The last maintenance release in our string of 2.4.x updates, version 2.4.3, is now live and resolves a timing issue with auto-turn for landscape files. We’re also working hard on version 2.5, and we’re hoping to finalize it for release later this month. We know maintenance releases aren’t very exciting, but we also know that by taking the time to weed out these bugs we’re providing a strong foundation for the many features to come. We think you’ll agree when 2.5 ships, and we appreciate the support and feedback that makes it possible!
forScore 2.4.2 has just gone live, fixing some minor bugs related to the metadata view’s auto-suggest functions, as well as resolving an issue where the browser could not properly detect PDF files hosted on a small number of websites. Thanks to everyone who submitted feedback allowing us to fix these nagging bugs!
forScore 2.4.1 has gone live, fixing an issue with BT-105 recognition after editing certain types of metadata. This minor update is recommended for all users of the BT-105, and will be followed up by another maintenance release next week with several more minor bug fixes and refinements.
In fact, the 2.4.x series of releases will all be focused on small fixes and refinements, rather than the addition of any major new features. It’s not as glamorous, we know, but these fixes will help provide a solid foundation for 2.5 and beyond. Thanks to everyone who has submitted feedback, allowing us to discover and correct these issues!
Apple retail stores recently updated their window displays, which now feature forScore prominently amongst a number of other iPad apps in a mobile-like setup for their 300+ stores worldwide. Our app is featured twice, actually, and we couldn’t resist stopping by our local store to snap this shot:
Special thanks to reader Matthew for sending us the tip!
We’re very proud to announce forScore version 2.4, which brings several new enhancements and some important fixes. It’s available immediately for just $4.99, or absolutely free for existing users. Here’s a look at a few of the changes in this version:
With the 2.3 series of updates, we focused heavily on performance optimizations, and sadly some of these changes had unforeseen consequences. One casualty was the video output feature, so with the 2.4 update we took the opportunity to not just patch it up, but to complete rewrite it from scratch. All of the features and options are exactly the same as before, but the output is now a true mirror of the iPad’s screen, rather than just a particular view. More importantly, it’s far more stable than before, and we apologize for any inconvenience this process may have caused.
Version 2.4 includes a few other notable additions, such as custom signature support. Add a PNG image to forScore via iTunes file sharing (use 360×45 pixels for best results), and the image will be used for the composer by the same name. A signature file for “John Doe” would be named “John Doe.png”, for instance. We’ve added a PSD template to our extras page to give you a better idea of exactly how your signature image will look in forScore. You can also read more about this feature here. [Updated March 2018: custom signatures are no longer supported by forScore.]
This version also implements several ideas based directly on feedback from our users, so thank you all for your continued participation and support.
Hot on the heels of our 2.3.1 update, we’re happy (and a bit surprised!) to announce the immediate availability of forScore 2.3.2. This update addresses some minor issues introduced in version 2.3.1, as well as the following:
• Resolves an issue with the bookmarks menu for larger files
• Faster score deletions
• Improved new file detection
Updates have typically taken upwards of a week to go through Apple’s approval process, so we’re delighted to see this timeframe improving and hope that it is indicative of future updates, since ultimately we believe that a greater ability to respond to unexpected issues benefits our customers.
Also, AirTurn has now resumed shipments of the BT-105, and our promotion will be continuing into the new year, so don’t forget to check out our promo page or pass it along to a friend!
Version 2.3.1 is now live, and includes the following changes:
• Bookmark page numbers can now be changed at any time
• Bookmarks are now saved with an explicit “save” button
• Improved bookmark creator validation
• Link view now defaults to the current page for both source and destination
• Performance optimizations
• Minor interface changes
• Bug fixes
forScore 2.3.1 is just $4.99, or free for existing users. Get it here.
The holiday season is upon us, which means that Apple’s approval process will soon be shut down temporarily. We had hoped to see our 2.3 update go live before this period begins, but the approval process can be sporadic and it appears as though it may end up being delayed until near the end of the month.
We’ll also be shutting down this holiday season, so while we will still be answering messages sent to us via the support page, there may be an uncharacteristic delay in our response time. We’ve released 20 updates since April, so it’s time for a break! We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers, and please know that all of your queries will be answered.
Finally, we’ve just learned that the AirTurn BT-105’s ship date has been pushed back again to December 30th. We’re thrilled to see such strong demand for this accessory, and we’ll bring you any further updates from AirTurn as soon as we get them.
Happy holidays, everyone!
Edit: We’re happy to be wrong, forScore 2.3 is available now!
We recently wrapped up development of forScore version 2.3, and we’re very excited to share it with you, so we’ve put together this sneak peek highlighting some of the biggest changes it includes:
The most significant revisions have been made to forScore’s annotation feature. We’ve redesigned the controls, added undo/redo support, and taken the drawing presets and stamps features to a whole new level.
Since we first included support for annotations, we’ve been battling to balance two important things: the accessibility of the annotation controls versus the extent to which they cover up the page. The new control bar is bigger and much easier to use without accidentally touching the drawing area, but it also solves the problem of obscuring the page by fading away whenever you start annotating. And, with the extra space we’ve gained by enlarging the controls, we’ve been able to add undo/redo buttons in a way that’s far less confusing than it otherwise could have been. Due to memory constraints, undo support is limited to 5 levels for now, but we’re hoping to expand that in the future as iPad hardware evolves.
That’s just the beginning, though! We’ve really taken our drawing presets up a notch, allowing users to create an unlimited number of presets with full on-the-fly editability. Our new style editor is simple to use and includes a beautiful live preview of your preset as you adjust hue, saturation, brightness, transparency, and size. It’s an unparalleled level of customization that we think will set us apart from our competition even more.
We’ve extended this philosophy to our redesigned Stamps feature, too. The new page-based panel allows you to select a particular design before you place it, giving you a much more useful indication of the stamp’s final placement as you drag your finger around on the screen. The new panel is also customizable: tap the edit button and rearrange or delete any of the 58 pre-loaded symbols to best suit your needs. If you need a symbol that’s not included by default, or if you’d like to adjust one of the existing stamps, you can use the new stamp creator to draw and save designs right from within the app. You can even import stamps from 48×48 PNG files added via iTunes file sharing!
Annotation is a big part of this update, but it’s not the only part. We’ve added support for password-protected PDF files, significantly improved the speed of sequential page turns, and added search and “check/uncheck all” capability to the batch edit picker.
A lot of apps out there promise all sorts of “great new features coming soon!” and it’s easy to get jaded when those features never materialize. We’re proud of what we do, and we’re happy to be consistently fulfilling that promise with rich updates and constant improvement. This year has been an incredible ride for us, and we can’t wait to keep pushing our own limits in 2011. Your feedback has led to strong updates like these, and we’re not going to stop working to make forScore the best app it can be!
Sincerely,
The forScore Team
Today Apple released iOS 4.2, confirming that AirPrint does not currently work with printers shared on your local network, unless they are one of a handful of models designed specifically for AirPrint.
Fortunately, Ecamm has created a piece of software for Mac called Printopia which brings back this feature: install it on your Mac running OS X 10.5 or later, and you can use any shared printer on your network to print directly from forScore. We’ve tried it and were pleasantly surprised with the results and the simplicity of the app. If you were as excited about AirPrint as we were (and subsequently as disappointed at this last-minute change), this ten dollar app might be just what you need: Printopia