http://earlybirdsoftware.com/ Rss feed for earlybirdsoftware.com Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:18:33 PST http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2012/01/baby-timer-featured-in-babytalk-magazine.html [Baby Timer](/babytimer/) was featured in the February 2012 issue of [Babytalk Magazine](http://www.parenting.com/Babytalk/)! It's item 30 on a list of "100 innovations making modern motherhood easier, cooler, and way more fun". I hope Baby Timer does all three! From the magazine, page 38: > Baby Timer: Perfect for Type A moms to track every diaper, nap, and feeding. Thank you, Babytalk Magazine. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:08:33 PST http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2012/01/baby-timer-featured-in-babytalk-magazine.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/12/milk-maid-update.html I released a minor update to the Milk Maid app this week. It fixes a few bugs, the biggest of which is that editing a feeding could occasionally set its time back to the distant past. (If you've ever edited a feeding to add notes or adjust the volume and then had the feeding seem to dissappear, this might be why.) Find the free update in the App Store. Thanks! Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:34:38 PST http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/12/milk-maid-update.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/11/android-contraction-timer-update.html I've been meaning to do some more Android work recently, and I had some time in October and November to update the Android Contraction Timer. It now has a similar look to the new iOS version, and some additional features as well.   In particular, it now allows you to copy the data off to an sdcard, and it counts up from the start of the last contraction even when you're not in a contraction. (So you can have an idea of when the next one is coming.) Go get it in the [Android Market!](market://search?q=pname:com.earlybirdsoftware.contractiontimer) And let me know what you think of the app and what else you'd like to see. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:11:27 PST http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/11/android-contraction-timer-update.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/11/windows-phone-contraction-timer.html I'm pleased to announce my first Windows Phone App. The Contraction Timer is [available for download now in the App Hub](http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=b7105b37-8c98-4682-9db1-183686a2dd4a).   This is a fairly simple app as I'm still getting used to the platform. It requires Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango). Let me know what you like and don't like and I'll be releasing updates for it over the coming months. This is a free app for now, but I will be working on a pro version as well.   Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:30:02 PDT http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/11/windows-phone-contraction-timer.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/10/retirement-savings-calculator.html I'm pleased to introduce my newest app, the Retirement Savings Calculator. This app lets you plan for retirement by simulating US stock and bond performance based on historical data.   See more information on [the app page](/retirecalc/), and get it in the [app store](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/retirement-savings-calculator/id468013792?mt=8). Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:31:46 PDT http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/10/retirement-savings-calculator.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/08/contraction-timer-updates.html I'm a little late posting this here, but the Contraction Timer is now two separate apps. I added some new features to it and split it into a lite/pro version. The pro version will now cost 99 cents (or your local equivalent), though everyone who had downloaded the app when it was free gets upgraded to the pro version for free. Both versions are universal apps which run on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and as a native iPad app. New features include charts, emailing your list of contractions, and recording intensity/notes with each contraction.   The new lite version is very similar to the old Contraction Timer app, though it has the same new look as the pro version. It still lets you record an unlimited number of contractions over an unlimited amount of time, so it's a free, fully functional labor tracking app. It does have advertisements, as the old free one used to have. Thanks for using either app, and let me know what you'd like to see in future versions. Sat, 13 Aug 2011 15:27:17 PDT http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/08/contraction-timer-updates.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/06/synchronization.html I've gotten a few comments and requests for a sync feature in the Baby Timer app. It's definitely something I would like to do, and I have been exploring various strategies for adding the feature. There are a few ways I could add synchronization: #### Direct sync between devices This would likely involve using bluetooth to have the devices communicate directly with each other. (Similar to how some multiplayer games work.) The advantage is that there are no cloud accounts to set up, manage, back up, secure, etc. The downside is that the devices have to be in physical proximity to each other to sync. #### Devices sync with a web site I could set up a web site myself and have the devices sync with it. The advantage here is that you could also (maybe) view or enter data from a computer. The downside is that you'd have to create an account on my server, trust your data to my server, and I'd have to run and backup the server. This (might) also allow me to have iOS and Android devices sync with each other. (And possibly any future platforms I create the app for: Windows Phone, Web OS, etc.) #### Devices sync with a cloud storage provider The app could store some or all of its data in a third-party service (Dropbox, or maybe Apple's new iCloud). This would allow the devices to stay in sync while they're not in physical proximity, and would not require me to run a server myself. For that reason, this looks like an appealing option to me right now. #### What next? I'm currently leaning toward using something like iCloud (or possibly Dropbox) to sync data betweeen the devices. But it would be very useful to hear from users of the app: how would you use a syncronization feature? How many devices would you like to sync between, and how frequently would you like to sync them up? Would you find a web interface useful, and would you mind having to create an account to use it and store your data on my server? Would you prefer direct (bluetooth) synchronization between devices so there are no cloud/network parts involved? Please leave a comment below or send me an email, I would love to hear people's opinions as I plan this feature. #### What to do in the meantime? I'll be studying iCloud over the coming weeks to see if it will meet Baby Timer's needs or if something else would be better, and planning when to add this feature. In the meantime, you can use the [Wi-Fi export and import feature] [mmwifi] to move a database from one device to another, or to merge two databases together. (That linked post below is about the Milk Maid app, but the same procedure works with Baby Timer as well. The export button is on the stats tab in Baby Timer.) So if you're just syncing up infrequently or want to migrate from one device to another, this should work nicely. [mmwifi]: http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/04/moving-your-milk-maid-database.html Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:02:50 PDT http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/06/synchronization.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/05/new-baby-timer.html The new version of Baby Timer is out! This adds charts and graphs, and a new color scheme.  As a special promotion, both Baby Timer and Milk Maid are free for Mother's Day! If you download and like them, please spread the word. Thu, 05 May 2011 22:15:30 PDT http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/05/new-baby-timer.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/04/moving-your-milk-maid-database.html I've gotten a couple questions about moving a milkmaid database from one device to another, so I thought I'd write some instructions here. To move a database, you'll need the two devices, a computer (desktop or laptop, Windows or Mac, it doesn't matter), and a WiFi hotspot that all three are on. On the "from" device, tap Export and then WiFi. You'll see an address on the screen. On the computer, enter that address into your web browser. Download the "milkmaid.db" file near the bottom of the web page.  Then, repeat the steps on the "to" device: tap Export, then Wifi. Browse to the address you see on the screen. At the bottom of the page, you'll see a place to upload the milkmaid.db file.  Upload the file you downloaded previously and push submit.  Then, on the screen of the to device, you'll see options to replace the to-device DB or merge the two together.  Choose whichever you want! Tue, 19 Apr 2011 22:27:21 PDT http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/04/moving-your-milk-maid-database.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/03/amazon-appstore.html The Amazon Appstore is live, and [Baby Timer] [btamazon] and [Contraction Timer] [ctamazon] are available for download in it. Amazon is a great company and it will be fun to have another way to distribute my Android apps. Let me know if anyone has a good or bad experience finding/installing Baby Timer or Contraction timer on the Amazon store! [btamazon]: http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Kale-Baby-Timer/dp/B004M4D2FA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=mobile-apps&qid=1301172919&sr=1-2 [ctamazon]: http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Kale-Labor-Contraction-Timer/dp/B004KU0IPI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=mobile-apps&qid=1301172969&sr=1-1 Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:07:13 PDT http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/03/amazon-appstore.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/03/babytimer-update.html The latest version of Baby Timer is available for download in iTunes. This version adds support for restoring a previously-backed up DB to your device. Which is useful if you want to move your data from one device to another, or if something happens to your phone and you need to restore a backup. To restore a backup, go to the Stats tap and tap "backup/export" on the upper right. Then tap the "Wifi" button and you'll be able to either download or upload a backup from a web browser. Let me know if anyone has questions about it. When you upload a database, you can choose to replace the device's data or to merge the new data with your device's data. Merging is useful if you have entered data in your new device that you don't want to lose, or if you have two devices that you want to keep in sync with each other. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:50:01 PDT http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/03/babytimer-update.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/03/new-wordsoup.html I'm pleased to announce that the latest version of Word Soup is available for download. This update adds Canadian and British spellings to the app. Now, depending on your phone's locale, the app will use either American, Canadian, or British spellings as it generates anagrams. I tried to map locales to spellings accordingly (i.e. Australia and the UK get British spellings, etc.) but please let me know if the app is using the wrong list for your country. Thanks! Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:24:56 PDT http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/03/new-wordsoup.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/03/new-milkmaid.html I'm happy to announce that a new version of Milk Maid is out! This adds a few features that had been requested in the app comments and also allows you to upload a previously backed up database. You can use this to restore a backup after your phone gets lost or erased, or move your Milk Maid data from one device to another. You can also use this to merge two databases together. I hope you like it and thanks for the feedback, both in email and via the App Store. The database restore is making its way to Baby Timer too -- an update is in review with Apple right now that adds that feature to that app as well. Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:43:30 PST http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/03/new-milkmaid.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/02/wordsoup.html [Word Soup] [wsweb], my latest iPhone app, is available in the App Store! It creates anagrams of words or phrases you enter. Try it with your name, your workplace, famous people or places, or everyday items. You can share the funny ones with your friends on Facebook. I've always liked word games and anagrams, so this was a fun app to make. Let me know what you think of the app, or if you have suggestions for future versions. See the [app in iTunes] [wsitunes]. [wsweb]: /wordsoup/ [wsitunes]: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/word-soup/id418289084?mt=8 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:52:58 PST http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/02/wordsoup.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/02/milkmaid-import.html I'm working on an update to the Milk Maid app, and I'm hoping to include an import feature to complement the current export feature. This would allow you to move your Milk Maid data from one phone or device to another, as well as restore your data after (say) you lose your phone or it stops working. What other uses would you like to see? Would it be useful to export pumping and feeding data from Baby Timer and import it into Milk Maid? Let me know what you would find useful and I'll see what I can do! Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:26:44 PST http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/02/milkmaid-import.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/02/hello.html Hello! This is the homepage for Earlybird Software. So far, I have three apps ([Milk Maid] [mm], [Baby Timer] [bt], and [Contraction Timer] [ctx]) on two platforms (iPhone and Android). They are available in the App Store and the Android Market. The Contraction Timer is a free app on both platforms. It's meant to get the word out about the Baby Timer, but the Contraction Timer is a completely free standalone app which helps track your or your partner's labor progress. The Baby Timer is an easy to use app that helps you track diapers, feedings, and naps for your new baby. It's meant to be as simple as possible and intuitive enough to use when you're sleep deprived in the middle of the night. (Which as the parent of a young baby, I'm sure you are!) The app makes it easy to remember when the last time your baby ate, pooped, or slept so you don't have to think about it. It also keeps very detailed records and makes them available for export in multiple formats for archiving or to bring to the doctor's office with you on a visit. Milk Maid is my newest app! It helps pumping moms keep track of their stored milk supply, daily pumping, and daily milk use. It helps you use the oldest milk first and quickly see your entire milk stash for planning. I'm a stay at home Dad who makes apps when my son is napping. I'd love to hear feedback or suggestions, please drop me a line using the contact link to the left or by emailing feedback at earlybirdsoftware dot com. Thanks! [bt]: /babytimer/ [mm]: /milkmaid/ [ctx]: /ctxtimer/ Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:41:22 PST http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/02/hello.html http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/01/ctxtimer-export.html *Update: The 1.2 version of the app now lets you browse the history of contractions, so this may not be necessary anymore. However, if you want to export the data off the device for backup or more complicated analysis, this may still be useful.* I don't (yet) have an export function in the Contraction timer, however my intention is not to keep you from accessing your own data. In the meantime, you may find this script which generates a csv file handy. The data is stored in an sqlite3 DB, with a simple schema (a contraction table with columns for the starttime and stoptime which are in seconds since epoch, and a column inprogress which is 0 or 1). You may want to modify it to calculate the duration, spacing between contractions, etc. Let me know if anyone writes a better script and I'll post it here for all to use. Thanks! -Mike #! /usr/bin/python # File is located at: # /data/data/com.earlybirdsoftware.contractiontimer/files/ctxtimer.db # With the emulator, I use this command: # adb pull /data/data/com.earlybirdsoftware.contractiontimer/files/ctxtimer.db . # My phone isn't rooted; let me know if that's not where it is on the device import sqlite3 import time con = sqlite3.connect('ctxtimer.db') cur = con.cursor() f = open('ctxtimer.csv', 'w') f.write('start,stop,inprogress\n') cur.execute('select starttime, stoptime, inprogress from contraction') for row in cur.fetchall(): # row[0] is start time in seconds since epoch # row[1] is stop time in seconds since epoch # row[2] is 0/1 whether it's in progress # So you can massage these however you want ;-) f.write('%s,%s,%d\n' % (time.ctime(row[0]), time.ctime(row[1]), row[2])) f.close() Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:34:35 PST http://earlybirdsoftware.com/2011/01/ctxtimer-export.html