I am pleased to announce the release of Version 2.0 of the world’s first DeLorean Mobile Application:
As I mentioned in my earlier post about the release of Version 1, this new build has a number of upgrades and increased capability. I’ll describe the changes and enhancements below:
First off and most visually notable, the application now has a starting menu. From here, all activities are available:
activity_home.jpg
Button Actions:
Screenshot_dod20_Button_1.jpg
1. The first option selection of this new starting menu gets you all of the capability from the Version 1.0 build.
a. Specifically, you can lookup any DeLorean if you have the last 5 digits of the VIN. Basic information is displayed, similar to what is available from the common DeLorean Registry at
www.txdmc.org.
b. Additionally, if you are a member of the DeLorean Owners Directory (DOD), you can lookup contact information (e.g. name, phone number, email address)*, as well as the contact preferences of the owner of a particular VIN. This is information that the owner provided when he or she signed up to be a member of the Directory.
An enhancement to these two features is the display of any images you might have sent in of your specific DeLorean. Are you proud of your DeLorean and want to see if you’ve already sent me something? Try inputting your own VIN (last 5 digits), and see if your photos are there.
Screenshot_dod20_Button_2.jpg
2. The second option is a DeLorean Directory search, but instead of having to know the 5 digit VIN of the person/car you are searching for, you can search for members by Country, State (if US), and City. Or you can simply search globally by last name. Searches within the United States is by US state/possession/territory/district and is separated from searches in all other counties, simply because of the over whelming number of cars in the US.
As with the DOD lookup above by VIN, you must provide your own VIN and Password in order to
gain access to the Directory (this is the same safety feature built into the Directory when you signed
up online at www.DeLoreanOwnersDirectory.net).
Effectively, this Button #2 eliminates the need to carry around with you the printed .PDF version of the DeLorean Owners Directory (some 62 pages). But if you’re someone who really likes the printed version, don’t despair just yet. I will continue to produce the printed version of the Directory at least a few more times (typically 2-3 times per year, depending on numbers of updates received), before this Mobile App replaces it completely.
(graphic of DOD publication cover)
And of course, a side benefit is that new entries into the Directory, and changes/updates to existing entries, are instantaneously available**, rather than having to wait for the biannually printed .PDF publication to be produced and uploaded to the DOD site.
Screenshot_dod20_Button_3.jpg
3. The third option displays last reported global count locations of whereabouts of all known DeLoreans, by Country and by US state, as well as some miscellaneous interesting number facts. This is available on the Texas club site, and this is a subset of that. How many DeLoreans are last reported in your state or country?
So when that wise-guy at a car show or street meet is arguing with you about how many DeLoreans were built, and what model years, just whip out your trusty cell phone with this DeLorean App on it, hit Global Statistics, and prove him wrong instantaneously right there on site!
Screenshot_dod20_Button_4.jpg
4. The forth option is for direct VIN-to-VIN messaging. Found a DeLorean out in the wild (or at a car show or street meet) and the owner isn’t standing by the car? Obtain the VIN from the car, and send a message directly to the owner***. Carry on a conversation with any member of the Directory world wide.
If the intended target VIN owner of your message is not currently a member of the Directory, that’s ok, because he or she can still obtain the messages you send to them. Once they sign up as a member, all the messages will be there waiting****.
Screenshot_dod20_Button_5.jpg
5. The final option is for sending car updates (and/or simple messages) directly to the database administrator for updates to the Registry. See a car out in the wild, and don’t want to wait till you get home to send in an update on DMCtalk? Use this feature to send an immediate update. Yes, you still need to enter your VIN & Password (and thus, be a member of the Directory), as this means that you are already vetted and validated, and are a reliable source for input, rather than just anyone off the street. Please, go ahead and send your updates via this method, if you’d like. Allow a short time for me to apply the update before it is reflected in the database.
In addition to DeLorean VIN updates, you can also send in comments, bug reports, suggestions, or whatever. Thank you in advance for any updates you might care to provide.
* Provide your own VIN and Password in order to search for other members of the Directory.
** For new entries, allow a short time for your entry to be accepted and status changed from Pending to Active.
*** Both message sender and receiver must be members of the Directory, so that VIN existing Directory password protection can be utilized.
**** Messages older than 1 year are archived, or when capacity exceeds 1000 messages per VIN.
The new DeLorean Mobile App is for Android phone users. You can get it from the Play Store – Search for “DeLoreans”. It is offered by the Texas DeLorean Club free of charge and without advertisements. Thank you for downloading and using this new, enhanced version of the DeLorean Mobile App. It has been a pleasure developing and working on it.
BusCard_DOD.jpg ... BusCard_TxDMC.jpg
Instructions for downloading from the Play Store onto Android phones:
1. Bring up the Play Store App
2. On the Search input, enter “DeLoreans” (include quotes, be sure to include the “s” and the end of DeLorean.
3. Scroll down until you find “DeLorean – Citizenkidd – Auto & Vehicles”
4. Select and then click “Install”, then click “Open”
I hope you enjoy the new Mobile App.
Thomas
…