Morse Decoder 1.1.0 Mac App Store update

The HotPaw Morse Code Decoder, version 1.1.0, is now available from the Mac App store.  It is currently still the only Morse Code or CW app available from Apple's Mac App Store.  A free update for current users should be shown automatically when running the App Store app on your Mac.

Two important new features were added to version 1.1.0.

The first new feature is an audio input selection option for users with USB or PCI audio input devices.  Some of these 3rd party USB or PCI accessories will allow line-level audio input directly from a radio receiver.  The use of an audio line-input instead of a microphone may allow for even more accurate Morse Code decoding.  The choice of audio input can now be selected within the app.

Also added is an option for manual control of the threshold level for detecting Morse Code dits and dahs above a background noise floor.  This option can be enabled by turning AGC off, which is useful when the AGC cannot adapt properly to high levels of noise or fading in the audio signal.  The feature works best in conjunction with the optional narrow band filter, which can be enabled just by clicking on the desired frequency peak shown by the built-in spectrum analyzer.

iAutoharp and HotPaw Basic for iOS updates

The iAutoharp app for iOS has been update to version 1.5.  It's a great little easy to play 36-string musical instrument, where you can strum easy-to-select chords.  This version should fix the responsive and lag issues which had been reported for previous versions.  The strings now animate when strummed using a new faster display update method that does not slow down multi-touch strumming or chord changes.

HotPaw Basic for iOS has been updated to version 1.5.6.  (It's the same as 1.5.5, plus some small bug fixes to the built-in help.)  This version adds some new user-requested functions for  getting location (GPS coordinates) and accelerometer information from the device.  A new function to sample the audio input has also been added.  Another very useful addition is a mode allowing editing program text in a small window, instead of one line-at-a-time.