Here’s a list of what’s new in this release:

• Adds iOS 4.2 features for iPad (local notification alarms and fast-app switching).
• Awaken no longer stops your iPod music when you launch it.
• Podcasts and audiobook tracks resume where you left off.
• Sleep Timer can now use currently playing music.
• Sleep Timer now pauses music during incoming phone calls.
• Sleep Timer now obeys Apple Remote for pausing, etc.
• Alarm snooze now restarts volume fade in if enabled.
• Current song information now displayed on the iPad.
• Flashlight bug fix for 4th generation iPod touch.
• LCD clock style colors more vibrant.
• Bug fixed which was causing a crash for some users.

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who applied for the beta. Our available beta slots filled up quickly! Stay tuned to see Awaken 1.8.3 in the App Store.

Awaken 1.8.3 for iOS is now ready for testing. We’re looking for anyone who would like to try out the new version and really try to break it. Here’s a top level list of what’s new in this version:

• Awaken no longer stops your iPod music when you launch it.
• Podcasts and audiobook tracks resume where you left off.
• Sleep Timer can now use currently playing music.
• Sleep Timer now pauses music during incoming phone calls.
• Sleep Timer now obeys Apple Remote for pausing, etc.
• Alarm snooze now restarts volume fade in if enabled.
• Current song information now displayed on the iPad.
• Flashlight bug fix for 4th generation iPod touch.
• LCD clock style colors more vibrant.
• Bug fixed which was causing a crash for some users.

We were asked why there is no way to select “iTunes U” tracks for the sleep timer. This is a limitation in the iOS SDK (the music selection sheet supplied to developers does not include iTunes U). But now that Awaken can use your currently playing music with the sleep timer you can start your iTunes U tracks from the iPod app and then launch Awaken to start the sleep timer.

The main purpose of this release was really to address a bug which caused a crash for some users. Testing of this fix required running the app for 10-12 hour sessions and during that time waiting we fit in the above features.

If you’d like to test Awaken 1.8.3, all you need to do is send your device ID to beta@embraceware.com and also let us know which iPhone/iPod/iPad model you are using an if you’re using iOS 3 or 4.

You can get your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch device ID by doing the following:

1. Connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your Mac or PC.
2. On the “Summary” tab in iTunes, click the “Serial Number” label. You’ll notice “Serial Number” changes to “Identifier”.
   (sans Zelda chime)
3. Click on “Edit” in the menu at the top and select “Copy”.
4. Now you can paste the device ID into an email.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Here’s a list of what’s new in this release:

• Local notification support added for alarms (iOS 4).
• High-resolution graphics for the iPhone 4 Retina display.
• iOS 4 fast application switching support.
• Music selection editing for alarms and sleep timer.
• Album artwork displayed with music selections.
• Warning added when saving disabled alarms.
• Various bug fixes and performance improvements.

Awaken 1.7 is now ready for beta testing! Here’s a top level list of what’s new:

• All graphics updated to include HighDPI versions for the iPhone 4 Retina Display.
• Music tracks selected for alarms and the sleep timer can now be removed, re-arranged, and additional tracks can be added to your selection. We also added the album art for each track so that you can see visually what album the track is from.
• Single button for snooze and stop alarm  (video demo and notes here).
• Support for iOS 4 fast app switching.
• Local notification support added to allow alarms to function when Awaken is not running.
• Minor bug fixes and UI polish.

Awaken 1.7 will still support both iOS 3 and iOS 4 and is a universal application with UI for iPhone and iPad included.

Local Notification Notes
As mentioned above, local notification support has been added and will allow alarms to trigger when Awaken isn’t running. Local notifications however are limited to only playing sounds that are bundled within the application and not iPod music. All alarms in Awaken will have a default sound assigned (which you can change to any of the 12 sounds included) which will be used for the local notification sound. The local notification alert will also include a button which will allow you to launch Awaken to play the alarm with the music associated. Local notifications will only appear if you don’t have Awaken running at alarm time. If Awaken is already running (as was previously required) it’ll play the music for the alarm and display the usual UI. Basically local notifications will ensure that you don’t miss an alarm if you quit the app.

We’re now looking for beta testers – especially people with iPhone 4 so that we can ensure that all of the new high resolution graphics are working.

To get started, all you need to do is send your device ID to beta@embraceware.com and also let us know which iPhone/iPod/iPad model you are using an if you’re using iOS 3 or 4.

You can get your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch device ID by doing the following:

1. Connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to your Mac or PC.
2. On the “Summary” tab in iTunes, click the “Serial Number” label. You’ll notice “Serial Number” changes to “Identifier”. (sans Zelda chime)
3. Click on “Edit” in the menu at the top and select “Copy”.
4. Now you can paste the device ID into an email.

We look forward to hearing from you!

PS> We have a bunch of Awaken 1.7 screenshots posted here.

We have a ton of new features to come in the near future. For now we wanted to get the iPad version on par with the feature set of the iPhone version.

We extended Awaken for iPhone to be a universal application which contains a separate user interface for iPhone and iPad. As a universal application we can release features to iPhone and iPad at the same time in a single update. It also saves you from purchasing another version for iPad if you purchased the iPhone version already. Nice right?

When using Awaken on an iPad you’ll notice that the user interface has been redesigned to take advantage of the bigger display. We also support both portrait and landscape orientations throughout the entire application.

There is one new feature exclusive to the iPad version, and that is the “Photo Frame” clock style (as shown on the right). It allows you to select photos to display as a slideshow on the clock screen. We’ll be including this in the iPhone version later.

The iPad version also has a dedicated button in the toolbar for the flashlight – shaking your iPad for the flashlight didn’t make sense like it does on the iPhone.

So, the reason for the post, we’re looking for a bunch of beta testers to help us eliminate any bugs and provide feedback. If you’d like to beta test and you have an iPad, leave a comment below with your device UDID. Be sure to include your email address in the email field – not the comments box.

You can get your iPad device UDID by doing the following:

1. Connect your iPad to your Mac or PC.
2. On the “Summary” tab in iTunes, click the “Serial Number” label. You’ll notice “Serial Number” changes to “Identifier”. (sans Zelda chime)
3. Click on “Edit” in the menu at the top and select “Copy”.
4. Now you can paste the device ID into a comment below.

Since this is a universal application you’ll be replacing the iPhone/iPod version of Awaken if you have it installed. If this is the case, and you’d like to use this beta on your iPhone or iPod touch, please include the UDID for that device as well.

We look forward to hearing from you!

PS> If you haven’t purchased Awaken for iPhone yet – jump in now at the low price of $1.99 and it’ll get you the iPad version as a free update when it’s available.