New smartphone app-TruckerPath

Skydivedavec · Feb 22, 2015

GreenMonster9669 said: ↑

The app has been updated to show parking spots other than truck stops and rest areas.

For those interested in what information they give up when using this app, here is the permissions list:

Version 1.59.0 can access:
Identity

find accounts on the device

Location

approximate location (network-based)

precise location (GPS and network-based)

Phone

directly call phone numbers

Photos/Media/Files

modify or delete the contents of your USB storage

read the contents of your USB storage

Other

receive data from Internet

full network access

view network connections

read Google service configuration

prevent device from sleeping

run at startup

control vibration

Click to expand...

Most apps have access to all of these things. Disturbing, I agree, but what are you going to do, not use apps that can access private areas of your smartphone? I tend to use and trust (at least minimally) apps from Google Play but I don't download apps from other sources, ever.

GreenMonster9669 · Feb 22, 2015

Skydivedavec said: ↑

Most apps have access to all of these things. Disturbing, I agree, but what are you going to do, not use apps that can access private areas of your smartphone? I tend to use and trust (at least minimally) apps from Google Play but I don't download apps from other sources, ever.
Click to expand...

I agree. The app would be pretty worthless if it couldn't figure out where you were, let you call a phone number or store a file. It's worth it, to me anyway, to know if scales are open and get driver input on that truck stop/rest area I'm thinking of parking at.

88 Alpha · Feb 24, 2015

GreenMonster9669 said: ↑

<snip> Heres the good part. If you have the app open and you get within a mile of a scale it will ask you whether its open or closed and it will be reflected on the map.. <unsnip>
Click to expand...

Let me see if I understand it. You have to get within a mile of a scale before it asks you if the scale is open or closed. You then input your answer (whether or not you give a truthful answer is an entirely different debate). Then it updates it on the map. If the scale is closed, do you pull in or stop just past the scale exit to update the app? What about those of us with Pre-Pass? Even though we get the green light on an open scale, do you still pull over to update the scale is open? It is highly unlikely you will stop just to update an app. If you update the app, you will, more often than not, do it just after you get out of sight of the scale house, while continuing to drive. Does the app allow you to input your answer verbally?

With the great push to stop texting while driving, surfing the internet while driving, talking while driving, maybe even driving while driving, this app encourages entering information while driving (or have someone riding with you updating the open/closed status).

DmitryN · Feb 24, 2015

I'm CTO of Trucker Path and further to someone already posted our privacy policy I'd like to mention that all those permissions for Android app are required by platform. In app we use only 1) your location for the purpose of notification if WSs are open of closed as well as to ask you to put the status of it and 2) ability to make phone calls and invite your friends to the app which happens only when you choose to do so.

We don't use any of your private data for any other purposes, nor do we sell your data to advertisers or the devil himself, otherwise you can at least expect it to be mentioned in our privacy policy. Unfortunately Android platform for doing even the simplest operations requires tons of permissions, many of them are not at all relevant to our app like access to your photos. We don't use any photos in our app but to make it work this permission is required. If you compare it to our iPhone app you well be able to see that the only permission required on iPhone is location, that's the reason iPhone is my personal choice when in comes to concerns about my private data.

Thanks for using our app and we hope at some day make this not only information app but US-wide community of truck-drivers.

Cetane+ · Feb 28, 2015

DmitryN said: ↑

I'm CTO of Trucker Path and further to someone already posted our privacy policy I'd like to mention that all those permissions for Android app are required by platform. In app we use only 1) your location for the purpose of notification if WSs are open of closed as well as to ask you to put the status of it and 2) ability to make phone calls and invite your friends to the app which happens only when you choose to do so.

We don't use any of your private data for any other purposes, nor do we sell your data to advertisers or the devil himself, otherwise you can at least expect it to be mentioned in our privacy policy. Unfortunately Android platform for doing even the simplest operations requires tons of permissions, many of them are not at all relevant to our app like access to your photos. We don't use any photos in our app but to make it work this permission is required. If you compare it to our iPhone app you well be able to see that the only permission required on iPhone is location, that's the reason iPhone is my personal choice when in comes to concerns about my private data.

Thanks for using our app and we hope at some day make this not only information app but US-wide community of truck-drivers.
Click to expand...

From my experience, you seem to be on the right track. It works well. Keep coding.

GreenMonster9669 · Mar 1, 2015

88 Alpha said: ↑

Let me see if I understand it. You have to get within a mile of a scale before it asks you if the scale is open or closed. You then input your answer (whether or not you give a truthful answer is an entirely different debate). Then it updates it on the map. If the scale is closed, do you pull in or stop just past the scale exit to update the app? What about those of us with Pre-Pass? Even though we get the green light on an open scale, do you still pull over to update the scale is open? It is highly unlikely you will stop just to update an app. If you update the app, you will, more often than not, do it just after you get out of sight of the scale house, while continuing to drive. Does the app allow you to input your answer verbally?

With the great push to stop texting while driving, surfing the internet while driving, talking while driving, maybe even driving while driving, this app encourages entering information while driving (or have someone riding with you updating the open/closed status).
Click to expand...

A box appears on your screen with a green button (open) and a red button (closed). You press the applicable one. It's no more of a distraction than flashing your lights unless, I suppose, you're color blind. And of course you always have the choice of ignoring it all together.

xsetra · Mar 1, 2015

Or changing a station on your radio. Great app.

lmcclure1220 · Mar 1, 2015

DmitryN said: ↑

I'm CTO of Trucker Path and further to someone already posted our privacy policy I'd like to mention that all those permissions for Android app are required by platform. In app we use only 1) your location for the purpose of notification if WSs are open of closed as well as to ask you to put the status of it and 2) ability to make phone calls and invite your friends to the app which happens only when you choose to do so.

We don't use any of your private data for any other purposes, nor do we sell your data to advertisers or the devil himself, otherwise you can at least expect it to be mentioned in our privacy policy. Unfortunately Android platform for doing even the simplest operations requires tons of permissions, many of them are not at all relevant to our app like access to your photos. We don't use any photos in our app but to make it work this permission is required. If you compare it to our iPhone app you well be able to see that the only permission required on iPhone is location, that's the reason iPhone is my personal choice when in comes to concerns about my private data.

Thanks for using our app and we hope at some day make this not only information app but US-wide community of truck-drivers.
Click to expand...

Can you swear that Google isn't tracking the app on their maps?

LBZ · Mar 4, 2015

lmcclure1220 said: ↑

Can you swear that Google isn't tracking the app on their maps?
Click to expand...

How can he speak for Google? He is, from my understanding an app developer & 99% of those guys do NOT work for Google.

Chewbongka · Mar 4, 2015

Skydivedavec said: ↑

Another nice feature would be a button that centers your position on the map. The little blue dot for current position is sometimes hard to find.
Click to expand...

If you go to Settings>Privacy> Location Services you can scroll down to the app and choose to allow access to your location "While using the App" "Always" or "Never". The little blue dot will show your location with the first two options.

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