We’ve been getting a few common questions concerning recent changes to the Services panel, so today we’re going to answer them publicly. If your questions or concerns aren’t addressed here, please get in touch with us here so we can help further.
Which service should I switch to?
None! The Files app lets you access all of the services that have ever been available in the Services panel (and a whole lot more) so you don’t need to switch to a new one.
How will I access my content on a computer or from other devices?
Although it’s primarily designed to give you access to your iCloud Drive account, the Files app isn’t a different service—it’s an iOS interface. By connecting the Files app to Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or any other third-party service, you gain the ability to access content stored on those services through the Files interface system-wide. When you’re on another device, like a computer, you can still access Google Drive (or whichever service you use) just like you always have. Your content doesn’t move anywhere.
Will Dropbox or Box be moved to the Files app too?
You can use both services with the Files app, but we have no plans to remove either account type from the Services panel. As long as these companies offer reasonable APIs, we’ll do everything we can to support them just as we always have.
Do I have to use the Files option in the Services panel?
No, there are several different ways to interact with the Files interface. If your device supports it, use Drag and Drop gestures and either the Slide Over or Split View multitasking modes. Or, use standard iOS share sheets to copy files into or out of forScore. With our next major update, we’ll be including an import button in the main menu that’ll give you quick access to the Files interface whenever you need to add something to your forScore library.
Is this decision permanent?
Yes, Apple has made clear that the Files interface is their preferred way of allowing users to access their content across all of their apps. As we continue to release updates, we’ll keep working hard to re-think some of our assumptions and to better align forScore with this new model, making it easier and simpler for our customers to manage their content so they can get back to what matters most: their music.
What if it doesn’t work for me?
Learning a whole new way of working with your content is daunting, we know. Most of our customers who have contacted us with misgivings were convinced immediately after they tried it for themselves. Step by step guides like the one we published a few weeks ago are long and pedantic and look intimidating, but spend a few minutes setting it up and you’ll see how much better it can be. You really just have to try it for yourself.
February 1, 2019
| Feature of the Week
For today’s feature, we’re taking a slight detour to point out something not within forScore, but right here on the website. We just rolled out a big update, and you can now search for posts within specific categories. Head over to the main Feature of the Week page and click the search icon in the top right-hand corner to try it out.
We’ll be taking some time off to work on the next big thing, but with almost 200 Feature of the Week articles and this new search functionality you’re bound to find something new to read between now and then!
We just rolled out a big update to this site and we’re working hard to make sure everything looks great. The site is now responsive, meaning it’s much more usable and legible on smaller screens, and we’ve added search to the News and Feature of the Week category pages.
We’re working through all of our pages and posts—especially older content—to make sure things are aligned properly and optimized for all devices. Please excuse any minor design issues as we continue this process, and let us know if you encounter any major issues.
January 25, 2019
| Feature of the Week
There are lots of places throughout forScore where you can choose to select one or more scores, bookmarks, or setlists—when creating a button, setting up a Dashboard goal, or uploading one or more items to a cloud storage service, for instance.
Often times, the item or setlist you’re looking for is actually the one you’re currently viewing. Now in version 10.5, forScore puts that item at the top of the list and highlights it in blue so it’s easy to find. If you scroll down, you’ll find it again lower down where it would otherwise appear in the list. It’s just one more way forScore 10.5 (and forScore mini 3.5) makes some of the things you do every day a little more convenient.
January 18, 2019
| Feature of the Week
As of version 10.5, forScore takes advantage of a newer, more efficient type of image compression that Apple began offering with iOS 11.0. While not a feature you’ll use directly, HEIC does provide some nice advantages for things you do every day (if your device supports it).
First, forScore uses HEIC to store cached thumbnails and pages. Since HEIC images take up significantly less space than older formats, forScore can cache more content than before without using up any more of your device’s storage capacity. That makes things like using the seek bar, previewing items with quick peek, or opening the Rearrange panel faster than ever.
If you’re using the Cue app, forScore also transmits HEIC images to dramatically improve quality and performance. Since forScore sends these images to a nearby device wirelessly, reducing the amount of information it has to send is the absolute best way to achieve these gains.
The big features and tools grab the headlines most of the time, but efficiency and speed are just as important to making sure that forScore never skips a beat. HEIC is just one more way we turbocharge your sheet music—even if you never see it, you’ll feel it.