Update on Guidance for the iPhone
Salam alaikum, just wanted to give everyone an update on the progress of Guidance for the iPhone. The interface for the prayer times is complete and so is the interface and logic behind calculating and displaying the Qibla direction for your location. All thats left is to finish up the preferences screen and it will be ready inshallah. The initial release won’t have adhan notifications but will be added very soon.
When the adhan features does get added in an update, here is how it will mostly likely work. Basically as long as Guidance is running when you lock your phone it will be able to play the adhan and notify you of the prayer times, even though the phone is locked. The downside of this is of course remembering to turn on Guidance before you lock your phone, but until Apple allows programs to run in the background I think this should be a passable solution until a better alternative presents itself. Here are some pictures to take a look at the interface so far. These aren’t 100% finalized, but definitely mostly there.
When the adhan features does get added in an update, here is how it will mostly likely work. Basically as long as Guidance is running when you lock your phone it will be able to play the adhan and notify you of the prayer times, even though the phone is locked. The downside of this is of course remembering to turn on Guidance before you lock your phone, but until Apple allows programs to run in the background I think this should be a passable solution until a better alternative presents itself. Here are some pictures to take a look at the interface so far. These aren’t 100% finalized, but definitely mostly there.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:54 am
I’m sure you’ve probably thought about this already but iPod plays in the background… (although I’m sure that’s because it’s an Apple App) is there a way to look at how iPod does that and implement it into Guidance?
August 16th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Sweet !
Allah Bless you ..
August 16th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Umar, I have looked at that, but its only able to do that because its made by Apple. No one else is allowed to have their application running in the background, at least for now. I’m hoping Apple changes this policy in the near future.
August 17th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Mashallah, looks great.
As you might be aware, the solution to the background apps issue proposed by Apple is to use the Push notification API which is coming in iPhone 2.1 Update. Inshallah you’ll be able to make use of it to launch Guidance and the Adhan notifications.
August 17th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Salaam Ameir,
I am very happy to read of the developments. Keep up the great work!
May Allah bless you for the efforts you are doing on this great project, ameen.
Warm regards
August 17th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Issam, I am definitely looking into it. As of the latest 2.1 beta Apple has removed the Push Notification API in order to “review it further”, so inshallah thats still part of the 2.1 release.
Jazakallahu khairun for everyone’s comments and interest. I’m doing my utmost to get this out in time for Ramadan.
August 17th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
hey Ameir, just saying apple does not have plans to allow applications run in the background due to battery issues
but there will be solution available in a few months and has started being implemented in iPhone OS 2.1 beta
here’s the link on that http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/09/iphone-push-notification-service-for-devs-announced/
just trying to help, salam.
August 17th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
oh sorry, i didnt see you just posted that, my fault =\
August 18th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
is this going to be a free application?
August 18th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
nomaan, I heavily debated leaving it free, but chose instead to charge a very low price just to break even with my costs. It will probably go for $1 to $2 dollars. Inshallah this will help me to continue development on it and really make it an awesome applications for Muslims.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Good to know Ameir! I am looking forward to it. What timeframe are you looking to release in?
August 19th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I expect to finish development and testing by the end of this week and then submit it to Apple for release. I’ve heard that Apple generally takes a week to pass approval on applications to the app store. So inshallah it should be available by the end of the month.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Excellent news Ameir! I look forward to getting this application for my iPhone. I know Guided Ways has a new application to for prayer times but I am waiting for your application.
regards
August 20th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
It should read above, too not to.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Jazakallahu khairun for your vote of confidence Tariq, I took a look at Guided Way’s application and think that Guidance has a lot more to offer in terms of Customizability of prayer times, much more useful information for the Qibla location and a much much easier interface for setting up your location.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I am looking at your website everyday just waiting for the update… can’t wait ameir… jazakallah