Pinball Map App 5.4.0

A year ago we wrote a really good blog post called Zoomy Map. Since then we have apparently had nothing to blog about. We meant to do a 2025 wrap-up post… but here we are.

Zoomy Map laid the foundation for this latest app update. It was basically a proof of concept for the logic required to make a map that can load 12,000+ map markers in a second, with no performance issues. As noted in that post, the logic was basically to split apart the map data request and the “location list” data request.

We even POCed it in the app last year, but it required a lot of additional work to get right. But at least we knew that those pesky “zoom limits” (where you could only zoom out so far before we said “hey wait”) would be eradicated soon enough.

Backing up a sec, app release 5.3.0 was in August 2023. Since then there have been 42 5.3.x releases. All exquisite releases with many great features, but still none had quite the oomph to crest that hill into 5.4.x-land. We knew that zoomy app would get us there. To be honest, zoomy app is the feature hanging over our heads for years and years. Zoom limits are a lame technical issue. The past couple years’ work was our version of a sprint to knock out our most important issues and finally feel that the app and website are in a “stable” state, and that perhaps we can chill out.

So yeah, this 5.4.0 app release removes the zoom limits and now you can see the entire world. But that’s not all! We closed 18 of the 25 github issues with this app update. It is packed with sweet features. What’s funny is that there are virtually no design changes. We spent the last couple of years creating API endpoints with a masterplan in mind for the app, and this update is essentially wiring in those endpoints.

Here is a rundown.

Zoomy app

• Remove zoom limits - now you can zoom out to the entire world.
• Updated map marker colors (based on number of machines).

Pagination

• Added pagination to the Location List, and Recent Activity and Location Activity feeds.

Previously we were just fetching the most recent 200 items. But no more! Now it’s 50 per page (which is faster than 200)

Global Activity

• Added a “Global Activity” feed option to Recent Activity so you can see edits across the entire map.

Your Activity

• Added a “Your Activity” filter to the activity feeds so you can just see your own edits.

Machine Activity

• Added a “Select Machines” option in Recent Activity so that you can limit activity to particular machines (can include more than one).

5 New Filters, Plus Multiselect

• Select multiple machines.
• Select multiple location types.
• Choose whether you want see locations where a particular machine (or machine group) has Stern Insider Connected enabled.
• Filter by manufacturer (can select multiple, and this also filters the machine selection list).
• Filter by machine type (All or EM, and this also filters the machine selection list).
• Filter by span of machine years - start and end years.
• Filter by whether the location has at least one Stern IC machine (any machine).

High Score Tracking Revamp

• Track your highest score across any copy of a machine. Displays highest score on machine details screen (and user profile).
• Exclude scores from other users - both from machine details screens and from the activity feeds. You can see other people’s scores if you select the “High Scores” filter in activity feeds.
• Profile screen shows your highest score per machine, as well as some high score statistics.

Show Other User’s Profiles

• Usernames are now clickable, so you view their profile.

Stats Page

• Added a Stats page (linked in About) that shows cool map statistics.

And More, Such As

• Confirmation modal for IC toggle button.
• Added a Share button to bottom sheet on map screen.
• Notify user when a Suggested Location appears to be a duplicate.
• Speed up initial app load.
• Location details should load faster.
• Map results should load faster.
• Better error message handling for disabled users.