Category: App News – General News about my Apps

Dear users of Electronic Toolbox,

I just like to keep you updated about my current development activities. I have already a lot of data prapared for a data update (based on your requests and some own additions) which would be ready to be sent out. However, I would like to send it out along with the next App update. This App update contains – like always – some great enhancements and new Tools.

As you know, Apple has sent out Beta versions of iOS 7. The good news is, that the current version of Electronic Toolbox already runs on iOS 7 without problems.

On the other hand, I like to implement some changes for the next update so that Electronic Toolbox can benefit from iOS 7 and so it can also be officially maked as iOS 7 compatible. I am corrently working on that but have to wait releasing this update until iOS 7 has been officially released by Apple, which should not take too long anymore.

Please be assured that I will keep backward compatibility as best as possible even though this takes often much more development effort than beeing forward compatible.

So far, it looks as I can keep Electronic Toolbox running from iOS 5 up to iOS 7.

I will keep you updated,

Kind regards,

Marcus…

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A new data update V 1.20 is now available

This data update V 1.20 is basically a preparation for the next app Version 6 of Electronic Toolbox.

However, it also contains some amendments and additions for the current version such as:

• A new section “Physical constants” for the Tables tool
• Some amendments for the AWG tool
• Several Displays have been added to the ICs Tool and the Displays section such as the LKC-1602 16×2 Character LCD Display and others
• The LM35has been added to the analog ICs section
• The missing Serial ATA 15 Pin power plug has been added to the Sockets tool
• The LM107has been added to the OpAmp ICs section
• Some amendments to the Toroids database
• A new section “Cable connections” has been added to the Sockets Tool for cables such as serial null-modem and spy cable layouts and some more
• In addition, there were some text changes and minor data corrections.

 

Again, to all of you, many many thanks for all your support and you kind app store reviews and your encouraging E-Mails. This really helps me to keep up my work on my app.

I trust you will like the next app version 6 which will basically add several enhancements that you have been asking for. I hope it will be released soon.

Thanks again and kind regards,
Marcus

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Version 6 development status update

Just to keep you updated as you might be wondering about the availability of the next update.

I am currently working hard on the next update but it took me a bit longer than expected but mainly because I decided to add a few things that required some changes in all areas of the app.

First of all, the new version will contain a global search mechanism. With this feature, you will be able to search for e.g. “0402” and will get results for diodes of the type 0402 as well as the SMD code 0402. Or if you search for “Ethernet” you will get all Ethernet socket types or the Ethernet conversion rates. It is also possible to quickly find specific conversions or content that is hidden in the table tool. This search function replaces the search bar in the tool list view and is now also available for the tool icon view.

As many users already asked for such a global search function and as there are now almost 50 tools included in my app which sometimes makes it difficult to find a certain calculation or database, I found it’s about time to add such a global search function. As you can imagine, this required a lot of changes throughout the whole app.

The same is the case for the changes for iOS 6 and the new iPhone 5. I was able to replace several functions that are no longer necessary as they are now included in iOS 6. This speeds up the app in many areas. Especially the “check-for-update” function benefits from this quite enormous. It also resulted in many minor tweaks and improvements. However, most of them are only available on iOS 6.

But most importantly, I was able to keep the app backward compatible back to iOS 4.3 and back to the iPhone 3GS. (However, I would not recommend running the app on a 3GS as my app runs too slow on those devices). Also, I have only one Test Device for iOS 4.3 available and only three test users (if still available). iOS 6 is now the preferred iOS for my app as the app can then take advantage of the new features. Even if you say you don’t use any of the features that have been introduced by iOS 6, the app will run better and faster on iOS 6.

The survey also speaks a clear voice (Thank you all for participating). Most of the users have updated to iOS 6. For the few users still working with a previous iOS version after and including 4.3, the app will still run on your device but I would recommend updating as mentioned before.

For the few devices that run older iOS versions (prior to 4.3) and for those with an iPhone 3G, I am not able to provide updates anymore. Again, this is not because I am not willing (I would if I could) but because Apple discontinued supporting the armv6 CPU. I have no chance to send an update to apple that still supports this CPU.

I have now still some work to do with the next update as I wanted to complete the implementation of a few changes and additions but most of the work, especially most of the heavy work, has been done.

So please stay tuned and many thanks again for your great support!

Kind regards,

Marcus

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As I am currently working on the next update for Electronic Toolbox pro, I would like to add and use some features of the upcoming iOS 6 and I also like to support the new larger screen of the iPhone 5.

In order to do so, I may have to drop backward compatibility.

Please help to understand you better for my decision by using the survey on the following page:

survey

Thank you in advance.

Marcus

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A new data update V 1.16 is available

This new data update includes the following changes:

• SI-Unitsadded to tables
• SMD Metric and Imperial Size codes(such as 0402,0805 etc) added
• About 60 different Toroid types added including specification and Al value (Soon, there will also be a separate tool to calculate coils with Toroids)
• Glossarywas updated
• Displayport and Mini-DisplayportSocket added
• Thunderboldadded
• 28 Fiber Adapters and Connectors with their specifications added
• Some translations corrected
• Some wrong terms corrected

I have some more data available to update but that requires the new app version I am currently working on. Hopefully I will get my iPhone 5 next week so I can perform final tests with the new app version. It is already working on the simulator but I like to perform a physical test.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you have difficulties to update (either the app on the app store or the data update from inside the app), please contact me. I promise to help as there is no reason why one of those updates should not work. I can’t repeat often enough, if you just write a review, I can’t help.

 

PLEASE ALSO NOTE:

As it was complained that my app contains too many European traits, I would love to know where this is the case. I tried my best to create an international app but my main focus is and will be the US. So if there is something contained that is not feasible for the US, please somebody let me know and I promise to change that.

 

Thanks again for your support.

Kind regards, Marcus

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Some news

I am currently preparing a data update which will be sent out during the next days.

A new app update is also under development but I decided to wait with the distribution to Apple. Since I expect iOS 6 to be released soon, I thought it will be better to add iOS 6 support to the next update as well. Of course, the app will also remain backward compatible to iOS 4.

These days, I am receiving many mails per day. A lot of good suggestions and feature requests. Many many thanks! Please be assured, I am reading every single mail and updating every single suggestion or finding with my ToDo list.

So please don’t get angry if you don’t receive a response to your mail immediate.

I am also struggling with many support requests from people who did not pay for my app. A simple statement at this point to those people: Updates will not work if you have not paid for the app.

Unfortunately, the person called “Redulon” who reported issues with his iPad3 and my app did not contact me so I can’t help him. I am using an iPad3 myself and can’t find any issue.

I am looking forward to send out the new data update soon as well as the next app update after iOS 6 has been released.

Many thanks and have a great weekend,
regards,
Marcus

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A new data update V 1.15 is available

This is just a small data update with the following content:

• IP-Ratings added in the tables tool

The following ICs were added:

• CC2570, CS2570 (ANT RF Network Processors)
• DS18B20 (Programmable 1 – Wire Digital Thermometer)
• UDN298x and ULN200x (8-channel drivers)

And finally:

• Improved formula images throughout the whole app
• Some corrections in the 40xx and 74xx IC section

 

Another data update and app update is already under development but I thought I should send already out an update with the above.

 

Thanks again for your support, help and suggestions.

Have a great weekend,

kind regards,

Marcus

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Update to “A few words about cracked versions of Electronic Toolbox”

As I concentrated on improving and extending Electronic Toolbox during the last weeks and months, I lost track about the number of cracked versions of ETB circulating on various platforms.

Last week, I found I should check and was quite surprised that again, various versions of my App are available for free again. Those versions have been downloaded and installed about hundred thousand times and the installation base of those cracked versions is higher than the installation base of the version from the AppStore.

I even found two cracked versions that were not just cracked but also contained some additional code. As far as I was able to see, this code accesses the address book and creates a lot of network traffic. Also, some iOS system files (etc/hosts and some others) are being modified. Very strange though.

I still can’t understand why people are not willing to pay a few bucks (the same amount they pay for a BigMac) for an app that is being supported and extended now over years whereas a BigMac just lasts for a few minutes.

Moreover, some of those people even asked for support and submitted change requests.

Crazy world!

So last week, I decided to find out who is uploading cracked versions of my App to those platforms. To my surprise, almost all file-hoster (e.g. uploading.com, limelinx.com, datafilehost.com, sendspace.com etc.) were open to co-operate. They sent me detailed information about who uploaded and who downloaded the suspicious files. Very detailed information that helped me to identify a couple of those guys. Of course, some of them have previously bought a legal version of my app but some didn’t and just wanted to swagger with their ability to crack apps.

I was surprised about the co-operation of those file-hosters but I anticipate that they are quite under pressure after the FBI took action against megaupload.com.

I first thought I should take legal action against those guys and some of my friends encouraged me to do so as they saw this as a good opportunity to make much money.

As this it is not my intention to make money with other people’s mistakes but to develop great apps that are useful for many people, I decided against that.

Instead, I contacted a few of those guys via phone (yes, it was even possible to get the phone numbers of some of them) or via E-Mail. Obviously, those people were all quite shocked to get contacted by the developer of the app they cracked. None of them denied that they uploaded my app (otherwise I thought I should change my mind and take legal action against them).

All of them promised that they will never ever upload cracked apps again and my feeling was that they regret what they did.

I really had the impression that they learned their lessons. My lessons learned were, that it is obviously much easier than thought, to catch people who up- and even download cracked apps and that it can be quite dangerous to download cracked apps as there are obviously cracked apps available that have been flavored with additional code.

Now that I caught some of those guys, I will get back to my work on Electronic Toolbox.

My ToDo List of user requests and my own ideas is still quite long and there is much work for me to do but I am happy to implement all of them.

So you can expect more data-updates and app-updates during the next weeks.

Thanks to all users who paid for my app and special thanks to your amazing support!

Marcus Roskosch

UPDATE:

I am pretty sure that this case : Sony vs. Tenenbaum, where Joel Tennenbaum uploaded a few songs on file-sharing platforms and now finally found guilty and has to pay US$ 675.000 for his damages can be compared to uploading cracked apps on file-sharing platforms.

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The Guys from What’s On iPhone wrote a great review of Electronic Toolbox Pro.

 

Please read the review at : www.whatsoniphone.com

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Electronic Toolbox Pro has been featured by the DailyAppShow.

You can even find a small video of my App. Just have a look at : http://dailyappshow.com/electronic-toolbox-pro

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