New Android Phone App

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john roberts

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HowBig (you may have seen our logo appear at the top of the website) have developed an Android Phone App called Tree Names, it can be found on Google App Market by typing in treenames (all one word) into the app search engine. It is a very simple app so it is only 99p which translates to around $1.50 but very powerfull app. It has a list of well over 3000 (almost 3500) common names of trees and palms found in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Now. Once you have chosen a common name, Tree Names will tell you the latin name and you can then search for information on Google, Bing etc but also at Kew Gardens, Morton Arboretum and plantNET. If we don't have the tree species then (tell us and we will put it on) you can also type in the name. The serach engine is set up to be maximised towards tree species information and gives very precise hits on all search engines, so no searching through pages of useless info (we hope).

If you see a tree you like the look of then you can then choose from a list of nurseries and find out who has the tree on their stock lists. If you own a nursery and you are not on the list it is now free to have your nursery added, but you can also advertise on the app for a nominal fee of around $75. If you plant trees as part of your business you can advertise this on the app if you wish.

We have updates in the pipeline with more trees and we hope more nurseries so if you have suggestions please either post them here or email me [email protected]

If there are things you don't like about the app please tell us; we will either change them or explain why we can't.

In the end we are developers and we need you the users to tell us what wroks and what doesn't.

Thanks for your time and we hope you enjoy the app.

There are versions for iPhone, Blackberry and Windows7 phone comming out soon

John Roberts
 
The app has had its first update.


The app now has a trees or palms choice via two radio buttons,this cuts down the number of trees in each catagory. Now when you have found a grower that has the species you want, you can now send an email to them.

Comments are welcome as always.

Regards

John Roberts
 
Just had two e-mails on this subject so for clarification, it is absolutely free to have your tree nursery listed on the app, and it doesn't matter if you are a small specialist supplier if you want to be listed email me [email protected] and we will be put you on the app.

The $75 charge is only if you wnat to advertise on the app, we are working on a listing service so if you want to put some brief details about your nursery/farm on the app you will be able to.
 
Not being one to knock an AS sponsor and all,
but if I'm understanding correctly and your app returns a latin name from a common name, and then you have to fireup your web browser and type that name into google... why not just type the common name into google in the first place?

Shaun
 
There are a number of reasons,

The first is speed and ease. If you out in the field with cold fingers typing Shiny-leaved Stinging Tree might take you some time. Also if you want to switch search engines you probably need to type it in again or at least remember to cut and paste. If you are looking at more than one tree then that could be a lot of typing.

Second is choice, you don't have to remeber all the common names and could try out some more you didn't know already.

Third is training, it is a useful tool for students to test their knowlegde, I am not sure what the requirement is in the US but most courses in the UK require that you know the latin names of at least 50 common trees.

Fourth is forward planning, why did you want to search for the tree, most people because they want to buy one, so you don't have to type the name in again for the tree-nursey/farm search it is also already there.

Last is accuracy, type in the search phrase 'Georgia Oak' or even better 'Sycamore' (different in the UK and US) Ironwood is another one, these are extremes but you will get the idea.

Apps are supposed to be simple programs that make your life a bit easier. The processes in all apps can be done manually, it is just that the app makes it easier. FOr the same reasons I have an app on my phone that is a calculator, I can do all the sums in my head, but the calculator is a bit quicker (and these days more accurate).
 
We are looking at where we take the Tree Apps and have created a beta version of a tree surveying system for the Android Phone.

The app has been posted on Google Market under the name Cloud1 Survey it probably wont appear for a while yet but if it does I will post back.

IT IS A BETA VERSION DO NOT EXPECT BELLS AND WHISTLES AT THIS STAGE

Just thought I would point this out.

It is free at the moment, we may have to charge a nominal fee in the future. The aim is to add all the other tools we are developing on to it so you have a tree work tool box.

With regards to Cloud1 users we are looking into avoiding charging Cloud1 users but we need to look at support costs so no promises and ultimately it is not up to me but I am certainly behind not charging Cloud1 users.

What it does at the moment is creates a map with labled points and a text file of tree data, so species, height, dbh etc that can be e-mailed, this means you can save it on your phone realy easily and send it realy easily. We have the capability to save the text file direct to SD but thought this was novel and wondered how people would take to it?

There will be an update to Cloud1, not to the DEMO version though at this stage that will read the text file and create records including a google earth map of the points.

That's about it give it a go and feed back.

Regards

John
 
Just a suggestion for an tree app that would be more useful for me. I do a lot of work on large multi family properties (HOA, strata title, townhouse complex - whatever name they are called in your area). Often I'm asked to walk the property, look at every tree and make prescription recommendations. Right now, I have to write it on paper and then type into the computer later. If I could enter it in my phone and then link it to a spreadsheet I would save several hours.

I know there are dedicated data collectors and you could probably write a program for a tablet, but at this point all I have access to is an android phone.

Info collected would include, species, location, defects noted, size and recommendation.
 
Go on to Google Market and search Cloud1 or Cloud1 Survey . This should bring up the beta version of the app. you need try it out and then email. me. [email protected]. and we will be able to help Regards John
BC WetCoast said:
Just a suggestion for an tree app that would be more useful for me. I do a lot of work on large multi family properties (HOA, strata title, townhouse complex - whatever name they are called in your area). Often I'm asked to walk the property, look at every tree and make prescription recommendations. Right now, I have to write it on paper and then type into the computer later. If I could enter it in my phone and then link it to a spreadsheet I would save several hours.

I know there are dedicated data collectors and you could probably write a program for a tablet, but at this point all I have access to is an android phone.

Info collected would include, species, location, defects noted, size and recommendation.
Click to expand...
 
Your wish is our command, you now have a text box as well as the drop down list to get a tree name. We have added a simple tool for Client Data Management. Please keep your comments coming and tell others about it. The latest update 1.3.2 was just posted so should be available sometime between now and tomorrow morning UK time

Regards

John
 
The next update will have a company listing where we will be able to list arboricultural services. We will divided it by Country with each company having details and a directions button to take you from your location to them etc. We are also going to add some more US and AUS trees. We are looking at loading the points back into the phone from the text file but this might be in the update after the next one. You can now load the text file into Cloud1 for windows and create a .kml file to load into Google Earth.

This is the url to the app

https://market.android.com/details?...=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsInVrLmNvLmhvd2JpZy50ZXN0MiJd


Regards John
 
**Special Offer**

The update of Cloud1 for windows has been issued it will now import the Cloud1 for Android file and converts it to a .kml file which you can open in Google Earth. SO check our website for details

**Special Offer**
Buy Cloud1 for windows in February and get a years free advertising on our website and ALL our apps.

For details e-mail [email protected]

Regards

John Roberts
 
In addition to the other offers we have running in February we are offering Arborsite Members Cloud1 Light for windows which runs along side the android app for £60. The latest update of the Android app has been uploaded so will be available some time soon on Android Market. It now has a slimmed down version of the Client Manager that is in Clod1 and Cloud1 Light and more tree species to choose from.

Regards

John
 
The latest update has been posted on Google Market, the bug has hopefully been fixed. There is a simple clinometer in the mapping part. No insructions just yet but see how you get on with it as is, and if it seems to work we will improve on it.

Regards

John
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some basic instructions on how to use the clinometer on the Android App. Hold your phone out at arms length with the screen towards you. Close one eye and line up the arrow with the base of the tree. Click the but to record the angle. Keep your arm out and move the camera up to the top of the and line up the arrow again and click the button to record the angle at the top of the tree. Enter the distance of you to the top of the tree, the more accurate this is the more accurate the outcome.

I (who is not very good at these things) got a figure with about 5% accuracy so a 2 m height was plus or minus 5cm out. When I used paces rather that measuring I got around 5% accuracy. So a 20 m height would be plus or minus 125 cm, is this accurate enough for a tree?

Feedback would be good then we can progress this.

Regards

John
 

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