A DCL app for Android phone users - Ship Mate

[taaren]

Haven't seen this posted on any other threads (just did a quick search), so I thought I'd mention a great free application that I stumbled across on my Android-based phone when searching under Disney. Its called Ship Mate, and lets you select your ship and cruise and has maps of the ship, itinerary information, excursions etc. I liked it for figuring out how to navigate around the Wonder the first couple of days we were on board. (I kept my Samsung Galaxy in plane mode the entire time so I could use it for the camera/video functions)
Anyhow, happy downloading and happy sailing!
Don't know if you can get it for iPhone or Windows phones but maybe somebody else has used it and can chime in that has one of those platforms.

 

[joeabate]

it's a great app. Had it when I had a droid, but recently bought and iPhone. it is not available for iPhone. I checked with the app creator and they said Apple would not at the time allow the app for iPad and iPhone because of the relationship between Disney and Apple.

 

[princessheather]

awww, i have the iphone too and it would be awesome to have that app!

 

[joeabate]

There is an app called "icruise" for the iPhone. shows deck plans and other info for all cruise lines, including DCL, but not as good as the Ship Mate app for droids.

 

[MTmomma]

Its been around for at least a year, but it doesn't have any Fantasy squints, or the Dream '13 sailings

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

For the iPhone there is ship mate for the other cruise lines but not DCL? So what is the issue....I want DCL!

 

[Disneyholic]

I just checked it out and part of the information says it can make phone calls from your phone, (but no emergency phone calls) and that you will be charged for these calls as per your service provider policy. If you give permission, who knows where or what they will call using this APP? I won't download something that requires that in it's permissions.

 

[erionm]

For the iPhone there is ship mate for the other cruise lines but not DCL? So what is the issue....I want DCL!

Apple has rejected the Ship Mate app for DCL.

 

[Ariel224]

I just checked it out and part of the information says it can make phone calls from your phone, (but no emergency phone calls) and that you will be charged for these calls as per your service provider policy. If you give permission, who knows where or what they will call using this APP? I won't download something that requires that in it's permissions.

I emailed the developer asking for an explanation on this permission. Let's see if I get a response.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I emailed the developer asking for an explanation on this permission. Let's see if I get a response.

This issue was discussed here a while back. At that time, there was information on ShipMate's facebook page that there is some sort of issue with Apple and getting approval for the DCL portion of their app. It's a legal issue and they are trying to work with it, but in the meantime, cannot get their app for DCL on iphone through the app store approval process.

- Dreams

 

[Tami0220]

Im an android app idiot. When I finally decided to download a free app (Geico's brostache) I thought it was free. (Dont get the brostache because it doesnt work) Then I got several text messages the next day that I had overrun my MB limit. No one told me you had to shut off the app, it just kept running and using up my limit. So, does this free app continue running and using MB or KB or GB. Or once it's downloaded it's ok? I really am an idiot when it comes to technology

 

[erionm]

This issue was discussed here a while back. At that time, there was information on ShipMate's facebook page that there is some sort of issue with Apple and getting approval for the DCL portion of their app. It's a legal issue and they are trying to work with it, but in the meantime, cannot get their app for DCL on iphone through the app store approval process.

- Dreams

Ariel224's post was about Disneyholic post quoted below, not why the DCL iPhone version is not available.

I just checked it out and part of the information says it can make phone calls from your phone, (but no emergency phone calls) and that you will be charged for these calls as per your service provider policy. If you give permission, who knows where or what they will call using this APP? I won't download something that requires that in it's permissions.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Ariel224's post was about Disneyholic post quoted below, not why the DCL iPhone version is not available.

OH! I just looked back and you are 100% correct. That's what I get for posting and talking on the phone at the same time.

- Dreams

 

[Ariel224]

I heard back from someone from Ship Mate regarding the Android app permission settings. Here is the transcript of the conversation so far.....

"Hello. I want very much to download the app for Android, but am very concerned about the permission to allow my phone to make phone calls. Will you please explain to me what this is all about?

Thank you."




"Ship Mate Support support@shipmateapp.com to me

show details 10:53 AM (39 minutes ago)
support@shipmateapp.com
Hi,

We'll never make phone calls on your device and wouldn't know how to if we wanted to. I'm not really sure what that wording is, to tell you the truth. The app is safe to download and use without us intruding on anything personal.

Thanks,

Mike Jirout"







"Mike,

I tried to reply earlier, but I don't think it sent.

I still find it a but disturbing that this permission was written into the app and you don't know how it got there, or why it is there? Many apps have a permission to monitor the phone's call status so that the app will pause to allow an incoming call. But to have the ability to highjack one's phone to initiate calls is entirely different and needs to be addressed by you immediately.

Your program is currently being discussed on Disboards, and the app permissions, as written, are costing you some potential customers. I want the app, but I am still uncomfortable with the permissions.

Thank you for your prompt reply.

Cherie"


I'm really not sure what to think about this.... It looks like a useful app with high feedback ratings, but how can a developer not know what permissions they wrote into the program?

 

[taaren]

Im an android app idiot. When I finally decided to download a free app (Geico's brostache) I thought it was free. (Dont get the brostache because it doesnt work) Then I got several text messages the next day that I had overrun my MB limit. No one told me you had to shut off the app, it just kept running and using up my limit. So, does this free app continue running and using MB or KB or GB. Or once it's downloaded it's ok? I really am an idiot when it comes to technology

There's an application that usually is pre-installed on Android phones called "Advanced Task Killer". Every time I put my phone in my pocket/purse I 'kill' every app on my phone because they eat up battery life.

Also (I think its somewhere in the settings menu ...) there is a program that tells you how many programs are running at any given time that you can press "End Program", so I usually make sure that's at 0 as well.

As far as I know Ship Mate never used up extra MB on my data plan, but we have unlimited data and I used both the program monitor and Advanced Task Killer constantly.

 

[Ariel224]

I heard back from someone from Ship Mate regarding the Android app permission settings. Here is the transcript of the conversation so far.....

"Hello. I want very much to download the app for Android, but am very concerned about the permission to allow my phone to make phone calls. Will you please explain to me what this is all about?

Thank you."




"Ship Mate Support support@shipmateapp.com to me

show details 10:53 AM (39 minutes ago)
support@shipmateapp.com
Hi,

We'll never make phone calls on your device and wouldn't know how to if we wanted to. I'm not really sure what that wording is, to tell you the truth. The app is safe to download and use without us intruding on anything personal.

Thanks,

Mike Jirout"







"Mike,

I tried to reply earlier, but I don't think it sent.

I still find it a but disturbing that this permission was written into the app and you don't know how it got there, or why it is there? Many apps have a permission to monitor the phone's call status so that the app will pause to allow an incoming call. But to have the ability to highjack one's phone to initiate calls is entirely different and needs to be addressed by you immediately.

Your program is currently being discussed on Disboards, and the app permissions, as written, are costing you some potential customers. I want the app, but I am still uncomfortable with the permissions.

Thank you for your prompt reply.

Cherie"


I'm really not sure what to think about this.... It looks like a useful app with high feedback ratings, but how can a developer not know what permissions they wrote into the program?

Here is the latest reply from Ship Mate.

"Hi Cherie,

I've gotten it clarified for you - I don't do any of the programming, which explains my ignorance on the permissions.

The reason it was in there was to allow for our users to easily call the cruise lines. We have contact info for all of the cruise lines in there and you can touch on, say "Contact Carnival" and it will instantly call the proper contact at the company. For some reason, Google/Android requires a special permission for this whereas Apple does not.

If I can explain anything else, please let me know.

Thanks,

Mike"

 

[DisDaydreamer]

(I kept my Samsung Galaxy in plane mode the entire time so I could use it for the camera/video functions)

Very important point. Don't just have your phone turned on on the cruise or you'll have a horrible data roaming bill. I didn't even think about flight mode... very good tip.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

I checked with the app creator and they said Apple would not at the time allow the app for iPad and iPhone because of the relationship between Disney and Apple.

This really confuses me, and I wonder what legal blockade must have stopped this? Not questioning you at all, but really confused as to why?
Ridiculous.
It would makes sense that Steve's involvement as a majority shareholder would make the app completely viable and prevent any barriers?

Ex Techie

 

[Ariel224]

This really confuses me, and I wonder what legal blockade must have stopped this? Not questioning you at all, but really confused as to why?
Ridiculous.
It would makes sense that Steve's involvement as a majority shareholder would make the app completely viable and prevent any barriers?

Ex Techie

This is totally me guessing......Maybe it's that Disney that didn't want this app approved since they can't control its content. Disney can't block it from Android, but they do have that influence with Apple.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

That does make a lot of sense!
But if it's out there for so many Driod users, I wonder how much longer they will try to fight it's availability on the App Store?

Ex Techie