Naturally, a WTSS app will concentrate on the business of choosing a destination for a skiing/boarding trip. What we would like reader input on are such things as:

resort qualities that affect your own choice of destination
kinds of interface that you like or dislike in other apps
add-ons that would make our app more attractive.

Any thoughts on any aspect of this project are welcome.

I’ve downloaded a few ski related apps myself, eg GPS one that gives your speed etc (although in reality never use it at it a) costs a fortune to use abroad and b) soaks up battery), snow report one ......

I guess that if I was looking for a ski destination/holiday I would use a PC or laptop rather than the iPhone. Whilst I love the iPhone it’s limitation I suppose is its size. That said I think a WTSS app is a great idea.

Things I like from other apps include - link to resort website/webcam, up to date snow report, piste maps etc. The Austrian Tourist board launched quite a good one recently - iSki Austria. iTrailMap is another good one.

Would it be feesable to have the book as an app as a separate app?

That’s my tuppenceworth anyway and good luck with the project.

The cost of using the i phone abroad is a big issue.
A pal of mine, this season in France, had not turned off the data roaming feature on his i phone, and got a text from o2 on the second day informing him he was already at 25 quid in roaming charges, and he had only downloaded a few e-mails and some updates - remember when you went on holiday to get away from that work stuff! There seems to be much more free wifi in France than the UK, so that method of data downloading is practical and cost effective, however, not too much wifi half way down a piste, for the GPS stuff!
Something to bear in mind when you are designing your app.

I would like to be able to download the resort page prior to departing to use as a reminder whilst in resort, especially to find restauarants/bars, avoid the lift queues etc. Good luck with designing the app (don’t forget the Android users!!)

Phenix - 18 July 2010 05:05 PM

I would like to be able to download the resort page prior to departing to use as a reminder whilst in resort, especially to find restauarants/bars, avoid the lift queues etc. Good luck with designing the app (don’t forget the Android users!!)

This is great idea. The ability to cache the details for a resort would get around the issue of data roaming.

Also the ability to record data for a WTSS review would be useful. e.g. rate resort; record food and drink prices etc.  I’ve submitted a review in the past after returning from trip and can never remember the prices!.

boabski - 20 May 2010 12:20 PM

Would it be feesable to have the book as an app as a separate app?

That’s my tuppenceworth anyway and good luck with the project.

Absolutely. What we are envisaging at present is an app that focuses on the decision process, and a digital version of the book, both available certainly as iPhone and iPad products, and Android/whatever products in due course.

In fact, it’s likely we’ll produce the book products first, because they will be way simpler to build.

Chris

So when is the first version of this app likely to appear?

In my opinion you should opt for an optimized browser version instead of an iPhone app:

- You are missing out all Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows phones!
- The app takes resources to develop and maintain (altbeit it can in reality be build using browser technology)

By using tools that would detect a mobile phone you can deliver a nice experince as most phones would then render the screen in a nice manner! Also, way easier for you to administrate

my 5 öre..

Dont mind to much so long as its available for the android, List of all the maps with constant updates (ie lifts open) would be handy.