I’ve recently gone back to doing some iPhone programming. Back in April 2009, I had a list of features I wanted to add to one of my apps, and here it is, a mere year and a half later, and I’ve actually done it.

Quite a lot has changed since then, of course. The state of the art back then was iPhone OS 2.x, with OS 3 just-around-the-corner. Now we’re at 4.1, and 4.2 is coming in November. The tools have all changed too; I’ve lost track of how many times the XCode development tools have been upgraded.

So the first big challenge for me was to re-learn how to actually do the iPhone programming, and then to get my ‘antiquated’ project sources up-to-date so they’d work with the current dev tools. Then after all that, I could finally start with the actual enhancements.

The current XCode tools let me develop for iOS 4.1 (for the iPhone and iPod Touch) and iOS 3.2.x for the iPad. They also let me select a deployment target ‘as far back as’ iOS 3.0. The reason for this is so that folks who aren’t using the very-latest OS could still use my app. Personally I think it’s important to include backwards compatibility. On the one hand, upgrading to the latest OS is free and typically it is highly recommended, but some people simply don’t want to, or don’t feel the need. Or in the case of the 1st-gen iPhones, they simply can not do it — Apple has dropped support for the original iPhone; the latest it can run is iOS 3.x

So, I build my app using the 4.1 tools and specify that it will deploy for 3.x on upwards. In the places where it uses 4.x-only functions, I put those functions in a conditional branch so they won’t cause a crash or anything on the 3.x devices.

And at last, here we find the whine…

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I’m behind-schedule, but the 2.0 upgrade for Liber Umbrarum et Lux was approved and hit the app store on Monday!

You can download it free from App Store.

I’m also behind-schedule in updating the LUetL page here, with support info for the 2.0 upgrade. I’ll try and get that done quickly. It’s been another one of those Oh What A Week That Was weeks.

I meant to write about this yesterday but instead ended up on a long angry rant. Ooops.

Anyhow, version 2.0 of my Liber Umbrarum et Lux app for the iPhone was submitted to Apple on Sunday. I’m hoping the review process will go smoothly and with luck the update will be available by the 31st.

Among the new features and enhancements are:

• Loads and loads more content!
• Lots of pictures / images.
• Graphics updated to support Retina displays.
• App updated for iOS 4.x
• Still supports iOS 3.x too.
• Exciting new feature #1: Customizable – through Settings, you can select the Goddess and God names you use in your rites, and the app will put your names in all rites, consecrations and spells.
• Exciting new feature #2: Still a big secret. Will be revealed soon.
• Oh and the icons and artwork has been completely re-done and IMHO now looks very snazzy.

I will be updating the Liber Umbrarum et Lux page on my site shortly, and at that time will reveal the big secret new feature.

When the app is approved, I will follow up with another post.

I’ve been spending just about every spare minute over the past 10 days working on an update to my second iPhone app, the Liber Umbrarum et Lux (Book of Shadows and Light.)

As I mentioned earlier, this is a much more involved update than what I did with PassGenR.

There’s probably another week yet of work to be done before I am ready to submit it to the App Store for approval, but until then, here’s a quick look at some of the enhancements. I’m not telling what the big new feature is, that’s a surprise for later.

• Updated to iOS 4.x compatibility.
• Still supports iOS 3.x devices, for backwards compatibility.
• Graphics enhanced for Retina display compatibility.
• New Icons & iTunes Artwork.
• More images.
• More content!

There’s a few other minor enhancements / improvements, and one really big new feature that I’m really excited about. It’s been a slow process though – literally having to re-learn how the app worked to begin with, then building from there to incorporate both technological improvements and content enhancements.

Plus, I get really picky and perfectionist at times. Just the icons and artwork alone took me 2 days and 5 complete redos before I had something I was fully satisfied with. (You can see the rendered iPhone 4 icon at the top of this post.)

Apple has finished reviewing the update for PassGenR and has approved it.

The updated app is now available for download at the App Store.

I have started working on an update for my second app, Liber Umbrarum et Lux. This one will take longer than a week or so however, as I have lots of big plans for version 2.0 of this app.

This morning I submitted the 2.0 upgrade of PassGenR to the App Store.

I hope to hear back from them within the week, if it’s been approved or not.

As usual all the processes seemed different, it seems like a lot has changed since my last brush with the App Store last year.

I’ll update my PassGenR app page shortly, with the new screenshots, icon, and all the new details on usage and features et cetera.

After what seems like about a year and a half, I’ve finally gotten back to doing some programming for the iPhone / iDevices.

My very first iPhone app, PassGenR, has had a long list of upgrades waiting for it since April 2009. At long last I’ve decided to get that done. I’ve been on it over the past several days, and it’s now in the testing stages. Hopefully I’ll be ready to submit the new version to Apple over the weekend.

Among the new features / improvements are:

• Passwords can be copied to clipboard
• Passwords can be sent by eMail
• Passwords can be sent by SMS
• History area doubled
• Added Hexidecimal option to password parameters
• Improved graphics & new icon

The app is built for iOS 4.x but will still work on devices running iOS 3.x.

As always, PassGenR will remain completely free – and there are no adverts or anything else. I hate ‘free’ apps that bombard you with ads, so I’ll never do that myself.

I’ll post an update once it’s in Apple’s hands, and another once the update is released on the App store.