What's happening lately

The last couple of months, I've been doing a lot of work preparing for the new Windows 7/8 Phone app and Windows 8 tablet development I've planned.  The fun things I've been bogged down with include:

• Research into Windows 8 and Windows 8 Phone details, including new software development stuff from Microsoft
• Continued enhancement of my underlying ICE framework, including (for those who know the lingo) full XML support for app-data persistence and cloud data sharing and synchronization between devices running my apps
• App feature requirements and detailed design work
• Cross-platform support for Windows 8, Windows 7, phones, tablets, and web pages

Doesn't all that sound like loads of fun?

After a few more technical tweaks to my underlying framework stuff (and completing some more documentation for other programmers using it), I'll dive in to development of the prototype for the Cool Grader app upgrade.  Hopefully, I'll have it ready for review by testers within this next week or the next.  One hopes, anyway.

What fun ... :)

The existing product to be upgraded

For those not familiar with the current Cool Grader app, here are some screen shots to give you an idea of the existing product to be upgraded in this next release (see 'First app development in a year ...' below):



Grading screen





Menu (displayed via '...')





Calculator





Help information

First app development in a year ...

Some real news from Mr. Winkle ... Now gotten to the point where some actual app development can continue, after all this time developing some underlying technology I needed ...

First project is a paid upgrade to Cool Grader, which will include a new average sheet, a grading table, and a random number generator.  Storage of the average sheet(s) will allow for later retrieval of previous grading sessions.  Also, various improvements will be made in the user interface, to make new features easily accessible and dress up some of the existing display elements.

Bulletin just in: RV Winkle awakes

Sources today disclosed that RV Winkle (usually known as "Rip" or "Van the Man") has finally awoken and is stirring again.  He was recently found to have resurfaced within MJ App Factory, apparently working as a software developer of all things.  According to our sources (who asked to remain anonymous since they were not authorized to disclose details), Mr. Winkle plans to announce some "big things" soon, although what those big things are have not yet been explained.  Our sources only hinted vaguely about things like 'frameworks' and 'data sharing', although what those meant was not clarified.

We will stay on top of this developing story and bring you updates as soon as they are available.