What’s new in TPE 4.4 for iOS
The 4.4 update to TPE on iOS is rolling out starting today. Here’s a quick guide to some of the changes and improvements you should know about.
En français, enfin
We’ve added a French translation at long last. (Remind me, the next time I write an app, don’t be so wordy. This is getting expensive!)
Dates, times and events
The Dates and Events page has been tidied up in this release. The user interaction is less ‘clever’ than it used to be (thanks to Stephan G for pointing out my inconsistencies and unwise design choices!), which should translate into a more predictable user experience.
For example, choosing an event from the list now only changes the selected date, it doesn’t also close the page automatically. Events with additional information available now show an “info” button instead of a disclosure arrow, which means their selection behaviour can be just the same as other events. Where we previously had a ‘Now’ button, we have instead ‘Today’ which changes the selected date, but not the selected time.
Back on the map page itself, you’ll find a real-time tracking button, just as on the AR page:
You’ll notice that the number of decimal places for sun, moon and galactic center azimuth and altitude has been increased from one to two, making it easier to see that things are actually changing when real time tracking is enabled.
New Transport Map Layer
We’ve switched to using Thunderforest’s Transport map layer style for Open Street Maps. If you want to know when the sun will set along Platform 3 at Clapham Junction, this is the map style for you!
Disclaimer: I have no idea whether or not this is Platform 3. Some of you may care deeply. I apologise for any upset caused by any inadvertent misidentification and disclaim all responsibility for missed trains.
Also, if you choose a day mode timeline display option that excludes the moon, then the moon no longer appears on the map or in the altitude chart.
Sun in Night Mode
Sounds like a mistake, right? But no: Night Mode focusses on the moon, milky way and stars, but it’s still possible to select a time of day when the sun is up. For that reason alone, it’s useful to have some visual indication beyond just the darkness of the map overlay:
We’ve also moved the numeric indication of the angle of the arch of the Milky Way relative to the horizon:
A value close to +90° means the band of the Milky Way passes pretty much overhead. If you want to frame your subject with the Milky Way, it can be useful to know how high the sky the arch lies.
Repairs and polish
4.4 includes a bunch of other smaller tweaks and fixes designed to improve your experience with the app:
- Improved: Open in Apple Maps and Open in Google Maps now includes the map pin, not just the same map center
- Improved: new position for angle of the arch of the Milky Way relative to the horizon (this also improves stability — the old way occasional caused a crash)
- Change: Track compass heading no longer changes the map zoom level
- Change: Track location changes the map zoom level only if the delta from current zoom is large (meaning you can manually set the zoom level, within reason, and still track location without the map size changing)
- Fix: the moon appeared black in AR Mode under iOS 12
- Fix: the 18% grey “lightball” was not illuminated by sunlight under iOS 12
- Fix celestial events missing or listed for incorrect year after change of selected year in Date/Events UI
- Fix: share/action button missing on iPhone 5S and SE devices, and iPhone 6/7/8 in zoomed mode
- Updated SDKs — who doesn’t like updated SDKs?
Do send your feedback and suggestions to support@photoephemeris.com — we’d love to hear from you.
