Archive for category orchids

Album Orchidee: monitora la tua collezione di orchidee (Mac)

Apr 17

Posted by Andrew in apps, orchids | Comments off

Album orchidee rende facile monitorare le tue orchidee. Monitora lo sviluppo delle tue piante per tutta la loro vita, sul tuo Mac!

Album Orchidee

Che tu sia un novizio delle orchidee o un collezionista esperto, Album Orchidee è lo strumento ideale per organizzare le tue piante, i programmi d’innaffiamento e le note.

Requisiti di sistema: Mac con Lion (OS X 10.7.x), Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8.x), Mavericks (OS X 10.9.x), Yosemite (OS X 10.10.x) o El Capitan (OS X 10.11.x)

Non sei sicuro se Album Orchidee fa per te? Prova la versione gratuita scaricabile qui.

La versione scaricabile funziona inizialmente in modalità di prova non registrata, limitata a 3 orchidee, 3 programmi d’innaffiamento e 3 registrazioni con 3 foto ciascuna. Consente inoltre solo una singola finestra database e l’importazione database è disabilitata. L’acquisto di una licenza sia dall’app stessa sia tramite Web Store ne sblocca la funzionalità completa.

Ecco cosa puoi fare con Album Orchidee:

– Registra i dati delle tue piante, includendo il nome botanico, i nomi degli ibridi, i dati di fioritura, la fragranza, le dimensioni e le necessità d’innaffiamento.
– Seleziona tra oltre 500 nomi botanici (con oltre 100 generi) o aggiungi nomi nuovi.
– Ordina le orchidee per nome o genere.
– Traccia i programmi d’innaffiamento per più piante.
– Traccia la fioritura, la fertilizzazione e altri eventi per ogni pianta in voci di registrazione con data.
– Crea e modifica voci di promemoria collegate al tuo calendario.
– Usa il campo di ricerca per cercare rapidamente l’orchidea, il programma d’innaffiamento e gli elenchi delle registrazioni.
– Aggiungi e riorganizza più foto per pianta e voce di registrazione.
– Aggiungere le didascalie alle foto.
– Seleziona le foto che appariranno sulla schermata iniziale miniature per ogni orchidea o registrazione.
– Vedi le foto in vista galleria a dimensione piena, o come anteprima.
– Riorganizza le foto tramite selezione multipla e supporto trascina e rilascia.
– Visualizza la cronologia delle registrazioni per ogni pianta, ordinata per data.
– Rivedere le statistiche della tua collezione.
– Salva i cambiamenti automaticamente.
– Stampa le orchidee, i programmi d’innaffiamento o gli elenchi delle registrazioni, oppure le informazioni su una orchidea, un programma d’innaffiamento o una registrazione particolari.
– Importazione ed esportazione database tramite Wi-Fi nel Album Orchidee sul tuo iPhone, iPad, o iPod touch.
– Importare / esportare il database del tuo Album Orchidee in formato CSV, al/dal foglio elettronico del desktop delle applicazioni.
– Funzionalità di esportazione Report orchidee (HTML). Visualizza la tua collezione sul browser web del tuo computer. Eccellente per tenere sotto controllo la tua collezione per finalità assicurative o di inventario.

Considera che Album Orchidee non ha nessuna foto precaricata e non contiene alcuna informazione sulla cura delle piante o altri dati, ma monitora le informazioni e mostra le foto che hai aggiunto tu.

Per maggiori informazioni su Album Orchidee visita https://andrewnicolle.com/all_apps/orchid-album-for-mac in cui troverai i dettagli per contattarci e per porci domande, richiedere le caratteristiche o per inviarci qualsiasi messaggio. Registrati sulla nostra pagina su Facebook per discutere con gli altri fan di Album Orchidee.

Album d’orchidées – suivez votre collection d’orchidées (Mac)

Apr 16

Posted by Andrew in apps, orchids | Comments off

Album d’orchidées facilite le suivi de vos orchidées. Suivez votre collection d’orchidées sur votre Mac !

Album d'orchidées

Que vous soyez novice en matière d’orchidées ou un collectionneur expérimenté, Album d’orchidées est l’outil idéal pour organiser vos plantes, calendriers d’arrosage et notes.

Configuration requise : Mac tournant sous Lion (OS X 10.7.x), Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8.x), Mavericks (OS X 10.9.x), Yosemite (OS X 10.10.x) ou El Capitan (OS X 10.11.x)

Pas sûr que Album d’orchidées soit faite pour vous ? Essayez la version d’essai gratuite disponible en téléchargement ici.

La version téléchargée initialement fonctionne en mode de démonstration non-enregistré, et est limitée à 3 orchidées, 3 calendriers d’arrosage et 3 journaux, avec 3 photos chacun. Vous n’aurez droit qu’à une seule fenêtre de base de données et l’importation de bases de données est désactivée. En achetant une licence soit directement dans l’app ou soit via le Web Store vous débloquerez toutes les fonctionnalités.

Voici tout ce que vous pouvez faire avec Album d’orchidées :

– Enregistrez des informations sur vos plantes, comme le nom botanique, les noms des hybrides, les détails de leur floraison, le parfum, les dimensions et le besoin en eau.
– Faites votre choix parmi plus de 500 noms botaniques (avec plus de 100 genres) ou ajoutez de nouveaux noms.
– Triez les orchidées par nom ou genre.
– Suivez les calendriers d’arrosage de plusieurs plantes.
– Suivez la floraison, l’ajout d’engrais et tout autre évènement concernant chaque plante dans un journal daté.
– Créez et modifiez des rappels dans votre journal relié à votre calendrier.
– Utilisez le champ de recherche pour trouver rapidement des listes d’orchidées, de calendriers d’arrosage et de journaux.
– Ajoutez et réorganisez vos photos par plante et entrée de journal.
– Ajoutez une légende à chaque photo.
– Sélectionnez les photos qui apparaîtront dans la vignette principale pour chaque orchidée ou journal.
– Afficher les photos dans une galerie en plein écran ou en miniature.
– Réarrange photos avec une sélection multiple et la prise en charge du glisser-déplacer.
– Affichez l’historique de chaque plante, trié par date.
– Vérifiez les statistiques de votre collection.
– Enregistre les modifications automatiquement.
– Imprimez des listes d’orchidées, de calendriers d’arrosage ou de journaux, ou des informations pour une orchidée, un calendrier d’arrosage ou un journal en particulier.
– Importation et exportation des bases de données par Wifi vers Album d’orchidées sur votre iPhone, iPad, ou iPod touch.
– Prise en charge du format CSV pour importer / exporter votre base de données Album d’orchidées vers et depuis les applications de tableur.
– Fonctionnalité Exportation de fiche d’orchidée (HTML). Visualisez votre collection sur le navigateur Web de votre ordinateur. Super pour suivre votre collection pour des besoins d’inventaire ou d’assurance.

Veuillez noter qu’Album d’orchidées ne contient aucunes photos préchargées, aucunes informations sur les soins à apporter aux plantes et ainsi de suite. Elle ne contient que les informations et les photos que vous avez ajouté.

Consultez https://andrewnicolle.com/all_apps/orchid-album-for-mac pour plus d’informations sur Album d’orchidées, y compris les coordonnées pour nous contactez pour poser des questions, demander des fonctionnalités ou signaler un problème. Rejoignez la page Facebook page pour parler de Album d’orchidées avec d’autres fans.

Orchid Album for Mac – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Mar 30

Posted by Andrew in apps, orchids | Comments off

The following should address any questions or concerns you may have about Orchid Album for Mac. I’ll be updating this post as new questions arise. Let me know if I’ve missed anything!

1. When will Orchid Album be available for Macs?

Orchid Album for Mac is now available for download from my website here and from the Mac App Store. You can learn more about Orchid Album for Mac here.

2. What Mac OS X operating system do I need to be able to run Orchid Album for Mac?

The app works on Lion (OS X 10.7.x), through to Ventura (macOS 10.13).

3. I already have Orchid Album on my iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Do I have to buy it again for the Mac?

Yes, if you would like to run Orchid Album on your Mac, you’ll need to purchase it direct from my site, or from the Mac App Store. The Mac version includes some additional features over and above the iOS version, including photo organization, enhanced search, and printing capabilities. The app had to be substantially re-designed and completely re-written for the Mac platform. Unfortunately porting the app to the Mac wasn’t as simple as you might think!

4. I’m not sure if Orchid Album for Mac will suit my needs. Is there a free trial version available?

Yes, it’s available for download from my website here. The app is initially in an unregistered trial mode, limited to 3 orchids, 3 watering schedules, and 3 logs, with 3 photos each. It will also only allow a single database open at a time, and database import is disabled. That should be enough to give you some idea of whether the app will work for you. Purchasing a license either within the app or via my website unlocks full functionality. You may also purchase via the Mac App Store.

5. Will Orchid Album for Mac be localized into my language soon?

Possibly. Orchid Album is currently localized into English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.

6. Is it possible to sort the orchids by genus, rather than name?

Click the Preferences… line on the Orchid Album menu and select the “Sort orchids by genus” checkbox under Sort Options. Close the window and you’ll find all orchids are now sorted by genus. Repeat these steps to sort by name again.

7. What is the purpose of the Type field on the Log Info window?

The type field is used by the app to determine what should be displayed in the Logs list for that log entry. For instance, selecting Orchid will show the orchid name selected in the Orchid field, and Note will show a brief summary taken from the Notes field. Select either Orchid or Note in the Type field depending on what information that particular log entry is recording.

8. How do I re-order the photos on the Orchid Info or Log Info windows?

After the entry has been saved, double-click on it and then click on the All Photos tab. This will show all the photos associated with the Orchid or Log. Click and hold the mouse button on the photo you’d like to organize on the Info window, and move the mouse to where you’d like the photo to be moved. Release the mouse button when you’re done.

To move a photo into one of the primary photo slots on the Orchid Info or Log Info windows, arrange the photos in the All Photos section. The primary photo slots will now reflect the new order.

9. How do I add text captions to my photos? How can I hide them to take a closer look at the photo?

Double-click on the photo you’d like to add a caption to in the All Photos tab of the Orchid Info or Log Info window. Click the word balloon icon at the top of the window, then in the text box that appears, type in the text caption you’d like to associate with that photo. Click on the photo to end editing the caption. The new or modified text caption will now be displayed. Note that only the first few lines of the caption will be superimposed over the photo. To hide the caption, click once on the photo. You can scroll between the photos by clicking the left and right arrow buttons, and zoom-in by resizing the photo window.

10. How do I capture sold, stolen or dead plants, or other events?

The place for capturing these events is on the Log Info window. Create a new Log entry, click the Event field and type in the new Event (Sold, for instance). The new Event will be saved when you click the OK or Save button. It will then be available for use with this and other log entries. In the Orchid field, select the corresponding orchid. Set the Type field to Orchid. Set the date the Event occurred, and add any relevant photos or notes. Click Save, and the new dated Log entry will appear in the list. Now when you tap the Log History button on the Orchid Info window, you’ll see the complete history of the orchid.

11. I have an Orchid Album database on my iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. How do I transfer it to Orchid Album for Mac?

You’ll need all devices on the same local WiFi network as your Mac. Then follow these steps:

(1) Tap the Backup Database button on the Tools screen within the app on your device.
(2) Create a new database within Orchid Album for Mac and save it to your Documents folder.
(3) Click the Import Database button in the document window toolbar within Orchid Album for Mac. This is the button next to the printer button. The button has an arrow pointing to the right, away from the device icon. You can also select the Import from -> Orchid Album Mobile App item in the File menu.
(4) The Import Database window will appear. You should see your device shown in the Devices section. If it isn’t there, double-check that you’ve selected Backup Database (or Export Database) on the Tools screen within Orchid Album on your device. Check the Messages box in Orchid Album for Mac for helpful information.
(5) Select the device you want to import from, then select Restore Complete Database in the Import Options section. You may also choose to Import Orchids and Watering Schedules, Import Orchids, or Import Watering Schedules.
(6) Once you’re satisfied with the selected device and import options, click the Import button.
(7) After the progress bar completes, an alert will appear indicating whether the import was successful. Click OK.
(8) The database in Orchid Album for Mac should now match the database on your device.

Note that the above steps will completely replace the contents of the Orchid Album database within Orchid Album for Mac, unless you’ve chosen not to restore the complete database. In that case, you may see duplicate entries in your database after the import is complete.

12. I have an Orchid Album database in Orchid Album for Mac I’d like to transfer to Orchid Album on my iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. How do I accomplish this?

The steps are similar to question 11 above, except you must select either Restore Database or Import Database on your device, and click the Export Database button in the document window toolbar within Orchid Album for Mac. This is the toolbar button with the arrow pointing toward the device icon. When the export is complete, you should consult the pop-up alert on your device for further instructions.

13. I have an iPad, an iPhone, and a Mac. How do I keep the databases in sync between all of these devices?

Orchid Album currently doesn’t have a simple means of keeping databases synchronized on separate devices. However, it is still possible to transfer the database between devices manually. You first need to backup the database from the device with the most current copy to your computer (or from your computer to the device). The steps for achieving this are shown above in questions 11 and 12. A good workflow is to use your Mac as a hub for the database, updating that after you’ve made changes on your device.

14. I have the Orchid Album trial version and just bought the full version. How do I transfer my data from the trial version?

When you purchase the full version you’ll be provided with license details to unlock the app. The trial version and the full version are the same app – there is nothing further to download. All of your data will be accessible the next time you run the app.

If you’ve purchased via the Mac App Store, you’ll need to save the database from the trial version to somewhere you can easily locate (the Documents folder, or your desktop, for example), and load it within the Mac App Store version. The trial version of the app may then be deleted once you’ve transferred the database.

15. I have a whole spreadsheet of data I’d like to import into the app. How can I do that?

Provided your spreadsheet program can export to CSV format and allows you to specify comma separators and dates in a particular format, you should be able to import it into the app. Orchid Album expects to receive CSV data according to the CSV template file, available in the Downloads section of this site.

16. Can you incorporate some new fields into the app? Can I change the names of any of the data fields?

Incorporating new fields may be possible, but keep in mind that any changes will also need to be made to the iOS app version, where screen real estate is very limited. I’ve tried to select fields that would be useful for most people using the app, and have tried to minimize clutter as much as possible. The Notes field may be used to log information that isn’t captured by any other field. Sorry, the names of the data fields cannot be changed.

17. What is the X icon in the toolbar used for?

The ‘X’ icon (next to the ‘+’ icon in the toolbar) is used to delete a particular orchid, watering schedule, or log. It has no effect until you select an item from the list. Clicking on one of the rows in the table will select that row and highlight it. To delete the highlighted orchid, watering schedule, or log, click the X icon in the toolbar. Alternatively you may select Remove Item from the Edit menu. Note that an alert popup will appear asking if you still wish to delete the orchid. There is no such alert for watering schedules or logs.

18. How do I use the reminder feature?

First, pick a log entry or create a new one. Select Yes next to the Reminder field, and a popup will appear asking if you want to add a reminder to the calendar. Click Add and another window will appear where you can create a calendar entry. If there’s already an entry, it’ll allow you to edit it (or delete it). If Reminder is set to Yes, changing the date will also show a popup asking if you want to add/edit on the calendar. If you check your Mac’s calendar, the entry should be recorded against the date/time you set.

The idea is you set a future date, set Reminder to Yes, and the log entry will be highlighted on and after that date. The Reminders Due statistic is also updated. Once you’ve taken care of the task (fertilizing, repotting, etc), set Reminder back to No.

19. How do watering schedules work?

Watering schedules are a convenient way to remind you when certain plants in your collection need watering. You can configure how frequently they need watering (Water Every field), how much (Quantity field), when they were last watered, and when they shouldn’t be watered (No Water Between fields).

The app automatically calculates the next watering date based on the information you’ve entered. If there’s a conflict or insufficient information, you’ll see None Scheduled beside the Next Watering field.

The watering schedule entry will be highlighted on the main list when the Next Watering date arrives. Any corresponding orchid entries on the main list will also be highlighted on the same date.

Select the Watering field dropdown menu for individual plants to associate them with a certain watering schedule. If you have a lot of plants, a quicker way is to open the Watering schedule, then click the Orchids To Water tab. To add or remove plants from a certain Watering schedule, click the + button in the top right-hand corner. You can then select which plants to add to the schedule by clicking on them in the list. A blue watering-can icon will appear next to the plants you’ve selected. To remove a plant from the schedule, return to this window, click the plant and the watering-can icon will disappear. Alternatively, select the plant(s) on the Orchids to Water tab and click the – button.

By associating a plant with a watering schedule, the Last Watered and Next Watering fields for each associated plant will be updated automatically whenever the Watering schedule is updated. While it is possible to change the Last Watered field directly for individual plants, it is not recommended since the watering of this plant will become out of sync with the associated watering schedule.

20. How do I use the orchid report feature? How do I view the orchid report?

The orchid report shows a summary of your collection, followed by the data and photos for every orchid, watering schedule, and log entry in your collection. This report can be useful for inventory or insurance purposes, and may be printed from within your web browser.

Click the Export To -> HTML Report lines on the File menu.

(1) Select the Report Folder where you’d like to store the report and the corresponding photos.
(2) Enter a filename in the Report File field. Note that the photos will be stored in a sub-folder of the same name with a _photos suffix.
(3) Select whether you’d like to export a report with Small photos, Medium photos, or Large photos, then click the Export button.
(4) A progress bar window will appear, followed by a popup when the export is complete.

To view the report, locate the Report Folder you specified in (1) and double-click on the Report File you specified in (2). Your web browser will load the orchid report.

A warning may appear asking if you are sure you want to open the file. Since you have generated the file yourself using the app, click the Open button. Your web browser will then load the orchid report. If you ever want to relocate the orchid report, be sure to move the similarly-named folder with the _photos suffix. This will ensure the report file will still know where to find the photos.

21. I have questions, feature requests, or concerns that aren’t listed above. How can I contact you?

You can reach me via email (OrchidAlbum@andrewnicolle.com), on the Orchid Album Facebook page, or on Twitter (I’m @andrewnicolle). I can usually respond to queries within 24 hours. If you like Orchid Album for Mac, please spread the word. Thanks!

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Orchid Album v1.5 update now available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

Feb 25

Posted by Andrew in apps, orchids | 1 Comment

The Orchid Album v1.5 update is now available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Orchid Album makes keeping track of your orchids easy, whether you’re new to orchids, or an experienced collector. It’s the ideal tool for organizing your plants, watering schedules, and notes.

“Orchid

This update contains the following changes:

Note: This update requires iOS 6 or higher!

  • Added iOS 9 support.
  • Added iPad Pro support.
  • Added support for the Mac version of Orchid Album.
  • Bug fixes.

If you’re enjoying the app, please take a moment to rate or review it on the App Store!

You can learn more about Orchid Album at my website or on the Orchid Album Facebook group.

Orchid Album for Mac Preview

Feb 6

Posted by Andrew in apps, orchids | Comments off

Track your orchid collection on your Mac – Coming Soon!

Last month I announced my plans to bring my iOS and PC app, Orchid Album, to the Mac platform. Development is progressing well, so I thought I’d give you a quick look at the progress so far.

The Mac version is much the same as the PC app, with printing, enhanced search capabilities, and data transfer to and from the iOS version over WiFi. The app will be localized into all the languages supported by the iOS and PC apps, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Orchid Album for Mac will be available for purchase directly from my website. It’ll be available for download as a free trial version, with similar limitations to the free PC version. The full feature-set can be unlocked via purchase. I’m also considering releasing the app on the Mac App Store.

At this stage I’m aiming to release the app within the next few months, barring any unforeseen development hiccups.

If you’re interested in learning more about Orchid Album for Mac as development progresses, visit the Orchid Album Facebook page.

Announcing Orchid Album for Mac

Jan 12

Posted by Andrew in apps, orchids | 2 Comments

“Orchid

After releasing Orchid Album on the iOS App Store in 2014, and Orchid Album for PC last year, I continue to get emails asking when the Mac version will be available. I’d initially thought the Mac market was too small to support an orchid collection app, hence my focus on the PC version. However, if your emails are any guide, it seems like there’s decent demand for a Mac version.

Well, today I’m pleased to announce my plans to bring Orchid Album to the Mac!

The app will contain the same features as the PC version, including transferring your database to and from the iOS version via WiFi. Like the PC version, I plan to support multiple languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. I’m not sure yet whether I’ll release it on the Mac App Store, or only direct via my website. Please let me know if not having a Mac App Store version is a deal-breaker for you.

If you’re interested in learning more about Orchid Album for Mac as development progresses, visit the Orchid Album Facebook page.

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2015 Retrospective

Jan 1

Posted by Andrew in apps, bonsai, fiction, games, orchids, writing | Comments off

With the start of a new year, it’s a good time for one last look back at the previous year.

I don’t have too many complaints about 2015. The day job was a madhouse for much of the year, involving stacks of overtime and some overseas travel. Both of our old cars continue to test the pocketbook, and finances will prevent their replacement anytime soon. On the bright side, I finally paid off my large medical bill, so that’s one less thing to worry about.

Revisiting my 2015 goals, I wasn’t able to focus on writing so much. I didn’t go back to my novel at all, though I wrote a bunch of short stories instead. I mostly expended a huge amount of effort on my apps. In addition to 20+ iOS app updates, I released 3 new PC apps and an Apple TV app.

During 2015 I wrote a new Lovecraftian story and a whole bunch of flash fiction. From the latter I selected the two best stories to enter the Pseudopod flash fiction competition. One of the two stories made it past the first round, but was knocked out in the second. It was loads of fun to create some glimpses of new worlds and characters, so it’s something I’d like to do more of in the future.

Last year I read several writing books and watched some James Patterson Master Class writing lectures, as well as another lecture by Dean Wesley Smith and the folks at WMG Publishing. While there were no mind-blowing revelations, there were plenty of cool things to add to my writing toolbox.

My experiments in self-publishing fell flat, leaving me to conclude that short stories are a very tough sell at the present time. Then again, I can’t discount the possibility that my stories really sucked!

I had one story enrolled in Kindle Unlimited (KU) for 3 months, but had zero borrows over that time. If you’re a reader signed up for a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you would’ve been able to read it for free (i.e. borrow). The economics of the program changed during the year, which means it’s no longer possible to earn substantially more per short story download from a KU borrow vs a direct purchase at 99 cents. What was odd was making a handful of sales after pulling that particular story from KU.

While sales at Amazon were bad, everywhere else was completely dismal (zero!). As a result, I have since made both stories permanently free on all eBook platforms. I’m now getting a steady trickle of downloads, but still only on Amazon.

I did okay with keeping my stories out for submission at traditional markets, but like always, could’ve done better.

In 2015 I read twice as many books as the previous year. It probably helped there weren’t too many phonebook-sized tomes in the list. I took part in the Goodreads Reading Challenge which was a great motivator. Like last year, I read almost exclusively in eBook form. Here are my 2015 reads:

Threshold by Sean Platt and David Wright
The Martian by Andy Weir
Supercharge Your Kindle Sales: Simple Strategies to Boost Organic Traffic on Amazon, Sell More Books, and Blow Up Your Author Mailing List by Nick Stephenson
The Cormorant by Chuck Wendig
Invasion by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant
Writing High-Performance .NET Code by Ben Watson
Alamo Rising by Josh Rountree and Lon Prater
Contact by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant
Reader Magnets: Build Your Author Platform and Sell More Books on Kindle by Nick Stephenson
Take Off Your Pants!: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker
Playing the Short Game: How to Market & Sell Short Fiction by Douglas Smith
Indie Author Survival Guide by Susan Kaye Quinn
5,000 Words Per Hour: Write Faster, Write Smarter by Chris Fox
Colonization by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Lifelong Writing Habit: The Secret to Writing Every Day by Chris Fox
Build IOS Games with Sprite Kit: Unleash Your Imagination in Two Dimensions by Jonathan Penn and Josh Smith
Stories From July by Dean Wesley Smith
Fiction Unboxed by Johnny B. Truant and Sean Platt
Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace

I continued to listen to short fiction podcasts on my daily commute via Escape Pod, Pseudopod, and PodCastle. I highly recommend them, even to people who might not be short fiction readers. The podcasts are free, but please send a few bucks their way if you enjoy listening.

Now for some stats:

2015 Stats:

New apps released: 4
App updates released: 21 (includes Lite and Paid versions)
2015 Word count: 13,958
Stories written: 14
Stories published: 0
Total submissions: 12
Total acceptances: 0
Total rejections: 12
Waiting for response: 0
Books read: 20
Comics read: 12

As mentioned above, I did a huge amount of work on my apps in 2015. I released 4 new apps and even more updates than last year.

My iOS and Mac apps continued their steady sales decline, with most almost reaching saturation point for their respective niches. Revenue for my iOS and Mac apps is roughly flat compared with the previous year. My PC apps didn’t do as well as expected, but they still helped minimize the impact of the lower sales of the rest.

Near the end of March I released Bonsai Album for PC. This is the PC version of my Mac bonsai tracking app, and it contains pretty much the same features. Like the Mac version, this app is localized into 7 languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Portuguese. There were some particular challenges on the PC platform with respect to obtaining a code-signing certificate and getting the licensing code working, but I was able to reuse this work in my other PC apps.

In mid-May I released the PC version of my submission tracking app for writers, Story Tracker.

In July I announced Bonsai Album for Android, taking my first tentative steps into Android app development.

September saw the release of the PC version of my iOS orchid collection tracking app, Orchid Album. Like the iOS version, this app is localized into 6 languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.

In October I released an Apple TV version of my flying jackalope game, Flapalope. This was a fun exercise, since Apple TV apps are quite similar to iOS apps. I’m using the Cocos2D game development framework again. I also had fun creating a game trailer on YouTube. A single 99c purchase unlocks both the iOS and Apple TV versions. Unfortunately the Apple TV App Store launch was botched in the first few weeks, leading to most apps being difficult to find. The situation has only marginally improved since.

Despite having made a grand total of 63 cents from this new game, I was excited to work on another one. This time around it’s an untitled shoot-em-up, also done with Cocos2D. The prototype is already working on iOS, Mac, and Apple TV with the same codebase, and also has game controller support on all three platforms. I’m still trying to decide which direction I’ll take the game, but I’m hoping to release it sometime this year.

Another big milestone this year was finally obtaining my U.S. citizenship! I’ve been eligible to apply for years, but with the looming 10-year expiry and renewal of my greencard, it was time to do some serious thinking. I applied in January, studied furiously for the test, and the interview and subsequent ceremony was in May.

My interest in bonsai waned further in 2015. I lost a few more trees during the horrendous winter, which added to the tally from the previous winter. There were no new trees this year, either.

I attended one bonsai show at Morton Arboretum, but missed the big show at the Chicago Botanic Garden due to travel.

I didn’t take much time off in the first half of the year, but enjoyed having my parents visit during Summer. We spent some time with them in Milwaukee and upper Michigan before they headed to the next stop on their trip. Later, we went camping with the inlaws, and in December we headed to Florida for Christmas, visiting Daytona Beach, Saint Augustine, Epcot, Key West, and Legoland (including the new Legoland hotel).
I also had two week-long business trips in 2015, spending some time in Paris and Guadalajara. Alas, not as fun as they might sound.

I was fairly happy with my personal fitness in 2015. I made time for regular treadmill workouts, consistently exercising 3 times a week, except for travel weeks and when the treadmill died in February. Funnily enough, the treadmill died a week before its 10-year warranty expired, so we only had to pay for the labor cost of repairs.

That about sums it up for 2015. I like setting New Year’s goals, despite not always being able to meet them. Here’s what I’m planning for 2016:

– Number one goal this year is to complete my first novel. I’ve always wanted to have at least one under my belt before hitting 40, and time is fast running out!

– Further to the previous goal, I plan to focus on my writing this year, rather than sacrificing it for apps. This includes both writing more stories and substantially ramping up submissions.

– I plan to continue my usual exercise routine. It gets tougher with age, but the benefits are too great to pass up.

– I’d like to release my new shoot-em-up game on iOS, Mac, and Apple TV. I’ve spent a bunch of time on the prototype, and I’d hate for all that effort to go to waste.

So, that’s it for another year. I hope 2015 treated you well, and best wishes for the New Year!

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Introducing Orchid Album for PC

Sep 20

Posted by Andrew in apps, orchids | Comments off

Track your orchid collection on your Windows PC – Now Available!

“Orchid

Today I’m pleased to announce the release of my new PC app, Orchid Album. If you’re an orchid collector and are looking for a tool to make keeping track of your plants easier, you can’t go wrong with this.

The PC version has many of the same features as the iOS version, with the addition of printing. enhanced search capabilities, and data transfer to and from the iOS version over WiFi. I’ve also included some other features like duplicating orchid entries, right-click context menus, and a host of other tweaks and improvements. Orchid Album for PC also has a built-in crash-reporting mechanism and software update notifications.

Localization into multiple languages is very important for modern apps. The PC version of Orchid Album is localized into English (obviously!), French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. This also includes every aspect of the installation and ordering process. Clicking on any of the links below will take you to the information page for the app in each language:

English, Français, Italiano, Deutsch, Español, Português

To use Orchid Album on your PC, you’ll need either Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 / 8.1, or Windows 10. The app also requires the Microsoft .NET Framework 4 with the KB2468871 update patch.

The download version initially runs in an unregistered trial mode, limited to 3 orchids, 3 watering schedules, and 3 logs, with 3 photos each. It will also only allow a single database to be open at a time, and database import is disabled. The full feature-set can be unlocked via purchase, either within the app or via my Web Store

DownloadBuy Now

You can learn more about all the features of Orchid Album here, check out the Frequently Asked Questions page, or like Orchid Album on Facebook.

I’d like to thank all the Beta testers for helping me polish the app, and to everyone else for their patience (especially family!) while I toiled away on it. I hope you’ll agree it was worth the wait!

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Álbum de Orquídeas – monitore sua coleção de orquídeas

Sep 13

Posted by Andrew in apps, orchids | Comments off

Álbum de Orquídeas facilita monitorar suas orquídeas. Monitore o desenvolvimento de suas plantas durante suas vidas, em seu PC Windows!

Álbum de Orquídeas

Quer você seja novo com orquídeas ou um colecionador experiente, Álbum de Orquídeas é a ferramenta ideal para organizar suas plantas, agendas de irrigação e notas.

Requisitos do Sistema:

Não tem certeza se Álbum de Orquídeas é para você? Experimente a versão de teste grátis disponível para download aqui.

A versão de download funciona inicialmente em um modo de teste não registrado, limitado a 3 orquídeas, 3 agendamentos de irrigação e 3 logs, com 3 fotos cada. Também só permitirá uma única janela de banco de dados, a importação de banco de dados está desativada. Comprar uma licença dentro do app ou pela Loja Web desbloqueia a funcionalidade completa.

Veja o que você pode fazer com Álbum de Orquídeas:

– Grave detalhes sobre suas plantas, incluindo nome botânico, nomes híbridos, detalhes de florescência, fragrância, dimensões e necessidades de irrigação.
– Selecione dentre mais de 500 nomes botânicos (com mais de 100 gêneros), ou adicione novos nomes.
– Classifique orquídeas por nome ou gênero.
– Monitore agendas de irrigação para múltiplas plantas.
– Monitore florescimento, fertilização e outros eventos para cada planta em entradas de log datadas.
– Crie e edite lembretes de entrada de log vinculados ao seu calendário (requer Outlook 2010).
– Use o campo de busca para buscar rapidamente listas de orquídeas, horários de irrigação e log.
– Adicione e reorganize múltiplas fotos por planta e entrada de log.
– Adicione legendas para cada foto.
– Selecione fotos para exibir na miniatura principal para cada orquídea ou log.
– Veja fotos em uma vista de galeria em tamanho original ou em miniatura.
– Reorganize fotos com suporte a seleção múltipla e arrastar e soltar.
– Veja o histórico do log para cada planta, classificado por data.
– Reveja as estatísticas de sua coleção.
– Salva alterações automaticamente.
– Imprima listas de orquídeas, horários de irrigação ou logs, ou informações específicas de uma orquídea, horário de irrigação ou log.
– Importação e exportação de banco de dados com WiFi para Álbum de Orquídeas em seu iPhone, iPad ou iPod touch.
– Suporte de formato CSV para importar/exportar o banco de dados de seu Álbum de Orquídeas para e dos aplicativos de planilha do desktop.
– Função exportar Relatório da Orquídea (HTML). Veja sua coleção no navegador web do seu computador. Ótimo para acompanhar sua coleção para fins de inventário ou seguro.

Observe que Álbum de Orquídeas não vem pré-carregado com fotos, nem inclui informações de cuidados de plantas, e assim por diante. Ele só monitora informações e exibe fotos que você mesmo adicionou.

Por favor, visite https://andrewnicolle.com/all_apps/orchid-album-for-pc para mais informações sobre o Álbum de Orquídeas, incluindo informações para contato se quiser fazer perguntas, solicitar recursos, ou relatar problemas. Junte-se à página de Facebook para falar sobre o Álbum de Orquídeas com outros fãs.

Álbum de Orquídeas: lleve el control de su colección de orquídeas

Sep 13

Posted by Andrew in apps, orchids | Comments off

Álbum de Orquídeas facilita el seguimiento de sus orquídeas. Controle el desarrollo de sus plantas durante el ciclo de vida de las mismas en su equipo con Windows.

Álbum de Orquídeas

Tanto si es su primera vez como si es un coleccionista experto, Álbum de Orquídeas es la herramienta ideal para organizar sus plantas, el cronograma de riego y las notas.

Requisitos del sistema:

¿Duda de que Álbum de Orquídeas sea para usted? Pruebe la versión de prueba gratuita disponible para descarga aquí.

La versión para descargar al principio funciona en modo de prueba sin registro, y se limita al control de tres orquídeas, tres cronogramas de riego y tres registros, con tres fotos cada uno de estos. También permite solo una ventana de base de datos y no tiene habilitada la función de importación de bases de datos. La compra de una licencia, ya sea desde la aplicación o a través de Web Store desbloquea todas las funciones.

Esto es lo que puede hacer con Álbum de Orquídeas:

– Registre los datos de las plantas, incluyendo el nombre botánico, nombres híbridos, datos de floración, perfume, tamaño y necesidades de riego.
– Elija entre más de 500 nombres botánicos (con más de 100 géneros), o agregue nombres nuevos.
– Ordene las orquídeas por nombre o género.
– Controle los horarios de riego de varias plantas.
– Lleve un seguimiento de la floración, fertilización y demás eventos para cada planta en entradas de registro con fecha.
– Cree y edite recordatorios de entrada de registros vinculados a su calendario (requiere Outlook 2010).
– Use el campo de búsqueda para encontrar las orquídeas rápidamente, el cronograma de riego y las listas de registros.
– Agregue y ordene varias fotos por planta y entrada de registro.
– Añadir leyendas para cada foto.
– Seleccione las fotos que desea que aparezcan como miniaturas en la pantalla principal para cada orquídea o registro.
– Vea fotos en una vista de galería de tamaño completo o en miniatura.
– Vuelve a acomodar las fotos con la selección múltiple y la función arrastrar y colocar.
– Vea el historial de registro para cada planta, ordenado por fecha.
– Analizar las estadísticas de su colección.
– Guarde los cambios automáticamente.
– Imprima la orquídea, el cronograma de riego o las listas de registros, o cualquier información sobre una orquídea en particular, cronograma de riego o registro.
– Importe y exporte bases de datos a través de WiFi a Álbum de Orquídeas en su iPhone, iPad o iPod touch.
– Admite formato CSV para importar o exportar la base de datos de Álbum de Orquídeas desde y hacia aplicaciones de hojas de cálculo de escritorio.
– Exporte el Informe de la orquídea y vea su colección en el navegador web de la computadora (HTML). Esta aplicación es perfecta para mantener un control de la colección para inventarios y seguros.

Tenga en cuenta que Álbum de Orquídeas no trae ninguna foto cargada, ni incluye información alguna sobre el cuidado de las plantas, etc. Esta solo lleva un registro de la información y muestra las fotos que usted mismo agrega.

Por favor, visite https://andrewnicolle.com/all_apps/orchid-album-for-pc para obtener más información sobre Álbum de Orquídeas, como datos de contacto para realizar preguntas, pedir funciones o informar cualquier problema. Únase a la página de Facebook para hablar de Álbum de Orquídeas con otros fans.