R10Cipher 1.0.1 Released

Following customer feedback we have just released 1.0.1 of R10Cipher.

The changes are detailed below:

Email button. This button opens an email message in your default email client with an appropriate subject and with the body of the email containing the Cipher Text.

Clipboard button. This button copies the entire Cipher Text to the system Clipboard.

‘Show’ checkbox for the Shared Secret. Allows you to view the Shared Secret to ensure you have not made any typing errors.

In addition the graphics have been tidied up on Windows and Linux.

The help System and the Manual have been updated appropriately.

www.artenscience.co.uk
Commercial and Bespoke Software Development

Useful Tools 2 of ?

2nd Post in my series on tools that I find extremely useful and form part of my everyday development environment.

My MacPro can, and regularly does, run four operating systems consecutively. OSX 10.5, Windows Vista, Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux. This is essential for the testing of my Cross Platform software. You can see this in the screenshot below:



This is possible due to the virtualization technology from those clever guys at VMWare.

VMWare Fusion. http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/

There are other alternatives to Fusion, but since I discovered it I have never looked back. Essential.

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

Useful Tools 1 of ?

Your choice of development software is only one step towards creating a workable development environment. To supplement your language and compiler you will accumulate a wealth of tools and utilities that will make your life easier and your development more fun.

This one, for me is invaluable.

http://bradrhine.com/pages/maskextractor.php

PNG Mask Extractor by Brad Rhine. It's Freeware, it works and it works well.

Using this utility I can drop an icon on the window and automatically create the mask for any icon quickly and easily making me a very happy coder.



Cheers to the author :-)

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

Idea to Product in 30 Days ? Realistic ?

Many months ago just for fun a bunch of developers got together for a '30 Day Challenge'. Take an idea to a product within 30 days. I participated as best I could as I was half way through a product but also needed to setup my new company, website etc. It was a lot of fun and made interesting reading, seeing the problems that were faced and overcome was very enlightening.

The concept itself received a lot of (in my opinion unwarranted) criticism from certain people who basically said that it was impossible to finish a successful project within 30 days. This is, being blunt, crap.

I suppose different people have different ideas about what makes a successful product. I have come up with the following possible definitions for a 'successful software project':

Completed On Budget, On Time
Achieved the Defined Objective
Makes a Profit
Quickly gains customers
No Show-stopping Bugs
Positive Independent Reviews
Gains Industry Attention

Based on those definitions of 'successful software project' I have to say that I have released several projects this year that have all been done in under 30 days, and have all met most if not all of those criteria. Non of my projects will set the world on fire, none of them are 'killer applications', none of them are the most complex applications ever and I am not the worlds greatest programmer.

All of my software though has been profitable and has happy customers. Really, is there much else needed ? Is it possible to take an idea from inception to product in 30 days. Yes, of course it is.



NOTE: Just after posting this original post I saw this over on Bob Walsh's 47hats.com :
'Does Steve Cholerton sleep? Guess not: his microISV Arten Science just released another product: R10Cipher - a cross platform encryption tool for Mac and Windows.'

The truth is that yes I do. I also ride my motorcycle, watch TV, read books and magazines, do bespoke development and security work and lots of other stuff. It is perfectly possible to work hard but still live a good life AND develop a product in 30 days :-)

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

macVCR 2.1.7 Released

Today we released macVCR 2.1.7.

2.1.7 features a new Volume Information Screen which shows total and free space on all attached volumes. There is also a revised and expanded 20 page manual.



2.1.7 is a free upgrade for all macVCR customers.

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

R10Cipher Released Today by Arten Science

We have released R10Cipher today.
R10Cipher is a simple Cross Platform Encryption / Decryption tool.

R10Cipher basically takes text and encrypts it using up to 128 bit Blowfish encryption. This Cipher Text can then be copied into an email, saved as a file and attached to an email or just copied elsewhere and the recipient can use R10Cipher to open the file and view the encrypted contents, assuming they are in possession of the Shared Key that was used to encrypt the document in the first place.

Many people do not realise that sending an email is the equivalent of sending a postcard, it's contents are easily visible. For many companies, individuals and markets this is totally unacceptable and with the potential complexity and setup issues with the Public Key Encryption systems it makes sense to encrypt using a utility such as this.
R10Cipher can also be used in conjunction with Sicuro my 'Data Vault' software that will be available before Christmas 2008. I have added the functionality of R10Cipher to Sicuro, so a user of Sicuro and a user of R10Cipher can share encrypted documents with no problems.

Below are some examples of Usage:

Example 1: One to One Private Communications

Bill and Ted want to discuss plans for their next Excellent Adventure. Knowing that their email can be easily read they decide on a Shared Secret ‘Bill+Ted=Wyld”. They type their discussions into R10Cipher and save the encrypted text as a file which they attach to their emails. They are now secure in the knowledge that no-one can foil their plans.

Example 2: One to Many Private Communications

Bill and Ted decide they want to involve the Historical Babes in some of their plans, but not all. The four of them agree a Shared Secret and now Bill and Ted can communicate between themselves using their own Shared Secret and if they wish to include the Historical Babes they use the second Shared Secret agreed between the four of them.

Example 3: One to Many Private Communications over a Public Medium

Frodo is setting off on his next adventure and as is the fashion nowadays he wants to update the world with his travels via an online blog. With his new Macbook Air this will work great but there is some information he wishes only to be read by Merry and Pippin who are holding the fort for him back in Hobbiton.

Before he sets off the three of them agree on a Shared Secret and as Frodo updates the world via his blog he uses R10Cipher to append an encrypted entry on the end, knowing that the world can see but not understand his instructions, which are only for the eyes of Merry and Pippin.

Example 4: The benefits of Cross Platform

Unfortunately, small and sexy though it is, the Macbook Air is just a little bit too big (and lets face it - expensive - to take across Middle Earth, what with the Orcs and all. At the last minute Frodo switches to a Dell Mini 9 running Linux which came free with his mobile broadband card. Luckily R10Cipher works as well on Linux as it does on the Mac so Frodo has no need to change his plans.

Example 5: R10Cipher Not Just for Men

While Frodo is off on his travels his wife, feeling lonely, takes a lover. Knowing that the local Hobbiton ISP takes quite an interest in the emails to and from the villagers, they both use R10Cipher to arrange their rendezvous. Even hobbits need loving, besides it was rather selfish of Frodo to disappear like that for months at a time - and who knows what he got up to with Sam on that first journey to Mordor ?



www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

R10Cipher Final Screenshots

R10Cipher will be released in a few days, below I have the final screenshots from Mac OSX, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Ubuntu Linux.









www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

R10Cipher Released Soon ...

I'm just doing the final testing of R10Cipher, ensuring that it runs well and looks nice on Linux. Mac OSX was easy as that is my preferred development platform, Windows XP and Vista was also straightforward with just a few modifications. Linux has proven a bit more troublesome but I'm happy with the results so far.

R10Cipher is a simple Cross Platform Encryption / Decryption tool. It is aimed at a specific market who have a great need for this, and a mix of hardware, hence I had to make it work across all viable platforms, but I will be releasing this as a general purpose tool as well.

R10Cipher basically can take text and encrypt it using Blowfish encryption. This file can then be emailed or sent elsewhere and the recipient can use R10Cipher to open the file and view the encrypted contents, assuming they are in possession of the Shared Key that was used to encrypt the document in the first place.

Many people do not realise that sending an email is the equivalent of sending a postcard, it's contents are easily visible. For certain markets this is totally unacceptable and with the rumoured hijacking and potential complexity of the Public Key Encryption systems it makes sense to encrypt using a utility such as this. R10Cipher can also be used in conjunction with Sicuro my 'Data Vault' software that will be available before Christmas. I have added the functionality of R10Cipher to Sicuro, so a user of Sicuro and a user of R10Cipher can share encrypted documents with no problems.

I'll produce the documentation tonight and tomorrow and R10Cipher will be available for download over the weekend.





www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

iPhone Developer Program

Today I joined the iPhone Developer Program. I paid my $99 and can now test applications directly on the device and also upload to the app store :-)

This happy event coincided with the day that I have just taken on a large bespoke project ... so I guess I am going to be busy for a while as I have Sicuro being launched in December and R10Cipher being launched in a few days.

I've been severely lax in my blogging for a while and I can't see the situation improving anytime soon unfortunately, still it's nice to be busy !

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

Arten Science Dedicated Server

I’ve just moved Arten Science onto a dedicated server. Within the next day or so all the DNS changes will be replicated and performance will increase. There shouldn’t be any problems but if the worst happens and you do experience a problem, please contact us as support@artenscience.co.uk

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

Give Good Food To Your Mac - Now Live !

http://www.givegoodfood2yourmac.com/store/

‘Give Good Food to your Mac’ is back and kicking !
More than 60 apps for your Mac.

Montpellier, France – November 17th, 2008: Aquafadas is pleased to announce the launch of the Third Edition of ‘Give Good Food to Your Mac’. This promotion is organised by Indie developers from all over the world.

Diversity and quality are main features of this community action. Every Mac user can download and « taste » more than 60 apps and enjoy discounts ranging from 20% to 50%.
This year’s edition will allow every Mac user to find the software they need amongst : Comic Boom, Cheetah 3D, PulpMotion, RapidWeaver, Tangerine! GhostReader, DEVONthink, HoudahSpot, Renamer4mac and many more great apps.

Claudia Zimmer, Aquafadas CEO explains, « We are pleased to introduce the Third Edition of ‘Give Good Food to your Mac’. It’s a chance for us to build a community among developers and together, create opportunities that would not be possible alone . Mac users benefit from it as they can discover our software at great prices. »

From the 17th to the 30th of November 2008, Mac users can create their own cocktail of apps and enjoy increasing discounts starting at 20% for 3 apps and up to an amazing 50% for 5 apps or more.

Website
http://www.givegoodfood2yourmac.com

Discounts are as follows :
- 20% off for 3 apps
- 30% off for 4 apps
- 50% off for 5 apps and more

Contact Info :
To learn more about the Third Edition of ‘Give Good Food to Your Mac’, please contact Fatima AMGHAR, famghar@spicy-distribution.com



The available products are :
- AlienConverter from AlienCrypt
- Amigos Number Puzzles from Amigos Software
- Amigos Spanish from Amigos Software
- BannerZest from Aquafadas
- BannerZest Pro from Aquafadas
- Bee Docs’ Timeline 3D édition 2.2 from BeeDocs
- BeFit – Get Fit, Stay Fit, BeFit ! from Jon Brown Designs
- Blue Crab from Limit Point Software
- Cheetah 3D from MW 3D-Solutions
- Comic Boom from Toon Boom Animation Inc.
- DejalNarrator 2.0.3 from Dejal
- DEVONagent from DEVONtechnologies, LLC
- DEVONthink Personal from DEVONtechnologies, LLC
- DiscLabel from SmileOnMyMac
- dJay 2.1.3 from Algoriddim GmbH
- Dossier from Vortimac
- Dragoman from Dare to be Creative Ltd.
- FastCut 3.0.6 from TimesForFun
- Flip Boom Classic from Toon Boom Animations Inc.
- Fluffy’s Log 1.1.1 from Shallot Patch
- French Verb Game from Amigos Software
- FunBooth 0.9.3 from SourceBits
- Geoaze Pro from SilverLint Creative Software
- Geoaze Standard from SilverLint Creative Software
- GhostReader English Version from ConvenienceWare
- GhostReader French version from ConvenienceWare
- HoudahGeo from Houdah
- HoudahSpot from Houdah
- Hydra 1.6 + Aperture plug-in from Creaceed
- iArchiver from Dare to be Creative Ltd.
- iDive from Aquafadas
- iKanji 1.0 from ThinkMac Software
- JABMenu 2.0.1 from JNSoftware
- Kameleon From Option-6 Products
- Librarian Pro from Koingo Software
- MacCleanse from Koingo Software
- MacPilot 3 from Koingo Software
- Mail Attachments iConizer from Lokiware
- Mental Case from MacCoreMac Software
- Money 3 from Jumsoft
- Nutritionist from Dr. Frank Kowalewski
- PearNote 1.0 from UsefulFruit Software
- PulpMotion from Aquafadas
- Pulpmotion Advanced from Aquafadas
- RapidWeaver 4 from Realmac Software
- Relationship from Jumsoft
- Renamer4Mac from Dare to be Creative Ltd.
- ResizeMe 1.2.0 from Dare to be Creative Ltd.
- RubiTrack from Toolsfactory software inc.
- Scorecard 1.4.1 from CynicalPeak Software
- ScreenAudit 1.5 from ArtenScience
- Scribbles from Atebits
- Secret of the Lost Cavern From Coladia
- Share Tool from Yazsoft
- ShoveBox from Wonder Warp Software SP
- Speed Download 5 from Yazsoft
- SplitFuse 1.3 from LikelySoft
- SWF&FLV Player from Eltima Software
- Syncmate from Eltima Software
- Tangerine! from Potion Factory
- Today 1. 3 from Second Gear LLC
- Together from Reinvented Software
- Toon Boom Studio From Toon Boom Animation Inc.
- VideoPier HD from Aquafadas
- Voice Candy from Potion Factory
- VoltaicHD from Systemic pty Ltd. Trading as Shedworx
- You Control: Desktops 1.3 from You Software
- Yummy Soup from HungrySeacow Software

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

Sailing in November

A customer and friend of mine is moving to live on the coast of Spain very shortly and will undoubtedly need some IT work doing over there :-) When I was invited to go over and see the new villa and then spend four days on his yacht sailing in the Mediterranean with him and some friends, spending the evenings in the bars in places like Puerto Banus - what's a guy to do ?

It's a tough job but someone's gotta do it :-)









www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

Sicuro: Release Roadmap

I've published the Release Roadmap for our next product, Sicuro: http://www.artenscience.com/artenscience/SicuroRoadmap.html

Sicuro is a Cross Platform application designed to gather together, store securely and make available quickly the plethora of information that todays lifestyle makes necessary to keep close at hand. Sicuro will help organise your digital lifestyle.

The MacOSX version of Sicuro should be available before Christmas.

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

ScreenAudit features on Give Good Food To Your Mac

http://www.givegoodfood2yourmac.com/

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

ScreenAudit Sponsors The Digital Lifestyle

http://www.thedigitallifestyle.tv/

http://www.thedigitallifestyle.tv/screenaudit_ad.mp4

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business

ScreenAudit on MacUpdate Promo

http://www.mupromo.com/

www.artenscience.co.uk
Honest Expert Independent Technology Advice for Business