ReadMore Has A New Home!

I’m still thrilled thinking about the response I got when I released ReadMore back in 2010. I built the app to scratch my own itch, but then it grew a life of its own. It was featured on the iOS App Store in April of that year and has enriched many lives, as evidenced by the emails I’ve received. Thank you all.

As you’ve noticed, ReadMore sits quietly and hasn’t been updated in a while. I built it and supported it by myself these past three years. As I chose to focus on other ventures, development slowed to a halt. It started as a side project and sold well for a while, but I wasn’t sure how to turn it into a sustainable product that could support further work on it. With iOS 7 growing quickly in market share, many of you requested a fresh look and new features. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a good plan to move forward…yet.

That’s why I reached out to my friends at D-I and asked if they would want to take it over. They gladly agreed! For my existing customers, you are in good hands. I’ve known the D-I team for a while and some of the members even played a role in the early development of ReadMore, helping me with the design, ideas, and beta testing. I’m glad they are taking this on.

You don’t have to do anything. Just keep using the app as usual. The app will be transferred over to D-I’s App Store account, and all future updates will come from them automatically. Apple’s done a nice job with this app transfer process. It won’t interrupt you at all.

To get to know the new ReadMore caretakers and to get a glimpse at their future plans, head on over to their announcement post. Tell ‘em Jonathan sent ya!

ReadMore, iCloud, Syncing, And What's Taking So Long?

First off, a ReadMore bugfix update is coming soon. It fixes a couple of Readmill sharing bugs, and I rewrote the sharing engine to better support Readmill and future services. I’m also and getting ready to support launching and controlling the app with URL schemes. It’s not quite yet ready for this next bugfix release, but I’m building the pieces under the hood. If you have an idea for the kind of control you’d like of the app, let me know. I want to make it easy to integrate with Launch Center, or your own favorite URL triggering application.

Now we come to the confession. It’s been a long time since I’ve last updated ReadMore. Some of it is the result of a busy summer. For those just now getting to know the app (welcome!) this is one of many side projects I juggle for priority.

To make matters worse, I made a decision earlier this year to chase iCloud and try to get it to work. Syncing the data between devices is one of the top requested features and is the first step I need to take before making the app universal so it runs in full glory on the iPad. In theory, iCloud syncing sounds awesome, and for many applications it does just work as it says on the tin.

But it’s been nothing but pain for ReadMore and other applications that use Apple’s official Core Data storage mechanism. You’d think that going with Apple’s official frameworks would streamline the process of using their premiere cloud based syncing technology. That’s exactly what I thought when they first announced it last June. However, if I was to release a version that tried to use iCloud as it is today, it’s possible that you’d lose your data. Not good.

I won’t go too deep into the struggles I’m having. For the technically inclined, it has to do with record level syncing. Document level syncing, which is fully atomic, works just as it’s supposed to and an application that breaks up their data into chunks that are just stored as files will work just fine. ReadMore is a database application with everything in a single file, just as Apple prescribes Core Data to use. To sync it, you need to find out the changes between records.

Needless to say, there has been much digital ink spilt by prominent application developers describing the pain. I’ve even been looking into other syncing solutions, but they aren’t as immediately straightforward as iCloud. More under the hood tweaks are needed to get them to work and I’m not sure I want to waste more time chasing another method yet.

That’s the update so far. I’m tabling the syncing issue for now. I have some import/export ideas planned that may satisfy some of you who want to get data in and out. That may help me figure out the best way forward for syncing, too. Thanks for your patience!

Rename and Rebrand My Timer App

At the request of Francesco Cirillo, I've rebranded my timer app.

by Jonathan Penn  •  Comments

ReadMore v1.9 is Out!

Spanish localization, more book metadata, and Readmill integration

by Jonathan Penn  •  Comments

ReadMore v1.8

ReadMore v1.8 - Book lookup, barcode scanning, custom colors!

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For Those Wanting ReadMore on Android

ReadTracker is a good substitute if you were hoping to use ReadMore on Android devices.

by Jonathan Penn  •  Comments

Cloudy With a Chance of ReadMore

iOS 5 and iCloud are coming. What's next for ReadMore.

by Jonathan Penn  •  Comments

ReadMore v1.6 - Backup/Restore

ReadMore v1.6 with Backup/Restore is in review

by Jonathan Penn  •  Comments

"read more" Trademark

Navel Labs successfully trademarks the phrase, "read more".

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ReadMore Makeover, Engine Tuneup, Speaks German!

v1.5: Under-the-hood improvements, the first language translation, and a major design overhaul on the book summary page.

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ReadMore advances again!

v1.4 is submitted, new features, iOS 4.x required for future versions, etc.

by Jonathan Penn  •  Comments

The Apps Are Back

The world is safe yet again and new customers are satisfied

by Jonathan Penn  •  Comments

The Data Driven Life

Changing your behavior. One data point at a time.

by Jonathan Penn  •  Comments

iOS 4.0 Support

Preparing for iOS 4.0 and beyond!

by Jonathan Penn  •  Comments

Notes, Notes, Notes

Book and session notes are coming to ReadMore v1.3!

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ReadMore v1.2

Book size indicates page count, progress indicator in reading list, bug fixes...

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ReadMore Update Coming Soon

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ReadMore Launch!

Submitted, approved, and so good looking!

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Codemash iPhone Schedule App

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He Gets It

Kind words from a thoughtful reviewer.

by Jonathan Penn  •  Comments