested this, let's keep asking them, it will make the app that much more user friendly.

xlinknz

1141 posts

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+1 received by user: 168

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#2539912 13-Aug-2020 09:09

@Stephendnz and @mattwnz

I lobbied to get MoH to support older devices esp. as my own #1 handset was Android 6, I suggested they support if they could down to Kitkat (#2 phone)

They were very open to feedback including acknowledging feedback including posting they would to support older devices. This even including the Minister publicly stating a new release would support older devices and additional functionality. This manifested in supporting Android 6 and other functional improvements

I encourage all to send their feedback to MoH as they do take it on board. Why they didn't extend support to v5 and v4 of Android I do not know yet. I suspect there are security considerations for v6 and esp. older.

Note this link shows Android version market share in NZ. Version 6 was 3.24% but it doesn't show v5 or v4 which I assume is even smaller. I'm fairly sure there are other market share graphs including from Google.

1101

3141 posts

Uber Geek
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#2539923 13-Aug-2020 09:25

I new it was a lost cause when it initially didnt even support Android6 (ie my phone at the time)
It was the height of stupidity to release an app that only works on newer tech.
Many cheaper/mid price Android devices just dont get any updates (from experience)

The people who really should be using the app probably have older phones .
Just go onto trademe & look at all the people still buying old phones .

Oblivian

7345 posts

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#2539968 13-Aug-2020 10:27

Check the stats link above. Even 6 is not representative of good market share despite those hunting old stuff online.

If we generically made stuff to only cater for the market that target tech based on 'a good deal' or price over enhancements/age/functionality. We wouldn't be in a much fun technological advancing world.

But this is again going well off track. If people have concerns. Email away

You may get the technical reasoning why.

ronw

1222 posts

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#2540004 13-Aug-2020 11:15

I do not understand the reasoning behind not updating to a newer phone. If money is the problem there are plenty of newer phones like Nokia 1.3 for $100 runs Android 10 and works well. Stop expecting everyone to support years old Android 4 or 5 phones and hope they will much use today. upgrade

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DarthKermit

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#2540021 13-Aug-2020 11:36

Different people will have different reasons. Some people resent the constant pressure to change to a new phone just for technology's sake.

In my case, the only phone I have is an old Doro 6520 I use for taking the odd picture. It works with my new laptop. It don't have a sim card.

I don't like cellphones and choose not to carry one. I don't wish to be contactable 24/7. That puts me in the vast minority of people. I don't care. It's not a legal requirement to have a cellphone.

xlinknz

1141 posts

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#2540145 13-Aug-2020 12:38

ronw:

I do not understand the reasoning behind not updating to a newer phone. If money is the problem there are plenty of newer phones like Nokia 1.3 for $100 runs Android 10 and works well. Stop expecting everyone to support years old Android 4 or 5 phones and hope they will much use today. upgrade

Some people do not wish to upgrade when there current phone works fine with every app they use but the Govt Covid Tracer

Microsoft and Google themselves support many of their apps for Android versions older than 6. Also note many other jurisdictions Covid apps support older Android versions too e.g Australia, Singapore and France all support v5+

I say good on MoH for at least updating support for Android v6 (esp when it was released v6 on the first day) However I suspect even older versions will be harder to support, maintain, keep secure and or add new functionality too so there has to be a balance and I suspect v6 was it

xlinknz

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#2540215 13-Aug-2020 13:37

This morning MoH utilized the new app functionality to send a notification to those that checked into a number of locations in Rotorua

Will be interesting to see what that looks like and says

pvjones

42 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 14
Inactive user

#2540292 13-Aug-2020 15:26

Android is trickier for developers. A while ago I watched a YouTube about the difficulty of getting Instagram stories to work properly on two or three flagship type Android phones. In the end they used an iPhone to record the promotional type video. Sorry can’t remember more than that.

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