I'm very pleased to announce that PhotoCaddy is currently being featured by Apple as a "Staff Favorite", hot off the heels of being featured in the "What's Hot" section.

This is an immense privilege, and is a great inspiration to keep working hard and improving this app for all you current (and future) users.

Just a quick entry to say that version 1.2 of PhotoCaddy has been approved by Apple, and should be available in the App Store by the time you read this. I'm pretty excited about this release as it will enable everyone round the world to share their knowledge on photography, which should provide better content than I can ever hope to provide. There's also a whole bunch of other new content as well, so go and grab the new version!

Version 1.2 of PhotoCaddy is currently in development, and it should hopefully be ready in the App Store in about a week. In the meantime, to reward people like you who read this blog, I'd like to share a few details on what will be appearing in this new version. I'm pretty excited about this update as it could really offer some great things to a lot of people. Let's jump in - just remember that this IS still a work in progress, and subject to change.

Global User Tips
One of the main problems in the current version is that it is very one-sided, as all the data come from, well, me. So, a major feature of the new version will be the ability to upload and share your tips with all PhotoCaddy users. This will be on a category-by-category basis, so hopefully any gaps in the data will get noticed and filled in by capable people round the world. I think this should also open the app up for including some more advanced tips or unusual tips.

Voting
To accompany Online User Tips, we are also inluding the abilty to vote for a tip. This will operate very much like the reviews in the App Store. Users will be able to say whether they found a tip useful or not, and then this will reflect a tip's position in the listing.

Custom Categories
Although we've managed to pack a lot of categories into PhotoCaddy, we have to be honest and say not every situation is covered. Now users will be able to enter notes on new situations, and in fact suggest these new categories online for inclusion in a future version.

New Categories
Naturally we've included some new categories and new material in this version as well. We'll keep them as a surprise, but it should definitely keep a few people pleased!

New Icon
Finally, as our Twitter followers will know, there's a new icon in development. Though I'm quite fond of the original, I must be honest and admit that I don't really have any graphic design skills. Fortunately the guy I'm working with does, and he's coming up with something really special which I'm quite looking forward to revealing.

Well, that's all for the moment. There's a few other bits and pieces in there but that will make up the bulk of v1.2. I've already got a few ideas for v1.3 as well, so there's plenty in store for PhotoCaddy in the weeks to come!

We're very pleased to announce that PhotoCaddy has been nominated for a "Best App Ever" award, in not just one category but two! If you feel that PhotoCaddy is worthy of an award, you can vote in either or both of these categories:

Best Photography App
Best Outdoor Use App

This is a great honor to just be nominated and a pleasing vote from our users. Watch this space for a sneak preview of what will feature in version 1.2!

We think it is, and hopefully you soon will too. Aspyre Solutions has been developing iPhone applications on and off for a number of months, with a number of releases of limited success. That all changed with PhotoCaddy. We would like to see this recognised in the Best App Ever Awards, and with a little bit of luck from our friends at Mobile Orchard and some help from you, we might just be lucky enough to secure a nomination.

What is PhotoCaddy all about?
Unlike most of the Photography applications in the iPhone store, PhotoCaddy is not about modifying the built-in camera, or manipulating stored images. PhotoCaddy could be best described as the photographer's bible, a guide for how to take great photos, anywhere and anytime. PhotoCaddy tells you what settings to use, where to point the camera, when to take the shot - even DSLR photography becomes point and click. Taking good photos can at times be difficult and disappointing, but with PhotoCaddy always in your pocket offering tips for any situation, your photo library will soon make a huge jump in quality. There is advice for more than 50 different situations, covering everything from babies, to castles, to fireworks and more. With a total of over 500 different tips, over 200 different camera settings, a detailed beginners section, and all presented in a beautiful package, PhotoCaddy is worth a try for any photographer.

Why does PhotoCaddy deserve an award?
We believe PhotoCaddy takes a different spin on the Photography category. Instead of manipulating images or changing the built-in camera, it gives users the ability to simply take better photos. Why give a man a fish, when you can teach him to catch his own? More to the point, why show someone how to edit their images, when you can simply take better ones in the first place. This is what the iPhone is all about, making life simpler and being there when you need it. PhotoCaddy is also beautifully presented, and the amount of quality information is simply phenomenal. Whether or not this makes us worthy of an award, who can say - but we'd sure love to give our users the chance to say so.

How successful has PhotoCaddy been so far?
We are very pleased with our successes since our release a few months ago, and believe that PhotoCaddy is that gem just waiting to be discovered on a larger scale. From being mentioned on a number of forums, to having a 5 star rating on the US iTunes AppStore, all feedback for PhotoCaddy has been very positive.

How can I help?
Right now, we want your nomination in the Best App Ever Awards. See below for suggested categories. If you don't yet have a copy of PhotoCaddy, check us out in the AppStore. We'd be more than pleased to give you a promo code. if you've already got your copy, please do leave us a review in the AppStore - we love to hear feedback!

What categories should I nominate PhotoCaddy for?
We believe the best categories for PhotoCaddy are:
- Best Photography App (of course)
- Best Photo Manipulation App (manipulation in a different sense of the word)
- Best Outdoor Use App (aren't the best photos taken on the go?)

Anything else I can do?
Spread the word! We believe PhotoCaddy is a powerful assistant for any photographer, which will help you really get the most from your camera. After all, why spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on equipment, only to receive mediocre results? Give PhotoCaddy a try, and tell your friends!

Want to see more?
Check out our information page, or see us on the AppStore.

http://www.mobileorchard.com/best-app-ever-awards-better-odds/