Smart Phone App

[Delsus]

Hello!

While I don't have a specific date to share with you all, I can say that we are currently preparing the Libra Eorzea app and plan on releasing it in the very near future for iOS to start off. Hang in there just short while longer!

Can I just ask, is there any time frame for the Android version? or is the majority of the market going to be waiting 6 months+ as we were for guardian cross? (I know not Final Fantasy or made by this team but it's a prime example.)

The problem with Android is though the OS is solid, things such a system updates are done thru the service provider, meaning Android users often find themselves at the mercy of their phone's provider when it comes too maintaining their phone. Worse yet phone providers often include a lot of their own poorly written software with the phone. I never hear in popular media iOS vs. Android I hear Apple vs. Samsung. These are the giants of the mobile world. Ironically Samsung is not the developer of Android. Which is kind of the point.

In the media you hear about Apple Vs Samsung because a lot of it is patent wars, not just software but hardware as well which is why you don't see much Android Vs iOS.

Also on updates and fragmentation, yes it is a problem, ultimately it's up to the vendor as to whether you get an update or not (unless you are willing to void warranty) they then publish the update to unbranded devices, and send the software update to carriers who then update in their own time.

This however is no reason not to update, most of the additional features of the latest versions will not be needed for Libra Eorzea (as far as I can tell.) The majority of people are currently on Gingerbread, with Jelly Bean in a close second and then Ice Cream Sandwich, these three platforms as of June 2013 make up 96% of the Android market. For this reason make it compatible with these three platforms and there will be no problems, and unless there is some feature I don't know of in the app there is no need for the additional features of ICS and JB.

[ArkhamNative]

Can I just ask, is there any time frame for the Android version?

From a fan (Reinheart) live-translation of Producer's Letter LIVE #8 (08/08/2013):

Yoshi-P: We should have this [iOS version] up a week after launch for download, and in 3 weeks to a month, the Android version should be up. So in a month both versions should be up (ios version first).

The live-translation also included details:

Foxclon: In Yoshida-san's hand is an iPad.
Yoshida: Libra Eorzea. This version can’t be logged into yet, but once you can it will display your character, and you can compare what gear you have. Say your accessories are low level, you can see what is available.
Yoshida: Like this, it shows all the weapon data, like the Lv21 Pugilist one is nice.
Yoshida: All information from the game will be there. It’s exactly the same.
Yoshida: It shows if you can attach a crest, how many materia slots, what materials are needed, which NPC sells them. Also shows which quest gives the reward.
Yoshida: It also shows the quest and where to get the quest.
Yoshida: And this shows the quest details. It will also show what pre-quests are needed to be completed to get that quest, etc.
Yoshida: This can be used when you’re on your way to school/work to decide what to do for that day. So you can say I want this item today, so let me go to this dungeon.
Yoshida: It cost a lot of develop this.
Foxclon: It must have.
Yoshida: The dungeon strategy and details won’t be released, but it’s linked to The Lodestone so you can check players' strategies. We’ll have moderators checking.
Yoshida: We’ll have this app for free for all FFXIV players.
Foxclon: It’s free?
Yoshida: Just think of it that the subscription fee covers the app fee.
Yoshida: There is a lot of data in there, we don’t have anything masked. Having something showing ??? doesn’t help so it’s all in there.

Again, all credit to Reinheart for the translations, done on-the-fly during the broadcast.
• Reinheart's latest Japanese to English translation thread
• Please hold discussions about translations in the separate Translations Discussion Thread