Are you Up-to-date?

We love releasing new features. As a software company, there is a lot of work to keep our services secure, squash the occasional bug, and stay up to date with the requirements of different platforms that stay behind the scenes. Often enough,
projects that take weeks of our developers’ time get released to fanfare like below.Important, but not exactly interesting to read.

Feature releases are the work that customers not only get to see but also use to improve their own workflows. As former roofers ourselves, giving the industry new tools is what RoofSnap is all about, and seeing how they react to those tools is usually rewarding in itself. What really takes the wind out of our sails is when we release updates that customers never see, and that’s the topic of this week’s blog.

Are You Up To Date?

When it comes to delivering software to users, we’re living in an amazing time. iOS and Android have come a long way from the early days, and as their competition has fallen away, they’ve divided the market into their respective kingdoms. If we were to have developed RoofSnap for just iOS or Android, we’d only have half the work, but the Roofing industry is not a monolithic industry and customers come with different phones and devices. They also come with different versions of their respective operating systems. Making software work well in that uncertain environment is a constant struggle for app developers.

This leads us to our first point.

Keep RoofSnap Updated!

You haven't update since WHEN?

We’ve harped on this many times, sent emails, and included it in our tutorial videos. All of our team’s hard work updating, improving, and adding features to our software doesn’t mean much if you’re still using a version of the software that came out in 2014.

We like to do email announcements, webinars, and YouTube videos when we release a major update. Frequently checking for updates is the way to stay ahead of the curve and make sure you’re running the best software.

The new imagery selection system we announced this week will be included in an update for iOS in the next few days but that doesn’t mean you should skip the updates available currently. (You can get those updates from the badges below.) They contain enhancements that will make RoofSnap run better on your device and your device’s latest operating system.

Apple

google-play-badge

Generally, whether you’ve got an iPhone 4 or a Samsung Galaxy Note 9, your device will work best if you’re running the latest version of your operating software. Most of your apps, including RoofSnap, are optimized to work with the latest OS as well, so staying up to date is important.

Keep Your OS (Operating System) Updated!

Most iOS users (80%) update to the latest version within a couple weeks. (If you’re reading this blog on an iOS device and you’re not sure if you’re running the latest software, hit this link to walk through how to get to the latest version.) Android users are notoriously less likely to be on the latest release due to the way the software filters through individual device manufacturers before it reaches your pocket. (You can see if you’ve got an Android update waiting by following these steps.)

Updating your phone’s OS isn’t the most glamorous process, but it has its perks. Besides fixing security flaws, patching bugs, and making improvements to base functions, most OS updates also come with new features and capabilities that will improve your overall experience. Some features of your Operating System may be used by the apps on your phone, like RoofSnap’s ability to let you look at Apple Flyover imagery and other sources to help gauge the pitch of your project. The important take-away here is that in order for your apps’ software to function correctly, the phone itself should be running it’s platform’s latest and greatest too.

Come on guys, can't we work things out?

One way to avoid all these software updates is by using the RoofSnap Web App, which has only a few requirements. Your graphics card may be the only limiting factor as it must be able to run WebGL. The easiest way to find this out is to do a quick Google search of your specific computer and WebGL. The results will inform you if your graphics card is up to the task. Most computers and laptops will run WebGL with no problem. Those who are very tech-savvy should consult this wiki as well.

Keep Your Browser Current!

Our developers suggest using Google’s Chrome Browser for an optimal experience. The web app is, however, compatible with all major browsers. Make sure that your browser is ALSO up to date to ensure a secure and stable experience. Modern internet browsers will usually update themselves and so the web experience is one that will require the least amount of legwork on your part.

That does it for this week’s blog! We hope you picked up on the main theme of keeping your digital tools current, but there was a lot of interesting information in the links as well. Leave us a comment if you’ve had any issues dealing with outdated software or if you have any tips on staying updated without all the work. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week!

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