Doh! I forgot to mention when I posted a recent update for 1000 Words that it is now runs natively on Apple’s latest Macintosh designs with their own M1 chip. It’s not a demanding app but it’s nice all the same, isn’t it?
Native on Apple Silicon
All apps now updated!
Well, I wasn’t expecting to update everything, but due to the new website, the links in Bargain and Identicode needed updating too. Also, I’m not able to change the links on the App Store without submitting updates, so here we are! 🙂
1000 Words V1.1 update
I’ve made a couple of enhancements to this handy app:
- It now updates the word count if you delete a word whereas previously only adding a word would update it.
- The Help file has been improved.
- The app’s icon has been refreshed to better match with the style of Big Sur, though it appears regardless of which version of macOS you are running.
Privacy ratings added
Apple now require developers to answer a number of questions about what their apps do with any user information and this is now shown against every so updated app on the App Store. I’m sorry for the delay in updating these but a number of personal events stopped me doing any updates for a while.
I’m very pleased to say that none of my apps collect any data from you. The only one even approaching that is Pink Plaques which shows your location on the map, but that’s all it does. If you have any questions about this just drop me a line.
New look website
A very big thanks to Chris who has given my website a great makeover. It’s nicer to use, has a bit of life added to it all and even an “Easter egg” (sort of) if you have a look around.
All running fine on iOS 14
Just a quick post to say that all my iOS/iPadOS apps run fine on the iOS 14 Beta so far. I haven’t been able to try 1000 Words yet as I don’t have macOS 11 installed, but when I do I’ll be checking it out for you.
I don’t suppose we will have long to wait.
Identicode crossword from TVC21
I was reading an old copy of the wonderful TV Century 21 and chanced upon a whole page devoted to Identicode, including a crossword!
I’ve included the page below so that you can try it for yourself.
Something I’ve considered adding to Identicode is text recognition using Apple’s vision framework, that way that large chunk of Encoded Blue Text below could be entered directly into Identicode from your device’s camera. It’s never a problem when encoding but as the coded text makes no sense to us it’s easy to mistype.
Identicode V1.7 update
Good things come in threes!
This update is purely to make the app much more Dark Mode friendly as Apple urge us developers to do. It’s the right thing too.
Dark Mode adoption on my other two apps has been fairly standard, but given the frivolous and retro fun side to Identicode I’ve gone a bit further and Dark Mode is quite a bit more playful. I hope you enjoy it – let me know either way.
Bargain – Dark Mode
I’m going a bit update crazy! Version 2.7 of Bargain is now available with support for Dark Mode – no other changes. Sorry for skipping 2.6, that was a mistake on my part!
Pink Plaques V3 released
OK – big surprise time! An update to Pink Plaques.
It’s been almost five years since I’ve updated this app and I’m really happy to say that I’ve finally rectified that; it’s had a considerable makeover to keep it running nicely for a good few years to come.
The finer details of the changes are in the release notes, but some points stand out:
There is no longer a free version, just the one version containing all 73 plaques which means that this is not a free update. It also requires iOS 13.
Every screen in the app has been refreshed.
It now plays properly on all iPhones from the SE 1st generation onwards and will continue to do so with any future sizes as it now uses Apple’s Auto Layout (like my other two apps). It still works fine in landscape too though that’s only really of benefit for the map and landscape photos.
The map has had quite an update! It now offers Satellite view as well as the Standard view. Plaques can be filtered to any tour directly from the map screen. Each plaque now has a subheading when tapped that gives a clue or teaser about that location which adds a bit of fun and interest.
Each detailed plaque page now has a “map button” that will open Apple Maps and give you walking directions from your current location to the plaque.
Every plaque has been checked and the web site and/or location updated where possible. Some plaque texts have been updated to work better with VoiceOver.
It is now a native iPad app as well! It’s not as good as it could be (sorry) in that it basically behaves as a stretched iPhone app, but I felt it was worth it for the big improvement regarding the image and, especially, map views. It can be used in both split screen and slide over on iPad too.
I’m very fond of this app and even after reading them so many times, I still love Rose’s descriptions of so many colourful, moving or hilarious anecdotes from Brighton’s past and I still feel just as strongly about the idea and meaning of the app as when I first conceived it back in 2012.
In these times of lockdown, using the app for a virtual tour through Brighton’s LGBT past makes more sense than ever, preparing you for your own exploration on foot when the opportunity arises.