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Chicago HN'ers: I made an iPhone/Android version of Metra's train schedules

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Re: Chicago HN'ers: I made an iPhone/Android version of Metra's train schedules

#22

Post by brandnewlow »

sachinag wrote: post #18
brandnewlow wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tried a few months back. Enjoyed a tasty 312 by myself at Hopleaf for my troubles. Perhaps someone with more clout needs to convene?

Going all the way up to Hopleaf for a 312 that you can buy anywhere in the city is a big fail, Brad.

That's where people wanted to meet up! It's ok. I brought my trusty WSJ with me to pass the hour in case anyone showed up.

We should meet at Saluki.

Re: Chicago HN'ers: I made an iPhone/Android version of Metra's train schedules

#23

Post by brandnewlow »

cubtastic71 wrote: post #13

This rocks - was so upset at the new Metra site and its inablity to be used on any mobile phone platform! Thank you so much! So sad to see they spent 3.9m on a site that you really cant use unless your home on your computer.

Read link #2 in my comment up top for some insight into why Metra's new site sucks.

Re: Chicago HN'ers: I made an iPhone/Android version of Metra's train schedules

#24

Post by DougBarth »

wglb wrote: post #19
DougBarth wrote: post #7

Awesome. This is so much better than Metra's own site. A nice addition would be cross reference their service updates for any delay information.

Metra's site is much improved, but is a total pain on anything but a desktop.

It's visually improved, but functionally, it's not much better and in some ways, worse.

Besides the lack of mobile support, looking at train schedules is not more difficult. My preferred stop is only in service on certain routes. Therefore, depending on the time, I may need to use a different station. Determining my options requires two tabs and mental comparing the departure times.

A coworker who rides the express trains out of the city noted that there is no indication of which departures are express, leaving one to do the math to see if their ride will be 20 minutes or an hour.

Re: Chicago HN'ers: I made an iPhone/Android version of Metra's train schedules

#26

Post by pasbesoin »

brandnewlow wrote: post #10
sachinag wrote: post #8

Stellar. OT: How many of us Chicago HN'ers are here? We should do a meetup sometime.

I tried a few months back. Enjoyed a tasty 312 by myself at Hopleaf for my troubles. Perhaps someone with more clout needs to convene?

Haven't been to the Hopleaf in a number of years, but seems like a nice choice.

I'd be tempted, but things haven't been going so well recently. Maybe in a few months.

Re: Chicago HN'ers: I made an iPhone/Android version of Metra's train schedules

#28

Post by pasbesoin »

brandnewlow wrote: post #9

Awesome. Just this posted this to Windy Citizen. Vote it up: http://www.windycitizen.com/chicago/technology/2009/10/13/ip... Next time you or anyone else builds something cool and local, share it over there, please. On a related note, yesterday the WC hosted a discussion thread about Metra's new $3.9 M site. Our commenters sussed out that the shop that won the bidding process employs the son of a former Metra board m…

I just cited your first link on Facebook (where I keep in touch with a number of Chicagoland friends). Doing so, I noticed that Facebook did not pick up a "Windy City" graphic suitable for use as a thumbnail. Maybe an opportunity for a branding optimization?
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