Software developers are human like anyone else and, occasionally, they make mistakes. This extends beyond the developer of any of Small Screen's titles; mobile platforms are, themselves, effectively software and, from time to time, experience issues. The process of creating mobile apps is not an easy one – it is certainly harder than snapping one’s fingers or working a Sudoku puzzle. Writing software is a lot like doing endless algebra problems – and most of you probably hated that subject in school.

Remember this when you write Small Screen Software with issues or problems. There’s a live person on the end of what you send and a lack of politeness doesn’t make it easier to resolve an issue, even if you are a paying customer.

Here’s what’s required in order to report a bug:

Please remember you are not sending a text message. Requests for help should start with an appropriate greeting such as “Hello,”, “Hi”, or “Dear Small Screen”. Leaving this off is the equivalent of just walking up to someone and barking orders at them. Please don’t be rude (or, in today’s vernacular, a “douche-bag”).

State the nature of the problem specifically. It is not enough to say “my program ain’t working”; what’s the developer supposed to do with that? Here are some suggestions on what to report:

• Which platform the software is for, Android or iOS
• The version of the software you have
• The screen on which the problem occurred
• What model mobile device you have. For Android, this would include the Droid, the Nexus One, the Samsung Moment or the EVO. For iPhone, this would include the iPhone 3, iPhone 3GS, or the iPhone 4.
• What version of the mobile device's operating system you have. For Android, this might be 2.2 ("Froyo"), 2.1 ("Eclair"), or 1.6 ("Donut"). For iOS, this might be iOS 4 or iPhone OS 3.
• What you were trying to do at the time
• Any values that you entered into entry fields (a number, a name, etc.), or the control you last “touched” (this could be a check box or opening a “level” of the Help facility, for example)
• The button or control you last pressed before the problem occurred - the Menu button, a space bar, the End button, etc.
• Anything else you remember that may have triggered the problem – an incoming phone call interrupting your entering a transaction, twisting or sliding the keyboard out, or trying to use the program after turning your mobile device back on.
• Whether you had a previous version of the software that worked, or if this is a new installation of it.

Developers can’t help you without specific information. We are computer programmers…not magicians.

Please close your request with an appropriate closing – “Thanks”, “Peace”, “Have a nice day,” whatever floats your boat – followed by your first name (at least).