News
WARNING: I noted on the store description that I only publish in the OFFICIAL Google Play and Apple App stores. Just to expand on why I mention this, there are App marketplaces that have picked up my app but when you choose their download link they want to install their app before it takes you to the Google PLAY store. I do not know what their APP is or does, but I am reasonably certain it is not what you were looking for.
09/14/2023
Android app is up. Apple is being difficult (as usual)
My software provider made changes to their offering this year and many of the features in my past apps are not possible any longer. Hopefully they will be able to be implemented next year.
I promised a generic color calendar for those whose color and alpha schemes did not match the ColorCal scheme, but it seems that may not happen. It seems that the app stores deemed them to be too similar and thus rejected them as SPAM. I am trying to work it out but they have been non-responsive
09/22/2022
Android app is in the PLAY store. Unfortunately, due to issues beyond my control, I did have to raise the price to $1.49. Next year iPhone app will also get increased.
09/02/2022
iPhone version is in the App store. Android version is delayed until my software provider does an update. They have not given me an definitive date yet and have only said, "in a couple of weeks", so keep checking back.
Pricing will remain at $0.99 but I am not sure about next year. All my costs have jumped this year and If I do not cover my costs, you can guess what the options are. Tell your co-workers and increase the downloads so I can keep creating the calendar. Honestly, the time involved is huge and I just cover expenses.
09/09/2021
Its all good! 2022 ColorCal is up in the both App stores.
08/28/2021
Well, the waiting game is on. App has been submitted to both the Google PLAY and Apple App stores. Hoping that approval happens soon.
What's new this year? Price has been lowered in the PLAY store. Added a scratch pad for making quick notes. Although not yet recognized by the USPS, denoted the Juneteenth federal holiday as a reminder.
I am looking for some feedback about the color and placement of the navigation buttons. If its not too much trouble, would you take a few minutes and pass on your thoughts?
07/12/2021
This years calendar may not be available until the middle of September. There are changes in the way the PLAY store accepts apps and I am not sure if my software provider will comply in time. I will do my best to make it available by the first of September... but I am not sure at this time.
I have included the new federal holiday Juneteenth. While it has not been recognized by the Postal Service, I believe it will be added soon.
06/01/2021
I am getting ready to start on 2022 calendar. I am still trying to incorporate a couple of "asked for" features with little success. I am still trying.
I am going to hold off putting the app in the play and app stores until mid-September, reason being that the last two years my software provider has not had their package fully compliant with the latest Android/Google requirements until the first of September.
09/03/2020
I have the app done and published in both the iOS APP store and the Android PLAY store. Time for a break from coding* and getting back to playing with the grandkids.
*I use the term coding loosely. In reality, I create the app from a content management system (CMS) and give instructions as to what happens and when, then a build containing the code is created by the CMS. So strictly speaking I do not code, I create.
For the last few years, I have looked at the "independant" App review and marketplace sites and am dismayed by what I see. Not because of reviews or repackaging, but because one site said that there are "reports" of a whole bunch of problems with the app when A) it has only been in the store for a single day AND B) there has yet to be a download of the app.
Funny how there could possibly be any reviews or reports of problems when it has yet to have even a single download. I expect that I will be getting a message from them offering to improve the review "for a fee". Anyway take the unofficial reviews with a grain of salt, ONLY get your apps from official stores and if you do happen to have an issue with the app, please contact me directly and I will do my best to resolve it. My email right here on this website, my phone number is on the app store listing and I generally get back to each message within 2 days.
Send me a message or leave a review in the official app stores. I would really appreciated it.
As Always, Thanks for your support
Preston
fourcatsapp@gmail.com
NALC Br.133 retired
06/21/2020
I have decided to combine the note keeping version with the basic version. This did not noticeably increase the size of the download and covers all the versions I have been creating.
Also I have left out the quarterly tabs, and I still have not been able to set a default start color or have it re-open to the current month.
Coding is mostly done but I may be able to make changes until September first when I will publish in the app stores.
5/8/2020
I'm working on the update for 2021's calendar.
First, I have to re-do the web page. Please be patient.
News, in addition to the Android version, this year I will try to create an iOS version. In the past the cost of entry into the iOS world has been too high, but this year I have decided to take the plunge and give it a shot.
Going forward, I have also decided to not publish in the Amazon App store. The Amazon App Store requirements are different from the Google Play Store and the number of downloads does not justify the additional effort.
I will not publish the Plus (note keeping) version this year. Again, downloads do not justify the effort to create the calendar. In the past, I have tried to incorperate note keeping into the basic calendar, but the results were extremely disappointing. If someone wants it bad enough maybe we can work out something privately.
Survey responses were over whelmingly in favor of the single strip version of the calendar and I will modify the user interface to tweak it towards the single strip. It will however still retain the ability to choose a quarterly jump.
I am aware that many of you still would like the app to re-open to the current month but I am afraid that my software package does not have that ability and to do so I would have to manually write and insert code, which could be a nightmare. I will try a different software to overcome the problem.
Suggestions are always welcome and now is the time to make them since I start creating in a few short weeks.
Thanks again for the support.
Preston
fourcatsapp@gmail.com
NALC Br.133 retired
They're Up
9/2/2019
Thank You!! Based on the 2019 downloads I should be able to continue to make the calendar at least a few more years. Your support makes this possible.
UPDATE: I have added the Amazon App marketplace, as a test, to see what how much attention it would get.
It's September and between babysitting the grandbaby and coding, I worked furiously the last couple of weeks to finish, but I finished. Apps are up in the Google PLAY store and the Amazon App store. For some reason though, they don't show up in PLAY store searches. Even the link that I put in the App itself doesn't work well. I got the best results using the search "colorcal" "carriers" with the quotes.
Anyway, They are up and I really like the look and functionality that has evolved. I think the future iterations will continue to look very much the same. If you feel otherwise let me know. I put a survey up for you to give me feedback.
Worth repeating, the downloads of the note keeping calendar is terrible. and I expect to stop making it in a year or so if downloads don't improve.
Final words for this blog. Be safe and save furiously in the TSP because retirement is great and babysitting beats working any day of the week.
As Always,
Thanks for your support
Preston NALC133 (retired)
2020 almost ready
8/4/2019
Turns out the setting of defaults for the app at start-up is not something my software can do automatically. If I want to add the feature I would have to learn Javascript and insert it manually into the code. So for now it will be a no-show.
I did add a quarterly split calendar to the app in addition to the single strip calendar. I hope you can try it and provide some feedback on it.
The user interface is a bit different, but I hope it is still intuitive enough that I don't need to provide instructions. I really like the look of the latest release and hope you do as well.
I will keep the pricing steady for the coming year.
The note keeping app will get another year, but the lack of interest seems to have doomed it. There is just too few downloads to justify the time involved in creating the versions
Amazon App store will get one more year. Apparently the one person that got it really hated it, because they didn't read the description and left a scathing review.
As Always,
Thanks for your support
Preston NALC133 (retired)
It's time again
6/26/2019
It is once again time to start coding... YAY??!!??
Anyway, this year I received very little feedback. That must mean I am doing something right? I have a few changes in mind for the interface and setting some defaults, whether I can implement remains to be seen. It is a function of my coding skills and the limitations of the software I use, so... we'll see.
I have been creating the individual color calendar with note keeping, but there doesn't seem to be much interest. So little in fact that it just doesn't make sense to continue it. I will continue for another year and re-evaluate. The note keeping feature did not transfer well to the All Color calendar but I may try again. However don't be surprised if they do not get continued.
0I will list the calendar in the Amazon App store for another year, but it got ZERO downloads this year and it's a hassle to create a store listing for Amazon, because they have different listing requirements than Google PLAY.
I've said it before and I will say it again. Thank you for your support. Your downloads are just enough for me to meet expenses and stash a couple bucks in my granddaughter's 529. It also gives me something to do for a couple of months while the granddaughter is with her other grandparents.
NOTE: If you arrived at this page through a search engine, you can find the apps in the GOOGLE Play Store by searching FourCats ColorCal https://play.google.com/store/search?q=%22colorcal%22%20%22fourcatsapp%22
WARNING: I noted on the store description that I only publish in the OFFICIAL Google PLAY store. I just wanted to expand on why I mention this. Apparently, there are APP marketplaces that have picked up my app but when you click on their download link it wants to first install some other APP before it takes you to the Google PLAY store. I do not know what that APP is or does but you can be pretty certain that it is not anything that you need or want.
UPDATE: I have added the Amazon App marketplace, as a test, to see what how much attention it would get.
Oops
12/15/2018
It has been brought to my attention that I goofed on the RED version of the calendar. It seems that I highlighted the third instead of the first of January for the News Years holiday. Anyway, I thought about making an update, but decided against it because the error is right at the beginning of the year and likely would be passed before I had the update ready and approved.
I apologize to those who may be affected
read set go
--->7/31/2018
No news is good news. This years main comments were in regard to my discontinuing the all color calendar and as such I will continue to create the all color version. Other than that I only made minor tweaks to the code and interface.
All the 2019 calendars will be posted by August 1, 2018. Reason being that the software package I use is preparing a Google mandated update and I do not expect them to have their update complete by then. So rather than facing a possible delay in getting the apps posted I have decided to get them up and post an update when my vendor gets their software updated. The main impact of the Google update seems to be that some Android8.0 devices may not find the app in the store.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Preston
Another year older.
6/5/2018
Time to start coding. If you have any suggestions NOW is the time to let me know. If they can be worked into the app, I'll see what I can do. I have tried many suggestions in the past, and kept the ones that I felt improved the user experience.
In case you missed the headline, last year's downloads were encouraging. There were enough downloads to cover next years expected expenses, so I will keep on going.
Finally, last bit of news, Even though I have threatened to discontinue one version or another in the past, I will continue to create the full set of color calendars as well as the basic calendar. Both options seem to be picking up traction.
Please continue to spread the word! Thanks for your support.
It's all good
9/2/2017
The calendars for 2018 are in the PLAY store.
I tried to add random choosing of month and remembering where you previously left off, but unfortunately, the software that I am using does not support that abilty. I did come up with a work around that seems to be a satisfactory alternative. I also was adding more holidays and dates of interest but the calendar started to look really cluttered. I did add a few more dates of interest that impact the federal employee.
There is a chance that you get the message "undefined" where notes are displayed. This is caused by not having viewed the full calendar before viewing the all color or notes page. Essentially what is happening is the storage variables are not initialized until the editable pages are viewed. I tried to correct this condition but that created a host of other issues which were more serious than getting the undefined message.
HELP!!
I had to bump the price of the calendar this year. Last years downloads were the best yet but the increased expenses were just barely covered. I face another large increase of costs next year. Spread the word so I can keep ahead of costs.
Thanks for your support
Preston
2018 is in the works
8/9/2017
Working on the calendar for 2018. It should be in the PLAY store about August 25(?)
This year I am releasing an all color calendar without note keeping that is very much like last year's, as well as, note keeping calendars for each of the 6 different schedules. The note keeping calendars are getting a complete re-write of the interface and design. I received good ideas for the calendar and am implementing some of those ideas. Some of the submissions and some of my ideas were not possible due to limitations of the software that I use.
They will all to be priced at $1.05 US. The reason for the increase of .06 is to help defray software costs which tripled this year.
I am making some changes in the interface and design. If you have comments (good or bad) about the changes, please let me know.
I am having an issue that I am working on but cannot seem to solve; one of the "Save" buttons works as it should but the other requires two taps to save the changes. The code looks the same but there is a bug that makes one act differently. If I figure out the issue, I will do an update.
Just a reminder, Only get the calendar from the PLAY store. That is the only place that I submit it to. I have seen other sites that offer a link to it. I cannot be clear enough in saying the other sites should not be trusted because they have not asked for or received an official version of the app and I have know way to know if the app has been altered in any way.
Like before, I expect to continue to write a calendar for the foreseeable future, but I need to get enough downloads to cover costs.
All the best to you and work safe.
Preston
USPS 1985-2016 (Retired)
APWU 1985-1989
NALC 1989-2016 (and into retirement)
Time to code!!
6/4/2017
It's that time of the year again and I am preparing to start 2018's calendar. I got a few good suggestions last year as well as a few that are still beyond my skill set. I am working on improving my coding for next years calendar, but we'll see how that goes. In any event, If there was something you would like improved or have any suggestions, now is the time to let me know.
I have decided to incorporate the plus version into the basic and hope it goes well. It does mean a larger download size, but also means you will get the complete set of calendars with note taking.
P.S. I have been retired since the first of the year and am loving babysitting my grand daughter. It's tiring, but beats working any day!
looking good
1/3/2017
I have retired!!! After 31+ years as a clerk and carrier I have finally achieved the golden watch.
The app seems to be getting good traction this year and that means I'm in for at least one more year. At this point, the app will be a hobby since I am no longer working and I anticipate to continue to make it as long as it's economical (Remember I am now on a fixed income).
I may discontinue the plus version of the calendar if the downloads continue to be at their current levels. It just isn't living up to its potential. I will decide as I get closer to time to code again.
Thanks for all your support!
2017 apps are about to be published
9/18/2016
I received some comments about the colors used in the 2016 calendar, the 2017 versions have switched to primary colors. Also there were a few suggestions about the scrolling method change from vertical in the 2015 version to horizontal in the 2016 version. After using both versions I have decided to switch back to vertical scrolling.
Currently, the "All Color" and "Black (A) PLUS" versions are in the PLAY store, and the rest of the PLUS versions should be put up this week.
I am considering dropping the PLUS calendars after this year. There just has not been enough interest to justify the time to continue making it. I may change my mind if there is more interest expressed.
2017 is on the way9/6/2016
09/05/2016 The 2017 Calendars will be available on the PLAY store in about 2 weeks. When I coded the Basic version, apparently I missed a check box somewhere and it does not display correctly on screens larger than 6 inches. I know this will not be an issue for the majority of you, but I just know that someone with a tablet will get it and leave a bad review and any bad review really affects the ranking on the store. So, I have decided to hold off publishing any of the calendars until it is corrected.
I have been asked to create a calendar with alphabet coded days off and I checked around to determine which alphabet scheme seemed most prevalent. I have added letters to the colors which seem to be the most common scheme, but this year only on the Basic version. I assume if you are getting the PLUS version you already figured out which SDO color corresponds to your letter.
Due to lack of interest, the Monday exclusion calendar will no longer be available. This will not affect carriers since I do not believe any office excludes Mondays from their rotations.
There was an security issue "under the hood" of the 2016 calendar this was not an issue in this APP because I keep the connectivity functions limited. Just thought I would mention it.
01/14/2016 I have been asked if I have plans to create a iOS (Apple) version of the calendar. Initially my thought is no, because of the fees and policies of the Apple app store... HOWEVER if there is enough demand I may create one to test the market. Send me an email if this is something that may interest you. An email link is near the bottom of this page.
10/31/2015 Calendars for 2016 are up in the PLAY store. I wrote versions for the basic calendar and the note keeping PLUS version. The PLUS version uses a carousel type (horizontal) scroll. Also I wrote a vertical scrolling PLUS version in brown.
08/04/2015 WARNING: ONLY get apps from the Google PLAY store. Other sources may provide unsafe and/or altered apps. For your safety, I only distribute through the Google PLAY store. I recently did a search and found a number of "app aggregators" were showing my apps. They appear to be selling a bootlegged copy but I am not really sure. If they are just linking to the Google PLAY store, I think they would be safe but from the landing page it is hard to tell if they are linking to the PLAY store or selling as their own. Just be careful.
07/31/2015 Changed my mind on pricing of PLUS version. It involved a lot more effort to code than first thought. Pricing will be $1.25.
07/20/2015 Putting final touches on the 2016 calendar for standard color codes. Decided on pricing and future projects.
I am going to continue to offer the Monday exclusion calendar since I have 3 years done. It will not have note taking and when the finished calendars are all published I will not create any further UNLESS there is significant demand. Runs on Android 2.3 and up. Pricing will stay at $0.99
I am going to continue to offer ColorCal (renamed ColorCal Basic) without the note taking feature because I have about 3 years already completed and because It will support Android back to version 2.3. It is currently tested and works on all current Android releases. Pricing will continue to be $0.99
I have in development ColorCal PLUS which includes note taking. I am going to release this as individual colors with the all color version included. By doing this I can keep download sizes smaller and software fees down. I have improved the calendar images and it displays well on both phones and 10" tablets. Paydays are boxed in green with green numbering and start of Pay Periods are boxed in blue. Notes are stored locally on your device so no connectivity is required. I aim to keep my apps simple and non-intrusive and also want to limit data sharing. Unfortunately, my software package no longer supports Android versions prior to 4.1 so this version will not be an option for some of the users of ColorCal Basic Pricing will be $0.99.
04/2015 I have started development of a tablet version as well as a phone version with a note taking feature. I have not decided on pricing yet. I may have to bump the price of the new versions and leave the original style versions at $0.99 OR I may price the new version at $0.99 and lower the price of the original. It just depends on how many downloads I get by the time it comes to put it in the store. It is really difficult to justify price increases but I still have costs to cover.
I recently changed the name of the original calendar to include the year that it covers. I did this so that it will be more apparent that next years calendar will be a new app purchase and not an annual update.
01/2015 I have been asked about adding note space and the ability to mark annual leave on the calendar. Be aware that adding features like those will increase the download size as well as require more permissions and access to reading and writing to your device's memory. Personally I just wanted a simple calendar for reference, but I will consider the suggestions. Also feedback I have received tells me to keep the app paid, which is also my preference. Adding ads to the app it will require connectivity for use and expose you to data mining and possible other personal intrusions.
12/1/2014 I am considering working on a tablet version of the calendar. Better resolution and more important dates.
11/7/2014 Done developing for now and hoping downloads improve. If you have downloaded and like it please leave a review on the play store. I hope to create a tablet version in the future. Current versions work on tablets but the resolution is not ideal.
10/1/2014 Made a few corrections and added paydays to both calendar apps. Trying to get the word out so I can continue developing.
9/14/2014 My second app is done! Calendar for Sunday / Rotating with Monday exclusion is uploaded. Search Play store for ColorCal FourCats
9/6/2014 I am starting a calendar for Sunday / Rotating with a Monday day off exclusion. This is for Postal employees whose offices employ rotating days off but exclude Mondays from the rotation.
9/4/2014 My only app currently is ColorCal 2015 a color coded day off calendar using the standard color codes used by the USPS. Intended for letter carriers and clerks and their families (because they want to keep track of you too) and whomever else might be able to use or adapt it for their needs It is an Android app and can be found in the GOOGLE Play store. It's only $0.99 so... I do not think I will be getting rich especially when you add up the time and expenses to make and publish it. Stop back by as I intend to add more apps soon
FourCatsApp@gmail.com