TweepsMap featured on Mashable

Having worked hard to build the TweepsMap project, launching it was a little tricky. It was like starting up a new fire, it catches on then it dies on very quickly. There is a certain formula on how to attract others to check out your service, without being too intrusive.
Anyway, throughout the process, few blogs featured TweepsMap on their sites, including Google Maps Mania coverage TweepsMap, few other spanish blogs, but I did not expect how large the effect of Mashable on the number of visitors, as soon as the TweepsMap article was published our servers were overwhelmed, that we had to beef them up, and the wave continued for days. It also had a ripple effect that many other major blogs would write about the service.

Thanks Mashable!

Shake event not always cool :)

Some users complained that if they were driving in a bumpy car ride, the shake event would trigger and the app does something it wasn't supposed to do.Well, I did not think of bumpy rides:) so I am now creating a specific checkbox to disable shake event in bumpy rides.
Enjoy the new fixes, and don't shake your phone too much!

Updating the Finder framework

Just released a new version of the TimHortons Finder Android app that is based on the new Finder framework. This time the framework introduces new concepts like:
* Shaking the phone to bring you to the nearest location
* Share with friends a location that can work on Android, iPhone or even desktop browsers.
* Opening a share link send you directly to the details page within the app
* Accuracy range for current location

The framework has also been enhanced to include fixes.
Enjoy these updates everyone, and find your the nearest TimHortons Locations right on your Android

Google Analytics opt out firefox 4

For some reason, Google is not releasing an Analytics opt out plug in for firefox 4. Unfortunately I was not able to make the xpi file work on firefox, it is probably signed.

So until Google releases an updated version, here is my simple version of opt out on Windows. No coding experience required:
Go to \Windows\System32\drivers\etc
open the hosts file hosts in any text editor
Add this line to the end:
127.0.0.1 www.google-analytics.com

viola! You have blocked Google Analytics.
Use this method at your own risk though, some websites might have integrated with Analytics and if they are not coded properly the javascript on these sites will crash.

In any case, I hope this helps people out there.

Toronto Parking

Say you were driving around looking for parking in Toronto, you looked around and around and found nothing but super expensive lots, you parked your car somewhere and right after you walked out of the expensive lot you find a GreenP around the corner!! ahhh that happened to me once.
So I took it upon myself to find a parking app on my Android (My friend built an app for the iPhone) but I could not find one on Android! c'mon! So I decided to spend a couple of hours to to build an app based on the finder framework for Android I have been working on. And it worked!
No I don't have to pay those hefty $20 fees anymore, nor should any other smart Android user.
Download the Toronto Parking app for Android, or iPhone and enjoy saving on parking.
Cheers.

LCBO and Beer Stores in Ontario

Finding the nearest liquor can be difficult at times especially if you are not in your neighborhood. Quite often you will need to use your computer to find the nearest store, and then it might not be open at the time.
Here is why the Ontario Booze finder comes in play. You can use your Android to find the nearest location with the phones GPS to see what's around, or even search a different neighborhood or city. It will give you directions to the store, operating hours and even the stores phone number.

And if you don't have a data connection it will still work, though with limited functionality (no maps integration or directions) but still does the job!
Give it a try, it's a free app.