App Profile: Trip Planner for Caltrain

_This_ guy

Rating: 4/5

(This review, has been edited now that the bug fix has been applied) I paid for the real time updates, and I’m very happy with this app. It’s more organized and straightforward than the official app. My only gripe is that when you switch apps, then go back, the app refreshes to the train on the list with your current device’s time, then you have to locate your train on the list again. Maybe incorporating a marking system of favorites/frequently used trains, either by some unique icon or colored banner on the list, would be great to find the train I’m on, or make the app refresh in the background while it’s running but keeps the user on the same train(or part of the list) when app switching. TL;DR: I’m really pleased with how well the app works overall. A couple of feature updates(whether paid features, or not) like a favoriting tagging system, would be appreciated, not not horribly necessary.

SanFranSteve

Rating: 4/5

Great app, easy to use. I particularly like that when I open the app it automatically populates my current station. The schedule updates seem to be a little late, they could improve getting the schedule updates published via an app update before the actual changes take place - the last update was a few days AFTER the schedule change had been in effect - not helpful. It would be better still if an app update wasn't required to update the schedule, maybe feed the schedule info from an external service instead?

iPodTod

Rating: 5/5

This is an awesome app, and certainly the most up to date Caltrain schedule. It will ask if you’d like to update to Premium every time you open it, but it’s a quick click if you don’t want to pay. My only suggestion would be if it had a way to remember your most common start/finish and preloaded that, as the map takes a second to navigate to your desired start and end point. Great job to the person(s) who developed this one. As a non-techie commuter in the Bay Area I knew it would only be a matter of time before someone developed an app that incorporates the features people want.