TrafficCamNZ – New Features 19 December 2009
Posted by David Wilson in iPhone.Tags: gps, iPhone, location, trafficcamnz
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Approved this week was a new version of TrafficCamNZ. This version allows you to “tag” a camera with a number (any number). Then as images are presented on the main screen, they are presented in your numbering order. If an image has not been given a number, then the program automatically assigns one starting from 100.
I’m also pleased to announce that I have been working on presenting a map view of cameras that shows where the cameras are. Pins are put onto the map to show camera locations and as the map is presented it zooms into your location (if the GPS on your iPhone is enabled). While this version is still in development progress is very good and I hope to submit this version to Apple in January 2010.
I need your help. Obtaining the GPS locations for the cameras I already have (or new ones for that matter) is somewhat if a challenge. If you are able to help with the locations of cameras in your area, please post a comment to this message. I already have Auckland (NZ), I can make a very educated guess at the Wellington (NZ) cameras.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Wanted: Images for TrafficCamNZ 20 October 2009
Posted by David Wilson in iPhone.Tags: iPhone, trafficcamnz
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I would like to add more image URL’s to my iPhone application TrafficCamNZ. It can be quite a task searching the web for new URL’s and their descriptions. So I thought I’d start off taking an easy approach. If you have any URL’s and associated camera descriptions can you please post them here or e-mail me directly and I’ll work on building a new release of the XML file that contains all of the camera.
I have this evening been working on some changes to the New Zealand cameras. The people that host these cameras have made changes recently breaking previous URL’s. I need to test these changes a bit more but there will be a camera XML file update shortly.
These URL’s are valid.
http://netcams.centreport.co.nz/1/netcam.jpg?
http://netcams.centreport.co.nz/2/netcam.jpg?
http://netcams.centreport.co.nz/3/netcam.jpg?
http://netcams.centreport.co.nz/4/netcam.jpg?
http://www.htsgroup.net.nz/transit/Dowse.jpg
http://www.htsgroup.net.nz/transit/Melling.jpg
http://www.htsgroup.net.nz/transit/Grounsell.jpg
http://www.htsgroup.net.nz/transit/Kgb.jpg
- David
TrafficCamNZ – update – version 1.2.2 30 August 2009
Posted by David Wilson in USB Missile.Tags: Camera, conditions, image, iPhone, monitoring, nz, traffic, trafficcam, trafficcamnz, URL, Web
2 comments
An updated version of TarfficCamNZ has been submitted to the iPhone application store for approval. This new release adds new features and some bug fixes to stop potential application crashes.
- Fixed potential memory leaks with image handling
- Found and fixed an issue in iPhone OS 3.0 where some uninitialised fields would cause an Application crash when refreshing images (or starting the App). This may or may be not fixed as it seems to occur when restoring a 3.0 backup from an iPhone 3G to an iPhone 3GS. If you continue to have problems, you may been to delete the Application from the iPhone and let iTunes reinstall it when you sync.
- New Feature: [you must have e-mail setup for this to work] Added to the Preferences screen the ability to e-mail an xml file of cameras to any e-mail address
- New Feature: [you must have e-mail setup for this to work] The main screen now has an Action button (Top Left) – this will set up an email message for you containing the current traffic picture – add the destination e-mail address and tap send. The camera URL is included in the e-mail so that those receiving your message can refresh for themselves what you are looking at
- Implemented a work around for an issue that could trigger an image receipt failure and success for the same image meaning the application would crash
USB Missile Launcher NZ v1.7.0 Released 30 August 2009
Posted by David Wilson in USB Missile, iPhone, mac, usb.Tags: DreamCheeky, iPhone, Launcher, mac, missile, rocket, usb
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Available for immediate download is USB MIssile Launcher NZ v1.7.0. Click on the name or refer to the download links.
Changes in this release are:
- Preparation for 10.6 compatibility
- Fixed some potential memory leaks within the AppleScript section of code
- Fixed more memory leaks in the USB connection handling code
- Combined kext USB drivers into one file and altered for 10.6 compatibility, made associated program code changes to match
- Minimum OS Mac OS 10.5
- Fixed a redraw problem with the background graphic display after a button was pushed
- Kext updated with missile launcher vendorID and ProductID from Chic technology (seen in France June 2009)
Missile Control NZ for iPhone – Released 6 August 2009
Posted by David Wilson in USB Missile.Tags: iPhone, itunes, missile launcher, nz, usb
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Missile Control NZ for iPhone has been released. You can download it from iTunes via this link.
You will also need the USB Missile Launcher NZ Mac software, version 1.6 or later, and an actual missile launcher.
Have fun.
- David
p.s. I do have a new version of the USB Missile Launcher NZ software (currently version 1.7). This release fixes compatibility issues with Snow Leopard and incorporates a number of other improvements. A causality of this upgrade is support for 10.4 has been removed. Below is a summary of the enhancements & fixes:
1.7.0 build 149
- Preparation for 10.6 compatibility
- Fixed some potential memory leaks within the AppleScript section of code
- Fixed more memory leaks in the USB connection handling code
- Combined kext USB drivers into one file and altered for 10.6 compatability, made associated program code changes to match
- Minimum OS Mac OS 10.5
- Fixed a redraw problem with the background graphic display after a button was pushed
- Kext updated with missile launcher vendorID and ProductID from Chic technology (seen in France June 2009)
MissileControl NZ for iPhone 19 June 2009
Posted by David Wilson in USB Missile, iPhone.Tags: iPhone, USB Missile
1 comment so far
This iPhone application has just been submitted to Apple for App Store approval.
MissileControl is an iPhone/iPod Touch remote control to the Mac OS program “USB Missile Launcher NZ”.
Requirements:
- An actual USB MIssile Launcher.
- USB Missile Launcher NZ software version 1.6 or greater.
- MissileControl for the iPhone or iPod Touch running the 3.0 OS.
- You will also need your own local area network with all devices on the same network.
Instructions for use.
Ensure that you have one or more USB Missile Launchers connected to your Mac and the USB Missile Launcher NZ software running. You can have multiple macs running the USB Missile Launcher NZ software with multiple launchers attached to each if you wish.
Verify that you can control the Missile Launcher with the Mac OS desktop software.
Now run the iPhone application, select the instance of USB Missile Launcher NZ that you wish to connect to via the settings screen.
Touch the unlock button.
You should now be able to remotely control your missile launcher. Any feedback from the USB Missile Launcher NZ software is displayed the iPhone/iPod touch screen.
Currently pending App Store approval.
USB Missile Launcher v1.6 19 June 2009
Posted by David Wilson in USB Missile, iPhone.Tags: DreamCheeky, iPhone, missile, usb
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It is well over due for release/ At last I’ve found my “round2it” and have been able to release this update to the USB Missile Launcher NZ software.
Key features in this release from the last one are:
- Added network messaging support. This provides the base ability for “remote control”, i.e. so that an iPhone (client) application can control this software (server) for the ultimate in launcher control. A unfortunate side effect of this is that the minimum OS level required to run the launcher software is 10.5 (sorry).
- Found and fixed a memory leak that was caused everytime the launcher was unlocked/locked
- Added support for the DreamCheeky InfraRed Missile Launcher (though has to update preferences of Vendor ID (2689) and Product ID (65281) manually and ensure that the launcher type is DreamRocketII.
- Fixed various spellings in the readme file (thank you Lee).
Download USB Missile Launcher NZ here.
BIOS Weather Station – BW975 – Imperial 7 May 2009
Posted by David Wilson in Weather Station.Tags: BIOS Weather Station, BW976, CE1177, mac, usb
3 comments
Thanks to a comment on a previous blog post about the Weather Station software, Mark has modified the program software to that you can have an imperial version.By popular demand….
The Imperial version of the Weather Station software:
Weather Station – Imperial – source code
Weather Station – Imperial Application (ready to run)
So, note that there is now an Imperial application and the original Metric application. In an ideal world there would be one application and the display would change with a preference setting. We’re not there yet. But given the demand and popularity I thought that it would be better to release this.
USB Missile Launcher NZ & iPhone 5 April 2009
Posted by David Wilson in USB Missile, iPhone, usb.Tags: Apple, iPhone, iPhone SDK USB Missile Launcher xcode apple, Launcher, mac, missile, OSX, rocketbaby, usb, USB Missile
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Development on the iPhone program for control of USB Missile Launchers has continued this weekend. I have implemented the client/server model that was mentioned in my last post. You can run multiple servers (USB Missile Launcher NZ) with the iPhone application detecting these on your local LAN and by connecting to a server you can issue commands to that server software (USB Missile Launcher NZ).
I’ve tried to make sure that the software will operate without fuss. In the process I managed to find and fix a memory leak in the USB Missile Launcher NZ software (that improved stability!), and I’ve also tried to make sure that the communications between the server and client are robust enough not to have to restart software, client or server, everytime you want to switch from one server to another.
OK I know not everyone is going to have more than one launcher, let alone more than one Mac running the USB Missile Launcher NZ software so that you can connect to different servers. It’s all part of the development process and has helped greatly to ensure there will be a reliable product for release.
The screen shot above from the iPhone should the main view when the application is launched. Yes I know it’s not flash. At this time I’m concentrating on the application communications code to ensure it’s robust enough when released. This screen shot shows that on launch the software has found the preferred default server is running and has successfully connected to it. Your next step is to press the Unlock button (as you would in the software on the desktop) and then you can use the missile launcher directional keys and fire. The Blue line with white text is for messages that are sent back from the server. If you switch launchers through the settings screen, you press the connect button when you return here. This switches the server that you are connected to.
Note: the Unlock (blue highlighted text) and Send button are for testing only. They will be removed.
The settings screen will list the servers (USB Missile Launcher NZ) that are discovered on your LAN. You tap on a server to give it the “tick” which is the preferred/default launcher when the application starts. When you return to the main screen, you press the connect button.
I think iPhone application is good and stable at this point, as is the server (USB Missile Launcher NZ). I’ll do some more testing during the week. What I need next is some fancy graphics.
Lastly the iPhone software probably will not be available anytime soon, it is dependant on an unreleased version of the iPhone SDK, I might have to check that out as I cannot remember why as of writing this.
USB Missile Launcher NZ – Update 29 March 2009
Posted by David Wilson in USB Missile, iPhone, mac, usb.Tags: bonjour, iPhone, missile, usb
2 comments
A few weeks ago I began getting a few messages about the USB Missile Launcher NZ software not working with the DreamCheeky InfraRed launcher. So I decided it was time to update the software so that it would function with this launcher. I’m pleased to report that the software has past testing with an actual launcher. I would like to that those that contributed to the blog comments on what had been done to get things working… now the support for the DreamCheeky InfraRed launcher is built in. As of writing this working version of the missile launcher software has not been publicly released.
Inspired by working with the USB Missile Launcher NZ software again and by the iPhone development I have decided that it is time to get a iPhone client working for the missile launchers. I’ve been thinking about this over the weekend and it seems that directly connecting a USB Missile Launcher device direct to the iPhone would be difficult and unlikely to be allowed by Apple (it seems devices must be “Made for iPod”). Even a home hack as such would be difficult as a minimum requirement would be a female-to-female USB connector would be required or a female to 30 pin dock connector would be required. Even if they do exist hardly anyone would have one.
So… the solution has been to introduce the Bonjour communication protocol into the USB Missile Launcher NZ software. My development version is working and along with my very very rough iPhone program in the simulator it does have control of a Missile launcher connected to my Mac.
If you are still reading and interested in Mac to iPhone client/server communications I can recommend two articles for reading. Very good reading and the examples are available for download as well.
http://macresearch.org/cocoa-scientists-part-xxviii-bonjour-and-how-do-you-do
http://www.macresearch.org/cocoa-scientists-part-xxix-message
Right now the server side implementation for USB Missile Launcher NZ is fairly well complete. The iPhone implementation is as I said very rough and while it works enough to prove functionality it now needs significant work for public use. Guess what I’m doing next. If anyone would like to help with fancy graphics (buttons, interface, etc) I would love to hear from you.
