Tell Brad at Beersmith we want a mobile version!!!!

[Revvy]

I got a response as well, basically he said he's working on the cloud for recipe transfer and the app would get next priority. I guess well wait and see.

I'm the one who started this thing, both here and my local brewing group on FB, and I'm like the only one who hasn't gotten a response.

But I'll say it again. He's got his priorities wrong. He really should roll the app out then do whatever the **** he wants about "clouds" I don't give a flying frig about cloud connectivity. I want a freaking mobile ap yesterday. I'm now ready to buy Ibrewmaster if he still doesn't see an app as a priority.

 

[jbaysurfer]

I'm the one who started this thing, both here and my local brewing group on FB, and I'm like the only one who hasn't gotten a response.

But I'll say it again. He's got his priorities wrong. He really should roll the app out then do whatever the **** he wants about "clouds" I don't give a flying frig about cloud connectivity. I want a freaking mobile ap yesterday. I'm now ready to buy Ibrewmaster if he still doesn't see an app as a priority.

I agree with you Revvy, but I think your original request was so that your computer version and your phone version could talk. This (I believe) is why the "cloud" application is required.

Maybe just get the Android version out (I'm android not Iphone..) and work on the pc-phone communication afterwards?

Something as simple as an ability to import/export a file could be used instead of the "cloud". I kinda think the cloud thing is an annoying marketing ploy to get us all to trust all of our data to some corporate entity anyway.

(^conspiracy theory alert!).

 

[Revvy]

Something as simple as an ability to import/export a file could be used instead of the "cloud". I kinda think the cloud thing is an annoying marketing ploy to get us all to trust all of our data to some corporate entity anyway.

(^conspiracy theory alert!).

I agree 1,000 with ALL the statements in this paragraph.

 

[TheAleMaster]

Without some sort of "cloud" experience, how would you get it to the phone? Export it and email it to yourself and then open the attachment in your phone? I have not used Android since version 1.5, but then and now in the iPhone, if the Mail app does not recognize the file extension, it will not open. Without that sync (and why not do it through the cloud), you would have to recreate the recipe in the app (pointless). As someone who works in wireless and eCommerce, he is doing it correctly, IMO.

 

[Revvy]

.... how would you get it to the phone? Export it and email it to yourself and then open the attachment in your phone?

I'd be perfectly happy with this scenario. Or sync it via my I-tunes. Some folks are able to open beerxls. files on their mobile devices, using drop box.

I'm not opposed to cloud stuff, I just think his priorites are skewed. I want something on my phone NOW. He can clean it up and make it pretty and cloud for all I care later, as an update. But give me something I can use on my mobile device first.

Even if it is ugly, but at least let me look at my recipe on my phone.

Why do I have to consider going elsewhere (like to Ibrewmaster) when I've devoted over 5 years to beersmith?

We've only been asking for this for as long as we've had smartphones.

 

[TheAleMaster]

You cannot just open beerxml (or any XML) files over Dropbox without an interpreter unless you want to read raw XML. Most who use Dropbox export to some sort of readable text file and upload that to Dropbox (that's what I do). In that case, there is nothing stopping you from doing that right now.

iTunes is not an option as it would require Apple to write code. I think the only viable non-cloud sync option, at least for iOS devices, would be a WiFi sync like BeerAlchemy uses. And at the point, syncing to the cloud is just as easy/difficult.

I definitely agree that developers of brewing apps have taken quite a long time developing mobile counterparts. I have no idea if this is their full time job, so I assume it is a hobby and that is why it has taken so long. But I am a BeerTools Pro user and am really in the same boat.

 

[weirdboy]

iTunes is not an option as it would require Apple to write code.

No, it's not. You can write support for syncing documents via itunes into any application, so far as I know. Take a look at e.g. Stanza.

Same goes for DropBox. If the respective application supports the file format and has a way to talk to DropBox, then it will just work. However, I consider DropBox support as being "cloud" storage anyway.

 

[pickles]

I agree with Revvy! Get one with it already. I have an app for just about everything and me wants my Beersmith on me f***ing phone!!! Hell I have a remote control app for my tv for god's sake.

 

[Revvy]

No, it's not. You can write support for syncing documents via itunes into any application, so far as I know. Take a look at e.g. Stanza.

Same goes for DropBox. If the respective application supports the file format and has a way to talk to DropBox, then it will just work. However, I consider DropBox support as being "cloud" storage anyway.

+1 People on here ARE using dropbox to get to their beersmith files, I'm not savvy enough to do it though. And I don't think I should have to I want the developer of my favorite brewing software to do it for me. Or else I will migrate to another app that already is out there.

I agree with Revvy! Get one with it already. I have an app for just about everything and me wants my Beersmith on me f***ing phone!!! Hell I have a remote control app for my tv for god's sake.

:rockin: Ain't that the truth!

 

[passedpawn]

He's one guy: Brad Smith. Take it easy everyone. You know it's not microsoft we are talking about. He's responded to many saying he's working on it; I think the indignation is a bit much.

It was only about 6 months ago when everyone was pissed off because he hadn't released a new version since 1.4.

 

[TheAleMaster]

I forgot about the file sharing in iTunes.

My point about Dropbox was that you cannot simply throw files up there and expect it to work. You need a program to read the file. If people are currently using Dropbox to view beerxml, they are either reading raw XML or built an app of their own.

 

[weirdboy]

He's one guy: Brad Smith. Take it easy everyone. You know it's not microsoft we are talking about. He's responded to many saying he's working on it; I think the indignation is a bit much.

It was only about 6 months ago when everyone was pissed off because he hadn't released a new version since 1.4.

I am in the industry so I totally understand that things don't happen overnight. And in fact this is why I say he shouldn't be working on a mobile app at all. There are still serious issues with Beersmith (desktop) that I would like to see some resolution for, and people only have so many hours to work on stuff. And, heaven forbid, he might learn some design principles that help him streamline the design for a future mobile app.


So far as getting the recipe on a mobile phone: what I do now is take the brewsheet in Beersmith, print it to a PDF file and send it to myself. Then I can open it up on my phone and review it while I'm brewing. If I need to do some quick calculations (e.g. refractometer) there are already free apps to do that stuff. And, as an added bonus, I have a little extra backup record of what I brewed when, just in case my Beersmith database takes a big ol' dump.

 

[Seven]

My point about Dropbox was that you cannot simply throw files up there and expect it to work. You need a program to read the file. If people are currently using Dropbox to view beerxml, they are either reading raw XML or built an app of their own.

Not sure I'm understanding you correctly but I use beersmith on multiple computers and they all share the same beersmith data via dropbox. All of my recipes and beersmith settings are saved to a dropbox folder that is accessible between all computers. Works great.

 

[SPLASTiK]

Brewzor is a decent app for Android. I think it needs a few improvements to be complete, but it has a few nice calculators and I use it pretty much every time I brew.

Frankly, when I'm working on a recipe I could never see myself fumbling around with my touchscreen. I prefer a mouse and keyboard.

Yeah, I'm fairly satisfied with it as well... and I can import all my Beersmith recipes, ingredient lists, etc. into it. Probably could sync as well with Dropbox but haven't fooled around with that. Needs a few tweaks like being able to see OG when adding malts and stuff... but since I do all my recipes in Beersmith and then import the recipes in Brewzor it doesn't bother me too much.

I don't know if I'd really want a wheel... It seems intuitive and all, but seems like a memory hog idea to me.

 

[megalomani]

Not sure I'm understanding you correctly but I use beersmith on multiple computers and they all share the same beersmith data via dropbox. All of my recipes and beersmith settings are saved to a dropbox folder that is accessible between all computers. Works great.

Can't figure out how you do this. When I try I get a message that it will overwrite the contents of the folder that want beersmith to use for documents.

Are you manually importing and exporting to a drop box folder or are both machines using the same folder as the default beersmith save folder?

 

[megalomani]

Oh... and to keep on topic of this thread, I completely agree an Android version of beersmith would be very useful. I frequently will try to look recipes up on the phone when getting ingredients at the local home brew shop. Had used Brewzor for a while but it never really seemed finished and now it doesn't work since I upgraded my firmware.

Email sent to Brad Smith. Hopefully he has the time and knowledge of Android language to make this possible.

Until then will need to print my recipes and use a watch on brew day.

 

[Seven]

Can't figure out how you do this. When I try I get a message that it will overwrite the contents of the folder that want beersmith to use for documents.

Are you manually importing and exporting to a drop box folder or are both machines using the same folder as the default beersmith save folder?

Sharing recipes/data between 2 computers via DropBox

As the thread says make sure you only have Beersmith open on ONE computer at a time. File corruption is possible if you open Beersmith on multiple computers at the same time.

Be sure to back up your Beersmith recipe data regularly in case you ever experience any problems.

 

[TheAleMaster]

Not sure I'm understanding you correctly but I use beersmith on multiple computers and they all share the same beersmith data via dropbox. All of my recipes and beersmith settings are saved to a dropbox folder that is accessible between all computers. Works great.

You are using Beersmith. We are talking about viewing on a mobile phone where Beersmith does not exist.

 

[megalomani]

@seven, thanks for the link. Got it to work now can view same recipes on Mac and PC.

When I was changing the default folder on the 2nd computer I first manually imported all the recipes it was missing so when I overwrote the folder it had the exact same files.

Now if only we could do the same from our android devices. I did get a email response from Brad:

"
From: Brad Smith Jan 15 (1 day ago)

Hi,
I have started some early versions looking at development for the iPad, iPhone and Android mobile platforms.

At the moment I'm finishing up a cloud server to allow sharing of recipes across the internet.I believe this is an important feature to have for the mobile platforms as ultimately brewers want to be able to access their recipes from several computers and devices.

Cheers!

Brad Smith
BeerSmith.com
Learn more about home brewing from my new book, blog and podcast!
Follow BeerSmith on Twitter and Facebook "

 

[BoltsFan704]

As of 30 seconds ago:


beersmith BeerSmith-Brad Smith

@XdBoltsFan I'm finishing up an online recipe sharing site and plan to start working on a mobile version of BeerSmith next.
Mar 14, 4:14 PM via TweetDeck

 

[Revvy]

as of 30 seconds ago:


Beersmith beersmith-brad smith

@xdboltsfan i'm finishing up an online recipe sharing site and plan to start working on a mobile version of beersmith next.
Mar 14, 4:14 pm via tweetdeck

yayayayay!!!!

 

[jbaysurfer]

:rockin:

yayayayay!!!!

 

[nsrooen]

Beersmith 2 mobile is now on the Android Market. I just checked.

 

[jbaysurfer]

First Praise:

Thank you Brad!!!! This is fantastic. Uploading my recipe to the cloud and logging on to my phone in the garage is perfect for my uses! I'm also grateful for the addition of the timers.

next, constructive criticism: I have not used this for a brew yet, but the fact you can't edit the recipe (although it does indeed come from the cloud) is an inconvenience. I frequently have to edit recipes on the fly based on whatever hops I happen to have on hand on brewday, and I lean heavily on taking notes in the notes section. Unless I bring my laptop to the brewroom invalidating the purpose of having BS on my phone, I can't do that with this version.

I'm grateful for what you've done, but I'm a paying customer for both versions now, so I want to be honest about my what I expect for my money. To all those who think I'm hating, please reread. I'm just being honest about what I as a consumer hope to gain from my purchases.

 

[LuiInIdaho]

First Praise:

next, constructive criticism: I have not used this for a brew yet, but the fact you can't edit the recipe (although it does indeed come from the cloud) is an inconvenience. I frequently have to edit recipes on the fly based on whatever hops I happen to have on hand on brewday, and I lean heavily on taking notes in the notes section. Unless I bring my laptop to the brewroom invalidating the purpose of having BS on my phone, I can't do that with this version.

In making his announcement that BeerSmith would be arriving on the Android and Apple platforms, Brad announced that first available would be a light version that would not allow you to edit recipes. He also announced that a full version for the Android and Apple platforms would be coming out later.

 

[jeremybrown9]

As said by Brad on 28 SEP 12 on the thread 'BeerSmith for Android and iPhone Almost Available'
"The lite version does not allow recipe editing/creation, but does have a full brew day timer, reference, tools, and unit converters. The full version (coming a few months later) will have recipe editing.

Also there is a nice feature to search the thousands of recipes on BeerSmithRecipes.com which is a great way to get new ideas (or waste time at work)."

Brad

 

[Revvy]

That's why I'm not in any hurry. I'll wait for the "heavy" version.

 

[jbaysurfer]

My constructive criticism remains unchanged. A preannouncement that this product wouldn't have the ability to edit recipes doesn't make me want it less. I did pay for both products at this point, and I know Brad does this stuff mostly on his own.

But this thread was started almost a year ago. Maybe it's time to get some help on this. I hope what I've paid for this version will cover the upgraded version whenever it comes out. I'm a huge fan of Beersmith and have used it since day one of my brewing. So I'm just trying to give respectful feedback from a loyal customer. It's not bitching, and it's 100% topical.

 

[jbaysurfer]

That's why I'm not in any hurry. I'll wait for the "heavy" version.

Now that I've paid for it, I'm wondering if I shouldn't have done the same thing. If I'm out the 4 bucks though, so be it. Caveat Emptor.

 

[deflagratio]

Brad was very open on the capacity of this app. I am sad that it doesn't have fields for common corrections like gravity adjustment or the like. It would be cool for an app to have the brew day laid out step by step with common adjustment fields available. Another issue is the fact he doesn't take advantage of the android menu button for quick navigation. This is something I've seen on multiple apps with and iOS version. Does anyone know if the full version will be different on tablet or smartphone?