Track EVE skill training on your iPhone
by James Egan 
Sep 10th 2008 at 1:00PM
Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, News items
Having a pared-down, mobile version of the EVE Online client has been on the wish list of many players, as well as the to-do list of the CCP Games developers. Unfortunately, EVE mobile doesn't yet exist. The closest thing to this currently offered are mobile applications that monitor skill training and the market. However, there seem to be more and more of them lately, perhaps largely driven by the popularity of the iPhone and iPod touch. One of the shinier apps out there for the iPhone is EVE Tracker from Saggy Software, an application that also runs on the iPod touch. As its name implies, EVE Tracker can track a pilot's stats and training status; it displays your avatar and isk balance, in addition to your attributes and skillpoints. You can review your character's skill progression (skills previously trained) and flip through related info with a skill browser. EVE Tracker can handle multiple characters and multiple accounts, which could be handy for those who took advantage of EVE's Power of Two subscription offer a little while back.
One caveat about EVE Tracker (as shown on its iTunes App Store page) is that your account must be active in order to use its pilot tracking features -- so those who stop paying for their capital alt account while training up Gallente Carrier 5... this app is probably not going to help you.
EVE Tracker needs your limited API key, which is a simple matter to find (and if you're using EVEMon -- and we hope you are -- you already know how to use this.) The downside, which people have mentioned on the EVE forums, is that the iPhone's lack of copy-paste means that that long API string will need to be entered manually.
A few EVE players have commented that they're having problems getting EVE Tracker to run on their iPhones, but others seem to be faring well. The app is free so it might be worth a look if you've got either an iPhone or iPod touch. Check out the developer's site for more details and a gallery of screenshots showing the app in action. Of course there are other competing apps out there. Are there any others that you swear by?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Adam F said on 1:45PM 9-10-2008
Here is another Freebie that I've been using on my Nokia N82, it's been working great! ( so the non-iphone/pod users are not left out of mobile skill tracking )
http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=544226
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Lemmo said on 2:09PM 9-10-2008
This is all frickin' awesome. Though, from what I can see, it just lets you monitor, and not actually interface? Still, it's a step in the right direction.
For years I've wanted to be able to manage and "play" my MMOs from remote services such as web browsers or cellphones. I'd like to play an MMO where I can always be connected in some fashion, even if it's just managing training or auctions or such.
Glad to see EVE paving the way.
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James Egan said on 4:01PM 9-10-2008
Lemmo -- that's correct. You can't actually log in and switch your skill training, really this provides an accurate picture of where your characters are in terms of skill training.
The main benefit of apps like this is you don't absentmindedly leave your character alone for a while, not training skills.
Personally I also like being able to see an isk balance when monitoring my progression. I actually just use the EVE Skill Monitor widget on my computer, which alerts you when skill training is completed... sometimes loudly at inopportune moments, but at least it does the job.
And Adam F -- thanks for that link for Mobile Skill Planner. Seems the project's site is having issues? I'll take another look later on.
CrazyKinux said on 2:52PM 9-10-2008
Me rushes to get his iPod touch and install it! Ooh, this is a real treat!!!
Maybe we'll eventually get to this:
http://www.crazykinux.com/2008/07/eve-online-working-on-iphone-3g.html
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Adam F said on 7:15PM 9-10-2008
James,
not sure what kinda issues the project site is hitting I was able to download a new version a couple nights ago after the emp age 1.1 patch it had trouble parsing the skills but all seems right with the world again :)
The ability to change skill from my cellphone would RULE :-) make training the little ones a lot easier.
Adam.
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