Could be better!
Definitely not as informative as I thought the app would be. I have submitted several pics and video at least a week ago and they are still pending approval. Maybe they are overwhelmed, not sure but how can we track if they aren’t approving the images. This app could use some work!
Great Idea - Terrible Usability
I downloaded this app thinking that it would actually work, be user friendly, so on and so forth. Rarely do I take the time to give any app a review unless it blows my mind in either direction. Obviously I’m not happy with its performance hence the 2 star rating and my review ( if one wants to call it that). So anyway, even with 4GLTE, the app is sluggish and very time consuming to even complete the simplest tasks such as pinpointing my location to share where the critters have been sighted and sharing my photos of them.
If things on here happen to improve where an amended review would be warranted, I’ll be sure to take the time to do so, otherwise I’ll let it stand as written and carry on.
Thank you to all involved and have a wonderful day!
Quote of the day - “It’s definitely better to burn out than fade away”.
If things on here happen to improve where an amended review would be warranted, I’ll be sure to take the time to do so, otherwise I’ll let it stand as written and carry on.
Thank you to all involved and have a wonderful day!
Quote of the day - “It’s definitely better to burn out than fade away”.
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Psyched for Cicadas
Along with other outlets, I credit Cicada Safari for igniting an unexpected excitement for the anticipated invasion of (of all things) bugs. The night they emerged we were borderline giddy uploading pictures and video to the app. After the waiting period I was low-key traumatized reading submissions were rejected. Are they rejected because images were poor quality, or because app was unable to collect enough data from the transmission. Or do they feel my entries are deceptive stock art? Just stating my submissions have been rejected is a bit vague, cold and disengaging. Maybe I missed something but I found no avenue to directly contact the organization with my questions. Nevertheless, I’m hoping the weather warms up again soon to allow this brood to bounce back and give me another chance with this app. Otherwise, I’ll look forward to seeing these winged wonder again in 17 years.
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Cool idea, lackluster design
I have submitted over 50 photos and 10 videos and only show that 11 photos have been approved. The approval lag time is quite abysmal and a turn off in continuing to help document this awesome event.
Super disappointing
Fun idea! Downloaded this app last weekend to help track the cicadas in my neighborhood. However, none of the photos I took have made it past “pending approval”, so I will be deleting this app. Bummer.
Communicate with your users!
The app needs to tell people their photos won’t be approved anytime soon due to the large volume of pics being submitted right now during the emergence. After 4 frustrating days of wondering why mine were continuously “Pending Approval,” and no communication from Cicada Safari, I had to come here to the App Store to read reviews (and the App developer’s replies) as to why pics weren’t being approved quickly. Apparently it’s the sheer volume of photos being submitted right now and each one has to be looked at by an actual person. Ok, fine, now I get it. But while that’s understandable, do you think the app could COMMUNICATE with people when they submit pics, or a message popping up when it’s opened, that there will be major delays right now due to so many photos being submitted at once. It wouldn’t be hard to do that. Please communicate with the users about this, as all it’s doing is annoying everyone and turning people off. Thanks.
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Wasted opportunity
This app goes against intuition / UX standards, puts multiple unfortunate and really odd barriers in place, and does a really poor job of explaining its use which should be obvious. The concept was good, the execution was terrible. Really wanted to like it and use it, been waiting to upload pics / share for weeks. Now that it’s time it’s too frustrating to try to use. It’s no surprise IT peeps get primary creative credit — IT doesn’t understand how to blend people with tech, and disregards user experience as superfluous. This is like a WIN95 nightmare. What a shame. Happens once every 17 years … deserved far better.
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Mapping questions
Hi,I was wondering why my pics haven’t been added to the map. We have A large population of cicadas in my area and just wanted to make sure we weren’t missed.
Thanks, SD
Thanks, SD
Pending Approval - For Days!
I have been snapping away AND getting messages that my photos have been approved but they don’t appear on the map add still say, “Pending Approval.” I sent an email and still nothing. It’s been over 5 days since a photo was actually approved and on the map.
I’m assuming millions of cicadas makes for a long approval process but a quick glance should take about 3 minutes to get through the 100 pics.
The app is fun. Just wish it worked.
I’m assuming millions of cicadas makes for a long approval process but a quick glance should take about 3 minutes to get through the 100 pics.
The app is fun. Just wish it worked.
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Response from developer
Thank you for reaching out! Due to the sheer volume of photos we are receiving - the map is only displaying approved photos submissions from the past 48 hours. Not to worry though - your photos are still stored in our database for our research. We have received hundreds of thousands of photos already during this emergence, so it is taking our small research team to review and approve all photos. We appreciate your patience as we get through the photos and thank you for your help with this project!
The app is buggy - no pun intended 🤣
I’m a devoted cicada enthusiast, excited to contribute my photos and videos to the Cicada Safari app but for the last ten days (since emergence started in NJ on May 15) the app has not been accepting or uploading my photos.... they seem to be in limbo, awaiting emergence onto the map! I would love some guidance on how to get my photos approved, or are the developers just too overwhelmed with the Brood X emergence happening right now to fix the app?
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Response from developer
Hello Katerina - All photos are manually reviewed and approved to ensure validity of our research data. We have received hundreds of thousands of photos and videos already during this emergence, so it is taking our small research team to review and approve all photos. We appreciate your patience as we get through the photos and thank you for your help with this project! If you encounter any technical issues, please feel free to reach out to cicada.safari@msj.edu for support.
