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On top of the already extensive list of features, we wanted to add a couple of extras prior to release. These are backup/restore and live tile support.

Backup, Restore and Share

Shift Work for WP7 now supports backing up and restoring of its database via Dropbox. Of course, if you have other members of the family using Shift Work, they could download the backup of the database so that they can see what shifts you are working.

Live Tiles

Shift Work allows you to create a live tile for each of your calendars. Each live tile will show todays shift on onside and and tomorrows shift on the other side. Tiles will be coloured according to the colours you have used to define the shift (see image).

Shift Work will support live tiles from version 1.0

Shift Work is a WP7 application specifically designed for shift workers who want to enter and view their shifts quickly and easily.

Whilst this can be achieved in a normal calendar it is by no means ideal. Imagine having to enter a years worth of shift information – it would take you a considerable amount of time and effort, especially if your shifts do not fit into the standard week.

Shift Work overcomes this problem by allowing you to create shifts using a combination of colours, letters and numbers and then build patterns of repeating shifts which can then be added to your calendar at the tap of a button.

Once you have entered your shifts you can share your data with others as well as create similar calendars for your friends, family and colleagues.

Features

• Create colourful shifts with optional code allowing you to easily see your shifts at a glance.
• Create any number of calendars. For example: one for your shifts, your spouse and one to keep track of the kids (after school activities, clubs etc.).
• Compare any of your shift calendars side by side to find out when you next have a day off together.
• Repeating shift patterns allows you to enter months or years worth of shifts in seconds.
• Edit individual days to show special days such as holidays, training, sick, holidays etc.
• Add notes to days with the option to use colours to help identify different types of notes.
• Enter hours worked at different pay rates to keep track of what you should be paid.
• Email shifts as easy to read text so you can print out for your family to see.
• Email shift data as CSV for use in spreadsheets and other applications.Email a copy of your calendar to friends and family.
• Show week numbers.
• Jump to any date in the future or past or quickly go back to today.
• Show a months worth of shifts as your phones wallpaper.Report showing hours worked over a user definable period.Set any day as the week start day.
• Robust SQL based database.

Incase you thought we had been kidnapped by aliens for the last year I thought I had better let everyone know what has been happening.

We have been ultra busy. As well has re-leasing new iPhone apps and updates we have also been developing apps for various other platforms including Blackberry, Windows Phone and Mac:

• Blackberry apps: Percentages, VAT, Mortgage Calculator
• Windows Phone apps include: Percentages, DIY Calculator, VAT Calculator, Tip Buddy, Owner Info
• Mac apps include: Percentages, VAT Calculator, European VAT number validator, Who Is
• iPhone / iPad updates to Percentages and VAT Pro

To reflect all the new apps, this website will shortly undergo an update allowing us to showcase our apps for all platforms – Watch this space.

After a disasterous couple of days that saw VAT Pro’s rankings drop to 100 and below we noticed sales steadily start to pick up again throughout the day. So much so that we have been listed in the iTunes “What’s Hot” section in position 3!

Thank you so much to all of our customers. As stated in previous blog entries, version 1.2 in in review with some very exciting new features (well, exciting if you work with VAT)  and we have started working on version 1.3.

After an update to the portal used by iPhone app developers yesterday, many developers are reporting that the screenshots for their apps have gone missing. Instead the app store just shows grey rectangles where the images should be.

In our case, our most recent app has suffered from this and it has had a very bad effect on our rankings. Over night we have dropped by over 50 positions in the business chart after weeks of hard work promoting it. Needless to say we are not happy about this at all. I contacted iPhone development support via the number given on the website only to be told that there is nothing they could do and my only option was to email the relevant department via their online form. My past experience of this is that it takes them 3 or 4 days to respond. I have done this anyway in the hope that they will listen and respond in a timely manor but i’m not expecting a quick response.

Looking into this a bit further, it would appear that apps released yesterday all have missing screen shots and reading the forums where developers hangout suggests that it effects apps that were just released. The odd thing is that our app has been available in the app store for a little while now (although it does have an update waiting for review). So in reality I have no idea what is happening, all I do know is that our sales have been dramatically effected and our app will disappear from the charts by later this evening.

The really frustrating thing is that although Apple will fix this, they will not do anything to compensate for the loss of earnings due to their incompetence and lack of testing (ring a bell – iPhone 4 – loss of signal?). The least I would expect from Apple is for them to restore all of our positions as of yesterday and to re-release new apps.

Come on Apple do the right thing!

I will keep this post updated with the feedback from apple.

We have today submitted v1.2 of VAT Pro, the VAT Calculator for iPhone. Version 1.2 contains some major new features as well as over 50 more countries added to the database.

New Features:

1. European VAT Number Validator
   This feature allows you to enter a VAT Number and check that it is indeed valid. VAT Pro searches the European Commissions online database to validate the number entered and clearly identifies whether it is valid or not.
2. Reverse Calculation
   Now you can enter the VAT only amount and, based on the rate selected, VAT Pro will instantly calculate the Inclusive and Exclusive amounts for you.
3. User definable Tax Name
   For non UK users you can now change the tax name from VAT to anything you like. For example, ‘Tax’ or ‘TVA’
4. Rate Comparison
   By tapping the lock icon in VAT Pro you effectively ‘lock’ the selected rate as the default rate. If you then tap a different rate, VAT Pro will popup a screen showing you the difference between the locked rate and the one you have just selected. This proves useful when a VAT or Tax rate changes and you need to update your prices.
5. 56 New Countries
   VAT Pro’s database now contains VAT information for 56 more countries.
6. Splash Screen
   Although it takes literally a second to load, we thought we’d show you a lovely splash screen instead of a boring old black one.

Many of these new features have been suggested by our users so we do listen. If you have an idea to suggest, please drop us a line and we’ll see what we can do.

VAT Pro the VAT Calculator for iPhone has today been released for sale/upgrade in the App Store. Version 1.1 of VAT Pro includes a shiny new user interface together with a couple of minor new features.

My Mirror Pro, the iPhone Pocket Mirror, is now available for purchase in the App Store.

Using the iPhone 4′s front facing camera, My Mirror Pro turns your iphone into a real pocket mirror. With over 20 high resolution frames, zoom in and out buttons and save picture buttons, you will look good anytime of the day.

Swap to the rear facing camera to take picture postcards of your holidays and use them in emails and MMS.

Features:

• Real iPhone mirror using the front camera
• Zoom in and out
• Over 20 high resolution frames
• Save your picture
• Remembers last frame used
• Works in landscape and portrait modes
• Take postcard snapshots by switching to the rear camera
• iOS4 tested

My Mirror Pro is available now in the App Store

We are pleased to announce that version 1.1 of VAT Pro – the iPhone VAT calculator has been submitted to the app store. Version 1.1 includes a brand new user interface with ultra high resolution graphics which look fantastic on the iPhone retina display. As well as the new interface, the operator keys now remain highlighted when pressed.

More information on VAT Pro, the iPhone VAT Calculator.

We were very pleased to discover that VAT Pro the iPhone VAT Calculator has today entered the New and Noteworthy iTunes list.  Thank you so much to everyone that has purchased our app.