AppStudio 8.4 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 8.4.0 has been released.

The major change is that AppStudio is now hooked into the VoltBuilder billing system. If you use VoltBuilder (or used to use PhoneGap), you’ll need to decide which plan works for you.

VoltBuilder is a build service operated separately from AppStudio, so it is an additional cost. It has real variable costs, beyond just development. There is bandwidth, hosting, backup, support, 24/7 monitoring, and keeping all the software components up to date and working with each other.

Discounts are available for AppStudio users.

The second big change is that AppStudio can now upload your builds to the iTunes App Store, via VoltBuilder.

Here is what is new and changed in 8.4:

1. VoltBuilder now uploads to the Apple Store after building.
2. Build using VoltBuilder now hooked into VoltBuilder billing.
3. Preferences: VoltBuilder panel now accepts API Credentials.
4. Preferences: Links changed to buttons to fix MacOS issue.
5. About: New Deregister button removes serial number from copy.
6. References to PhoneGap removed.
7. BS4, BS3: Text alignment now works properly.
8. Bootstrap: Updated to 4.5.3.
9. DataTables: Updated to latest version (different modules).
10. Libraries: Upgraded to Python 3.8.
11. DropDMG: Updated to 3.6

The easiest way to get the update is on the Help menu – “Check for Updates…” or visit our Downloads page.

Important: If you’re using VoltBuilder, please update to 8.4. Builds using AppStudio 8.3 will not work after October 25, 2020.

New AppStudio Tutorials on YouTube

Jon Jackson is a senior lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University and University of Surrey. For his courses, he developed a great set of YouTube videos.

There are 18 videos, anywhere from 6 to 15 minutes long. He uses AppStudio with JavaScript and Bootstrap. Topics range from Setting Up to Building a Simple Form to using Maps in Mobile Apps.

Working code is available in a GitHub repo.

It’s a great way to get started with AppStudio (and mobile app development in general) or to learn how to do new things.

Check out the YouTube playlist.

AppStudio 8.3 Released!

We’re pleased to announce that 8.3.0 has been released.

The big news is that VoltBuilder, our replacement for PhoneGap Build, is complete. You no longer have to use PhoneGap to make native iOS and Android apps. PhoneGap itself has been discontinued by Adobe – all references to it have been removed from AppStudio.

Right now, all your need is a valid AppStudio serial number and current subscription to submit your apps. We will be hooking AppStudio into VoltBuilder’s billing system in the near future.

Here is what is new and changed in 8.3:

1. PhoneGap Build: All references removed. PhoneGap has been discontinued by Adobe.
2. VoltBuilder has replaced PhoneGap Build in AppStudio.
3. VoltBuilder: work files removed after upload
4. VoltBuilder: name of downloaded file uses project name.
5. VoltBuilder Status: Now works like PhoneGap Status used to.
6. VoltBuilder: Proper token now sent on submit.
7. VoltBuilder: Use VoltBuilder API when submitting jobs.
8. VoltBuilder: recover gracefully from bad data in config.xml.
9. jqWidgets: Set theme properly on jqxPhotoGallery.
10. Samples: All PhoneGap samples now reference Cordova and have been renamed.

The easiest way to get the update is on the Help menu – “Check for Updates…” or visit our Downloads page.

AppStudio 8.2.1 Released!

We’re pleased to announce that 8.2.1 has been released.

It has some tweaks to the VoltBuilder interface.

It also has the latest versions of Bootstrap 4 (now 4.5.1), Bootstrap Themes and DataTables.

The easiest way to get the update is on the Help menu – “Check for Updates…” or visit our Downloads page.

AppStudio 8.2 Released!

We’re pleased to announce that 8.2.0 has been released.

The big news is that VoltBuilder, our replacement for PhoneGap Build, is complete. You no longer have to use PhoneGap to make native iOS and Android apps. PhoneGap will be removed in an upcoming build.

We’ve made changes to the VoltBuilder server, so AppStudio 8.1 is no longer able to use VoltBuilder.

More importantly, you can now create apps which are fully compliant with Apple’s new app store requirements.

Right now, all your need is a valid AppStudio serial number and current subscription to submit your apps.

To install on MacOS Catalina, you may need to right click on the .dmg file. Apple has just increased the security requirements for apps, and one of the libraries we (and millions of others) use has not been updated to this standard yet.

The easiest way to get the update is on the Help menu – “Check for Updates…” or visit our Downloads page..

AppStudio 8.1 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 8.1.0 has been released.

The big news is that VoltBuilder, our replacement for PhoneGap Build, is now working. You no longer have to use PhoneGap to make native iOS and Android apps.

More importantly, you can now create apps which are fully compliant with Apple’s new app store requirements.

Right now, all your need is a valid AppStudio serial number and current subscription to submit your apps.

Here’s what is new and fixed in the new release:

  1. NEW: VoltBuilder replacement for PhoneGap Build
  2. NEW: Automatic creation of Android keystores.
  3. BS4: Fix Navs.addItem()
  4. Icons and Splash Screen: generator updated.
  5. Internal: Updated to jQuery 3.5.1
  6. Internal: Updated to Node 12.16.3
  7. Internal: Updated to Python 3.8.2
  8. jqxValidator: Allow the id to be other than Validator1.
  9. Resources: Fix config.xml paths due to change in cordova-build
  10. Samples: Clean up PlaySound sample.
  11. Samples: VoltBuilder, Cordova and Electron will ask you to save to a working folder.
  12. Stripe: Don’t throw an error if Stripe is offline.
  13. VoltBuilder: new Certificates folder in all projects.

To install on MacOS Catalina, you may need to right click on the .dmg file. Apple has just increased the security requirements for apps, and one of the libraries we (and millions of others) use has not been updated to this standard yet.

The easiest way to get the update is on the Help menu – “Check for Updates…” or visit our Downloads page..

AppStudio 8.1 with VoltBuilder is coming!

Apple has set a deadline of April 30 for apps to support certain features, or they will not be approved for the iOS App Store.

Traditionally, AppStudio developers have used PhoneGap Build to make executables for the App Store. PhoneGap is no longer being actively supported, so it is unable to meet Apple’s requirements.

We’ve been working hard on VoltBuilder, a new service to replace PhoneGap Build. It’s in beta right now. The results have been promising: several beta testers have already successfully uploaded apps to Apple.

We expect to release it as part of AppStudio 8.1 in the very near future. In the meantime, if you need to submit to Apple, ask to join the beta program for 8.1.

There is more information in the wiki. Complete pricing details will also come soon.

AppStudio 8.0.6 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 8.0.6 has been released.

The biggest change is that we’ve reworked the PhoneGap CLI interface. It’s now called Cordova and does a lot more of the work for you. Read more here.

Here’s what is new and fixed in the new release:

  1. PhoneGap CLI renamed Cordova
  2. Cordova: Completely renovated, simpler and easier to use.
  3. Cordova: Uses wxWebView (required by Apple)
  4. PhoneGap config.xml: Now uses wkWebView, as required by Apple.
  5. Project Properties: New Cordova Command property.
  6. Project Properties: PhoneGap section now named “PhoneGap and Cordova”
  7. BS4 Modal: Add ids to title, header, body and footer.
  8. Common Controls: Label – alignVertical with height=auto fixed.
  9. Controls: Add onfocusin event to list of events for all Input controls.
  10. Controls: Add oninput event to list of events for all Input controls.
  11. Cordova: Build using XCode 11 (required by Apple)
  12. Design Screen: Problem with rotation fixed.
  13. Electron: ElectronMain now passes eslint.
  14. Electron: Give error message if icon not found.
  15. Electron: was getting default icon from wrong folder.
  16. Electron: New electronIcon property.
  17. Forms: Bounds properties now properly note how fullscreen is handled.
  18. Installer: Properties for AppStudio.exe now shows the version.
  19. PWA: Don’t cache php files.
  20. PWA: Use default scope instead of explicit. Clears a Chrome warning message.
  21. Samples: Improved BS4 Modal sample. (Thanks, Gary!)

To install on MacOS Catalina, you may need to right click on the .dmg file. Apple has just increased the security requirements for apps, and one of the libraries we (and millions of others) use has not been updated to this standard yet.

The easiest way to get the update is on the Help menu – “Check for Updates…” or visit our Downloads page..

AppStudio 8.0.5 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 8.0.5 has been released.

This release fixes a few problems and tidies up a few things. The internal save format of project has changed a bit, so keep a backup if you want to use this build with other releases.

Here’s what is new and fixed in the new release:

  1. BS3: Change icon color to red, so it looks more obsolete.
  2. BS4: Update Sketchy theme.
  3. Electron: Don’t include PWA files.
  4. Electron: Fix formatting error in electronMain.js.
  5. Electron: Use main icon, not PhoneGap icon.
  6. Offline Help: fixed on Windows (was OK on MacOS)
  7. PWA: Allow multiple apps on the same server by checking id when clearing cache.
  8. Samples: Fix problems with Camera samples. (Thanks, bsommer!)
  9. Samples: Update all PhoneGap config.xml properties

To install on MacOS Catalina, you may need to right click on the .dmg file. Apple has just increased the security requirements for apps, and one of the libraries we (and millions of others) use has not been updated to this standard yet.

The easiest way to get the update is on the Help menu – “Check for Updates…” or visit our Downloads page..

AppStudio 8.0.4 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 8.0.4 has been released.

This release fixes a few problems and tidies up a few things. The internal save format of project has changed a bit, so keep a backup if you want to use this build with other releases.

Here’s what is new and fixed in the new release:

  1. BS4 Checkbox: Do not allow multiline strings for value property.
  2. BS4: Remove references to Bootstrap-theme.min.css
  3. BS4: Themes all updated.
  4. Design Screen: Do not allow designHeight/Width to be strings.
  5. Electron: Error on deploy fixed.
  6. Project Explorer: Do not append “copy” if not needed when cut/pasting controls.
  7. Project: manifest.json and package.json are pure JSON now.
  8. Samples: Camera sample is now in JavasScript.
  9. Samples: PhoneGap samples were trying to load unneeded files.
  10. Samples: Problem with PhoneGapCamera fixed. (Thanks, BSommer!)
  11. SQLite: Problem with deploying databases with app fixed.
  12. Translation: “Replace” on Find screen now appears in the proper language.
  13. Translation: Deutsch was adding an extra space to file names.
  14. Translation: German translations improved.
  15. Windows: Round icons now appear everywhere.

The easiest way to get the update is on the Help menu – “Check for Updates…”