Ryan Grier Dev

This past week Apple approved updates for all four of my iPhone apps. 

MyCntdwn, Mycntup, and LearnIt have some minor defect fixes. I have also added a way to collect some basic usage stats. I want to know a bit more about the iPhone OS versions and devices that are using the app so if I can move up an OS version. 

MyCntdwn 2 has already been sending this information. MyCntdwn 2 was updated with some minor defect fixes. 

If you are concerned about the information I am collecting by these apps, don’t be. I am only collecting the following information: application version, iPhone OS version, device type (iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone), and a piracy bit. MyCntdwn and MyCntdwn 2 also send the number of events and the number of events ending soon. I do not send the device id, phone number, or any personal data. 

I plan on submitting a new update to LearnIt in the next day or two. This update adds “swipe to change” the flashcard. In addition to pressing the previous/next button to proceed, you can swipe left or right to proceed. 

On Father’s Day, I submitted one of the completely new apps to Apple. If there aren’t any issues, it should be approved within the next week. Expect a new blog post about it when it launches. If you want a hint of what’s coming, check out the “Info” tab (Or About LearnIt button) in one of my apps.

LearnIt 1.2 was approved by Apple in the Apple iTunes App Store yesterday. This update is a big one because of one significant item. It includes an In App Purchase item.

The In App Purchase available is called Barnyard Animals and costs $0.99. It includes 12 barnyard animal flashcards. LearnIt 1.2 also includes another free module called Shapes. Shapes includes 9 shape flashcards.

In App Purchase (or Downloadable Content) has been something that I promised to add to LearnIt when the application was first released. It took about 6 months of time for me to get the feature in there, but it’s there now.

Apple initially rejected this update. But they rejected it because I hadn’t submitted the In App Purchase for review. I thought that I could submit the In App Purchase after LearnIt was approved by Apple. It turns out that you have to submit the In App Purchase first (or at the same time). Apple was nice enough to send me an email to let me know this. They were also nice enough to allow me to reply to the email to get the approval moving again. So, thanks Apple!

If you own LearnIt, please help support me and check out the In App Purchase. If you don’t own LearnIt, please purchase both. :)

After my brief hiatus, I am developing again. It was nice to have some time off to relax. But my ambition is starting to get the better of me. I am kicking myself now, I could have spent the time working on the updates below.

I almost have an interim update for LearnIt wrapped up and ready to test. This update has no noticeable features. The only changes are background changes which will eventually setup the ability to add DLC.

I have updates for MyCntdwn and MyCntup planned. I want to fix a nagging issue with the data layer. I am going to change the data layer to use SQLite. The data layer currently has a proprietary implementation which crashes more than I like. MyCntdwn 2 doesn’t have this issue because it uses Core Data.

I don’t have any plans for MyCntdwn 2 updates. Maybe by the time I’ve updated the other apps, I’ll have thought of some key updates for MyCntdwn 2.

LearnIt 1.1 has been approved by Apple and released to the iTunes App Store. I submitted the update about a week ago. I was surprised on how fast the approval came in. I was expecting to wait another week.

This version includes a new flash card module “Colors.” The new module includes 12 colors. Colors includes the various colors, with an isolated view of the color, along with an accompanying photo of an object that represents that color. It also includes the option to listen to the color being said audibly.

Future updates for LearnIt are currently being planned.

More Information on LearnIt:

LearnIt is a collection of flash cards and a fun tool to help keep your child entertained and learning while interacting with them.

Initially LearnIt included two flash card sets - Numbers & Letters. These sets can be displayed in order, or you can “shake-to-shuffle” for a random card in that set.

The latest update added the flash card set Colors.

Download LearnIt today.