SlipBox

[mg]

Finally, I can report that there will be a mobile version of SlipBox! Hehe. I'm hoping to create a universal iPad/iPhone app, but I nee to sort out a few things before I can confirm that. An iPad-only version seems easier at the moment. Right now, there are two major technical issues on which I hope you have some ideas.

1. The iPhone does not support styled text and attachments (pictures etc.) in texts, which obviously breaks this ability of the desktop version. So for editing a slip-box on the mobile device, there are several options:
* don't allow any editing
* only allow adding of slips, but not no modifications of existing slips (as that would destroy formatting and attachments)
* allow `destructive' editing
* try some form of synchronisation, where a modified slip can be reimported into the proper slip-box when the file is opened with the desktop version again. (This is quite unlikely to happen, as that's error-prone and involves a lot of developer-pain.)

2. Obviously, the data needs to be transferred between the desktop and the mobile device. As I'm quite new to the use of mobile devices, perhaps you have suggestions on what the best way for this is? For the iPad, the Shared Files option of iTunes would be easy to implement, but perhaps that's too impractical/inconvenient for everyday use? What are your experiences?

I'm just in the planning stages at the moment, but I'd like to get as much input (via the forum or email) as possible, so this is your opportunity to shine! And it's going to be a while until the app will be available.

Also, I should say that this mobile app will low cost but not free. (I do have quite substantial expenses that go beyond what I'd need to spend if I did it just for myself. But my aim is just to recover those.)

[AsafKeller]

Brilliant! In addition to gratitude from the faithful, I strongly believe you can profit nicely by marketing as a general purpose, high end notetaker. Having a free desktop version would make an interesting and appealing marketing strategy. Somewhere in the $10 to $20 range for the mobile version sounds reasonable.

Syncing: The iTune route is very reasonable, at least for an initial release. In the long run consider a cloud based solution. DropBox released their API for this, and Jesse G over at FlyingMeat is porting his SimpleText syncing solution to it. Worth a look. And is free.

Styled text:Could have an option like in Evernote, where destructive editing is allowed but a warning comes up when you try to edit a document.

Not sure what you mean about the data storage options (other post). Are we to choose between the existing database format (including the option to have multiple databases) versus the NotationalVelocity option of a single database that can be saved as individual txt files?

Will gladly test the mobile version on both iPad and iPhone.

[mg]

Thanks, those are very useful hints.

[AsafKeller]

It is a difficult choice. If one must be made I would opt for the option to store the files individually. Thanks for consulting.

[musubana]

What a great piece of news to wake up to!

As for formatted editing on the iPhone, I can inform you that some programmers apparently managed to do this:
Check for instance "Quickoffice Mobile Suite" which lets you edit Word files on the go – with italization, bold letters, different letter sizes etc.

Another solution would be to have one mode for viewing SlipBox cards, and another for editing.
In editing mode, text attributes could be added using some markup language (the most common codes accessible through toolbar buttons). This is done quite elegantly in the wiki app "Trunk" (which unfortunately is taking a break from the iTunes store, as the developer prepares an improved release).

Count me in as a beta tester too, if need be.

[mg]

The current plan is to display a warning about destructive editing. At that point the user can then proceed with
* loss of info (images etc.) and formatting
* append text without losing info
* copy the whole slip

Editing formatted text is difficult to realise, even though it can be done.

The other felds can of course simply be edited.

[AsafKeller]

Great plan. ETA?
Thanks, Asaf.

[musubana]

[musubana]

[AsafKeller]

ETA: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimated_time_of_arrival

[mg]

ETA: There are a few things left to implement, but an alpha version should be ready quite soon (meaning: days, not weeks).

[musubana]

OK, thanks for the explanations.
I'm eagerly awaiting the app.

[madmaxmedia]

This is great news! Synchronization via DropBox would be wonderful.