Article: Transport app rage sparks agency rethink

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Transport app rage sparks agency rethink

Transport app rage sparks agency rethink
Megan Levy
May 3, 2012 - 2:14PM

Public Transport Victoria has bowed to public pressure and will re-introduce its old public transport iPhone app after a flood of complaints from users who branded its replacement as "horrible" and the "worst app ever".

How long does it take you to touch on using myki? Email us

The old version will be available in Apple's App Store alongside the new version which was released last month to the dismay of many public transport users who have since taken to the internet to condemn it.

Public Transport Victoria chief executive Ian Dobbs today said developers would continue to work on the new app to iron out any problems, and admitted his organisation had "made an error" in the way it had introduced the new version.

The new app was released on April 19 by Public Transport Victoria, the government body that last month took over the running of public transport in the state.

It was released in the App Store as an upgrade to the old Metlink train timetable app, rather than being released separately, meaning those who upgraded found their old app was overridden.

The new app includes information on trains, trams and buses and employs GPS mapping technology, but many said it was too hard to navigate.

"PTV acknowledges that we should have launched the new PTV app as a new product in the store rather than pushing it out as an update," a PTV spokeswoman said.

"Users should have been given the choice to upgrade to the new interface or remain with the older app. "We will continue to work on the new PTV app and will provide an update in the store when current issues are resolved.

"We remain confident that once we have resolved the current issues and users have learned to navigate the new app's full capabilities, it will provide an improved gateway to Victoria's public transport network.

"In the meantime, users can switch back to PTV Original or use both apps in tandem."

As of this afternoon, 2279 people had reviewed the new app in the App Store, delivering an overall rating of 1.5 out of five. The vast majority of the reviews were scathing.

"Whom ever updated this app to such poor standards should reconsider their career path," wrote one dissatisfied user.

Another quipped that "even 1 star is too much", while one commuter complained: "It's telling me that there is a train coming to Melbourne Central in 1+ day ... on a weekday. Yeah."

"Worst app ever", "bring back Metlink" and "horrible upgrade" were other responses.

One person who claimed to be a train driver weighed into the debate, writing: "I used to use the old metlink app for my job every day. It was great. But this new app is rubbish."

The old Metlink app will be rebranded as PTV Original app. It has been submitted to Apple and is expected to be available to download within three weeks.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/transport-app-rage-sparks-agency-rethink-20120503-1y0rf.html