So I'm sitting in front of my lawyer going through some stuff and she asks to see this new app I've put together. So I pull out my handy dandy AT&T handicapped IPhone and the second page I pull up doesn't load, so I go to another with a single location map and it comes up slowly, then the map never draws the route. A hundred times it works fine... Anyway, my question is this; the apps I will be putting together will need to run when there is a possibility of not having WIFI or 3G signal (inside buildings such as hospitals), so is there a way to ensure the app will run locally without network input? Tim Wolf

As I understand it, most of the pages (custom html being one of the exceptions, I think) work on a client-server basis. The client (your phone) calls the server (Buzztouch's backend guts) OVER THE NETWORK or VIA WIFI. (Not yelling, just emphasizing.) So when you don't have a signal or wifi, you'll be pulling from the cache. Can't do that with maps, of course. But you'd have the same problem with maps no matter how the rest of the app works. My understanding of it, at least.

search the forum..there is a fix to have the config files load from the app itself..if i find the post i'll post it

These are good remarks. The answer is yes and no, and yes, and no. It all depends on the type of screens the app is using. We encourage folks to create apps with content / data that is 'cachable' so the gadget will work without WiFi. However... there is room for improvement in the way the app 'first loads.' Today, unless somebody takes the time to embedd the config data in the app (so it works offline) it will need to load lots fo things from the web before it will work. We've already begun a major design change to this logic. In the near future (very near future) we are going to provide the config data with the download so the app will work ALWAYS when it launches, even if it's the first launch and even if it's no online. However... as mentioned before, just because the config data is local already doesn't mean the contenet itself is. This is where the designer comes in. If you point to URL's, you're gonna need internet. Maps for sure - always going to need internet.

Thanks guys. I think it's pretty obvious the map will have problems without connectivity, the text page that didn't load was a surprise though. So how can I get the configuration data to load as was suggested? Thanks!!

This thread shows a step-by-step about half way down. My Feb. 12 post. http://www.buzztouch.com/forum/thread.php?tid=31416AD1102E020

Thanks David. So the implication seems to be that I'm out of luck with my 1.4 app in this regard.

OH, yeah, crap. There I go assuming again! If it's iOS only, it's super easy to recreate them in v1.5 (and we are nearly done with the v1.4 conversion tool). If it's Android and iOS - not so much. v1.4 is no good at local data. It's amazing how much better we have gotten at this! v1.4 seems soooo outdated now. Works great but these types of gotcha's are super tough to avoid. Dont' know how to advise if you need a v1.4 app to work offline. Really hard, even with programming kung-fu.

You know, my maps open just fine without connectivity. I took my Ipod Touch out on the road and it pulled up google maps easily (showing my locations and all). The only thing missing was driving directions.

Ah... yeah, probably using GPS and not Cell Towers - duh. I'm literally working out the logic so PDF's cache for offline use. If i can get it done tonight I'll try to also add the option in the control panel. Not sure if it should default to yes or no? There are some apps with literally hundreds and hundreds of PDF's that load from URL's and they do not cache becaue they would fill the device's storage. Hmm... to cahce or not to cache, that is the question.