Posts tagged iPad

Version 1.1.1* of 4Notes has been submitted to Apple. Along with the enhancements for v1.1, this release provides the following.

• Last Note Shown on Startup (iPad). Previously, 4Notes on the iPad always showed the first note on startup. With this release, 4Notes starts with the last note shown on the previous run. 
• Group Synchronization Fixes: Specifically, Deletion of Groups now syncs across devices. For example, if you delete a group on the iPad, that deletion is replicated on your other Apple devices. Also, modifying a note’s group will tell 4Notes to sync the note to the cloud.
• Compose Button (iPad). Clicking the “Compose” button will bring up the keyboard, no matter if Data Detectors is enabled or disabled.

As always, feedback is always welcome.

* As of this writing, some aspects of this post talk about future features & functionality which have not been approved by Apple for distribution in the iTunes App Store. At this time, Press Start LLC does not guarantee these features will be submitted, approved, or found in a future update.

I thought that making it universal was obvious: my customers don’t need to pay again for it on the iPad, nobody accidentally buys the iPhone version on the iPad and gets a bad experience, and I get the benefits of only managing one app. Win-win.

- Marco Arment

I completely agree with the sentiment above. Universal applications are a win-win for users as well as developers. To me, as a developer as well as a user, universal applications show the user that you want them to have the best experience. 

I wish Apple had a way to filter applications when I search that promoted universal apps. I’m aware of the plus-sign (‘+’) that is beside certain applications, but I would love even more promotion. The value of universal apps to the user should not be understated. 

To understand the value users get from a universal application, take a look at a Cultured Code forum post defending separate applications for iPhone and iPad.

Things for iPad required additional resources (such as a contractor) for development and additional marketing and business development resources. 

We feel that considering the functionality and design of Things for iPad, it’s priced fairly. 

Now, circumstances for apps and developers are all different. This post is not stating that Cultured Code made a bad decision, or that they’re wrong. What I am trying to point out is that developing for the iPad and iPhone is not trivial. It is not taking completed functionality and “skinning” it with a new UI. You are creating many more views and controllers, as well as doubling your test effort to ensure a great product. 

So, I’m not against companies and developers that sell separate builds to recoup costs. However, I think users should really understand the sweat that goes into a universal build and support developers who make our lives easier. 

4Notes is a universal application. I think it is a great distinguisher that one version allows users to install on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. As time moves forward, I plan to support more apps that do the same.

4Notes v1.1 was submitted to Apple last night. It’s been a long road to get this new version completed, but I’m really happy with the results.

4Notes has received tons of positive feedback since its introduction 7 months ago, even being featured on the iTunes App Store front page. This version takes the simplicity of 4Notes and brings it to the iPad, allowing seamless syncing between your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. For example, make a change on your iPhone while you are out. When you get back home, the change will be on your iPad. Or, create a grocery list on your iPad and access that list from your iPhone while you are out. Syncing just works (Press Start Games Account and Setup required).

With support for the iPad, I wanted to let everyone know that 4Notes will be a Universal application. What’s “Universal” mean? It means that you pay once for 4Notes, and it will work on all 3 devices. Think about it. There won’t be a need to buy a “for iPad” or “HD” version. 

Here’s how 4Notes looks on the iPad.

and iPhone…

I’ll have much more to say about 4Notes over the next week (there are many more enhancements besides iPad support), but I wanted to first thank everyone for their support. Creating a Universal application is much more work, but the result is worth it. I’ve been creating and updating notes between devices for a while now, and am very pleased with the results.

Depending on Apple’s review cycle, 4Notes will hopefully be available in Mid-May. 

- Seamless Syncing for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
- Add URLs, email addresses, and phone numbers to your notes.
- Drag/Drop Support. Manually reorder rows. 
- Better Group Control & Synchronization. 
- Better Accessibility, including support for VoiceOver.
- All the features of version 1.0.

See the website for more information. Note that some aspects of this page talk about future features & functionality which have not been submitted and/or approved by Apple for distribution in the iTunes App Store. At this time, Press Start LLC does not guarantee these features will be submitted, approved, or found in a future update.

So. 3 Weeks ago I apologized for my lack of updates. I’d been working on version 1.1 of 4Notes extremely hard and my blogging really suffered. I announced then that version 1.1 was feature complete and I would return to the world of blogging.

Well, it turns out 4Notes was not done, sorta. What happened? The iPad came out. I made a decision when the iPad was announced that I would not make a version of 4Notes without testing on the device. I just couldn’t come up with a good reason to do so, and felt the end result would not meet my strict standards. So, with version 1.1 (iPhone/iPod touch only) in the test phase, I started playing around with the iPad. After using the iPad for a few days, I came to the conclusion that 4Notes needed to be on the iPad “now” instead of version 1.2. Therefore, I have been working extremely hard to update 4Notes, for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

So now, version 1.1 of 4Notes is feature complete and is nearing the end of the test phase. The iPad version works great and I’m extremely pleased with how the app looks and feels. Some notes on the next version.

• It’s a Universal Application. Buy once, and you can use it on iPhone, iPod touch, and your iPad.
• It syncs seamless between devices. Make a change on your iPad, and it updates your other devices. 
• It SYNCS seamless between devices. If you have version 1.0, you’ll notice the difference. I’ll have more on this soon.

4Notes should be submitted to Apple in late April / early May. More to come..

I’ve had just about 1.5 days to play around with the iPad and wanted to post my initial impressions. Overall impression: It’s a sweet device. More detail below.

Safari for iPad is the best browsing experience. That statement sounds like I work for Apple, but I believe Apple nailed the browsing experience. With so many websites littering their pages with columns of ads, I’ve always wanted to easily zoom in and focus on the article (even on my laptop). 

The iPad also brings tabbed pages, which is a must-have feature today, and something I always felt was lacking in the original iPhone software.

Other apps that rock. Photos, GoodReader, Twitterriffic, Pandora.

The iPad is FAST. At least compared to the iPhone 3G I own. Yes, I know that is not a fair comparison, but the speed of everything done on the iPad will make you sit back (or lay back) and take notice. Whether you’re opening an application or downloading a large PDF, you’ll really notice the speed.

The iPad looks great and is well-designed. The aluminum back and all glass front really look good. While I was at the Apple Store, the person helping me asked if I wanted to purchase a case for the iPad. I responded that it would take away from “the sexiness.” This is true.

Weighing in at 1.5 pounds, it also has the “It’s built solid” feel without being too heavy. I held the iPad and read a book while laying down and didn’t notice its weight. I’ve read where people have stated that it’s too heavy for children, but the iPad is no heavier than a small textbook, so I don’t see the issue.

Also, the “screen lock” switch was a great addition. Since many people will be using the iPad in different positions, the ability to ensure the screen stays in portrait or landscape is essential. It’s a feature I always wanted in my iPhone (before the iPad).

iPhone Apps do not look as good as I hoped. iPhone apps are functional on the iPad, which is a tremendous achievement. However, you’ll want to upgrade to iPad specific apps once you start to use the device. I just hope most developers go the universal binary route instead of trying to charge twice for the same application.

Other minor annoyances. You have to sync to iTunes when you first turn it on (I wish it would be a standalone computer if the user wanted it for that purpose). Also, I haven’t found a way to utilize Gmail with multiple “From” accounts (within the Mail app).

I can’t wait to update 4Notes to the iPad, as well as develop new applications. The iPad performs it’s purpose extremely well, and should be a solid success story for Apple. Finally, I can read on a computer (while laying down) without propping the laptop on my stomach. That almost makes the purchase right there. 

I’ll add more impressions later…

Leading up to Apple’s iPad announcement, there was a rumor floating around the internet that the iPad would be a machine that would be shared among the family.

Another bit we didn’t know is that the tablet is supposedly shared among various people in the house, complete with sticky notes that you leave to other people.

With the announcement behind us, no mention of the iPad being a family tablet. However, should the iPad be a family machine? It’s between a smartphone and a laptop. Smartphones, such as the iPhone, are made for a single user. Most of the information on my iPhone (contacts, calendar, email, etc) is mine, and is not shared with other people.

Laptops however, such as my MacBook Pro, are family oriented. My information is controlled by user accounts, which ensure my private information stays with me, but applications and public information can be shared across all accounts on the computer.

So is the iPad a single-user machine or a family machine? Based on the announcement and what we know, it’s definitely a single-user machine. With no user controls, it would be difficult to use the built-in mail client for business if other people could read & reply to those messages. The same could be said for contacts, calendar, and thousands of applications on the iTunes App Store.

Should it be a single-user computer? My thought is “absolutely not.” Steve Jobs made a statement during the announcement (I’m paraphrasing) that if you need to access something, just “pick up your iPad off the kitchen counter.” This definitely seems like the intent would be a family machine.

Will it be a single-user computer? My guess is “No.” I’m a firm believer that iPhone OS4 is going to show the true interface for the iPad, and multi-user support will be part of the new features. Do I have any knowledge of this thought? I do not, but it sure makes a lot of sense.