Glympse picks up international support in latest update for Windows Phone

By Daniel Rubino
published

Recently, travel-tracking app Glympse made a triumphant return to Windows Phone with their first update in nearly three-years. The app has been completely redesigned and now takes advantage of the background GPS task that Windows Phone offers, letting the app run while you do other things on the phone.

One downside on the initial release was that the app didn't have support for non-US users. Glympse has had a few bug fixes and updates since, and the latest one brings lets international users in on the fun.

Heading to the Store we can see version 2.1.0.8 was pushed to the Store late last night and with it, quite a few improvements:

Glympse 2.1.0.8/2.1.0.6

  • Fix - International users should no longer have data loss issues involving shortcuts or destinations.
  • Fix - International users should no longer crash when using the destination picker.
  • Fix - Setting distant destinations should no longer crash.
  • Fix - Several cases where attempting to resume using the app (after tombstone) should no longer crash.
  • Fix - Launching from previously created Tiles should no longer crash and load the Send page correctly.
  • Fix - Using app-bar zoom/center buttons while a map is still loading should no longer crash.

The Glympse team also warns users who sideload the XAP that a uninstall/reinstall may be necessary:

"If you side-loaded the 2.1.0.5 or 2.1.0.6 U.S.-limited release on a device set to a regional format that uses commas or symbols other than a "." to denote decimal places, please consider deleting the app and performing a clean re-install. (This isn't critical but may avoid rare, future crashes.)"

It's great to see users outside of the US being able to make use of the service, and kudos to the Glympse team for making good use of the new Windows Phone 8.1 changelog feature.

If you're not familiar with Glympse, it's a popular and free service that lets you track your real-time driving for road trips. Through the app, you plan where you're going, and you send a 'Glympse' to a contact who can then view where you are and your ETA. The recipient doesn't need Glympse to view as the tracking happens on the web, so it only requires a browser. Recipients can then use their phone or PC do view your Glympse at any time. Glympse is perfect for when you'll be in the car (or motorcycle) for long periods, and you don't want to keep your friends or family guessing as to where you are and when you'll be there.

Pick up the update and let us know if Glympse is working in your country!

QR: glympse

Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

13 Comments
  • As i said before, I love "world wide" things, and for this app, the fact that the recipient doesn't necessarily require the Glympse app to know my arrival/location status makes me give it a try :)
  • Yeah I like that it can be used without the recipient having to have glympse. And I love that the app works without a login! So tedious that almost everything requires login. The only thing I want is for it to remember which contacts I used without having to look them up manually every time.
  • Right, I think a feedback to the developer may do it. There's a "active+recent" page where you can edit the recently shared location and perhaps save yourself some time from doing the whole thing again ...
  • MikeSo, Consider your feedback logged!   I, too, would like it to remember recent contacts and plan to do something about that in the near future. =] Thanks for trying out our app!
  • Would be nice if you could use glympse from HERE drive.
  • I knew that this would happened! Just because BBM is coming very soon :-) and on other platforms BBM uses Glympse :-)
  • Thanks Glympse!
  • Yahoooooo!!!! That's more like it!!! Thanks a bunch developer!! I take back my comment about doubting its usefulness Daniel!!
  • Using GPS in the background should make this app usable.  Time to reinstall and check it out agian.
  • I love using Glympse when I am on the road. Gives my family an extra bit of security and information. Thanks. The app does not install on SD card, I wonder why it is not enabled.
  • Brilliant that its finally available internationally! Great app!
  • Its a nice app... I've been using the international beta and it was quite helpful in various situations. Hope the Glympse developement team continue to add features and make this app a truely inevitable for everyone!!!
  • Finally!!! :)