SJ Transit Lite v.2.0 app review, January 20, 2012
After using tranisit systems in such cities as New York, Washington DC, Portland, San Francisco, and Alameda County I was ready to trying an app I had seen on the App Store titled "SJ Transit Lite". Most apps contain some type of "Next Bus" GPS technology (Routesy, IC SF Lite, Transporter for San Francisco) that tells you when the next three busses are estimated to arrive (not the schedules but actual ETAs).
SJ Tranisit has no such technology. This is a transit (light rail and bus) app in the most basic sense. It basically contains timetables and the individual route maps. The app lists the complete line up of trains and busses which numbers close to 90 lines. Scrolling down that long list of routes can be a bit time consuming and mind boggling considering that the app crashes more than half the times it is opened.
Other transit apps have a bookmark feature so that you can mark you favorite stop or favorite line. Not so with this app. You have to scroll down long lists of routes just to pick yours. Also this app only uses the VTA's time tables incorporating the time stops. Time stops are only a few selected stops at the largest intersections. In other apps you can choose a favorite stop and it will show you the published time as well as the expected time for any stop along the way.
Part of the reason that the app is so lacking is that there really is no other competition out there and chances are that this will not change in the near future. In San Francisco there are at least three transit apps (some even with BART and Alameda Transit tacked on) providing enough completion between apps developers. So although this is all there is for VTA it is a true disappointment.
9/18/2011: An update is now available for this app stating that the developer has removed the ads and fixed the problem with frequent crashes. I tried the new version and can say that so far it looks like it's fixed. I still find it sad that he wants to hide other issues by having users email problems to him directly instead of highlighting them in the reviews.
Hi Carlos,
ReplyDeleteI am the developer of this app and I am sorry that you find the app not satisfactory. This app is a free substitute to the full app San Jose Transit(http://itunes.com/apps/sanjosetransit) which I revamped just recently with a lot of features you wont find in San Jose Transit Lite. If you want I can give you a promo code for San Jose Transit 2 which will allow you to install it for free. Email me at vashishthajogi[at]gmail[dot]com.
And I am not trying to hide the negative reviews by asking people to email me. People are free to put their reviews on the Appstore. The reason I am asking folks to email me is because this way I can atleast get back to them with a solution. On the appstore there is no way I can contact the folks back.
Hope you like the new San Jose Transit 2. Would love to get some feedback on that.
Jogi, I did update the review and yes it is much better. I have not experienced one crash in the two weeks I have used the new version. This is a great improvement.
ReplyDeleteHowever, with so many lines that I will never use, the list of routes is too long, it would be great to see a way to pull out my favorite routes.
Good work on the new version. I'll spread the word.
Carlos,
ReplyDeleteYes I made improvements to San Jose Transit Lite, but I also have a paid version of the app by the name San Jose Transit which has a lot of features which the free version does not have. If you get a chance take a look at that version. ITs much better.