Solar Eclipse Timer Reviews

Great app, very accurate

RGP002

Like many others, I saw the app and Dr Telepun with Destin on SED, and downloaded immediately. I didn't do a ton of advance work, but did familiarize myself with the functionality for thirty minutes and a few practice runs, and corrected the times for lunar limb profile at my location. I don't know how difficult that would be to integrate into the app, but allowing the calculation to occur as an option within the app would be nice -- although there are websites that do most of the heavy lifting on the calculation now anyway. On the day of the eclipse, I used a Bluetooth earbud to hear the vocal cues, and kept my eyes in the sky (and my kids). Great app, very accurate with the times once corrected -- which was very easy to do. Helpful verbal reminders, too. I found the app very easy to use, and sufficiently comprehensive if a bit utilitarian. But as an engineer, utilitarian is as much a complement as comprehensive is. You might not confuse the GUI for a pretty Apple produced piece of software, but it's every bit as functional as one. I was in Chile earlier this year -- and having an app like this at least makes me think about wanting to go back for the eclipse in 2019. Good work to the developer and team. Apps like this are the fantastic part about the smartphone world we live in.

No Announcements; Too Much Work to Get Up-To-Speed

Julie201

I am very sorry to have to write this review because I can tell all of the heart and work that went into the creation of this app. If I could rate it for that, it would get 5 stars. Thank you for your contribution; I can tell that you are truly passionate. That said, I have to rate it based upon my experience. I feel like I lost $1.99 because I was unable to use the app so I had a very frustrating and poor experience. I downloaded a few days prior to Aug 21 and recommended to friends after seeing on Smarter Every Day. I went to Kennedy Space Center for the eclipse so I was at only 85-88% occlusion. The How-To files to be totally overwhelming. It felt like I had to read a dissertation to get up to speed on the app. I entered my coordinates by GPS and thought that the app would at .least. announce C1 and C4. Nothing. That's what I paid for! Ugh. I felt there really should have been some sort of disclaimer if it was going to be this difficult to get up to speed on. In this day of beautiful GUI's for our apps and computers, my expectation is that when I download an app, that I will not need to work so hard to enjoy it. For example, less words! Seriously. Tech/Science folks can talk too much (because they know so much; somewhat guilty party here) but you have to present high level and allow folks to drill down to the information that they feel that .they. want/need. Also, use common terms/less shorthand and acronyms. Refer to common times (2:35 EST vs 14:35:15.8) and in parenthesis somehow (use pop-ups or 'press text' for details) let them see the fun, geeky details. In my opinion, the graphics need a make-over. I'd suggest thinking like Apple design. Less text, more big, bold objects (virtual "buttons") that create hot links to further details. I'd strongly recommend finding someone who is good at taking complex information and making it simple, who can learn about this topic and apply their own question-asking abilities to the app so that it can be re-worked and presented more intuitively. Sometimes we get too close to something that we can't see it's challenges

I want to thank you

Murphy's Outlaw

For making a once in a lifetime experience that much more incredible. Your live guidance helped us make the most of the eclipse. It was a lifesaver, as we had our sun flirting in and out of cloud cover. The audio cues kept us on track, particularly during totality when seconds were so important. Again, I cannot thank you enough. If I could give 10 stars I would. I plan not only to recommend but evangelize your app as we roll upon the next American eclipse. See you in 2024!

Just what I was looking for...

Ohio153

In the weeks leading up to the eclipse, I kept wondering how to get the most out of the experience. I came across Gordon Telepun's videos, which were super informative re: all of the eclipse phenomena. The selling point for the app was the timer feature, and also the audio announcements. Having the app on the day of the eclipse made all the difference for me! I felt like I didn't miss anything important. Given my desire to be all prepared, I appreciated the detailed list Gordon had for what to do with your phone and what to observe. I was prepared for shadow bands (we saw them in Anderson, SC on a white bedsheet). I played the practice eclipse video a few weeks beforehand, and that was a great orientation. One thing we found helpful was being able to check our location (we considered several different viewing spots) to see if we were on the center line of the path. It was easy to use the app to determine a spot for max totality; we didn't want to miss any precious seconds. People camped out in our viewing location were coming to me, asking things like "when is the 1st contact? When does totality begin?" I showed them the app for answers. I had my phone volume cranked up so the people around me could hear the audio announcements. (Note to self: bring a blue tooth speaker next time like other reviewers did:) When the eclipse ended, I took a few minutes to record my observations & impressions under the Eclipse Data tab. Kind of nice to have a synopsis of the experience with all the GPS and eclipse contact times automatically filled in for my location. Don't leave home for the next eclipse without this app!

Good geolocation feature

Jarrah821

Good geolocation, but the voice updates stopped about five minutes before totality and did not resume until c4. Disappointed that the countdown feature failed during the exciting phases of the eclipse.

This App made My Eclipse

Trump4lyfe

The best decision I made during my eclipse trip was buying this app with audio instructions. The app proved to be very useful in directing when phases were happening such as the time to observe shadow banding (which I undoubtedly would’ve missed without). This app aiding in providing one of the coolest moments in my life and I thank you for making it.

Solar Eclipse Timer Reviews – Page 6