Any word on new Android version of Sky Safari?

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Shano592

I doubt it would be a full download for each update ... only the base apk.

Wouldn't be more than 30MB or so.

The Android version makes the app and the data two separate downloads. For iOS it is one, so every fix of Pro is another ~1GB download.

[MortonH]

I'm pretty happy with the new version. Some of the animations (e.g. zooming) seem to tax my Galaxy Tab 3 a bit, though!

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Bought it about an hour ago.

Thought I might as well get the Pro version since it's half price!

Pretty good, wish there was an upgrade option to owners of the previous version to get some sort of discount.

Thanks for the heads up!

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by 04Stefan07

Bought it about an hour ago.

Thought I might as well get the Pro version since it's half price!

Pretty good, wish there was an upgrade option to owners of the previous version to get some sort of discount.

Thanks for the heads up!

Neither the Apple nor Google stores have any way to offer upgrade prices. Half price for everyone until April 21 seems a reasonable compromise.

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

Neither the Apple nor Google stores have any way to offer upgrade prices. Half price for everyone until April 21 seems a reasonable compromise.

Of course they do, Google sends out version upgrades when they are released so they know exactly who has what. It would be very simple for them. But these guys are the new owners so maybe they don't care about upgraders on the old software - its a good way to get eveyone on their code and phase out the old version.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by glend

Of course they do, Google sends out version upgrades when they are released so they know exactly who has what. It would be very simple for them. But these guys are the new owners so maybe they don't care about upgraders on the old software - its a good way to get eveyone on their code and phase out the old version.

You might not care if programmers can afford food, clothing, transport and housing, but having been one for close to 40 years I found those necessary.
Upgrades are free if the author says the new release is to be made available as a free upgrade for an existing licensed version. Apple and Google have the very similar rules.
SS4 is not an upgrade of SS3 (iOS) or SS1.8.5 (Android). It is a new version.
There is no immediate plan to remove SS3 for iOS because that is the last version that will run on iOS 5. There will be no further work done on SS3.
IIRC Southern Stars was bought by Simulation Curriculum after SS4 for iOS was released.

[Shano592 (Shane)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

For iOS it is one, so every fix of Pro is another ~1GB download.

Glad I'm not a fanboi then!

It seems to be a really nice update. I note that the Android version is already 4.0.1.

If Simulation Curriculum keep updating as necessary, then I don't mind large updates ... that's what unlimited broadband is for!

Also, I was wondering what SC were up to. Starry Night has been dormant for a while.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Shano592

Also, I was wondering what SC were up to. Starry Night has been dormant for a while.

SN7 is in beta testing

[Shano592 (Shane)]

Right, cool!

The only problem now, is that I have everything running off the Android, there may be no need for me to look that way.

Mind you, seeing the night sky on a 17" laptop screen beats a 10.1" screen any day of the week.

Still, this Android offering is very nice, and well worth the money that I dropped on it.

[julianh72 (Julian)]

Originally Posted by Shano592

Right, cool!

Mind you, seeing the night sky on a 17" laptop screen beats a 10.1" screen any day of the week.

I dunno - for controlling your telescope out in the field, I think using something like Sky Safari 4 Plus / Pro on an Android phone or tablet (or an iPhone or iPad), with a Bluetooth or WiFi controller to your telescope, beats lugging around a full-blown laptop / notebook!

[Shano592 (Shane)]

It certainly makes things quicker to setup!

Is there a way to set up a sky tour in SS4? Because that would be great for introducing newcomers to sights and wonders in the heavens.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Shano592

It certainly makes things quicker to setup!

Is there a way to set up a sky tour in SS4? Because that would be great for introducing newcomers to sights and wonders in the heavens.

You could make up an observing list. There are quite a few examples in the Y! Southern Stars files section, but most NH centric. Whether thy will import directly into the Android version I don't know.
I'll attach the Texas Star Party's skylist archive. (The version on their web site is not compatible with SS4.) Many of the objects are visible this far south.

[Shano592 (Shane)]

Hi Andrew.

Yes, I transferred my list from 1.8.5 to 4.0.1.

What I was suggesting was an actual tour, where you just Press NEXT onscreen, to go to the next item on the list.

I notice that the new version shows everything in my list as a blue circle on the map of the sky, so I can just click on it and goto. I was just thinking of something more orderly, for sidewalk astronomy, or an intro to newcomers.

[julianh72 (Julian)]

Originally Posted by Shano592

It certainly makes things quicker to setup!

Is there a way to set up a sky tour in SS4? Because that would be great for introducing newcomers to sights and wonders in the heavens.

Create an "Observing List" of objects that you wish to see, and add as many targets as you want. On the observing night, hook up your Bluetooth / WiFi controller and connect to your tablet / phone, open the chosen Observing List, and then "GoTo" each item in turn.

I don't think there is the equivalent of a single "Next Target" button (nice idea - why not suggest it to the developers?), but the actual keystroke tap sequence (after you have connected to your telescope) is pretty simple:

1. "Search"
2. Choose Observing List
3. Choose next target
4. "Show Info"
5. "GoTo" (app changes to Sky View, and telescope should slew to the target)
6. "Info" (takes you back a screen so you can read about it on your device)
7. Repeat Steps 1. to 6. (Yes, a single "Next Target" button on the Sky View screen would be nice!)

You can also edit and share Observing Lists with other users, by emailing them, and then you can copy observing lists into or out of the SkySafari/Observing Lists folder on the root level of your SD card - see Item 20 on this FAQ link:
http://www.southernstars.com/support...i_android.html

Magic!

[julianh72 (Julian)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

You could make up an observing list. There are quite a few examples in the Y! Southern Stars files section, but most NH centric. Whether thy will import directly into the Android version I don't know.
I'll attach the Texas Star Party's skylist archive. (The version on their web site is not compatible with SS4.) Many of the objects are visible this far south.

The Observing Lists you posted seem to be 100% compatible with the Android version 4.0.1.

[pmrid (Peter)]

I downloaded it onto my 7" Tablet, got it set up the way I like it and then dropped the tablet face-down on the floor, smashing the glass and of course, rendering the darned thing useless. That lasted all of 20 minutes. Wow that was quick. I wonder if I can load it onto another Tablet.
Peter

[julianh72 (Julian)]

Originally Posted by pmrid

I wonder if I can load it onto another Tablet.

Bad luck with your tablet!

The good news is that you will be able to re-install it onto any Android phone or tablet which you can log into with your Google account. E.g. I have SkySafari 4 Plus installed on both my Nexus 4 phone, and my Nexus 7 tablet, with only a single purchase required. (Google app purchases are tied to your account, rather than to the device, and I think iOS purchases work similarly, but you can't transfer an Android purchase to an iOS device, or vice versa.)

If you suffer from "butter-fingers syndrome" (it can happen to anyone, especially at night, in cold weather, etc), you might consider buying a cheap Android tablet for outdoors use at night with your telescope, and keep your good phone / tablet safe and sound indoors - you'll be able to load SkySafari onto both devices.

(If you have a compatible GoTo telescope, you might also want to look at getting a Bluetooth telescope controller, so you can drive your scope from SkySafari on your tablet. )

[julianh72 (Julian)]

Originally Posted by julianh72

I don't think there is the equivalent of a single "Next Target" button (nice idea - why not suggest it to the developers?)

I took my own advice, and sent an email to the developers suggesting exactly this!

They just responded:

Bill Tschumy, Mar 26 11:11:
Julian, thanks for the suggestion. A few others have made the same request. We will consider how to work this into a future release.

Bill Tschumy
SkySafari Developer

Maybe if a few more people make the same suggestion, we might see it in a future version?

[Shano592 (Shane)]

That would certainly be a great fixture.

[Amaranthus (Barry)]

If you create an Observing List for your tour, and then select 'highlight objects' for that list, it will show up as an icon above your telescope control in the main planetarium screen (it looks like a little notepad). Click on this and it will instantly bring up your list. Then you can just select the next object, hit 'goto', and you basically get what you wanted.