(This was originally posted on my personal blog.)

Well I just got done recording my first, developer podcast, being the MacSB (software business) podcast. It was a roundtable with Steve (Scotty) Scott, Mike Lee, Kenneth Ballenegger and John Fox.
It was the most fun I have had in a LONG time and was in complete hysterics for moments of the pre and post show banter. Those guys are hilarious!
We discussed the iPhone SDK, bundles and charity and bloody hell was there some great discussion, I felt like I was able to contribute but was really in awe of the likes of Mike Lee who I have been looking up to for a while and just felt honored to be on the same panel as these experienced and seriously talented people. It was also neat to be on the panel with a fellow young up and comer in the form of Kenneth Ballenegger, who ironically makes “Exces” a competing product of BitClamp (and yes I am not linking that out of pure spite ;-)).
What was seriously eye opening was what Mike was talking about charities, I can’t discuss this too much without the podcast to refer to, but download it when its out and have a listen, its truly inspiring at times and made me feel seriously inadequate!
However, what I really want to mention is something that will (probably) not see the light of the day on the podcast. You may not be aware but these things are recorded using a skype conference call with a chat window open, you use the chat window to signify you wish to speak like raising your hand if you will. (Although I absolutely sucked at this early on!). We managed to get a separate dialog going in the chat window at times, I even burst out laughing at a joke made in the chat window on the recording…. yeah… its going to sound like I’m completely nuts!
Before and after, however, was where hilarity really ensued, “yo mamma” jokes, immaturity, geekiness, it was all there and I haven’t really had an experience like it in a while.
I would like to thank Scotty for inviting me in the first place as well as the other members of the panel for making it such a fun evening. Hopefully we all stay in touch!

Well after 18 beta releases under various names 1.5 has hit the tubes. Head over to the new site or auto-update the previous version to get your hands on it.
Here are the release notes:

[NEW] File mimicking - this is a major new feature, see screencasts for further information.
[NEW] Encrypted files can now overwrite the original files as opposed to being saved to a constant location.
[NEW] Covert file names can now be set in the password stage.
[NEW] Strong password generator.
[NEW] Password log.
[NEW] BitClamp can be forced to encrypt a file by holding the command key as you drag it in to the window.
[Change] Better smooth resizing and animations.
[Change] Optimizations - better memory and CPU usage
[Change] Better Sparkle Implementation.
[Change] MUCH better password strength algorithm (this has been greatly improved).
[Change] New file type, much improving performance, especially on large files.
[Change] More descriptive error reporting.
[Change] Bugs are now reported through the Mantis bug tracker installation.
[Change] Preferences are now saved on the closing of the preferences window not the shutting down of the app itself.
[Change] Optimized some menubar memory usage.
[Change] Moved OK box in the change encryption window to the center.
[Fix] The password generator and password strength windows now detect how much room is left on the current screen and display themselves accoringly.

[Fix] Possible UE0 error on decryption.
[Fix/Workaround] Sheet windows now accept clicks in 10.5.2, as I have removed all floating windows.
[Fix] Rare UE0 error on cancel.
[Fix] Fixed a line of stray pixels on the main screen.
[Fix] BitClamp no longer claims its finished when it is still unarchiving.
[Fix] Better code to dynamically change the size of the window when obtaining a password.
[Fix] BitClamp now checks window size on launch - avoiding problems of it disappearing if you change screen size.
[Fix] Preferences now load the destination folder correctly.
[Fix] Cancelling a decrypt now returns to the first window state.
[Fix] Cancelling the process when it cannot be cancelled no longer resets the UI.
[Fix] Renaming BitClamp no longer causes Growl not to load and the app to crash.
[Fix] Scrolling the encryption list with the mouse weel now works.
[Fix] Password strength window only shows when encrypting.
[Fix] Changing the default encryption menthod now correctly changes the current encryption method.
[Fix] BitClamp no longer leaves temporary, unencrypted, files on the HD which are can be later “recovered” by the OS.
[Fix] Updated credits.

As you can see we have been working hard on this one! You can also find a more visual tour in the form of a “whats new” screencast here.
Enjoy!

Well its about that time, the beta team and I have been working tirelessly trying to make 1.5 as bullet-proof as possible.
It contains some major new updates, and if all goes well you will be finding it in your auto-updates tomorrow. But as blog readers I figure you deserve a special sneak peak, so here is the screen cast that will be on the Fast Forward website.
That brings me neatly to my next point. As I’m sure most of you would have guessed by now, FastForward software is the new publisher for BitClamp. I am still the developer and we have big plans for BitClamp, now I don’t have to manage all the company aspects I can focus of developing the application. First on the list is the Windows version which we still plan to have available by the end of Q1 2008 but to get there it means that 1.5 will be the last major update for a while, at least until the Windows version is released.
I look forward to tomorrow and I hope you all enjoy 1.5!

Hey guys,
A quick plug for Ben Aroia’s blog. He is the new security advisor for BitClamp and is clearly quite knowledgeable about these things.
There is some interesting content up there already but I’m sure it will improve and could be a great regular read.
Just as a quick update I shipped a release candidate for 1.5 today and the target date for release is March 4th, although that remains pencil at this stage. It will be a free update for all registered users.

Hey people,
I’m sure a lot of you will have recently updated your leopard systems to the new 10.5.2 update. Well, BitClamp has one minor issue with it:
When a sheet window is open at the same time as a floating one, the sheet window will not accept mouse clicks.
Now for those who don’t speak developer lingo this means essentially that if you are typing in your password with the password strength meter enabled you will not be able to hit the OK button…. which is a real pain!
At the moment the only work around is to simply close the password strength window, this will allow you to do what you wish with the password dialog.
Unfortunately this is something we simply cannot fix, its down to Apple to ship an update, however in 1.5 we will adjust functionality so this is no longer an issue. That is if Apple don’t ship a fix.
As far as I know it is only 10.5.2 affected and Tiger systems are fine, I have only been able to confirm this on intel so if someone could try this with a PPC mac and either email me or leave a comment that would be great.
Thanks guys, and hang in there 1.5 is on its way….

Well its been a long time in the making but the new release of BitClamp is about to enter another round of beta testing.
It was going to be billed as 1.2 but we have decided due to the sheer amount of new features that this will be a 1.5 release. So don’t worry…. its coming and its going to be worth the wait :-).

Just to let you know I have started a new blog. Its a personal one but I am sure I will cover stuff you will be interested in, so head over, subscribe and comment :-).
I will of course continue to blog crimson sky related news here.

So I’m sure some of you are thinking I have moved to some remote desert island and forgotten all about a little app known as BitClamp but nothing could be further from the truth.
The deal I hinted at in my previous post is in place and I will announce it soon but more importantly for you guys: 1.2 is being pushed back, not too far into the future but another couple of weeks.
Basically we are implementing another set of features that need to be tested etc. BitClamp is looking more like 1.5, in fact I am considering making it a 1.3 release to reflect that.
Just a couple of little teasers, I’m not going to reveal much as everything is subject to change but this is better than nothing:

Of course that will be very secure, and mainly so you don’t forget these:

Ok this is going to be an interesting post for me…
It has been a blast starting this company. It has to be said I have had a lot of fun and created an app that I know people use and love, but it has become a bit of a strain running a company when I am really just a developer.
I am pushing 1.2 back, why?! Well I have recently been talking to various software companies and publishers and one has got to the contracts stage. I am super excited about this but can’t announce anything yet.
It looks like BitClamp will join the ranks of a well known software publisher and so will I. 1.2 and the windows version will certainly be coming to you and will be free for existing customers, but it will have to wait for the switchover. I don’t think this will take too long but I can’t give you a definite date.
BitClamp may not be brought to you by Crimson Sky Software in the future but rest assured I will still be at the helm of this application and the future is VERY bright for BitClamp.

As I’m feeling generous, here is a taster of what is to come in 1.2:

As for an ETA I’m not 100% sure but builds of 1.2 are currently being put through their paces by the beta team, so we should be shipping soon after the new year