On-Line/Web-Based Angler's Genie

[Genie]

All,
I'm trying to do some market research on making The Angler's Genie an even better system.  I've asked Dan and he thought asking all of you might be a good place to start. 

Right now the system installs on a computer only.  This is great if you are an angler with a laptop or are good with your discipline to enter your information when you return home to your pc.  Could make it tougher for people to be disciplined otherwise.

I'm trying to determine if it would be worthwhile to create an on-line or web-based version of The Angler's Genie.  The system would have all the same great features as the computer based version.  The only difference would be that you could access your information from anywhere there is an Internet connection.  There would be no need to have to take your laptop with you and everything would be private so only you would have access to your precious information.

Please take a moment and let me know what you think by voting.

Thank you all for your time.

-Genie

[Berkley]

 I think it would be awesome to be able to acess the Genie at work!

[motocross269]

Yes I would think it would be great..What I think would be the hot setup is to have the software on my laptop...I load whatever Data that I have for that day (onto the laptop) and then when I hook into the internet it would automatically update my information in the server(genie online system) and also visa versa...Kind of like I tunes does with the IPOD.
That way I could have access to the system from work or whatever...and I would also have an updated system when I couldn't access internet...
Does the Genie interface with lakemaster maps software? I am just now learning that system.. I had to buy some USB/ adapters so I could link up with my Hand Held GPS...40 dollars for one cable...OUCH..

[Genie]

I am in the process of discussing some "options" with Lakemaster .... we'll see what comes of it.

[thedude]

windows based "client" apps are OUT my friend. I have not been contracted to write any software that is purely windows based for 4 years. My last...20 maybe... systems have all been ASP.net applications or .net web-enabled Smart Clients.

From the user end.... it is convenient from an accessibility standpoint, you can also reach users who may be using a MAC or Linux... (or who are at work lol)... web clients are becoming more feature rich all the time, you can do some really COOL stuff with AJAX.
From your end, your support and deployment headaches just dropped 10 fold.

Things to consider would be infastructure - namely throughput and database size. With size, these things do not come cheap. Our rack (on fiber) costs us about 900$ a month... now add a production web server and database server, as well as a duplicate & disparate failover system... you're talking some coin. Nice thing i guess is that you can go at it small until you build up the client base to pay for those costs and implement as needed.

These are fun little things i get to deal with on a daily basis. Best of luck to you.

[joshimoto son]

Hey thedude....

  picture this little guy going cross eyed and you just got of an impression of what just happened to me.

Don't get me wrong, we need guys like you and Genie, if we didn't have you, we'd still be writing on the walls of our cave.

I like the web based idea, I'll be receiving my Genie in the next day or two.

joshimoto son

[motocross269]

That was too funny josh son.  My thoughts exactly. 

[Cy]

Genie,

I love it...I think it is a great idea and a great product. 

Thedude,

I'm totally with you.  I do technology consulting for a living.  You can talk tech any time you want.

Cy 

[thedude]

sorry guys... didn't mean to get all geek. this post hit just close too close to home for me. i'm also a consultant... specializing in web based application and web-enabled client applications.... being from a small firm in GR, we do a lot of partnering with our clients so building out the business is fast becoming another hat i'm having to wear... being the tech guy in the room i usually have to throw this stuff around at a moments notice sorry force of habit 


TRACKERS BOATS RULEE 

[BASS FISHERMAN]

i see a place up thar wheer one does he voting butt i not evin no what a geenie is 
i reed bout this befour an i ask how he getts this geenie  in thar but juss no luck findin out how 
juss whut is one of theeze geenie 
whut does theeze geenie do 
are thay a muss have item 

HYDROSTREAM BOATS RULE 

[yukonjack2]

Based on the geek speak, I need an aspirin or a drink, heck maybe both.  Not sure how it all works in the background, but web based would be much more convenient - laptop, windows powered PDA or phone, ...  Anyhow, ordered my copy today for the home box - can't wait for it to arrive.

Jack

[Genie]

Man - I'm glad I PM'd thedude with my responses .... Looks like we might have been up on murder charges making head's explode ... 

Looks like the support so far is overwhelming.  I will get to work ASAP on the web version.

I'll leave the technical stuff to PM's with thedude and cy for specifics on which options to include to "complete the circle" on computer, pda, and web-based synchronization.

Bass Fisherman - you can check out all the specifics at http://www.btillc.net/products/genie/genie.htm.  That gives a complete run-down of what the system does.  Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you all for your comments thus far - keep them coming!  I'm just trying to do my part to help all fishermen catch more fish.

-Genie

[bshaner]

In the interest of not giving Josh any more of a headache I hit ctr A and delete before completing my post. 

I'll give you the short version of my opinion.

I doubt you'll get any negative feedback from going web based.  The only real question is can you get it done within your budget.  I think you will increase your customer base exponentially by going web based.

And thedude is right on.  Even us at the Air Force who are 10 years behind the technology curve (which stinks for us Network Admins) have gone nearly 90% web based with our apps.

B

[Genie]

The hard part will be getting all parts to "talk to eachother" and keep it simple.

Bare minimum, I'll get started ASAP on a seperate web-based application that is its own app.

Looks like I won't be pre-fishing that much this spring ....

-Genie

[Langer]

Looks like I won't be pre-fishing that much this spring ....

-Genie

Take the Laptop with you on the boat, fish for a while, go geek for a while.

[Genie]

You laugh, but at an old day job that is exactly what I used to do.  My partner used to hate me!

[thedude]

warning! warning! warning! warning! warning! warning!
<geek>
Sounds like you need a services based architecture.
Microsoft just published a webservices software factory... i haven't had a chance to play with it yet, but something worth looking into Especially if you plan on hooking up a pda or tablet client in the future.

I worked on a project very similar to this last summer using .net remoting where clients could connect via a website, standard windows client, PDA/windows mobile device or a tablet pc.
</geek>

i'm goin fishin tomorrow... whooohoooooo

[BASS FISHERMAN]

is thiss one of thems geenie yous are sellin??
juss wondurin 
if so i likes hur 

BASS TRACKER BOAT RULE 

[yukonjack2]

I've had the laptop on the boat once in a while as well - guilty as charged.  In fact, I beleive its lake oakland that there is an open wireless netowrk right at the boatlaunch.  Saves the time idling around looking for an open high speed connection.

Jack

[Genie]

Jack,
Just get a signal booster like you have for your car ... leaves more time for fishing then.