Pinakin-Travel Audio Guide App 4+

Limited content, basic UI

The app has very limited content currently.

The user interface is very basic that behaves in unexpected ways: tapping an item on the list downloads the studio. I was expecting it to go to an information page on the place. There is a download icon. I would expect that only tapping that would download the audio.

If you cancel a download, it downloads it anyway.

Hopefully they have a plan to make the list searchable or position the list by geographic area, otherwise a single list of all venues will be unable.

The sign in process is also not user friendly. It wants to send an OTP to your email or phone. That didn't work initially, either one. If you tap to resend the OTP, it goes back and asks you to enter your phone number (or email again). It should verify the info and not make you enter it again unless you say it is incorrect.

I question the need for an OTP. This isn't a banking app. There should be other ways to secure your server that doesn't inconvenience your users.

Interesting concept that needs a better user interface.

Developer Response ,

Hello Pevensen,

Firstly, thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate you taking time out and giving us valuable feedback. We have taken some of your comments for our improving the user experience.

A few quick points.
1) Yes. The UI was basic as it was our initial attempt. Now, we have upgraded the UI and have released a new version. Please update your app and let us know your feedback on this version.
2) The 'info & history' pages can now be accessed without downloading.
3) Cancel download is something that is still not active yet and we will put this in our new release in the next few weeks.
4) We have a new feature called "nearby" that helps in giving you any nearby places that we have covered. Please do remember, this will work only when you are in India as the range we have given is 50Km radius.
5) OTP - Our new version allows FB, G+ and email address verification as well.
6) Limited content - As of now, our focus is on 2 states in India. TamilNadu and Karnataka. We intend to cover these fully, before moving on to other states. Our research shows that tourists rarely do entire India. Hence a focus on just south India for now. We are actively developing another 22 sites and these will all be active in the next 3 to 5 months. Our goal is to give high quality content that will make your visit memorable. A content that will make you re-discover India .. the incredible India.

This new UI has been designed to allow video inputs as well. Our first task was to migrate our current users to new platform. Now we are working on getting more new features implemented.

Thanks again for taking time out and giving us the feedback. We request you to update the app and have a look.

Unable to obtain one time password and login

Unregistered use of this app should be allowed until the developer fixes OTP SMS delivery. As a tourist from the US I am amazed at the many missed opportunities to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and e-services. I’ll just add this one to the list of things I cannot use despite having a local phone number iPhone 10.

Next time, just charge a few bucks/ rupees and let people pay for the service without registration.