FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Users and Members)
Why can’t I download the Visit Halifax app from the Blackberry App Store?
Users with Blackberry, Nokia, Palm and Windows Mobile Phones can access the great features of our iPhone and Android Visit Halifax applications through the Visit Halifax Universal Mobi App, which works on all smartphones. Simply visit http://m.destinationhalifax.com on your mobile device’s browser, and enjoy!
How do I redeem a special offer?
In the bottom navigation portion of the app which is visible at all times, you will notice an icon labelled “Offers” with a dollar sign ($) icon above it. Tap on this icon and it will open Visit Halifax’s Special Offers. On this page there is a list of current offers available that will show the name and category icon of the Point-of-Interest (POI), how many offers it has available, as well as the distance the POI is away from your current GPS coorindates. To the right of each item in the list there is a blue circle with an arrow. If you tap on this, it will reveal the details of the POI and display a number of options as gray-coloured icons: Virtual Location, Show on Map, Get Directions, Add to Favourites, Share with Friend. Below these icons is a special offer badge which, when tapped, reveals the details of the offer specific to this POI. To redeem the offer you see, simply show this screen to the Merchant associated with the POI.
The other way to access special offers on an iPhone, is click on any pin in the Map view that has a dollar sign icon showing in the head of the pin. Tapping on this pin will also take you to the POI details screen with special offer badge displayed at the bottom.
Why does the app take time to load?
There are certain variables that contribute to the length it takes to download our App to your Smart Phone, the most common being the strength of your signal (e.g. wireless internet or cellular phone signal). Wireless internet tends to be the quickest option. With over 2,000 points of interest on our App, it’s well worth the wait!
I’ve downloaded your App and tapped it to open. Why is this error message appearing - “This application requires an active data connection. Exiting now.”
This error message occurs when your phone is receiving a weak signal (e.g. wireless signal or cellular phone signal). It means that your signal was lost before your Smart Phone had a chance to fully download all the Visit Halifax information. Click “ok” and try again once you have secured a stronger signal.
How do I find my real time GPS location on the map?
In order to find your GPS location, you must first make sure your “Location Services” setting is turned on. On an iPhone 4, tap Settings on your home screen, then tap Location Services, tap On, and tap On one more time next to your Visit Halifax icon.
Why do some “pins” on the map connect to more detailed content, while others do not?
Each pin represents a unique Point-of-Interest – a lodging, restaurant, attraction, event, etc. When the pin is scrolled over, the name of the Point-of-Interest will appear along with a blue circle with arrow icon. Tapping on the blue circle will reveal any profile information that business has decided to add, including address, website, phone number, description, and logo. Some pins will also display a dollar sign, indicating a special offer is available. It is the responsibility of each business with a Point-of-Interest displayed in the App to add as much or as little information as they please.
Why is it that when I search for particular type of restaurant, hotel, etc., by selecting the filter categories there are no results?
Every business or organization associated with a Point-of-Interest (POI) in the Visit Halifax Mobile App is responsible for contributing the specific content that best describes what they have to offer to visitors and residents. This means that they can select any categories based on features, type and location as well as add a description, logo, and other information such as telephone number and website. If they have not added this level of detail to their POI, they are unlikely to be listed in searches filtered by those categories.
Destination Halifax has encouraged all its members and app affiliates to provide as much “rich content” to their POI as they like to enhance the app experience for all users.
What is “Hot News”?
Hot News refers to big news items regarding major announcements or updates about Halifax and its Points of Interest. New Hot News items will be “pushed” to your App as they are released and a red circle with the of unread news items will appear above the Hot News icon in the bottom navigation portion of the App. Tap the Hot News icon and it will list both new and past items, with unread items being idicated with a blue dot. Tapping on an item will open up the full text of the message. You can turn off these alerts by adjusting your phone’s notification settings. You can also share Hot News items with a friend, by tapping the arrow at the bottom of the full text message.
How do I ensure I’m viewing the most current/updated version of the App?
Data for the Visit Halifax App is updated on a regular basis to ensure users get the most current information available. Most data changes show in real-time, however depending on the device, users may have to “refresh” the App to see the latest updates. With your iPhone 4, simply double click the home button (the round button at the middle/bottom of your iPhone), scroll though until you see the Visit Halifax icon, and then hold your finger down on the Visit Halifax icon. The icons will “wiggle” and a red badge will appear in its upper left corner. Tap the red badge on the Visit Halifax App to close it, and then double click your home button again to return to your home screen. Now tap your Visit Halifax App to open and see a refreshed version complete with all updates.
