Android App

We would love to be able to support Android users with Map Pilot but Android apps do not financially support themselves the way iOS apps do. We would have to hire an entirely new team of engineers.

You can use one of the many free and capable Android apps that are available out there to collect data. You do not have to use our iOS only app to collect data to use Maps Made Easy. 

There are no plans for an Android version of the Map Pilot applications. 

Hi Zane: Thanks for the fast response. This logic seems odd to me given how ubiquitous android is. I hope this decision is re-evaluated in the near future.

In the interim what are some of the "free and capable" Android apps that you recommend. Thanks

It'd be even better if Map Pilot would run on a CrystalSky monitor!

As far as third party mapping apps, unfortunately, I find Map Pilot the best.:-). I was holding off on buying a CS, but looks like an Android version of MP is not in the near future.

Thanks for the recommendation. I will try Map Pilot. We went with a competitor mapping platform as a result

As far as Maps Made Easy is concerned, it does not matter how you collect your data as long as it conforms to our Data Collection guidelines. It doesn't matter what app is used. The only reason we created Map Pilot, which was the first full featured app made available for mapping, was to have something to point to in helping people collect proper data. Before that, it was nearly impossible for the average user to do so. We are glad there are lots of apps and options out there to help people. 

I understand that the "mission control" portion of the process is not you main focus and there is a lot of competition in that space ATM; however I feel it is a shame you are using "financial" data as a reason to exclude android OS from your product development as there are several devices outside the "phone" and "tablet" to use that improve the safety and easy of use when flying a drone, such as the Crystal Sky and Epson's BT-300 glasses, the latter of which I have personal experience with and is an incredible tool functioning like a heads-up display... iOS hardware will likely always be stifled by their close system, yet Android will unfortunately be stifled by an assumption that it isn't fiscally viable. 

Considering the app cost $50 when the rest are free. I don't understand how its not financially viable. Especially since it would only cost $10,000 to build said app. Plus it shouldn't matter how much it cost to get the app on android. You should want to service your customers to the best of your ability. I bet if you made the android version you would be able to make profit from all the downloads. From smart phones to the smart controllers/CSM you will sell plenty $50 apps. 200 and you have ROI. Please elaborate if I'm incorrect? 

Tyler: You forgot about 2 zeros on your price for how much it would take to make the app... 

Sounds like you need to look for a new software developing company. There is no reason taking an ios app and making an android app should cost $1,000,000. If you would like I can find you a company that would love to develop that app for way less. You can then give me a large sum for brokering the deal.

I would be on board with an Android app.  I do not run any iOS devices and never plan to.  Would be great to run Map Pilot on a CrystalSky or other Android device.

Hi Zane, can you please list a couple Android apps that you're referring to in your posts?  I don't have an iOS device and would like to try MapsMadeEasy.  Thanks. 

We like DroneLink right now. It is a pretty cool system and is Android compatible. 

Tyler: You are on! We will give you $25,000, heck make if $50,000, after you deliver us a fully functional and equivalent app. This is not a joke. It sounds like you have some great leads and a great understanding of what is involved! 

Ok fine then I can never ever you your app on a smart controller.

It's not difficult just to buy an iPad, not expensive these days. It is more important to have reliable software with great features, like Map Pilot.

Kim,

I have several Ipads and an Iphone,

I guess you don't know what a smart controller is. It only runs Android, no options to that. It's an amazing device. For one thing it has a super bright Crystal display - 2x as bright as a mobile device. It's also nice to have a self contained controller. One less thing to remember to charge, one less cable to hook up. Not to mention the amazing camera in the mavic 2 pro.

Also there are plenty of other great software titles to do this job.

They were nice enough to give me a full refund too.

In this case I think Zane is just plain wrong about an Android app that supports DJI not being worth it. There are already 6 figures sold of the DJI smart controller. If only a small fraction of them purchased the app, it would pay for itself.I think they are missing out big time.

Don't be surprised if they change their mind on that call.

This is very much a case of us preferring to do one thing well than two things poorly.

Offering an Android app would require 2-3 extra software engineering salaries. Look those up. That is called our 'cost'. Not cheap.

Then we make an estimate based on industry standard numbers for the split on Android vs Apple devices and their potential income. That number is called our 'revenue'.

Business 101: If that 'revenue' is less than our 'cost', we lose money. With the limited size of the drone market, the costs are FAR less than the revenues, even with our iOS app. Why would we double down on that and offer it in Android?

Here is some light reading on why we don't offer it in Android:

https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/16/apples-app-store-revenue-nearly-double-that-of-google-play-in-first-half-of-2018/

https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/11/app-store-generated-93-more-revenue-than-google-play-in-q3/

https://www.cultofmac.com/601492/app-store-google-play-revenue-2018/

https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/06/03/a-foolish-take-apples-app-store-still-makes-more-m.aspx

Focusing on a smaller section of the market for more money just makes sense. For lots of developers, not just us. 

This doesn't take into account the increased support costs (for less money), increased testing costs for fragmented device formats, or uniformity of testing and deployment. 

We opt to provide a quality product for a smaller segment of the market that has more uniform set of hardware and actually pays for software. Call us crazy.

Ok "You may be crazy"

If you were talking about yet another flashlight app, I would agree.

None of the links apply to this case. This is a special captive market. If someone spends 3.5K ++ on a drone with the dji smart controller they are not going to bat an eyelash at the cost of your product if meets there needs better than other products.

BTW All new serious drones from DJI will work with Smart Controller.

I'm not talking about a 12 yo with a 499 Mavic mini - I am talking about enterprise customers. One big contract could net you millions. I am talking about Focusing on a smaller section of the market for MORE money.

Also, you don't need to hire more engineers - there are companies that will do the grunt work (UI, config, install etc) and then you add the DJI SDK parts, since you already have expertise there. Any IOS engineer can do the Android parts pretty easy. A well architected design could be quite reasonable. Reuse your IP across two products

And with this one you can totally bypass the Play Store and it's issues. On Smart Controller there is no app store, all apps are side loaded.

Many of your competitors have seen the light and offer Android versions.

The real question is how many Smart Controllers are out there and what percentage could you snag. Over time this will grow.

Hear me now believe me later.

Hi Zane - thanks for the thoughtful replies.  At the end of the day, your company gets to choose what it makes.  While I would LOVE for you to make Map Pilot work on the DJI Smart Controller, you have explained the business rationale why you are choosing not to.  Arguing with you about that is silly, IMO.

You suggested DroneLink as a good option for DJI Mavic 2 Pro with Smart Controller.  The DJI app has the waypoint function, but it doesn't work in any "yellow" restricted area....even though 90% of those areas are not really restricted geo zones.  The drone will fly fine manually, but the DJI Go app won't allow waypoints in these areas.  (DJI support confirms this.)  Do you happen to know if the DroneLink app will allow for waypoints to be utilized in these areas?  

Tx for any advice.

Mike

Mike: It might since I don't think they are using waypoints. They use the Virtual RC mode which is essentially the app flying the aircraft via virtual sticks. Not sure if that is allowed in those areas or not though. I am sure they could provide more info on that. 

Mike,

FWIW Dronelink lets you put waypoints anywhere. (I just dropped some on the runway at my local airport).

Dronelink specifically supports smart controller.

Great! We are glad it worked out. 

Their waypoints are likely software waypoints that are executed by their virtual RC flight, not the waypoints we use which get programmed into the aircraft. There are pros and cons for both.

You do know that Apple is a dying OS... who the f!@k uses apple? 

"You do know that Apple is a dying OS... who the f!@k uses apple?"

I don't know about that, but I agree that ios is a royal PITA in many ways.

But, Apple devices seem to work better with dji gear, probably because of the way usb devices are handled would be my guess. But I'm no engineer.

Hi @Zane.

Not here to gripe but to help steer a great product. Since my NDA is no longer valid with Apple:

Apple devices are "Chromeless Web Browsers". Not secure, nor durable. If you want your company to have a viable commercial product used professionally or at the enterprise grade level, you must support Android.

Apple does not have a single enterprise grade, or rated, piece of hardware - why? Because the cat will be out of the bag to the BS they have been feeding the general public.  In other words, they cannot get an IP/MIL Spec rating w/o being transparent with their OS.  Their current hardware cannot be used in a commercial UAV environment: Ambient operating range of 45F to 94F is the biggest fall. iPads have to be bellow 84F before they will except a charge. Extremely fragile to give a false sense of "quality". Not Ideal in the real working world, enterprise - environment. These are facts and I recommend you guys start taking a survey from those who work in the industry. IP rated Android devices typically operate in the -40F to 172F range, have 3x the battery life and 6x the service life and not to mention all their other benefits having an actual "Enterprise" grade product - Meaning a real Professional/reliable product. Do your research!

As for hiring a new development department; sounds like you need a new one. It is a hoax that you hear that you need a separate dept to develop natively on both platforms. The only individuals that use iPad/OS devices are just that, individuals trying to get into the industry and don't know better. Apple is just a name - nothing more. You understand what I am saying?

A word of advice; I know of Apple's funding initiative - You need to stand up and say, "Hay!, this is actually costing us xyz". 

will DJI pilot app work with Your Mapping software?

Hi Chuck
it is highly discouraged to run any 2 control apps at the same time. No other control app " works" with Map pilot. Map pilot works with the firmware through an SDK on the drone. If a drone is supported by map pilot, you will need to use the IOS app with that craft.

How do I get rid of all the info that appears to be a drop down but I can't get it to drop up so I can use the screen