Switchers' Blog

Chrome tip: our 1Password alpha extension updates itself!

We've had a bunch of great feedback in our Chrome extension forum from 1Password users willing to help us test our alpha Chrome extension—thanks folks!

For those just tuning in: yes, we have an alpha version of a 1Password extension for Google Chrome that you can help us test. This blog post has instructions for getting setup and where to post feedback. Just keep in mind: it's an alpha, so it is nowhere near feature-complete, and it can be rough around the edges (sometimes rougher than a beta!).

Since releasing out alpha Chrome extension for testing, we've had some questions about how to get the latest and greatest version. To help clear things up, here is an answer that I think will please everyone: Chrome automatically gives you the latest and greatest version! Chrome auto-updates its extensions, and we made sure that our alpha extension works with that system.

According to a Google Chrome support document, "extensions automatically update whenever an update is available." So you should be all set!

Thanks for helping us test our alpha extension for Google Chrome, and be sure to leave feedback in our Chrome extension forum and check out Chrome extension changelog for a list of fixes and new features!

1Password 3.0.8 gains lots of changes and fixes

It's time to run Check for Updates, everyone, though this time around we don't have any wiz-bang new features for you; just wiz-bang changes and bug fixes!

1Password 3.0.8 scored various improvements to the Import Assistant and some better localization support. In particular, some elements could not be translated in our localization efforts, and now they can be. Safari's extension did not translate to German, for example, and now it should.

We also fixed some sync UI quirks and added a "Disable Core Animation" option to the Advanced preference pane. You can see the full changelog if you run *Check for Updates" from the 1Password menu, or you can just keep moving your eyes downward right here.

Full Changelog for 1Password 3.0.8:

• Improved support for localization.
• Improved Import Assistant.
• Improved downloading of icons and previews.
• Changed the namespace of the BGHUD framework to avoid conflicts with other applications.
• Now automatically unlocking 1Password in browser extensions when the browser is started.
• Added DisableCoreAnimation option to advanced preferences.
• Added hidden preference "AlwaysShowBrowserGoAndFillMenu" to show the browser Go & Fill menu when locked.
• Using the latest version of libcrypto library installed in the system.
• Fixed wrong scope display attribute shown initially when editing a Login.
• Fixed problem where an exception message was displayed during Restore from Backup.
• Fixed problem with sync spinner continuously spinning even after sync is completed.
• Fixed problem with sync spinner being drawn over text in sidebar.
• Fixed Autosave window to make the entire Save button clickable.
• Fixed cropping of the top pixels on some software license icons.
• Changed how locking works in 1PasswordAnywhere. Previous versions worked fine but in Firefox you would receive a warning when unlocking 1PasswordAnywhere immediately after locking.

1Password and iPad: Part 1

Yes, I said "part 1."

I hope it comes as no surprise that we're planning, plotting, and otherwise scheming to bring 1Password to the iPad in a big way. But if you are surprised, well... surprise! I hope it's good news, because we're really excited about our progress. So excited, in fact, that we feel like sharing some of our design concepts with you.

We aren't content to leave you with using that 2x button on our iPhone app. It's an iPhone app! And while it is the Best 1Password iPhone App Ever (if we may so humbly say ourselves), the iPad is an entirely different beast, and we're giving it the utmost attention it deserves. Keep in mind that the following screenshots are design mockups from deep within our labs. They aren't finished or even working models yet, and you wouldn't believe what I had to go through to be able to post them publicly. Honestly, don't bother asking, because I can't tell.

Pleasantries aside, let's get on with the show. Meet our initial vision of 1Password for iPad!

Above is a mockup of 1Password running vertically on iPad. Smashing, isn't it? Dan Peterson, our in-house design demigod, has been cranking away on iPad and 1Password touch projects since we got back from The Agile Cruise, and it shows!

But of course, what is 1Password on iPad without a landscape mode? I'm glad you asked.

Check out those gorgeous icons, the item list with alphabet scroller, and the stylish bolts that really bring the item detail area together. And yes, we have popovers! I told you we're hitting the iPad in a big way.

We're not finished yet, but we think we're on the right track. We want to bring you the best 1Password on iPad experience possible, so let us know what you think of our prototypes here in the comments!

1Password touch 2.3 is live in App Store!

You waited patiently, and we worked diligently to bring you 1Password touch and 1Password touch Pro 2.3. It's live in App Store now, so fire up iTunes or your i-device and get downloading!

This is a pretty major update that brings both 1Password touch versions in better feature parity with 1Password 3 for Mac. New in version 2.3 are dedicated Accounts and Software tabs to match the Mac version, and don't forget, you can always customize the bottom tab bar to add the features you use most!

Also new is the option to reset the Master Password if you forgot it. Be warned, however, that if you forget your Master Password, we cannot help you retrieve it. Plus, resetting your Master Password will permanently delete all items that it protects. 1Password wouldn't be a very secure app if your mischievous coworker, recent ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, or arch villain could just reset your Master Password and view all the items it encrypts, right?

Also new in 1Password touch and Pro 2.3 are copy-and-paste improvements while using the built-in browser, better WiFi sync instructions, a fix for restoring backups with Firefox, and logging into Gmail.com.

Interestingly, Apple must have loved our 1Password touch and Pro 2.3 update so much that it approved the new version the same day we submitted! No joke: we uploaded the new versions to iTunes Connect at about 2am Friday morning (yea, that's right, we work practically around the clock out of love for y'all!), and they were approved and in the store by around 4pm, if not a little earlier. This is great news, and I've heard some of the same stories while saying hi to customers and other developers on the floor at Macworld Expo, too. This apparent change in policy has our team pretty excited, so stay tuned for more frequent updates to 1Password touch!

Now run, don't walk, and grab 1Password touch and 1Password touch Pro 2.3 in App Store!

Google Chrome beta for Mac gained extensions, and we're on it!

Good news, everyone! Google has just released a major update to Chrome for Mac with the feature we've all been waiting for: a new icon!

No, a redesigned back button! Er, more scrolly scrollbars?

Wait, that can't be right... oh yes! Extension support! You can now grab a copy or read more about this release on Google's Chrome Blog.

Rest assured, we're just as excited about extensions in Google Chrome for Mac as you are! To celebrate this release, we've locked our developers in our dungeon "basement" to "motivate" them to bring a much-updated version of our alpha 1Password extension for Chrome. In the meantime, for those who upgrade right away, some early testing shows that our extension works in the new Chrome beta. So if you just can't wait, and if you're ok with using unfinished software, you can help us test our 1Password alpha extension in the new Google Chrome for Mac beta right now.

I don't have an ETA to share just yet on when we'll have a major Chrome extension update for you. These things can take time, so we appreciate your patience! But I can tell you that we're crackin' our whips on our developers. As soon as we have something for you, you'll hear about it on our @1Password Twitter account and here on the blog!

Off to Macworld Expo 2010, and a mention in Macworld!

Are you going to Macworld Expo 2010? We are! While we don't have a booth this year, Agile team members Gita Lal, Marty Skinner, Cindy Compton, and I will be combing the show floor and hitting the parties. Gita, Cindy, and I are on Twitter (@justg, @macpug and @chartier, respectively), so we'll tweet what and where we're up to either from our personal accounts or @1Password. Feel free to come say hi and chat about 1Password and AllBookmarks!

And now, I have a question for you: is there a better Macworld Expo send-off for an indie Mac software company than a mention in Macworld magazine? Perhaps. But there's no way we could afford a bunch of laser pyrotechnic gear and a Neil Diamond appearance on such short notice, so I'm going to have to go with "no."

Thanks to a tip from 1Password user and avid Twitterer Michael Pratchard, I picked up the March issue of Macworld to find that 1Password was indeed mentioned on page 34! In an article titled "Protect your Mac," Rich Mogull lists 1Password among other tools and techniques for safeguarding your Mac and the precious data it contains. Rich likes our password management and browser filling features, but he also recommends 1Password's Strong Password Generator tool for creating extremely strong passwords to take your Internet and personal identity security to the next level.

The article is definitely worth a read, and we're not just saying that because we're in it. Honest! It never hurts to brush up on new ways to protect yourself both on and offline these days. Plus, the rest of the issue discusses digitizing your photo collection, Apple's rocky relationship with AT&T, Google Chrome, some App Store standouts, and more, so run out and snag a copy.

Thanks for the mention Rich, and we hope to see you, dear 1Password users and readers, at Macworld Expo!

The Agile Cruise 2010

After releasing major upgrades to 1Password, 1Password touch, and AllBookmarks 4.0 in 2009, the Agile Web Solutions team decided it was time for some R&R! Many of us have never set sail on the seas, so a five-day Royal Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Mexico and Belize City, Belize sounded like the perfect opportunity to relax, brainstorm, and get away from it all! As proof that we did actually take a vacation for once (while never straying too far from our customer support duties), we present some photos of a most excellent time had by all.

The Agile team members above who came along, from left to right, are: Chad Seldomridge, Jamie Phelps, Roustem Karimov (co-founder), Dan Peterson, Dave Teare (co-founder), Gita Lal, David Chartier, and Marty Skinner.

We sailed out of Miami, FL on January 25, 2010 on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas, a beautiful 138,000 ton boat ship with 14 decks of relaxing, swimming, sunbathing, fine dining, exercising, dancing, and even ice skating goodness. Before you ask: no, Apple did not check with us before scheduling its iPad event during our vacation. Yes, we still feel a little sore about it.

The Navigator was described by some as "Las Vegas on a boat." I haven't been to Vegas yet, but I'm inclined to agree. This is the Royal Promenade on Deck 5, a collection of shops, bars, restaurants, and even some passenger cabins up above.

Three from Agile's team—Chad Seldomridge, Jamie Phelps, and I—took a dolphin "excursion" at the Chankanaab National Marine Park in Cozumel, Mexico. We got some training in basic signals that our dolphin, Lissy, would know, and we got to "shake hands" and swim with her for a couple of hours. We agreed that it was one of the coolest experiences of our lives.

Royal Caribbean's Stateroom Attendants can brighten your day with a couple of towels and a pair of sunglasses.

Of course, what Royal Caribbean cruise is complete without a little work? Dave, Roustem (pictured) and the rest of the team occasionally sat down to check in with the support staff that proudly manned the bridge of the Agile Pearl of the Seas back home (that's a little customer support + cruise humor there). We even managed to do some brainstorming, some company planning, we squashed a few bugs, and answer some support questions to make sure we didn't get too comfortable with margaritas at 11am and the free ice cream station by the pools.

All in all, it was an incredible trip, and the first cruise for most of the Agile team. We returned refreshed and raring to build all the great things we plan to bring you in 2010. Gita, Marty, and I actually don't have much time to settle back in at home. We ship off next week with fellow Agile ninja Cindy Compton for Macworld Expo 2010! Hope to see you there!

1Password 3.0.7 speaks German and (some) Russian, gains other goodies

It is once again time to Check for Updates, 1Password 3 users, especially if you prefer it to run in German or Russian. That's right: 1Password 3.0.7 has been localized in two languages (though Russian is not 100% complete just yet). We also did a lot of internal rekajiggering to make it much easier to localize 1Password into other languages in the future!

New languages aren't the only tricks up 1Password 3.0.7's sleeves, though. We made some big improvements to the way Smart Folders track the changes you make to Vault items, resulting in a big overall performance gain. You can also now create Smart Folders that look for item creation and modification dates.

We cut down on 1Password 3's startup time, improved credit card filling in websites, and locked down things like the in-browser Go & Fill menu and 1Password's Go > Tags menu if your Agile Keychain is locked.

You can view all the changes in the full 1Password changelog online, or you can run Check for Updates to see it in 1Password's built-in update tool. Enjoy!

Help 1Password win About.com's Reader's Choice Award 2010!

We're honored that 1Password 3 was nominated for About.com's 2010 Reader's Choice Awards in the Best System Utility category! We're up against some great competition like Default Folder X (which I personally use and love), MouseWizard, DaisyDisk, and MainMenu.

But as much as we love our fellow indie Mac apps, I do believe that it is our solemn duty to ruthlessly annihilate them in the spirit of friendly competition! If you love 1Password (even if it's just the platonic kind of love—y'know, nothin' weird), head over to About.com's Best Mac System Utility nomination page and click on 1Password under the poll section to vote! And if you're feeling particularly democratic, hit the main award voting page to vote on your favorite Mac apps across all categories.

I can't find details of About.com's voting rules, but if they're anything like most other sites these days, you are probably allowed to vote once in each category per day that voting is open. The polls are open now and run through the end of February, so show 1Password some clicky love and help us win About.com's Reader's Choice Best Mac Utility of 2010 award!

1Password promoted and recommended by Apple's San Francisco store

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I think this photo from Berk D. Demir speaks for itself. He snapped this shot from one of Apple's San Francisco store demos, where the employee featured our website and recommended 1Password to his audience!

(Also, before you ask: no, the slight irony that Berk used an Android device to snap this shot is not lost on us.)

Thanks for catching this Berk!