MyFitnessPal Blog

We've released updates to our iOS and Android apps today.  Both updates are bug fix releases.  Here's a list of the changes:

iOS

• Barcode scanning problems with autofocus cameras should be fixed
• Barcode scanning in multi-add mode should work again
• Errors scanning certain EAN-8 barcodes fixed
• Crashes using barcode scanner on iOS 4.1 fixed

 Android

• Barcode scanning into a recipe should work again 

For Android, we are still investigating issues users have reported with our new barcode scanner.  One important note is that with the new scanner, you cannot scan barcodes at an angle - you need to make sure the barcode is straight when scanning.  

This forum topic shows how to align the scanner properly:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/409315-scanning-successfully-with-the-android-app

If you are still having problems with the Android scanner after reading the above forum topic, please let us know by leaving us a comment on this blog post.  Please include what Android phone you are using, and what version of the Android operating system your phone is running.  We'll do our best to get everything sorted out ASAP. 

If you run into any issues with either update, just let us know.

We're also working on updates for both our Blackberry and Windows Phone 7 apps, and hope to have news on both updates shortly.

Thanks, and hope you are all enjoying MFP!

Mike, Al, and the MFP team 

We've released an update for the Android app to Android Market.  This is primarily a bug fix release. We've been working hard on trying to improve the overall stability of the app, and while we're still not 100% satisfied, this update should be an improvement over previous versions.  We've also managed to include a few feature enhancements: 

• Move to SD: Many people have asked for this, and we've finally been able to enable move to SD.  Hope this helps folks who have space-constrained devices
  
  
• Improved barcode scanner: We're using a new scanner which will work on fixed focus phones.  The new scanner also is now fixed to portrait orientation which is what most of our users use. For people who normally use their phone in portrait orientation, this should be an improvement. Unfortuntely, we weren't able to find a way for the scanner to switch orientations from portrait to landscape, so if you are someone who typically uses their phone in landscape orientation, the new portrait orientation might be less convenient. Sorry about that.  We're still trying to find a way to have the scanner change orientation automatically, and we'll do our best to include that in a future update.
  
  One other note on the scanner: with the new scanner, it may be important to make sure the barcode is in the correct orientation when scanning, i.e. make sure the barcode is lined up straight with the code reading left to right.  If you scan at an angle, it may not work as well. We didn't see this as much of an issue in our testing but some of our iOS users have reported this as a problem so we wanted to give everyone a heads up in case they saw a similar issue on the Android app.
  
  
• Lots of bug fixes and stability improvements:  As I mentioned above, we've attempted to fix a lot of known bugs and improve the overall stability of the app.  We're still not satisfied, but we hope this update will be an improvement over previous versions.

***UPDATE:  I added a note about a change in the weekly net calorie view explaining why we made the change, and how people can still retrieve the old value.  See below for more info.

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We've just released a new update to our iPhone app!  Here's a rundown of the new features:

• View and copy friends' diaries: By default, your food and exercise diary is completely private.  But if you'd like, you can now elect to share your diary with your friends in the app.  Your friends can then view your diary from within the app, and copy entire meals you've logged to their own diary.  We hope this will be useful for people who usually dine together. Now only one person has to log the meal; the other can view their diary and copy all of the entries with just a couple taps.
  
  
• Decimal servings option: We've added a decimal toggle to the dialog for entering the number of servings you've eaten of a particular food. By tapping the Decimal button, you can now enter the number of servings you are using a numeric keypad instead of the old fraction scroll-wheel.  This should be particularly useful for people weighing their foods in grams.  Instead of having to scroll all the way to 98, you can now just tap "98" on the keypad - plus, you can enter in a number of servings greater than 99.
  
  
• Barcode scanner now works with fixed focus cameras: We've improved our barcode scanner so that it now works on additional devices such as the iPod Touch and iPad 2.  
  
  
• Weekly graph now shows weekly total:  Many of our users manage their calories on a weekly, not daily basis.  On the weekly view from the Home screen, we had always intended to show your weekly total, i.e. how many calories over or under you are for the entire week.  However, we had mistakenly shown a daily average number there instead.  This has now been fixed, and the weekly number is correctly displayed in this version.  If you are looking for the old average number, you can hold your finger on the "Avg" column in the graph, and the numeric value will appear above the column.

Last night, we launched a new feature on the site: Groups!  Groups are a great way to meet and get support from members with similar interests as you.  In the few hours that groups have been live, we've already seen groups formed for vegetarians, regional groups to meet people in your area, running groups, and more.  

To get started with Groups, go to the Community tab, then click on Groups. From this page, you can find a group to join, or you can even create your own! Each group has it's own message board that the group can use to support and motivate one another.  Once you join a group, the Group's message board will automatically be added to your main Community page so that you can easily view any new Group topics.

A few important things to note about Groups:

Groups can be public or private.  

If you create a public group, anyone can join and anyone can read the group forum and participate.  If you create a private group, people must receive an invitation to the group from one of the existing members to join. Note, though, that any member of a private group can invite additional members to join.

Groups are mostly self-moderated.   

Each group's administrators are responsible for appointing some members of the group as moderators, and those moderators are responsible for ensuring that the group and sitewide rules are followed in the groups forums.  If you report a post in a group, that report will be sent to the groups moderators, NOT the sitewide moderators.

Groups have some more leeway than the main forums, but still must follow a set of sitewide rules. 

We've released new community guidelines which explain the difference between the rules for Groups and the rules for the main forums.  Each group can then add it's own rules.  As long as the group moderators are enforcing the sitewide rules appropriately, we will largely leave them alone. But if you see an instance where the sitewide rules are being broken and the groups' moderators are not dealing with the situation appropriately, let Steven know and we'll investigate promptly.

If you run into any problems or issues with the new group features. please let us know!  We hope we've worked most of the kinks out, but we'll be happy to take a look ASAP if you notice something that doesn't seem to be working properly.

Thanks, and we can't wait to see what groups get started!  Hope you are all enjoying MFP.

Best,

Mike, Al, Steven, and the MFP team