iPhone users, get the Conventionist! Offline mobile guide for PAX (free!)

Proxima

Hey fellow PAX attendees! If you haven't already heard via twitter or Joystiq, you might be interested to know that we're debuting an iPhone app called The Conventionist with PAX as it's first expo. Bets of all: its all completely free.

Essentially, its an offline mobile convention guide with support for custom schedules, alerts, maps, etc etc. Currently its iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad only, but there is an Android version in the works. Below are some screenshots to give you an idea of the tasty goodness. We love comments, suggestions, and feedback. Also glowing app-store reviews .


(click to enlarge the screenshots!)

Android users, we hear you!
We're working hard to get the Android version ready. There's a decent chance it will be done before PAX, so check back here before Friday for an update. In the mean time, another another PAX goer nickswar has made a similar app

Get the app: http://bit.ly/cvapp

Learn more/view a screencast of the app in use: http://www.conventionist.com

Matev

It's pretty slick, but other than the main events, it doesn't tell you about other things going on at the con, and itinerary-wise, the ability to put in one's own events would be greatly appreciated.

Proxima

Matev wrote: »

It's pretty slick, but other than the main events, it doesn't tell you about other things going on at the con, and itinerary-wise, the ability to put in one's own events would be greatly appreciated.

Definitely! You can see we have reserved space there to cover more aspects of the convention. As I said, PAX Prime 2010 is the first expo we're covering, so feedback like this will help us make it better for PAX East.

b0wser

Excellent visual layout, and the maps look good. I'll be using it to readily answer questions.

Gundabad

That's awesome that you have a copy of the floorplans. Are they available elsewhere? I'd like to display them on the bigscreen but your app is the only place I've seen them.

Proxima

b0wser wrote: »

Excellent visual layout, and the maps look good. I'll be using it to readily answer questions.

Awesome

Gundabad wrote: »

That's awesome that you have a copy of the floorplans. Are they available elsewhere? I'd like to display them on the bigscreen but your app is the only place I've seen them.

We were asked not to distribute them I don't see why not but I would suggest you ask the PAX staff directly.

Warblade

The only thing I was sad about with this app is that you needed iOS4 in order to have the alerts. =( My old 1st Gen iPod Touch can't even handle iOS4.

Firestorm88

Gundabad wrote: »

That's awesome that you have a copy of the floorplans. Are they available elsewhere? I'd like to display them on the bigscreen but your app is the only place I've seen them.

http://www.paxsite.com/paxprime/expohallmap.pdf

nickswar

Thanks for mentioning my app! the Conventionist looks great, can't wait to see the android version!

Pascual

The app crashes for me when I hit the download guides button

mentok1982

I submitted a 5 star review for this app yesterday and made two suggestions but it does not look like my review posted.

My suggestions are:
1. Allow users to create their own entries on their schedule so that they can add meals and community events.
2. When a user clicks on an exhibitor, allow them to post a note. I would use this to list the games that are at their booth.

robp85

Wow, Proxima, thanks for the great app.

I agree with the suggestions above and wanted to add one more of my own, I would like a landscape mode. But that can be added in a future update (or maybe I'm missing it...).

Once again, great app! I'm going to utilize this bad boy during my convention escapades!

Proxima

Pascual wrote: »

The app crashes for me when I hit the download guides button

We have been really trying to replicate this and can't seem to get it to happen are you on a jailbroken phone?

Everyone else: thanks! We have some great suggestions for the next version, and we have a bunch of ideas of our own that we think are going to be pretty swanky.

Help us spread the word if you think its useful!

P.S., just noticed we have a little friendly competition! :-)

Ghazgkull

Nice app. Landscape mode would be my #1 request.

videobobbo

I downloaded this when I saw it pop up looking at convention apps. The layout is slick and I like the full map viewer, very nice.

Is there a way to get this to push the schedule you build in the app to your calendar? The alerts seem like they will help, but it would be nice to be able to use the calendar so you can add it to get a comprehensive view of your plans. It would also be nice if the app would let you add custom events for things that aren't a formal part of the convention, like the Triwizard Tournament and the various parties going on.

Otherwise, it's really nice.

Proxima

Pretty much all those features are slated for v2. We had to rush a bit to get it out in time for pax so some things had to be de-scoped

Proxima

Just a reminder guys: we are making some schedule updates to the guide tonight, so make sure to re-download it tomorrow morning before the show!

Working hard on getting the Android version out tonight....will keep you posted

trickycoolj

In the future I would certainly love a grid view or ability to export to my internal calendar. I'm super visual so it helps to see where the holes are in my schedule.

vonWolfehaus

Really looking forward to this app for Android!

I played with it on my friends' iPhone and was dismayed by how difficult it was to switch maps. A natural interface would just be a ZUI that allowed us to zoom in and out of each map (with new maps automatically loading if there's a higher res available).

If it's in a building (as most cons are) then show a layered form with labels. This way we aren't forced into a linear pattern to navigate a nonlinear structure (ie maps).

Just some thoughts that I hope will help. If you implement a ZUI then I will gladly pay $2 for the app!

Proxima

vonWolfehaus wrote: »

Really looking forward to this app for Android!

I played with it on my friends' iPhone and was dismayed by how difficult it was to switch maps. A natural interface would just be a ZUI that allowed us to zoom in and out of each map (with new maps automatically loading if there's a higher res available).

If it's in a building (as most cons are) then show a layered form with labels. This way we aren't forced into a linear pattern to navigate a nonlinear structure (ie maps).

Just some thoughts that I hope will help. If you implement a ZUI then I will gladly pay $2 for the app!

Some good ideas, however we're forced to use the maps provided by the convention. You know you can zoom in out by pinching, right? Anyway, its a process and maps is still definitely in it's infancy.

Hope the app works out well for everyone today! We've been getting some great response.

kube00

Nice app, this will come in handy

Kwood

Just wanted to thank everyone for the awesome feedback. We've seen a lot of people using Conventionist at PAX (and even talked to a few of you!). Thanks to you guys we have a boatload of great ideas to continue to add value to the app. We'll be busy for a while.

Have a great last day at PAX! We'll be covering more upcoming cons in the very near future so stay tuned if you're an avid "Conventionist"

Kevin Wood
VP Development @ Proxima Labs