Download USB Missile Launcher NZ v1.8.1

- David

The Mac missile launcher software has been updated with some important changes for those that have a “c-enter” branded launcher. It may be possible that the c-enter is also the Satzuma launcher though that is unverified. Other changes include Operating System support for 32 and 64 bit – this means support on Lion and older OS versions that run in 64 bit mode on Mac Pro’s for example.

Feedback (found under Help) has been updated to automatically send usb information and system profiler information via Apple Mail. Usually I need to request this information over e-mail conversations and it can be quite a time consuming exchange of e-mails.

You will hopefully appreciate the changes to the About screen. It shows the readme file in a larger window which means you can get USB information for launcher set up and diagnose faults all from within the application.

Here’s the change summary:

• Support for new launcher c-enter (maybe PE-5858 and Satzuma also?)
• About dialog box customised
• Internal changes for development project to include the kext and preference panes as part of the build
• Feedback updated – now includes ioreg and system profiler information in e-mail
• codekess kext updated for universal 32/64 bit support

The download link is provided below and is also available in the Downloads section of this web site.

[Update: version 1.8.1 has been released to address a 32/64 bit compiler issue - err developer complete lack of testing - link below updated].

Download USB Missile Launcher NZ V1.8.1

Special thanks to “Marcus” who made this release possible for his efforts in getting the c-enter launcher working.

- David

iBuddy is a small USB figure in the form of an MSN messenger contact with butterfly wings. Its head can light up in 7 different colors, its heart can light up the wings can flap and its torso can twist, all the while drawing its power from the USB port.

The complete source code package is available on GitHub. It includes the GUI Application, Privileged helper, code less kext that works on 32 and 64 bit operating systems and a command line tool – all squeezed into one xoce project.

https://github.com/dgwilson/iBuddy

Work remains outstanding on the command line tool for help and/or man pages. If anyone would like to contribute in this space I’d be very keen to include updates.

- David

• Fixes a crash on the camera edit screen when the user tries to save or cancel or delete and the image has not finished retrieving
• Fixed an issue where the main window contents could dissapear when a cmd-w was sent
• A menu is dynamically added when the Bulk Camera Functions screen is displayed. This menu is for loading the Tennessee XML camera file and is intended for use when maintaining the camera data file. The menu is removed when the window is closed.
• Fixed an issue where duplicate camera entries could cause a crash while trying to display their images on the main screen

I cannot advise at this time when I will be able to make the submission to Apple of the new version.

I advised ‘Chris’ that he could start again with TarfficCamNZ by removing the following directory as a temporary work around:

/Users/<your user code>/Library/containers/nz.co.catch22.TrafficCamNZ

this is the same directory that I asked ‘Chris” to zip up and send to me for fault diagnosis.

- David

As I developed the application the information about each camera is set to be keyed uniquely on the web address details for each camera, i.e. http://myorganisation.com/camera1.jpg – this creates an issue for me when the web address for that camera changes. What happens is that you end up with two entries in TrafficCamNZ. One for the old camera, and one for the new camera. And I never developed a process that deletes the old cameras.

To clean up the camera list you have three choices (if your want to):
1. delete the application form the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch – when you resync with you computer the application will reinstall and then go through it’s first launch process. From here you will be prompted to download the new data file. You will have to reset your favorite cameras.
2. from the preferences screen on the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch – select XML Load – this will delete all existing cameras and load the new set from the web. From here you will be prompted to download the new data file. You will have to reset your favorite cameras.
3. Manually delete the duplicate cameras. This could be a bit of a pain, but it will work. If you “over delete” then another XML Merge will add the cameras you over deleted.

For Mac desktop users you can use the bulk input screen to delete all existing cameras, then reload – use the preferences screen to do this.

Sorry for any confusion I might have created. This was an early development choice and learning experience.

- David

TrafficCamNZ (iPhone/iPad) - version 1.6.10 brings the following updates and new features
* Images are displayed on an extenal screen if one is connected – With an iPhone 4S, or iPad 2 when using video mirroring via AirPlay – images are displayed full screen on secondary screen (i.e. via AppleTV on your TV)
* Bringing up the map screen will now make use of your location – much more useful – previously the initial position would be Apple
* Updates the default camera list – previously blank cameras would be loaded
* Addresses an issue where blank cameras were loaded from the default camera list – these blank cameras are automatically deleted

About the AirPlay support – it’s really neat! I’ve wanted to do this for some time and it’s turned out really well. So If you have a device that supports Video Mirroring (iPhone 4S or iPad 2) you can access this feature. When the application runs it detects the “mirrored screen” or external display. The featured or shown images are displayed on this screen as well as on the device (iPhone or iPad) itself. The one downside is that you can’t use video mirroring to display the application itself.

A mentioned above I also found an issue with the supplied default data file. Some of the cameras didn’t load and this resulted in lots of duplicate blank cameras – it would look a bit wonky to first time users when scrolling through the Library of cameras. I’ve fixed this issue and also at application launch the Library of cameras is scanned for blank cameras and these are automatically deleted.

TrafficCamNZ Desktop – version 1.1.2 beings the following updates
* Fixed a crash when deleting multiple entries from the camera list screen
* Text overlaid on images is resized to fit if it is too big
* Fixed a crash if no images available for display

The updates have been submitted to Apple for approval prior to release.

Remember if you have camera updates for your area, or a whole lot more cameras that you have loaded get them to me so that I can update the main data file for everyone.

- David

Anyway what happens is that with the main screen displayed, the images of featured cameras are displayed on the iDevice as usual, that has not changed, and also displayed full screen on the external monitor.

During the testing process I also discovered a problem with the included default camera file – turns out the XML markup for the New Zealand camera is wrong and thus you get a bunch of “blank” cameras loaded – sorry about that. You should manually delete these if you have them. You do end up with a full camera list anyway when the main camera data file is downloaded from the web.

I have also altered the text displayed over the images so that it fits on the screen… doesn’t overflow… or is larger so that it can be read!

Some more testing and I’ll submit to Apple for approval and distribution via the AppStore.

- David

http://twit.tv/show/macbreak-weekly/267
http://www.mbwpicks.com/2011/10/06/picks-from-mbw-267-the-s-is-for-squirrel/

Start your playing from the 1 hour, 2 minutes, 40 second mark! (1:02:40)

So the screen on Alex’s machine is never shown, but I suspect that he’s using the Mac software DC Missile Launcher NZ – especially with his description of being able to use the arrow keys and there was a mention of auto lock.

Version 1 of DC Missile Launcher NZ is available for download c/- http://www.dreamcheeky.com/download-support

I have a update (version 2) that I must submit to DreamCheeky for improved video support in Lion – though it will likely be for Lion only.
The OIC Storm Missile Launcher (a different version to the one shown) includes a built in USB 2.0 camera – hence the video support.

The Missile Launcher software also includes iOS support? – huh?

Download Missile Control NZ from the AppStore and you can control your USB Missile Launcher (with the associated desktop software running as well).

- David

When you run TrafficCamNZ it will check for a new data file if it’s been more than 7 days since it last checked. You can force the update via the preferences screen and selecting the XML Merge button.

And the Tennessee cameras also one with GPS locations… not all of the cameras are shown on the screen shot below, however if you zoom in more will be shown. Remember you can touch the camera pins for a thumb nail image of the camera and it’s description. Then clicking on the right hand disclosure triangle (not shown in the picture below) will bring up the current image from that camera.

The same data file update is used for the iPod/iPhone/iPad and Mac Desktop versions of TrafficCamNZ.

TrafficCamNZ – New Application update for iOS 5
And on 12 October 2011 a updated TrafficCamNZ was released for iPod/iPhone/iPad – this release contains enhancements for iOS 5 and a minor update on the main screen where an indicator of network connectivity has been added.

Tell your friends!

- David

Changes in this version are:

• Internal changes for Lion (10.7) support
• Lion Sandbox updates – your preference settings are reset by this change
• Lion full screen mode supported
• Camera delete moved from list screen to camera screen
• Column sort added to camera list screen
• Bulk processing of NZTA REST files added
• Added XML Update function to perform find & replace on XML tags to support older versions of the software
• Fixes for Application crash on camera list screen when deleting cameras

I’ve also slightly updated the application description to hopefully avoid any confusion that the application can only be used for Traffic Cameras. Remember it can be used for image you can source from a web server so long as the image has a fixed name.

“TrafficCamNZ displays internet accessible pictures of Traffic Cameras from around the world. It can be used for any images, weather maps, surf pictures, even office security.“.

2nd September I also release a update to the data file that TrafficCamNZ gets all its camera information from. The file included ~50 new cameras from around New Zealand now made available by NZTA. I’ll be issuing another update shortly as I’ve cleaned up the descriptions for the New Zealand cameras – this new update files all New Zealand cameras under [NZ] followed by a 2 letter city abbreviation, i.e. [NZ] WN, [NZ] AK, [NZ] CH, [NZ] DN, [NZ] HN.

The merge process is keyed on the camera URL, so where these are merged the new camera description will come through. Where I have deleted duplicate cameras, these updates will not be applied to your system. You can however go to your preferences screen and perform a XML Only Load – this will delete your existing set of cameras and load the new cameras – you will need to set the featured cameras to watch.

- David