Added on February 22, 2012:

Springbank 1st Batch 2001, NAS, 55.3%
Springbank 1997, NAS, 59.4%
Springbank 1996, NAS, 55.6%
Springbank Open Championship 1995, 1979, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 52.0%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 57.2%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 61.2%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 51.9%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 52.5%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 52.0%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 52.3%
Springbank 1966, NAS, 55.0%
Springbank 1965, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank 1964, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank 1964, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank 1963, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank 1963, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank Christmas 2006, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank Christmas 2007, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank CV, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank CV, NAS, 46.0%
Springbank 5 YO, 43.0%
Springbank Da Mhile, Organic 1992, 7 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1995, 8 YO, 56.0%
Springbank 8 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 8 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 8 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 8 YO, 40.0%
Springbank Christmas 2004, 8 YO, 46.0%
Springbank Marsala Wood 1996, 9 YO, 58.0%
Springbank Rundlets and Kilderkins, 2001, 10 YO, 49.4%
Springbank 1st Batch 1997, 10 YO, 55.2%
Springbank Rum Matured 1989, 10 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1968, 10 YO, 59.0%
Springbank 10 YO, 57.6%
Springbank ,0 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 10 YO, 57.0%
Springbank 10 YO, 59.0%
Springbank 100 Proof, 10 YO, 57.0%
Springbank Jamieson, Madeira Wood, 10 YO, 57.5%
Springbank Jamieson, Port Wood, 10 YO, 58.6%
Springbank 2nd Batch 1997, 11 YO, 54.9%
Springbank Madeira Wood 1997, 11 YO, 55.1%
Springbank Claret Wood 1997, 12 YO, 54.4%
Springbank Bourbon Wood 1991, 12 YO, 58.5%
Springbank Rum Wood 1989, 12 YO, 54.6%
Springbank 12 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 12 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 12 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 12 YO, 57.0%
Springbank 12 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 12 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 12 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 12 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 100 Proof, 12 YO, 57.0%
Springbank 100 Proof, 12 YO, 50.0%
Springbank 175th Anniversary, 12 YO, 46.0%
Springbank Cask Strength, 12 YO, 54.6%
Springbank Cask Strength, 12 YO, 55.3%
Springbank Cask Strength 2nd Batch, 12 YO, 58.5%
Springbank Christmas 2002, 12 YO, 57.0%
Springbank Port Wood 1989, 13 YO, 54.2%
Springbank 1992, 15 YO, 56.8%
Springbank Cask 04/73 No. 9 1992, 15 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1979, 15 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 15 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 15 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 15 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 15 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 15 YO, 46.0%
Springbank European Summit 1992, 15 YO, 46.0%
Springbank Rum Wood 1991, 16 YO, 54.2%
Springbank 18 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1970, 20 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1967, 20 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1999, 20 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1972, 21 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1967, 21 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 21 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 21 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 21 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 21 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 2000, 21 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 22 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1970, 23 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1970, 23 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1970, 23 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 25 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 25 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 25 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 25 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 25 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 25 YO, 46.0%
Springbank Frank McHardy Bottling, 25 YO, 46.0%
Springbank Limited Edition, 25 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1967, 28 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1974, 29 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1965, 29 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1962, 29 YO, 55.3%
Springbank 1966, 30 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 30 YO, 46.0%
Springbank Limited Edition, 30 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1972, 31 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1962, 32 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 33 YO, 43.0%
Springbank 1966, 34 YO, 47.1%
Springbank Juul’s 75 1966, 34 YO, 47.1%
Springbank Limited Edition, 35 YO, 46.0%
Springbank 1965, 36 YO, 51.3%
Springbank 1965, 36 YO, 52.4%
Springbank Limited Edition, 40 YO, 40.1%
Springbank Limited Edition, 45 YO, 40.1%
Springbank 50 YO, 43.0%
Springbank Limited Edition, 50 YO, 40.5%

Added on February 16, 2012:

Talisker TD-S: 5NZ, 2000, NAS, 45.8 %
Talisker TD-S: 5MY, 1999, NAS, 45.8 %
Talisker TD-S: 5LX, 1998, NAS, 45.8 %
Talisker TD-S: 5HT, 1992, NAS, 45.8 %
Talisker TD-S: 5FR, 1991, NAS, 45.8 %
Talisker TD-S: 5GS, 1991, NAS, 45.8 %
Talisker TD-S: 5DP, 1989, NAS, 45.8 %
Talisker TD-S: 5CO, 1988, NAS, 45.8 %
Talisker TD-S: 5BN, 1987, NAS, 45.8 %
Talisker TD-S: 5AM, 1986, NAS, 45.8 %
Talisker, NAS, 43.0 %
Talisker Limited Edition, NAS, 60.0 %
Talisker 8 YO, 43.0 %
Talisker 8 YO, 45.8 %
Talisker 8 YO, 45.8 %
Talisker 8 YO, 45.8 %
Talisker 1989, 10 YO, 59.3 %
Talisker 10 YO, 45.8 %
Talisker 10 YO, 45.8 %
Talisker 10 YO, 45.8 %
Talisker 10 YO, 45.8 %
Talisker 12 YO, 43.0 %
Talisker 12 YO, 43.0 %
Talisker Friends of the Classic Malts, 12 YO, 45.8 %
Talisker 1994, 14 YO, 58.6 %
Talisker 1981, 20 YO, 62.0 %
Talisker 1975, 25 YO, 59.9 %
Talisker 25 YO, 58.1 %
Talisker 25 YO, 56.9 %
Talisker 25 YO, 54.8 %
Talisker 1973, 28 YO, 43.3 %
Talisker 30 YO, 57.3 %
Talisker 30 YO, 53.1 %
Talisker 30 YO, 49.5 %
Talisker 30 YO, 51.9 %
Talisker 30 YO, 50.7 %
Talisker 1975, 34 YO, 45.1 %

New Dashboard with Live Updates

The dashboard is the new starting point of the app. The purpose of the dashboard is to give the user a quick overview of what the app does. At the bottom of the dashboard you can see the latest updates from the iTasteNote users. Content updates from the iTasteNote Cloud will also appear here. If you tap the live update area (on an iPhone 3GS or newer) you will see a list of the latest updates. The cloud button in the upper right corner lets you manage your iTasteNote Cloud settings.

CSV Export

The new version of iMalt also makes it possible to export data in the CSV file format. In every whisky list view you tap the compose button in the upper right corner to send an e-mail containing the data in the list in PDF and CSV. In the whisky detail view the compose button is in the bottom tool bar.

Personal and iTasteNote Statistics

If you tap the info button in the upper left corner when viewing the dashboard, you will be able to navigate to personal and iTasteNote updates. You will also be able to toggle Wi-Fi only on and off. This determins which connnection types should be allowed for fetching live update. The personal statistics gives you an overview of your collection, whish list etc. in numbers. The iTasteNote statistics gives you an overview of the most active iTasteNote Cloud users.

Post Your Rating to Twitter

From the My Tasting Notes view it is possible to tweet your rating of the bottle. Just tap the Twitter button in the lower right corner to compose the tweet automatically once your have rated the bottle.

Re-order Single Malts Category View

The last new feature in iMalt 2.2 is re-ordering of the single malts category view. Tap the edit button in the lower left corner start re-ordering.

Well, that’s it. I hope you will find it useful!

Added on January 22, 2012:

Zuidam Millstone, 40.0 %
Zuidam Millstone Peated, 5 YO, 40.0 %
Zuidam Millstone 8 YO, 43.0 %
Zuidam Millstone 8 YO, 40.0 %

Added on January 22, 2012:

Balblair 5 YO, 40.0%
Balblair 5 YO, 40.0%
Balblair 2000, NAS, 43.0%
Balblair 1991, NAS, 43.0%
Balblair 1988, NAS, 60.7%
Balblair 1987, NAS, 51.4%
Balblair 1979, NAS, 46.0%
Balblair 1978, NAS, 46.0%
Balblair 1965, NAS, 52.3%
Balblair, NAS, 40.0%
Balblair, NAS, 40.0%
Balblair Elements, NAS, 40.0%
Balblair 1979, 24 yo, 46.0%
Balblair 33 YO, 44.2%
Balblair 1970, 35 YO, 44.2%
Balblair 1966, 38 YO, 44.0%

Added on January 17, 2012:

Limeburners Barrel M71, NAS, 43 %
Limeburners Barrel M75, NAS, 61 %

About two years back I got contacted for the first time about making an Android version of iMalt. I looked into Android development, their Marketplace setup and sales figures and quickly decided that the whole platform was too immature and the potential market too small. My limited time for development was much better spend on iOS development. Since then I have gotten many requests for the Android version of iMalt but every time I have looked into it, I decided to wait. However, time has changed. The crowd of Android users have grown too big to be ignored. And fortunately development for Android has become more easy. Furthermore the Android Marketplace has improved a lot. Also, I like the idea that users can switch between iPhones and Android phones and still have access to their tasting notes and collection via the iTasteNote Cloud.

So I bought the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus (the second Google phone) with the new version (4.0) of Android called Ice Cream Sandwich. I will not go into many details about Android and the phone but the biggest difference I have noticed between Android and iOS is that Android allows much more customization of the user interface. For example I installed a nice “live wallpaper” for Christmas with waving Christmas trees and falling snow. You also have much more control of your home screen where you can arrange widgets and icons as you like. Some users may see this “openess” as a big advantage while others will find the more “limited” iOS easier to use.

Without to much trouble I installed the Android development environment on my Mac and wrote the first few test apps. Then I was set for developing iMalt for Android. Basically I wanted iMalt for Android to look and feel exactly like iMalt for the iPhone. Bad idea. First I wanted to create the bottom tab bar. I searched Google for answers and found that Android users expect tabs to be at the top of the screen. Okay, no problem.  Then I created a list view but struggled to find the back button once I tapped a list item. In iOS it shows up automatically but in Android, I later found out, you always use a hardware  button to go back. Hmm okay. I concluded that I  needed to read the Android design guidelines.

Apple has very strict design guidelines that you MUST follow. In an earlier version of iMalt I wanted to use the e-mail compose button to create an e-mail with whisky listings. When the button was pushed, I gave the user a choice whether to create the e-mail in plain text or HTML formatted, before the compose view was shown. Apple rejected the app saying that when pushing the e-mail compose button you must show the compose view immediately. Android design guidelines are just that – guidelines. You can choose to follow them or not and I see this as a problem in terms of user friendliness.  When you open most iOS apps you instinctively know what to do whereas Android apps does not have a common look and feel.

Google has tried to improve this situation by defining some design patterns that you can choose to follow. I came to the conclusion that the dashboard design pattern fitted iMalt best. Basically you have a dashboard with up to six icons/buttons that takes you to the most important places in the app. This way the user will quickly learn the different elements of the app. Then you have an action bar at the top where you can put the title of the screen and controls like search. Much like the iOS navigation bar. At the bottom you must have an area that present “something new” to the user every time he/she opens the app so that the user keeps coming back to the app. Quite clever in my opinion.

In the case of iMalt it was obvious to present user ratings of whiskies as they come in. But I wanted to take it a bit further. I therefore chose to also show when a user opens or empties a bottle and when a user adds a bottle to his/her collection and wish list. In that way all users can get a feeling of which whiskies are most popular and that might help you decide which malt to buy next. Now I find myself starting iMalt several times a day just to check the updates

I actually like the idea so much that I just had to implement itin iMalt for iOS. So the dashboard and the live updates will be the new major feature of iMalt version 2.2. But wait, there is more:

• CSV export
• Statistics view
• Re-ordering of single malts root menu
• Minor UI changes
• Twitter support (tweet your ratings)

I hope to have iMalt 2.2 ready by the end of January and iMalt HD 2.2 (without the dashboard) in February. My goal is to have iMalt for Android ready this summer.

Added on December 29, 2011:

Linkwood Burghead Maltings, NAS, 43.0 %
Linkwood 1969, 12 YO, 40.0 %
Linkwood 1958, 12 YO, 43.0 %
Linkwood 12 YO, 40.0 %
Linkwood 12 YO, 43.0 %
Linkwood Manager’s Dram, 12 YO, 59.5 %
Linkwood 1996, 13 YO, 58.2 %
Linkwood 1974, 23 YO, 61.2 %
Linkwood Port Wood, 1981, 26 YO, 56.9 %
Linkwood Red Wine Wood, 1981, 26 YO, 55.5 %
Linkwood Rum Wood, 1981, 26 YO, 54.5 %
Linkwood 1975, 26 YO, 56.1 %
Linkwood 1974, 30 YO, 54.9 %

Added on December 29, 2011:

Mortlach, NAS, 50.1 %
Mortlach Editor’s Nose, 10 YO, 60.5 %
Mortlach 1997, 12 YO, 57.1 %
Mortlach Manager’s Dram, 19 YO, 55.8 %
Mortlach 1978, 20 YO, 62.2 %
Mortlach 1969, 21 YO, 40.0 %
Mortlach 1972, 23 YO, 59.4 %
Mortlach 1971, 32 YO, 50.1 %
Mortlach 1971, 32 YO, 50.1 %

One user ran into this problem and made his own sheet for tasting notes, that he could later fill into the iMalt app. The great thing about this solution is that he can still use his iPad since he made the sheet in Pages. Of course you could also print it out and write the notes by hand. The best of all is that he wants to share his solution with all of us so I have now made it available to all of you on this page. Thank you Marcel!

Whisky tasting notes in Pages format (zipped)
Whisky tasting notes in PDF format

Of course the optimal solution would be to support blind tasting notes in some way directly in the iMalt app. I will look into this.