App Review Archives - Walt in PA

I tend to have a personality that is a little bit particular. I don't think I'm approaching obsessive compulsive but it does bother me if certain things aren't done just so. This trait of mine has found its way into my shooting and how I digest a given performance. Whether I'm Shooting USPSA, IDPA, or Archery, I like being able to come home after a match and take a look at how I performed. As I delved deeper into the sport of archery, I quickly found that seeing my final score, and nothing more, posted on a club website just wasn't enough to satisfy me. At this point I did what any tech enthusiast would do, I reached for my phone and began researching archery apps. I found what seemed like an endless supply of virtual archery games but few apps that would actually be useful on the range. One of the first archery apps to be loaded onto my iPhone was ArcherZUpshot. I opened the app for the first time and didn't get the greatest first impression. While the app is jam-packed with features, it had a clunky look and feel. I spent a little time poking around in the app and setting it up for my Bow and Arrows. I played around with entering shot data but ultimately lost interest and found myself back on iTunes, looking for other apps. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I decided to give ArcherZUpshot another try. I'm glad I gave the app another shot because the more I use it, the more I like it. What I Dislike The biggest hurdle I've found with ArcherZUpshot is getting past the interface. I can't put my finger on exactly what bothers me about it but it just strikes me as clunky. It annoys me to no end that every button press is followed by a slight delay then a graphic transition from one screen to another. Some of the buttons feel like they are in unnatural positions. For instance, as you move down a screen entering data, you then have to go back up and to the left to press the next arrow (which is next to the back button - I don't know how many times I've accidentally gone backwards when I meant to go forward). I think that if the variety of colors were pared down and screens were a bit more organized, I would be much more inclined to use the app. What I like How many times have you found an interesting app and hesitated to download it because it wasn't free and there was no trial version? The nice thing about ArcherZUpshot is that it is a full featured app with a built in 500 Shot Free Trial. One great feature about this app is that it allows you to drag and drop arrows for score. The app tracks those arrows and allows to analyze them at the end of the round. You can then share those results with friends via Twitter, Facebook, or Email). Wish List I have found that I prefer entering data on my iPhone and then reviewing that data on my Google Nexus 7. While this is easy enough to do, I wish the process to transfer the data was automatic. As it stands I have to backup the database from my phone, to DropBox, then restore it on my tablet. ArcherZUpshot is limited to a single Archer. While this is great for practice and shooting spots, I wish it supported simple scoring for a group of archers. I think this type of feature would be great for occasions when I shoot a practice field course with a friend or two. Right now I'm using a separate app to handle group scoring. Screenshots Try It! With a price tag of FREE, there is no reason not to install ArcherZUpshot on your mobile device. If you are looking for an app that will help you analyze your shots and improve, this is one of the best that I've found so far. I've never been a fan of Numbered Ratings but I've decided to rate this one 4 out of 5 Stars. My only real gripe at this point is the look and feel of the app. The features are where ArcherZUpshot really shines. What Is Your Favorite Archery App?