xScope

Version History

xScope v 3.2

May 2012

New Features

• Added support for CSS hsl() colors in the Loupe
• Acorn image files can now be used with the Mirror tool

Improvements

• Added Dribbble preset in Screens preferences for quick screenshots

Bug Fixes

• SmartTools application names are no longer editable
• Bringing xScope to the front is automatically disabled when SmartTools are enabled

xScope v 3.1.1

March 2012

Improvements

• Adobe safe and center-cut areas added to the 16:9 section in the Screens tool

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that caused the Ruler to report incorrect measurements when using Universal Access’ screen zooming feature
• Fixed a bug that prevented xScope from becoming the frontmost app on launch

xScope Mirror v 1.2.1

March 2012

New Features

• Graphics updated for new Retina devices

Improvements

• App now returns to the server list screen when disconnected from a device

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that caused the lock state in the Mirror to turn off when a new or updated image was sent to the app

xScope v 3.1

February 2012

New Features

• The Mirror tool can now also display files and clipboard contents
  • Makes it easy to preview and test images by dragging them onto the Dock icon
  • Helps while working with large Retina graphics on a small screen
• Guides now have a preference setting to place controls on any screen edge

Improvements

• Updated help to explain new Mirror gestures and functionality

Bug Fixes

• The Mirror confirmation dialog no longer gets trapped behind other tool windows
• Ruler position indicators are no longer off by one pixel with Wacom tablets
• Top-to-bottom display arrangements work correctly when mirroring the desktop

xScope Mirror v 1.2

February 2012

New Features

• The image preview can be scaled 1:2, 1:1 or 2:1
  • Makes it easy to test Retina comps on non-Retina devices (and vice versa)
  • Use the button on the control panel, double tap, or pinch to zoom
• Images now snap to the edge of the screen while dragging
• The image can be saved in Photos, on the clipboard or emailed for sharing or later viewing

Improvements

• The list of computers is displayed with oldest first: easier to track when many users are using xScope
• Tap and hold to display control panel while locked (improves usability testing)

Bug Fixes

• Images with transparency are now handled correctly

xScope v 3.0.1

January 2012

Bug Fixes

• Fixed layout problems with the in-app Help
• Fixed a Loupe bug preventing colors from being pasted into apps like Photoshop and BBEdit
• Fixed a Crosshair bug that prevented the y origin from being re-centered
• Fixed a crash in the Loupe when using Japanese input methods
• Fixed a bug that prevented xScope from checking for updates on first run

xScope Mirror v 1.1

January 2012

Improvements

• Improved scanning of Wi-Fi network for xScope desktop application

xScope v 3.0

January 2012

General

• Modern Interface – Re-designed for increased usability and a fresh new look
• SmartTools – Turns tools on or off depending on what apps you’re using
• Optimized code base – Launches faster, greatly improved performance
• Screen Awareness – Self aware tools to keep them from staying off screen
• Custom Toolbar – Change the size of xScope’s toolbar to fit your workspace
• Space-Saving Menubar – Display individual menubar tools as a single item

Mirror

• Requires the FREE xScope Mirror App for IOS – http://xScopeApp.com/ios
• Remote Viewing – View any Mac window on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
• Pin & Lock – Move the Mac window anywhere & it always has focus on iOS
• Chromeless UI – No overlaid chrome to get in the way while you work
• Multiple iOS devices can connect and view the same window on a single Mac

Dimensions

• Pattern Recognition – Measures properly on patterned or noisy backgrounds
• Screen Capture – ⇧⌘7 screencaps the current measurement
• Improved performance when measuring photographs

Rulers

• Edge Snapping – Holding control key while dragging now snaps to edges
• Increased Readability – Redesigned to provide increased usability

Screens

• Platform Sizes – Organized by platforms: iOS, Android, Mac, Win & TV
• Updated Resolutions – New resolutions including latest Mac and iOS models
• Edge Snapping – Holding control key while dragging now snaps to edges
• Vision Simulation – Simulate vision defects like color blindness & presbyopia
• Ability to snap screenshots from Screens
• Collapsable sidebar for compact display

Loupe

• Color Palette – Collect your favorite color swatches with ⇧⌘C
• Import/Export Colors – Save out or import .ACO color swatch files
• Color Formats – Cycle through color formats to fit your project’s needs
• Intelligent Gridlines – Auto adjusts color of grid & centerlines for visibility
• Magnify Modes – Under the cursor or what’s directly under the Loupe
• Vision Simulation – Simulate vision defects like color blindness & presbyopia
• Added CSS3 rgb() and HTML names for displayed colors
• Collapsable sidebar for compact display
• Zooms up to 1600%

Guides

• Per Screen Control – Show guides on the left, right or both displays
• Simple Interface Mode – Hide guide handles when in the background
• Automatic adjustment of measurements so they stay visible at screen edges
• Undo (⌘Z) for closed guides

Frames

• Edge Snapping – Holding control key while dragging now snaps to edges
• Per Screen Control – Show frames on the left, right or both displays
• Simple Interface Mode – Hide frame controls when in the background
• Shrink Mode – ⇧⌘5 to shrink a selection and create a frame
• Undo (⌘Z) for closed frames

Crosshair

• Design or Develop Mode – Change origin from the upper-left to lower-left

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug on Leopard that displayed junk pixels when the Loupe was at the screen's right edge
• Fixed a bug creating new guides and frames when the menubar wasn't on the selected display
• Using Ctrl+Wheel or ⌥⌘= to zoom no longer causes incorrect Dimensions and Loupe readings
• Windows no longer become unresponsive after changing (adding or removing) screen configs
• Turning off all menubar icons no longer leaves a gap if there is an item to the left of xScope
• Fixed a bug that caused the toolbar to reset to the default position on multiple-monitor configs
• New frames are now centered on the main display of multiple screens
• Frames screenshots are no longer offset to the right if taken on a Mac with a 3 monitor setup
• Fixed a bug where measuring the screen with Dimensions was 1 pixel off
• Fixed a potential problem when using the crosshair on multiple screens
• Fixed a problem that caused guides to shift on Mac OS X 10.7 Lion
• Toolbar can join all spaces (appears in all Mission Control screens) in Lion

xScope v 2.5.1

August 2011

Bug Fixes

• Fixed bugs and potential crashes associated with Lion

xScope v 2.5

July 2011

Improvements

• Fixed problems with windows moving with Expose and Spaces
• Fixed a potential crash when using the Loupe
• Fixed problem that caused Dimensions to stop updating
• Dimensions and Loupe now work correctly on Lion
• Screenshots now work correctly on Lion

xScope v 2.2.2

December 2009

Improvements

• Fixed a problem with hex color value in Loupe not updating correctly

xScope v 2.2.1

December 2009

Improvements

• Compatibility fixes for Snow Leopard
• Loupe updated to use the correct color profile for display
• Images exported to files and clipboard now include a color profile

xScope v 2.2

May 2009

New Features

• Global hotkey to copy the color under the Loupe to the clipboard
• General pref to add screen captures to the clipboard for pasting
• Dimensions tool preference to display aspect ratios
• Setting to make aspect ratios in Frames always visible
• Info icon added to Frames to copy width/height to the clipboard
• System hotkey to "Create guides from Dimensions measurement"
• YCbCr values in Loupe in addition to HSB values (click to toggle)
• Loupe has prefs for CGColorCreateGenericRGB() and UIColor formats

Improvements

• Color of screens content rectangle can now be customized
• Color of gridlines in the Loupe can now be customized
• Function keys F17 to F19 can now be used as hotkeys
• Screens now has sizes for Firefox 3 and IE 8

xScope v 2.1

April 2008

New Features

• Toolbar can be displayed vertically
• Active tools are highlighted in the toolbar
• Shift-Control-Arrow key can be used to resize Rulers and Frames
• Screens now show content area size along with screen size

Improvements

• Guides now work correctly with multiple monitor configurations
• Fixed problems with screenshots in multiple monitors configurations
• Laser beam measurements on upper & right screen edges no longer cut off
• Fixed labeling of Windows Mobile screen resolution
• Improved wording in registration dialogs
• Fixed positioning of open file dialogs in preferences
• Updated tooltips for toolbar buttons
• Minor bug fixes and other improvements

xScope v 2.0

January 2008

$10 paid upgrade for registered users of 1.x

New Features

• New Dimensions tool to quickly measure the size of on screen elements
• Beam mode to measure between elements; Shrink mode to "lasso" elements
• Current dimensions measurement can be highlighted
• Screens now support mobile devices like iPhone and Window Mobile
• Screen sizes editable and updated for latest browsers
• Loupe now provides quick pixel measurements
• Distance between Guides is now displayed
• Gutters can now be created with Guide wizard
• Added composition and layout grids to each Frame
• The Crosshair transparency can be adjusted
• New global hotkey to bring xScope to the front
• Added sound effects as feedback when using the tools
• Screen captures added to several of the tools
• Integrated tool help into the application

Improvements

• Toolbar improvements including a new look
• Rulers can shrink down to 9 pixels
• Rulers can be nudged with arrow keys and the shift key
• Improved interface for selecting Screen sizes and browsers
• The Loupe window can be made much smaller
• Guides created with the wizard are now linked as a group
• Guides can be nudged and snapped with arrow keys and the shift key
• Frames can be nudged and snapped with arrow keys and the shift key
• Several fixes for issues caused by switching screen resolution
• Many controls were made larger and easier to read
• Minor bug fixes and other improvements

xScope v 1.5

March 2006

New Features

• xScope is now a Universal binary for native performance on Intel Macs
• Frames can now be linked and moved simultaneously
• Horizontal and vertical guides can now be linked and moved simultaneously
• Frames can now be resized by dragging on the width or height indicator
• Added calipers to the Ruler making certain measurements easier
• Added a menu option to reset the Ruler to its default position and size
• When the Loupe is locked, the arrow keys can be used to nudge its position

Improvements

• Rulers can be extended to a maximum size of 2400 pixels
• Rulers now snap to 5 pixel increments when the shift key is held down
• Added command keys to adjust Ruler length
• Guides and Frames can now be nudged with the arrow keys when selected
• Added an indicator to Frames when using a constrained ratio
• Added an option to copy the Loupe color as an NSColor definition
• Added a preference to copy HTML color strings using lowercase letters
• Fixed a bug / crash with the Loupe being offset on a second screen
• The Loupe now displays the Hue in degrees, not as percentage
• The bottom line of the screen is now magnified with the Loupe
• The Loupe no longer shows the Crosshair color when both tools are selected
• Added sound feedback when copying from the Loupe to the clipboard
• Fixed a bug where the vertical Crosshair indicator was off by one pixel
• Minor bug fixes and improvements

xScope v 1.1

May 2005

• Ruler will now go smaller than 240 pixels
• A cursor position indicator has been added to the Ruler
• When using Exposé, the tools now remain on-screen
• The position and rotation of the Ruler can be nudged
• Added aspect ratios to Frames (1:1, 4:3, 16:9 and the Golden Section)
• Holding down the command key drags all Guides or Frames at once
• Changed the display of coordinates and other items to increase readability
• Fixed bugs with the Ruler and Guides on a second monitor
• Fixed a display bug with the Ruler on Tiger

xScope v 1.0.1

January 2004

• Increased readability for several tools against light backgrounds
• Increased readability for Ruler tick marks against dark backgrounds
• Locking the Loupe no longer displays a shadow on the indicator box
• Loupe preference to copy HTML colors with or without a leading hash (#)
• Fixed a bug causing Rulers to display incorrectly when rotated with deltas
• xScope now remembers if the toolbar was closed or not at startup
• The preference toolbar now highlights the selected pane (Panther only)
• Fixed a bug that caused the “Unregistered” text to appear in text copied from the Loupe