BandHelper History
Dec 15, 2010: First release of Set List Maker. This was Arlo's seventh iOS app, but the first to earn a wide following.
Jun 30, 2012: Published a prototype web interface for Set List Maker and sent it to a few users for feedback. The response was lukewarm, but Arlo liked the idea and started thinking about how to take it further.
Jun 6, 2013: Published the first beta version of BandHelper, a new product resembling Set List Maker but built from the ground up for web access, syncing between devices and user permissions.
Sep 10, 2013: First public release of BandHelper, adding Schedule and Finance modules to the Repertoire module borrowed from Set List Maker.
Mar 9, 2014: First release of Autoharp for Android. This was Arlo's first Android app, and a trial run for an Android version of BandHelper.
Nov 2, 2014: First release of BandHelper for Android. This release left out some functionality, like printing and live sharing, but by the following June, it offered the same functionality as the iOS version.
Apr 3, 2015: Added a Basic account level, with only the Repertoire module, for half the price of the Pro level.
Jun 27, 2016: Published the "What's New" video for BandHelper 3.0 and Set List Maker 5.0 using the BandHelper interface. This marked a shift in presenting BandHelper as Arlo's primary product.
Jan 15, 2018: Shut down Set List Maker's automatic sync function. Although most new features are still added to both products, this marked a shift in presenting Set List Maker as an app for individuals and BandHelper as an app for bands.
May 19, 2019: Added a Plus level with access to the Schedule and Contacts modules, and added new Checklists, Files and Practice Log modules to the Pro level.
Feb 2, 2020: Released a set of interface improvements inspired by discussions in the user forum and a high-participation user survey. User feedback and app store reviews improved significantly after this release.
March 23, 2021: Rewrote the entire iOS and Android apps in newer programming languages to make them more stable and maintainable.
May 20, 2022: Rebuilt the underlying database functionality of the iOS and Android apps for faster performance and less memory usage.