General Information:

HappyCow's App is an application made for mobile devices that run the Android system.

We have created this app to make accessing the restaurant guide easier while traveling and on-the-go.

This app has the option of using your current location, via GPS or Network, OR allows user to enter an address and a radius to search within.

Look for this in the Google Play "Travel" section under paid apps.

Offered on the US Google Play Store for US$3.99 (1-time payment), which goes towards supporting our costs for creating the app. Future updates and added features will come, please be patient.

If you find this app useful, please remember to return to the Play Store & review it. Your positive feedback is much appreciated! If you have any complaint, please email us what you'd like to see improved.

Functionality and Instructions:

* When you load the app it displays all nearby search results
* Use the search field at the top to search other areas or make specific searches using categories or keywords.
* Map View: From the nearby or search results, pull the list down to access the full map view.
* Map View: Long press anywhere to refresh results on the map.
* Add Listings to Favorites by clicking on the bookmark icon from search results or the details page. These are then available offline.
* Create Trips to save groups of listings together. These are also available offline.
* To toggle mi/km, visit the "Me" tab and then the menu in the upper right.
* Touch any of the places listed to view the detail page for that venue.
* From the listing page, touch the phone number to dial location.
* From the listing page, click on 'map' (listed above the address) for a map of location only and driving directions.
* From the listing page, if many reviews exist, a button to view them will show at the bottom.
* When viewing reviews, click on individual reviews to view full text.
* When viewing reviews, if a photo exists, you can click it to view larger.
* Use back to return to previous screen.
* Define a set distance from center of location via the filters section.
* Filter results by selecting veg-types and other filters.
* Clear filters by clicking on the [x] in the search field or using RESET in the Filters section and the Apply.

Questions & Answers:

1) When I start the app it says, "Sorry, unable to determine location..," - why?
Your phone's GPS and/or Network might be disabled, or maybe you are in a location that does not receive a signal.
To turn on Location Services:
a) Go to your device Settings app
b) Scroll down and click on "Apps"
c) Scroll down and find the HappyCow apps
d) Click on "Permissions"
e) For Location permission: "Allow only when using the app", and ideally turn on "Use precise location" then try again.
* To confirm if your location system is working, try opening your Google Maps app and see if "My Location" works (under menu).

2) It frequently states location cannot be determined, despite my Location Services being on...
Location is not determined by this app - it's found using one of services included by your phone. If you find that your Google Maps "My Location" is working, but the app is not, from the same location, please let us know. Most likely you are in an area that doesn't get great reception. Try moving outdoors.

3) Why is the location shown not exactly where I am located?
Depending on which location service is used, "precise" or "approximate," your location is determined differently. Precise (GPS) satellites are usually the most precise, though the wireless network is sometimes quite accurate.

4) I'm getting a message "Service is not responding. Please check your Internet connection..." or "Service don't respond" and the app closes, what's going on?
There are 3 causes of this message, (1) You are not connected to the Internet, (2) you are using an old version of the app which is no longer supported, (3) HappyCow server is being updated or is currently down. Solution: Make sure you are receiving an Internet connection (required for the app to work), and update to latest version if you haven't already. If that fails, please try again a few minutes later.
Also, once you are certain Internet is working, try hitting menu and "Search" as soon as you open the app. Then choose, "Set Location" and enter your location- this resets the device regarding connections.

5) App keeps crashing whenever I go to look at a specific restaurant
Try uninstalling the app, restarting your device, then re-install the latest version. If that doesn't work let us know.

6) Paid apps are not yet available in my country, how can I get the app?
You may also download the HappyCow App thru Amazon.com.

7) Why does HappyCow need all of these permissions?
* Location: HappyCow apps use your device location to find great restaurants near your current location. HappyCow never stores your device location on our servers longer than needed.
* Photos/Media/Files: HappyCow apps provide you with a way upload restaurant photos from your existing library on your device. HappyCow never accesses your photos until you choose to view them from within the app.
* Camera: The HappyCow app allows you to take photos of your favorite restaurants and we encourage your to share them with other HappyCow users. The app stores these with your other pictures on your device so you can admire them whenever you please or upload at a later date. We never access your camera or save photos until you perform those actions from within the app.

8) How do I get my Trips / Favorites onto the app from my member account?
Trips / Favorites should load automatically once you login to your member account. Try pulling down to refresh the results. You may login to your member account to multiple devices to have the data on different devices.

9) I bought the app previously, but needed to reset my phone (or got a new phone). Do I need to pay again?
Once you buy the app, you own it. There is no need to pay again to download it as long as you login to the Google Play Store with the same Google ID / email account on the new device.
Additional note: The cost to download is a one-time fee, there is no subscription, nor additional costs. If you previously bought the old Premium version you can open a ticket and we'll provide a code to upgrade the freemium version.

10) What's the difference between the Full version and the Free (upgraded) app?
We started with a paid version which goes to support the high development costs of creating and maintaining the app. Later on we decided to offer a free version so that it was more accessible to everyone. The free model is constantly being improved and at this time there is an in-app upgrade which gives you the same functionality as the Full version app, but without the need to download a separate app. Functionality in the Upgraded Free version and Full version is identical, however the Full Version is now unpublished and not accessible on the Google Play store, only found on the Amazon store.

11) I bought a new phone, and switched phone numbers. Is there a way to re-download the app without paying again?
Once you buy the app upgrade you own it for life. Confirm that you're logging into the Play Store with the same user ID which you used to originally purchase it and you should be able to download it again for free. If this was on Android, note that there were two versions of the app and possibly the one that you purchased was discontinued a couple years ago, after which we made the apps free so that everybody could have it and not need to pay again (Android). Only new users should need to purchase it. For users who haven't had the app installed in the past year(s), we offer a method to resolve the matter, just open a ticket. Also note that login and the app upgrade are two separate things.

Do you have a question that was not answered here? Or is there a feature you'd like to see added? - email us

Report technical difficulties - here

If you have any complaint, please email us what you'd like to see improved.

If you find this App useful, please remember to return to the Google Play Store to rate & review it. We appreciate your positive feedback.