Photoxor Toolkit - 3-dimensional ephemeris compass

Our Ephemeris calculations for twilight times, sun and moon positions are a long standing feature of Photoxor Toolkit. In addition to the 2-dimensional compass the upcoming release 20-06 allows for a 3-dimensional presentation of compass, earth, sun and moon.

To receive access to this new feature early, consider subscribing to our beta program now.

Please let us know your experience with Photoxor Toolkit. Your feedback will help us to continue improvements.

☹ In case you find any problems with the App, please send us a message, and we'll do our very best to fix. For your convenience, the App also provides a built-in Feedback function accessible from the Navigation Drawer.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ You like the App. Then may I kindly ask to please support us with a 5 Star rating!

As always, if you haven't installed the App - it is free - please go to Google Play and download:

How does it work?

An important note for users of older Android devices: The 3-dimensional presentation is supported from API 24 (Android 7.0, Nougat) only.

Open the Ephemeris screen. At  the bottom of the compass rose you'll find a new 2D / 3D switch. Click for 3D. The first time, the download of the 3D feature will be started. You might see a confirmation dialog to acknowledge the download. Once downloaded and installed, the 3-dimensional compass is ready to use!

Another note: Please make sure you have Internet access enabled for download, and consider download costs. The package is quite large.

Getting started with Photoxor Toolkit

The Photoxor Toolkit App is now a bit like the 'swiss army knife' for photographers providing a very rich feature set to calculate, plan and track your photo journey. Ok, for a new user this can be overwhelming at first. Let's walk through step-by-step and experience some of the key tool now.
And while we step through I'll highlight a few tips as well.

Photoxor Toolkit - Refinements

The Timezone selector makes available more than 500 entries! Just in case you need to perform a manual selection, we now add a filter function to quickly narrow down. This function is available in our latest download now.

Another good feature is available now: Assign a name to a recorded track.We also added some animation to the Tracking screen. I think this looks much better. Now available with release 19-08.

Dark Mode in Photoxor Toolkit

The July edition of Photoxor Toolkit is available, and it supports the long awaited 'dark mode'.
Dark mode not only helps to save battery power. For us photographers viewing a bright screen during twilight can be quite irritating. Now just a quick change using the new 'Display' button on the Start screen to switch between dark and light modes!

Permissions revisited

Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) introduced a new permissions model (see here for some information). When you run the application on Android 6.0 or later, permissions are granted by the user while the app is running. You are now able to deny particular permissions, and also revoke already granted permissions.
Please note that in case permissions are not granted or revoked, the app might not work correctly and is limited in functionality.
Starting with Photoxor Toolkit June 2019 release 19-06 required permissions are requested closer to when they are needed. Hopefully this provides a better understanding for our users why certain permissions are needed.

How To: Use Exposure Presets

Do you have your favourite exposure settings - Aperture, ISO, shutter speed? Remember the 'Sunny f/16 rule'?

The Photoxor Toolkit June 2019 edition will extend the presets onto the EV screen, a good opportunity to present a few tips and tricks around this feature.

Now we explore the power behind these three little round blue and orange buttons found on a number of calculation screens.

5 Years of Photoxor Toolkit

Photoxor Toolkit is 5!!

This is a very exciting milestone in the journey of this App. Let's celebrate!! Over the next couple of weeks we'll mark down some of the in-app extensions. They might even be free for a short time.
Check out the anniversary release with the 5 hedgehogs. Do you like them?

New Version Numbering & Release Priorities

The upcoming release of Photoxor Toolkit applies a new version numbering scheme. The current version is 1.5.6, representing the traditional concept of major and minor version. App development tries to deliver often and in small increments. So there is no real case for a major revision upgrade to say 2.x.x.

Lens Minimum Focus Distance - Release 1.9.5

A new feature is available now:
The definition of the minimum focus distance for a lens, which allows to apply distance restrictions on depth of field and field of view screens.

A new Start Screen

Our Start Screen got rejuvenated. It is now available in  release 1.9.4.
While GPS Tracking is on, you are now able to automatically add photos taken with your device camera. No more need to take reference pictures from within Photoxor Toolkit only.

Location search working again ....

Version 1.9.3 of Photoxor Toolkit is available for download or update.
The location search is available again! We also added a Lens related restriction to the Field of View calculation screen. And fixed quite a number of issues.

Coffee Break - or - what's new in 1.9.2 ...

We didn't get enough time for any extended coffee break. Our new version 1.9.2 of Photoxor Toolkit has just been released!
Based on the excellent feedback from our users, we implemented many improvements to the tracking service and also some of the user interface components.
Let's have a quick look.

New Filter and Time-lapse features - Available now in Photoxor C1 Toolkit Version 1.9.1

Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.9.1 is available; it delivers:

• Filter stack: Show exact calculated exposure times
• Time-lapse: Calculate how may images can be held by a storage device
• Tracks: ZIP files supported also for import
• Definition lists for cameras, lenses, ..., now allow for multi-line Note entry
• Places: A separation line between list rows for easier readability
• Internal improvements and fixes

Filter Stack: Exact calculated exposure  times

Our calculations are rounded to the nearest value of the selected Stop system. And that's how we set our cameras for aperture, ISO, exposure times naturally. But then there is the special case in Filter Stack calculations, where the result shows long exposure times (Bulb). So far Photoxor C1 Toolkit did the same rounding to the nearest Stop instead of showing the exact values. And some of our user were rightfully concerned, are our calculations correct. We therefore now show both values, have a look at the new screen:

The timer will now run with the 'exact' time, in this example 1024 seconds (instead of 960):

For some more background information on Filter calculations and Stops please also see this Blog entry.

Time-lapse: Storage calculation

The Time-lapse screen received a little facelift in the Storage area.
Recommended by one of our power users we introduced the capability to calculate how many images could be held by a storage device approximately .

When you enter the storage capacity, make sure you use the formatted capacity instead of raw capacity.

For this calculation we use 1GB = 1000MB.

Photoxor C1 Toolkit - upcoming new features

Our next release of Photoxor C1 Toolkit runs through internal testing now and will be available for open Beta testing shortly. Stay tuned, there are a number of good new features.

Filter Screen

Our calculations are rounded to the nearest value of the selected Stop system. And that's how we set our cameras for aperture, ISO, exposure times naturally. But then there is the special case in Filter Stack calculations, where the result shows long exposure times (Bulb). So far Photoxor C1 Toolkit did the same rounding to the nearest Stop instead of showing the exact values. And some of our user were rightfully concerned, are our calculations are correct. The upcoming version 1.9.1 will therefore show both values. Have a look at the new screen:

The timer will now run with the 'exact' time, in this example 1024 seconds instead of 960):

This is just one of the new features. If you are interested to get updates early, consider registration for the Beta program.

Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.9.0: How to import legacy tracking files

From Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.9.0 onwards we use an internal database to store GPS tracking information. This makes it much easier to find tracks, but also import and export them. Have a try!

Previously tracking logs were stored in GPS or KML files. If you've just upgraded to the new version, you are now able to import these recorded tracks using the "Tracks Legacy Import" tool.

Beta Release Photoxor C1 Toolkit Version 1.9.0: Tracking improvements

Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.9.0

Update: Rollout to production just started!!!

Beta Testing for Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.9.0 is still active. This version delivers:

• A new Tracks screen to more easily work with recorded GPS tracks
• Tracks are now stored in an internal database
• A more smooth and accurate Compass
• Notification of Blog updates improved
• Lot's of internal rework and fixes

Interested to explore them now? We continue our public Beta program for this release.

Please feel free to join in if you haven't already. Whilst our internal tests were very promising, there is always a chance that the Beta version might have some flaws. If you find a problem, please let us know to improve the release version of Photoxor Toolkit.

Enable your Beta testing here:
https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.photoxor.fotoapp

Please let us know in case you experience any problems; we are keen to fix them before the production release.

Photoxor Toolkit - Get ready for new features ... now available!

Now rolled out for Beta testing!!

An exciting new release of the Photoxor Toolkit is nearly ready. We just finalise our internal testing, and version 1.9.0 will be ready for Beta testing very soon!

Just in case you haven't installed Photoxor C1 Toolkit from Google Play as yet:
Download for free here:
  

@Photoxor on Instagram

Have you seen us on Instagram already?

Sometimes a little tip does not warrant a full blog post, and  that's where a screenshot on Instagram is a great way to share. We plan to use this channel more often.
Start following us and also look out for the #Photoxor tag.

Do you have a Photoxor moment you might want to share? Then please use the #Photoxor tag to share with our growing community.

How To: Best Ways to Access a Calculation / Function Screen

Just in case you haven't installed Photoxor C1 Toolkit from Google Play as yet:
The latest version is available to download for free here:
 


Today I would like to show you some different ways to bring up a function screen. As a regular Photoxor Toolkit user you might know them already, but maybe there is the one or other 'secret' tip to be revealed here.

Why are there different ways to do the same thing? As the Toolkit and also Android evolved, new navigation approaches developed. We tried to integrate them and allow our users to find their personal preference.
I for myself most often use the Navigation Bar. What is your personal preference? Please put a short note in the comment section, what works best for you. What could we improve?
Let's get started ...

Start the Photoxor Toolkit App

Sounds trivial, but even here we do offer you some choices, "Qual der Wahl" we would say in German!

After installation from Google Play, the App icon is placed on your home screen, and also the list of your installed Apps.

Just click on the App icon. On first install the terms and conditions screen is shown, and then the Photoxor Toolkit start screen come up; you are ready to go.

Widgets

Widgets are an Android mechanism to access the App in a more sophisticated way. We do support 3 Widgets.

I would recommend this Widget. It allows you to bring up the App, toggle the Torch, and also controls GPS tracking. Very handy when you want to trace your path, but from time to time pause tracking for conservation of battery power.

This is our old initial Widget version. It allows to separately enable / disable tracking and logging. Probably good for an expert user, but we found the new version more convenient. Please note that we might deprecate and remove this old Widget soon. Please let us know in case some of our users are keen to retain it!

This Widget simply allows you to switch the Torch on or off. Sometimes this one is good to place it in a prominent position to quickly access the Torch.

App Shortcuts (Oreo)

This is the new luxury, but only supported by Android Oreo onwards.

These Shortcuts allow you to directly access Photoxor Toolkit functions, and even put icons directly onto your launch screen to open with one click only.

Try it out yourself!!

What to do?

Firstly, make sure that your device has Android Oreo (version 26), otherwise this feature is not supported by Android.

Perform a long press on the App icon. Then the list of shortcuts appears:

You can now press on one of the shortcuts, for example Exposure to directly open the exposure calculation screen.

Or you drag a shortcut icon onto your launch screen, to get additional icons for a one click access to these Photoxor functions.

The Photoxor Toolkit Start Screen

With the initial installation we provide a default configuration of the Start Screen, showing launch icons for the most used functions screens. My recommendation is to initially use this screen and familiarise yourself with the Toolkit. There is quite a bit to discover.

After a while you know what functions you use more often, or others you don't really need. Well, then there is time to configure the Start Screen to you own preferences!!
How to configure, have a look here!

Or explore another option ....

The Navigation Bar

On the top left you find the 'hamburger' icon, the 3 horizontal bars.

Tip: This icon might be hidden when the screen is scrolled down. In this case please scroll back up, and it should appear. Please try it a few times, yes I know sometimes the scrolling up is bit awkward to find the right spot on the screen to scroll up.

Now click on this 'hamburger' icon, and the Navigation Bar is shown with a scrollable list of all functions available!

Another tip: You can scroll out this Navigation Bar from the left side as well. Place your finger at the left edge of the screen and drag inwards. Have a play with this as well please.
And a drag to the left will move the Navigation Bar out of the way.

Now just select one of the functions to bring up the screen.

The Toolbar

No, we are not finished yet. At the top of the App screen is the toolbar. Depending on the available screen space, some specific functions are represented with their icons. Otherwise you find them hidden 'behind' the 3 dots icon on the top right side.

Press this icon, and a dropdown list of functions is shown. This list changes in context of the current function screen.

Conclusion

There are many ways to navigate Photoxor Toolkit. I hope everyone is able to find a convenient way. Please add a comment and let the readers and me know your thoughts. What does work well, where should we improve.

And please spread the word and help to grow our Photoxor user community.

Happy photoxoring!

Beta Release Photoxor C1 Toolkit Version 1.7.10: App Shortcuts

Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.7.10

We just released Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.7.10 into Beta Testing. This version delivers:

• App Shortcuts for Android Oreo users, and
• a few more fixes and internal updates.

Interested to explore them now? We continue our public Beta program for this release.

Please feel free to join in. Whilst our internal tests were very promising, there is always a chance that the Beta version might have some flaws. If you find a problem, please let us know to improve the release version of Photoxor Toolkit.

Enable your Beta testing here:
https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.photoxor.fotoapp

Please let us know in case you experience any problems; we are keen to fix them before the production release.

App Shortcuts

Android Oreo supports a great new feature with much more flexible App Shortcuts. They are now available for Photoxor C1 Toolkit.

These Shortcuts allow you to directly access Toolkit functions, even put icons directly onto your launch screen to open with one click only.

Try it out yourself!!

What to do?

Firstly, make sure that your device has Android Oreo (version 26), otherwise this feature is not supported by Android.

Perform a long press on the App icon. Then the list of shortcuts appears:

You can now press on one of the shortcuts, for example Exposure to directly open the exposure calculation screen.

Or you drag a shortcut icon onto your launch screen, to get additional icons for a one click access to these Photxor functions.