Your safety and well-being is a top priority
Our thoughts are with you and your loved ones as we all continue to navigate through the uncertainties of COVID-19.
COVID-19 continues to impact our lives - after a period with diminishing consequences and reopenings, the second wave are now showing its impact on many of us.
With all that is happening around us, we again want to reassure you that we are here also through these unprecedented times. We use these unusual times to continuously improve how you can play bridge, have more fun, suggest how to stay secure, and iterate our ongoing commitment to support your bridge games.
Launch of a new update
Therefore, we are now ready to launch version 7.0 - a substantial upgrade with an updated app and firmware!
To enjoy the advantages of the new update, please update to tablet app version to 7. and remember to let the tablet update the dealer's firmware (to version 3.34.11).
This is an update you can postpone.
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We appreciate all of your feedback
Thanks for the many positive feedback to version 5 and app version 6. We can see a clear improvement in our games statistics and logs with the changes we have made during the year - the new dealers, the intelligent 4 cards 2 deck auto-calibration feature - "it's so easy to do and very effective!"
Read our reviews here
Our new On/off-line feature
We have found it was time to take another important step - to ensure you can continue to play bridge "whatever happens" - or more technical add On/Off-line features. We have analyzed eventual issues that could pause or stop games. We can group the risks for eventual issues as follows:
- No local internet / unstable local internet
- No local Wi-Fi / unstable local Wi-Fi
- Handling errors / misuse issues
- Programming errors
- Access to server issues - internet provider errors
- Server issues
Notice, a listing like the above can look overwhelming - but our logs show our performance is fine - for example, we have a server uptime of 100 % again last month. Therefore, please evaluate the new features as preventive features and as a help to you to make it easy to handle your local issues. At the same time, as the world is experiencing an increased threat from virus, hacks, spam and similar threats we have also upgraded our security and encryption efforts.
In all of the situations mentioned above, the On/Off-line feature ensures you will be able to continue the game and synchronize results either during the game (when the issue is solved) or after the game. Simple - yes - read more below
Other improvements
We have also taken our server software (services) and have split it into a number of services that run independently of each other. We have also improved the automatic restart of all services to a few seconds - to reduce any impact should it happen.
If you have not started the game but want to play but the access to or server is down - you can now select the Backup server under Settings. The backup server will have a copy of your club details. If you have to use the backup server we will transfer your details to your server afterwards. The backup server is placed in a different geographical area and hereby, also protects when the normal server's ISP's hub is being bombarded by threats. The backup server also gives us the advantages that we can look at a backup of your games if you have any questions. BTW - we have also added correction history to give even better support on corrections.
Methods, types, choices, options - Simple "Fast & Easy" or all options in "Advanced"
To ensure our increasing user base - which always will be different among new and experienced users, and novice or advanced bridge players all have the optimal support and guidance we have divided usage types into 3 - club, social or teaching. We have added three methods to use - Fast & Easy methods (just a few clicks, a few choices, and no options to consider), our Basic methods (use default settings for most of the options), or the Advanced methods (where you have full control of choices and options) – to create your tournament/game. The number of choices you have to make - pair or team game - and the number of options also differ from none in Fast & Easy to many in Advanced. Basic will use our or your default settings.
You can see a new Fast & Easy example on the main menu of the new tablet version. It only takes three choice clicks to create a game. We will be emphasising types, methods, choices and options to our solution and guides in the next period.
Introducing our new First Use Guide
As part of our continued effort to improve our solution, we have made a completely new First Use guide section on bridgeplusinfo.com. All new users - and you if you want a brush-up - you can now get a series of newsletters from unboxing information to how to share results on Facebook. As part of these step by step guides, we have added the first of a number in explainer videos - which you can see here and please notice the high number youtube videos we have for your guidance and inspiration. Many of these additions have been made by our new marketing and SoMe responsible, Andrea
How to use new On/off-line feature
Initially, you will not see any differences from earlier. The first change is when you select a tournament and a table. Here you have the opportunity to select game mode - see the red box below. We have set the default to Online initially - meaning you will not see any differences to version 6 unless you lose communication as you will be offered to switch to On/Off-line.
If you select On/Off-line you will not see a lot of changes unless you lose communication - then you will see a big red dot at left in the top menu. If you select On/Off-line you have selected Off-line simply selected and option that ensures the tablet app will handle Off-line should it happen
 and if you have boards to synchronize you can see how many 
You cal also wait to after the game - see 
Notice, in the upper right corner we show by a small green dot (On-line) or by a red dot (On/off-line) game mode. Next the the small red or green dot we show a code for Roud Eject options - C for central (Web server Game live view) and T for tablet. CA for automatic and M for Manua. CMA means Central - first board Manual and at all rounds, cards should be ejected manually at Game live view on the web server.
If you use the On/Off-line version, as an example of the 3 methods - then the Fast & Easy method is to let the tablet control On/Off-line. The Basic method means you to click the big red button to synchronize. Advanced method - press the big red dot for some seconds and you will see the new Play Screen Menu - her you can select among options and several special features.
Click the pictures above or read here for all details on the On/Off-line version.
If the tablet is Off-line there are certain features you cannot use and certain game information that will not be available (initially) while Off-line - for example:
- Central server managed card eject from Game live will not be possible while Off-line. The app will show a button for eject control on the tablet
- Swap and register players. Names entered while On-line or entered on the webserver will be shown
- Corrections on the result pages. Correction must be entered on the tablet or await synchronization is complete
- Swiss pair games, team and Swiss pair will initially not be supported as the webserver manage and calculate the game.
Other new features and improvements
- Tablet controlled Card eject option added to the tournament setup
- American Whist Team improvements (Thanks to Gerard)
- Team - player panel improvement and results for imps across improvement. Multi-team and butler improvements
- Total points score for 1 table games
- Percentage improvements
- Add/Remove the number of table improvements
- Improved BWS interface (Player handling, the transformation from non-barometer tournaments. Team player handling)
- BWS mini-teams handling
- BWS backlink improvements
- Improved Fast & Easy and Individual tournaments
- PBN and LIN import improvements
- PBN export improvements
- Round variation improvements
New tablet and dealer features and improvements
We have also made the following changes on the tablet/dealer:
- The dealer will as default now Shut Off and not Power Off (no small current power any longer)
- Changed label to "Select Tournament" from "Tournament table"
- Added public result link
- Trial - no dealer - game option (under Select Tournament)
Colour coding next to player names
Please notice - just to refresh - the colour of the dot next to a registered player name
- Red dot - if no names are registered we show Player 1B - we show "A" or “B” and to indicate pair number (1) (or similar for team)
- Yellow dot - Simple label with an entered text
- Orange dot - User with login based upon an artificial email we have created xxx@notarealemail.XVZ
- Green dot - User with login based upon a real email
Please remember to turn the tablet and the dealer Off and On after the firmware update - and please ensure the dealer has a battery level of more than 20% before updating the firmware.
- Please notice, due to the tablet software update - you will need to (or rather allow) the update of the tablet software when asked to Install. If you during install are asked to "Allow ... (2 times) then answer yes - especially on Huawei tablets. When asked, please use this setting:
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