iRFR

We will be posting the iRFR app to the iTunes store shortly (will post a notification here then that is done).  We are still in final testing on this.   It will work with the current Congo/Congo jr release, but not with Eos and Ion until 1.5 is released.  You will need a closed wireless network.  We will provide further instruction on this via a wiki shortly.

Thanks!

a

Anne Valentino said:

We will be posting the iRFR app to the iTunes store shortly

What is your definition of "shortly"?

"Shortly" is a weasel word often used by developers and marketeers to explain a time frame in which several unpredictable unknowns exist.  In this particular instance, "shortly" is used as we have not yet finished testing the iRFR app and Apple is not particularly helpful when you are posting apps where there is a dollar figure attached.    Our target date was to post the app last week.  There were several impediments to this plan.  "Shortly" therefore seems to be the word that most defines our goals, without promising dates that we may simply be unable to meet. 

The iRFR cannot be used on Eos/Ion until 1.5 software is released (end of April).  "End of April"  is a slight variation on the weasel concept defined above - but the basic precepts are the same.  

As soon as a hard date is available, you all will hear it here first!

Hope that helps!

a

Anne, that post has just made me laugh very much! :-)

Surprisingly accurate too!

Been at this a long time :-)

a

I agree with John!  I think I have a french fry stuck somewhere in my nose!

We can always count on Anne for honesty!  :-)  But seriously, I am really looking forward to this, it was *real* cool when I saw it at USITT!

Pat

Thanks, Anne!

I love the candid stream of conscious nature.  You have eloquently put words to the thoughts that often go through my head while waiting for the latest software releases of any product; Lightwright 5 for example.

Have a good weekend!

John

P.S.  I didn't have a chance to check but is "Fan" working yet?

John, fan didn't make the cut in 1.5.  But, here's a little bit about "the plan."

After 1.5, we will release 1.6.  1.6. is largely to support Element.  We may or may not have an Eos/Ion release with it, depending on a number of factors.  We will release a patch to 1.6 supporting mirror mode for clients (as such, if you don't need mirror mode, there will be no need to update to that release).  After that, we will have a relatively fast turn around to 1.7, which provides a limited number of features that are small for us to do, but big for users.  Fan will be included in that release.

Hope that helps!

a

Anne Valentino said:

"... and Apple is not particularly helpful when you are posting apps where there is a dollar figure attached. 

Maybe it's been answered before, but I'm curious as to why you're charging for the iRFR if that makes it more difficult, especially if you're then turning around and handing the revenue (minus Apple's cut...) to charity?  About a week ago I was looking around the iTunes App store to see if it had been released yet (managed to find this page: http://www.etcconnect.com/product.overview.aspx?ID=22011 but hadn't seen the newsletter yet) and found the official GrandMA remote for free.  Not presently having one and the program waiting until it finds one to do *anything* I can't comment on how it compares, though...  I guess I could see competition with the RFR, but when we got our Eos at my last school, it seemed like the RFR came Standard.

By the way, I saw the iRFR at a training session in London about a month ago, and it looked *fabulous*!  Pretty much exactly what I expected when you mentioned it at USITT last year!  :)

-Andrew

ETC is a big supporter of both Behind the Scenes and Light Relief.  We've done donations and challenge grants for both organizations, and most ETC staff attending USITT and/or LDI always donate on-site to Behind the Scenes.   Any problems with Apple are short term and can be over come.     We felt this was a good way, for a nominal charge, to bring these two charities - which are specific for people in our industry - to the front of people's thoughts.  Especially in these economic times.  And it doesn't seem as though it would be a financial hardship to anyone wanting the app.   So, we've kept at it, solved the Apple issues and are just about ready to go.

:-)

a

Does this mean we can expect to see it "shortly"?

That would be the word for it.  Again, as a reminder, you'll need 1.5 to use the app with Eos/Ion.

a

"That would be the word for it.  Again, as a reminder, you'll need 1.5 to use the app with Eos/Ion."

"Soon " works well. Somewhere between tomorrow and 6 months

Steve B.

Ah, but I have a Congo, so it would work now for me.  No one is talking about it over on the Congo forum, however, so I've been following this thread with anticipation.

Hi Anne,

When soon & shortly happen, will it be in the utilities folder of the apps store?

Regards

John P

Hi Anne,

When soon & shortly happen, will it be in the utilities folder of the apps store?

Regards

John P

Probably John... but we will post a link to the actual download location on the iRFR product page as soon as we have it.

Thanks!!

a

Any more developments on when this will be available?  And do you know what the price will be?  I know as soon as it is released our Tech Director, Myself and one or 2 volunteers will be purchasing it.

Thank you for your help!

The app is going to apple this week.  They have a verification process before they will post it.   This takes an undetermined amount of time (they don't test the functionality, just that the app doesn't adversely affect the phone).  Price is $49.

More soon.

a

Excellent!  We are all really excited about this app!  Thank you Anne!  

$49! With respect I know the proceeds are going to a charity but I don't class $49 as a 'nominal charge' I was expecting $10 or $15 but never guessed you might be asking $49. Currently only 2% of apps are priced at $20 or more... do you not think you might raise more for charity with more downloads at a lower price point? I for one doubt I'll be able to afford it.

Sorry for the rant guys ... just s little disappointed

C

OMG! Only $49 for a wireless remote for my lighting system, form my iPod/iPhone!! That is freaking amazing. I mean I remember what I payed for the wireless remote for the O2, that thing that I needed the Compaque pocket PC form.

I am supre excited about this. Now I just cannot wait for client software on my Mac. Thanks for being up to speed on technology and giving us the tools to better do our jobs ETC.

With all due respect, if you can afford an iPhone/iPod Touch (I have the latter) and need a remote for your board that would normally cost a lot more than that, $50 to a charitable cause is not going to slow you down.  The only thing the price would hamper is everyone at your venue downloading and playing with it, and that may turn out to be a good thing! 

Is there any word on non-US pricing (specifically UK for me, but others as well), I'm not sure how Apple do this, if you have to set country specific pricing, or it's done by exchange rate?

Anyway, US pricing looks encouraging from our point of view! I suspect it will encourage multiple purchases amongst our staff just to have it with them, and we've almost all got iPhones!

Richard, it is 49BPS/49EU.  

hope that helps.

a

Will this be made available for Canadian I tunes sales, I see in my Itunes store terms of agreement it's for CDN sales only?

Thanks

Geoff

What has happened to the iRFR? I thought it was going to be available in April... there's been no word on it for over a month anyone know what's going on?

grobermatic said:

there's been no word on it for over a month anyone know what's going on?

I'll point you in the direction of another thread over in the Congo forum that has had more recent activity than this one.

http://community.etcconnect.com/forums/t/3688.aspx

But to save you the click through... the short version is that it will be released when Eos/Ion version 1.5 is ready.

The most recent info is a blog post from David Lincecum:

http://community.etcconnect.com/blogs/lightminds/archive/2009/05/11/life-in-the-fast-lane-of-software.aspx