I do not normally write about updates to applications but, I was impressed with how quickly an update for Doodles was released and with the features it fixed/changed!

If you remember from my initial review of Doodles, there were a few issue with the ability to change the background once you had selected it. In the previous version of the application, if you used a photo as the background, you were unable to change it. Well, with this version, that has been fixed. You can now change the background no matter what it is.

I also mentioned that it would be nice to have a few options when it came to erasing objects in the doodle. This has also been implemented. When you select the Trash option, you now get a pop-up with the options to; Cancel (erase nothing), erase just the drawing, erase just the background or erase everything. This is a awesome improvement!! I did find one small bug and that is if you choose to erase everything, the background does not erase until you select another option on the lower menu bar…then it will erase. It is a small bug and not a huge concern.

I still cannot see my saved drawing on my iPhone. I can see them on my computer when I plug my iPhone in via USB but, I cannot see them on my iPhone itself. However, this could just be an issue with my iPhone or not a universal problem.

Oh, I did noticed that if you double tap on the screen, the menu bars will disappear and you can see/draw in the full drawing area!

Overall, a very nice update.

Screenshots:

Doodles is a simple drawing application that is available in Cydia via the iSpazio source. When you first open the application you will get a white page with a lower menu bar…this is actually the main drawing page of the application. The options on the lower menu bar are (left to right); Save, Background Options, Line Options, Symmetry Options and Erase.

The Background option allows you to choose a background for your drawing. You can choose a solid color, a photo out of your Photo Albums or you can take a picture. The only issue I have with this option is that once you have selected a background, there is no way to delete it. You can change the background if you have chosen a color background but you cannot erase the background and if you set a photo as the background or taken a photo for the background you can neither change it nor erase it. You have to close the application and reopen it to start over.

The Line option allows you to choose the size of your brush as well as the color you would like to draw with. This can be changed as many times as you would like in one doodle.

The Symmetry option is pretty cool. It allows you to draw over an axis giving you the option of a vertical axis, horizontal axis or both. To use this feature, you will need to turn it on, select an axis and then select Close. Now when you draw, you will be a mirror image of it based on which axis you chose. You can really do some cool things this option and can also be changed as many times as you would like in one doodle.

The Trash option will delete your drawing. You do not get a warning with this one and it deletes ALL of your drawing not just the last mark. So, make sure you want to erase your entire drawing before you select the trash option. However, it does not erase your background, just what you have drawn. It would be nice it there was a pop-up making sure you wanted to delete your drawing (I have accidentally deleted two drawings already!). I would also love to see a few options such as; letting you undo one mark at a time, an erase all option, an erase background only option….etc.

Now, the Save option. I personally cannot get this option to work. It says that is has saved my doodle to the Photo Library but, it doesn’t show up anywhere in my Photo Albums. So, you will have to take screenshots for now!

Update: Your doodles are indeed saved to your Camera Roll you just cannot see them on your iPhone. However, you can see them when you connect your iPhone to your computer so, you can get them off your iPhone that way.

Once you have chosen all the options you would like, you can just touch the screen to draw.

Overall, this is a very simple application that is most definitely still in its first stages but, I’m excited to see what the updates bring.

Screenshots: