An open email to the developers.
I just sent this apps makers an email via their website. Here is what it said:
While I appreciate the intent of your apps designers, I cant help but be a mite frazzled by what I assume to be the misrepresentation of "pop-astrology" as its scientific elder sibling. I have been unable to verify my suspicion since the app is not available in my area. The Sun sign is only a single, and frankly not very romantically telling, component of ones overall astrological natal chart. As persons who claim an understanding of astrological principle, it is frustrating that you folks dont seem to have gone the extra mile in ensuring the sound foundation of your pursuit by incorporating... actual astrology. The Sun sign-fluff serves no purpose but to undermine and unintentionally ridecule the practice by presenting the sort of half-baked, distracting "fun stuff" typically regurgitated by mass media. Im not saying bore your users with aspects, houses and ephimerides -- all of these factors can be calculated behind-the-scenes, so to speak, to maintain user friendliness while still adequately calculating significant points of synastry compatibility. I often point the uninitiated to websites such as cafeastrology.com, isarastrology.org or astro.com when Im trying to convey the mathematical beauty of the science underlying true astrology. (Nevermind the profusion of pink in the first website.) So, if youve never heard of these two sites (theyre kind of a big deal among practicing astrologers, particularly the novices among us) then Id wholly recommend you do a little study-work and expand your understanding as you go further into development. Making astrological synastry matching easily digestible for the layperson is commendable. Pawning "pop-astrology" off on the unconscious public is however a most discouraging setback to the entire field of study. To clarify, you have my applause for having the boldness to pursue such a course. But have the foresight to avoid trivializing the source field, please. Best of wishes to you folks.
HallLytton about
Align - Astrology Dating, v2.1.1