Bee keeping apps?

[Adam Bee]

Taking a clue off of this thread [https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44312] (how to keep your phone clean) and the most recent BBKA magazine, where they mention an app for counting varroa from images of the bottom board...

What apps do you use to help you? How are they helping you? What would you like them to do that they don’t?

There are a few on the App Store but I’m unclear if they are of any value.

Do you have one/any to recommend?

(Please no “just use paper” comments. I’m actually curious about what’s out there and what can be improved.)

 

[Apiarisnt]

I use Beetight. Not perfect, but good enough for me to access or enter data on my ’phone in the field, and then examine and assess the data on my laptop back at home. The ability to add pictures in the field is also useful.

 

[Helen]

Evernote. Have a 'Bees' notebook, with one note per hive. Use a table in the note for recording all relevant info - one row for each inspection.

As it's stored in the cloud, accessible everywhere.

 

[citrus]

i use 'journey' an android app for a daily diary .. .it allows me to use hashtags so can include bee inspection notes that I can search back ... can also save images etc or document

i.e

#vape #demarree

can also use it to look back at oil changes and an hour counter for motorcycle stuff, fitness and other commitments

so a daily diary for all of my stuff that is easily searchable and also allows me to record #datenight .. when my wife says " you never take me out ... I can refer back !

so its a 5min job each morning to update it

that said my mentor uses bricks on the top of his hives like some sort of Easter Island hieroglyphics as an aide memoire to queen status !

 

[oliver90owner]

A pencil and pad is as good as anything for notes in the apiary. KISS Principle.

 

[Murox]

A pencil and pad is as good as anything for notes in the apiary. KISS Principle.

I have not yet discovered a need for a special application to conduct my beekeeping activities.

 

[Curly green fingers]

I have not yet discovered a need for a special application to conduct my beekeeping activities.

I didn't even know such things existed " apps for beekeeping" .
The same here I'll keep using pen and paper but I'm a 39 year old who's not very good with technology.
And a wee bit old fashioned .

 

[Adam Bee]

If you’ve not tried an app, perhaps you’re missing out? One thing that apps are good for is sharing data and building up large crowd sourced datasets for very important research. Not seeing much on the App Store that does this. That being said... there are a couple of apps on the apple App Store:

BeePlus Beekeeping Manager by OmniChrome
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/beeplus-beekeeping-manager/id1018655661

Beetight by Matt Kane
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/beetight/id415708243 (As mentioned above)

BeeVTool: Beekeeper Honey Tool by RIEU Limited
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/beevtool-beekeeper-honey-tool/id1423910064

PollenCheck√ by Bee Informed Partnership
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pollencheck/id1231970820

btree App - Professional Beekeeping Software by tablegray gmbh (German)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/btree-app-professional-beekeeping-software/id1115267587

If there’s something you’re looking for in an app, perhaps I’ll write one, but it’s not my primary interest. I’d rather find one that already works.

 

[oliver90owner]

If you’ve not tried an app, perhaps you’re missing out?

There again, perhaps we are not missing out on anything at all. Perhaps we are even far better off without them?

 

[Hivemaker.]

If you’ve not tried an app, perhaps you’re missing out?

There again, perhaps we are not missing out on anything at all. Perhaps we are even far better off without them?

If they are anything to do with mobile phones, I agree, another object people can spend hours piddling about with when they are supposed to be working.

 

[Angry_Mob]

Here comes the luddites.

If you use pencil and paper fine, use it. Don't post in a topic bemoaning another valid method of record keeping, especially under the notion that your method is "simpler".

 

[Apiarisnt]

The Beecraft take on the subject:

It is notable that in the two pages in the current (May 2019) edition of Beecraft devoted to "Essential Skills: Why keep records?", the concept of not using pen and paper or cards is dismised by the editor with a dozen words:

"...or keyed into some sort of computer sytem or your mobile phone."

 

[Adam Bee]

If you’ve not tried an app, perhaps you’re missing out?

There again, perhaps we are not missing out on anything at all. Perhaps we are even far better off without them?

I did ask in the original post:

(Please no “just use paper” comments. I’m actually curious about what’s out there and what can be improved.)

Please don’t troll my thread. This is a serious question and I’d like serious answers.

 

[Adam Bee]

If they are anything to do with mobile phones, I agree, another object people can spend hours piddling about with when they are supposed to be working.

I did ask in the original post:

(Please no “just use paper” comments. I’m actually curious about what’s out there and what can be improved.)

Please don’t troll my thread. This is a serious question and I’d like serious answers.

As a moderator, you should know better.

 

[inspectnext]

I posted a thread of my own, but this thread relates as well. I am creating an App and think if there are people like yourselves offering feedback, that would be great.

I have created an App to help beekeepers find the best time to inspect their beehives or in other locations and it is Free!
It is called InspectNext, and is available on:

IOS: ‎InspectNext
Android: InspectNext - Apps on Google Play
Website: https://inspectnext.com/

Easily view the Optimal, Viable and Inadvisable inspection times, as well as easy to customize. You are able to specify which exact conditions work for you, then the app will tell you what times are Optimal, Viable or Inadvisable based on your own settings.

This app is free and I pay for all of the hosting and services myself, I am just trying to make an app that will be helpful for the community. So if you run into any troubles, or have any feature suggestions, do not hesitate to contact me at:
[email protected]

 

[drdrday]

So if you run into any troubles, or have any feature suggestions, do not hesitate to contact me at:
[email protected]

Just tried the website, out of curiosity, but broke it already! It worked for my location initially, but Farenheit is gobbledygook to me, so I changed it to metric in the settings and then no matter what I tried I just got a blank screen.