Here's a diagram showing a comparison of my real 30-button modified Jeffries layout with the 17-button app version:

Surprise! Here's the final graphics for the Concertina app:



Based on my 1860s vintage Lachenal 30-Key.

Bah! Looks great, but if you keep changing it, I'm never gonna get to buy it...hehe.

I want to start out with a very good user experience, I promise, unless I find some killer bug or Apple requests changes, this is it until the first free update some time in late January after the 1.0 version is for sale.

Too bad you can't turn it sideways and get more room for your fingers, along the long edge. Screen too narrow to move without your hands running into each other, or no tilt in that direction for push/pull?

With a device this size and shape, and the layout of buttons on an Anglo, this was the only possibility. Now, if/when I do a button accordion, it will definitely be oriented along the long axis.

"The Polka Challenge":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmxXTOOE4Xk

Now that version 1.0 of the Concertina app series is in review with Apple and with any luck should be on the iTunes App Store in a few weeks, I'm setting to work on the 1.1 update that will come out in mid to late January.

The biggest change will be the addition of multiple "skins" for the instrument, as well as other features to help newer players.

Here's three of the skins I'm testing that almost definitely will be in the update. The two wood designs in Redwood and Birdseye Maple were designed by my graduate student friend and fellow Irish flute player, Janelle Shane. These three and at least one more, (I'd really like a black lacquer skin), will be in the final update.







This and all future updates to the Concertina app series will of course be free, you will be notified by iTunes when an update is available for download.

Here's a short video describing the update features:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW4mZyk9gBU

Cheers,

Michael

Version 1.0 of the app is now available on the iTunes App Store. I'll be submitting the 1.1 update in the next couple of days, this will add the new wood and artistic skins, but the sound and playability is exactly the same between the current and first update.

Here's the latest skin that will be part of the 1.1 update:

Here are the final skins for the Concertina 1.1 update, just finished integrating them on Friday:

Lach:


Maple:


Wood:


Black:


Art:


Settings page:


The updates will be submitted to Apple on December 28th, and should arrive on the store in mid-January 2010. It will be a free update to current owners through iTunes, or $0.99 for new buyers.


Cheers and thanks,

Michael

All the 1.1 versions with the new skins are on the iTunes App Store!

Thank you everyone for the feedback and feature suggestions.

In the upcoming 1.2 update to Concertina (C/G version), to make it possible to play tunes in D Dorian and G Minor, I've added the ability to select between a C#/C#, C#/Bb, or Bb/C# for the bottom most key of the right side accidental row.

Here are some screen shots:

Settings page with the new layout selector:


C#/C# Layout (1.0 and 1.1 default):


C#/Bb Layout:


Bb/C# Layout (1.2 default):


The guide screens track the current layout setting.

Only the C/G version will have the full layout select feature. For the Bb/F, A/E, and G/D versions, I've changed them all to provide the equivalent of the Bb/C# layout in their respective keys.

The updates are all currently in review with Apple, should hit the store as free updates sometime late next week.

Cheers and Happy New Year!

Michael

I've added a couple of full-screen tutorial videos to the website showing how to play basic G and D scales, as well as how to play "The Kesh Jig" on the app.

Tutorial - G and D Scales
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4pMgOuHztM&fmt=18

Tutorial - Kesh Jig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCougjLMxho&fmt=18

Cheers and Happy New Year!

Michael