Version 1.1.0 finally made it onto the App store. So, what am I to do now? Update the app yet again I guess.

I've already started (and nearly finished) a minor update, 1.1.1, that adds 2 additional scales (KZ and T₂, fundamental scales folded at 360). Additionally, I've went in and added gauge marks on some of the scales for some key values...

On the CI, KZ, T₂, C, and D scales, I've added gauge marks at 12 and 144.

On the C and D scales, I've added C and C' gauge marks at √(4/π) and √(40/π).

On the C and D scales, I've also added a p gauge mark at π/180, a p' mark at (180*60)/π, a p'' mark at (180*60*60)/π, and a p⁰ mark at 180/π, and a mark on the C scale only, at (200*100*100)/π.

Additionally, on the A and B scales, I've added gauge marks M at 100/π, and π/4 marks.

I also updated the documentation with the new scales, and added a "clear" cursor option (I don't really care for it too much, but there it is...), and I "tweaked" the timing on some of the touch-associated motions (like the delay for single-tap vs double-tap recognition to avoid moving things by 1 pixel when a slide scale change is really wanted...)

I should be sending this update out fairly soon, after I get done running my checks on it to ensure everything works.

Yesterday, July 31st, I released version 1.1.0 of the iSlideRule app to Apple for review. Hopefully, if all goes well in review, the update will be available within the next week.

It's been quite a while since I had done an update (November of 2008 was the last update). This update includes a lot of changes from the previous version, mostly based on feedback from customers.

I've provided a means via the Settings application to specify the order in which to place scales. This was a prime issue in earlier versions and one I had to address.

I've also added what I think is a unique, educational aspect to the app; it can display a numeric value on the cursor that represents the value on each visible scale under the hairline. Of course, there is an option in Settings to turn this off.

Another new feature is double-tapping the scales. There are now three sets of four scales for each of the rules, and slider. This gives an effective 36-scale slide rule. Scales are selectable from the Settings application. Double-tapping each rule or slider changes the scales to the next set.

Single-tapping the rules or slider moves the opposite 1 pixel for fine-tuning of position. And this brings up something that people need to realize about slide rules, and slide rules on digital devices...

The scales in iSlideRule are 1964 pixels wide (32 pixels of "white" space on either end). So, the "C" scale for example has 1900 pixels between 1 and 10. This means, from a calculation standpoint, that there are only 1900 unique numbers available between 1 and 10. On a "real" slide rule, the user would "guess" or estimate position and value visually; mid-way between two "ticks" would be visually interpreted for value.

In iSlideRule, since there are limited locations for "ticks", if they were drawn in a distinct line, some scales would have ticks that would be four, then five, then four, pixels apart, and would have an uneven distribution.

When generating scales for iSlideRule, I took an approach wherein I generated the scales at 4x the size I needed, then reduced them to the final size with anti-aliasing. So; I get scales wth ticks that appear evenly spaced, however they are a bit "fuzzy" or blurred. It's still up to the user to visually interpret the position of the hairline over the values to come up with the answer. This was my solution to how to represent an "analog" device such as a sliderule, on a digital platform; while providing as close to a real, useful tool, as possible.

By the way, another new feature on iSlideRule is the "flip view", accessible from the main, portrait orientation by pressing the little "info" ( i ) button in the lower right of the display. This will bring up a simple quick guide that covers configuration and settings, gestures and usages, and short details on all sixty of the available scales (yes, I also update the scale selection from 40 to 60 in this release).

I hope everyone enjoys the update as much as I enjoyed spending time creating it!

-Steve

Yes, it's true! I've been actually working on the next update to the iSlideRule app.

The features I'll have in there include:

Setting the position on each rule for each selected scale (a very commonly asked for feature!)

Double-tap on any rule to select another set of scales from your pre-configured settings. Up to 12 scales can now be associated with each of the three rules, in groups of 4 scales each. Double-tapping the scale rotates through the groups.

Double-tap the labels descriptions on the left of the display to view the formula for each scale and a simple description of what the scale is.

Optionally turn on of off the display of numeric values. When the rules are stationary and the cursor is not being moved, the values on each scale will be shown on the cursor.

In addition, I've added several more scales, bringing the total to 60 scales supported. I've also updated the app to work with iOS 4 (currently in testing on this area).

I've got a bit of work remaining, but will posting the update to the AppStore soon!

Cheers!
Steve

Apple is definitely getting much better and faster at approving updates for distribution.

The 1.0.3 update is now available for everyone.

The next update will contain several new features that I have started working on; including the triplex rules, as well as the ability to select positions on each rule for the various scales, and an optional digital display capability. These updates will take me a bit of time to implement, so please bear with me. :-)

Thanks for your support and feedback! I appreciate all input and suggestions for improving the application!

I just posted the 1.0.3 update to Apple, so it should be available within a few days. This update includes improvements in the scale numeric graphics for the P, LL/0, LL/1, LL0, LL1, LL2, and LL scales (increased kerning by 1 pixel in the smaller fonts). Also, I've adjusted the acceleration and deceleration of the slide movement when the cursor is used to move the slide and top/bottom rules to the left or right.

Additionally, I corrected a problem where the cursor would seemingly "lock" to the left side of the display when scrolling, even after the touch was lifted and the slide action should have stopped.

Another change was done to the way the non-moving touch action performed. Instead of using the current position of the opposite rule to determine which direction to move the piece in, the application now looks at the touch location. If you touch the display on the left side, on, for example, the slide, the top and bottom rule will move to the left until the rightmost index is at the farthest position to the left that it can go. Similarly, touching the display on the right will move the rule or slide (whichever piece is not being touched) to the right until the leftmost index is at the farthest position to the right that it can move.

The next update will take a bit of time to deliver as I'll be adding in several new features, including the triplex rule system, and optional digital display capability. In the mean time, I believe 1.0.3 is very stable and use-able. Please let me know if you find any issues! And thanks!

The 1.0.2 update to iSlideRule was released on October 26, 2008, and should be available for users within a week. This update contains several new scales, all new scale graphics that are 1900 pixels wide (1.0.0 and 1.0.1 used graphics that were 1400 pixels wide). Details of this update are listed here.

New scales added to this update include:
* CIF and DIF (reciprocals of the CF and DF scales)
* Ln scale (a linear scale giving natural logarithms of numbers from 1 to 10)
* a pair of conversion scales to provide temperature conversions between Celsius and Fahrenheit
* S(mannheim) scale, (used with "A" scale to calculate sines, or the tangents of numbers less than 5.7 degrees
* F(2π) scale, a folded "C" scale, folded at 1 / ( 2π ), useful in electronics calculations
* F(x^4) scale, used with the "C" or "D" scales to calculate fourth powers and roots.

Other features include a new acceleration/deceleration routine when moving the entire slide with the cursor at the left or right margin of the display. The entire slide rule moves left or right more slowly as it moves away from, or towards the ends of the rule.

Another new feature is a way of moving the opposite piece of the slide rule. With an index of either the slide or the bars present in the display, touching that slide, or bar, and not moving the touch, will result in the other piece moving in the opposite direction. Motion is halted either by moving the touch, lifting the finger, or by alignment with the other index position. This motion also has acceleration and deceleration built in, although at this point, neither this motion, nor the other cursor-based motion have "bounce" like the normal movement in the view when moving the slide or the rules by swiping or dragging them.

Minor changes in the app include some settings changes to support the new features, a bit faster launch time, and I've also changed the default launch screen back to a neutral color similar to the initial release. The default image also has some transparency added so that it is easier to know when the application has completed launching and is ready for use.

The other main feature included in this update is compatibility with the first generation iPod Touch devices (I finally got the application tested on one and can now say that it should work fine on that device!)