StormPredator Version 2.58 Maintenance Release released 6/14/05
 

New features in StormPredator version 2.58

StormPredator Version 2.57 Maintenance Release released 4/27/05
 

Version 2.57  ( minor maintenance release ) 4/25/05

New features in StormPredator version 2.57

Bug fixes:

• Fixed a mistake by the programmer that caused the Version 2.56 program to fail when a complete uninstall/reinstall was done. Version 2.57 solves this issue.
   
• Fixed a bug where the program would not detect clear air mode correctly. I have compensated for a recent and (hopefully) any future changes made to clear air mode images by the National Weather Service
   
• Fixed a bug where custom basemap would not show in scaled windows (mini mode window, tracker windows)
   
• Fixed a bug where custom basemap selection would not persist if a site was chosen that did not have a custom map available.

Known Issues Not Addressed In This Version:
Requested feature: Zoom window should remember its zoomed position and magnification level.
The ETA and/or velocity for a tracked cell may be a negative number.
The time stamp on some tracker images may be corrupt.
(The above two symptoms are related. I have made changes to help alleviate the problem but I am not convinced it is entirely fixed. I'm still working on the problem.)
 

StormPredator Version 2.55 Maintenance Release released 2/21/05
 

Version 2.55   ( minor maintenance release ) 2/21/05

New features in StormPredator version 2.55

• Persistent window placement
  Virtually all of the windows in the program will now remember where they are placed on the screen. This includes the main window, mini window, all dialogs, browser windows, and prompt windows. Transient dialogs such as the file selection dialog, wait dialogs, progress bars, and message boxes will appear in default locations.
   
• Resizeable browser windows and zoom window
  All of the browser windows (help dialogs, forecast, warning map, and national map dialogs) and the magnify window are now resizeable and will remember their size and position.
   
• Maximizeable browser windows
  All of the browser windows (help dialogs, forecast, warning map, and national map dialogs) can be maximized or restored by double-clicking the left mouse button in the title bar area of the dialog. The windows remember their maximized/restored state. To reset all of the windows to their default placements, delete the file <install_dir>\data\database\windex.dat
   
• Tracker dialog image selection
  You can select images for display in the storm tracker dialog with the mouse button in addition to the advance/reverse buttons.
   

StormPredator Version 2.5 MAJOR UPGRADE released 1/14/05
 

Version 2.5   ( major release ) 1/14/05

New features in StormPredator version 2.5

• New Custom markers, almost 70 are included, even a mobile home! (and you can easily add your own)
   
• Images are automatically saved to disk in the "autosave" folder after formatting by StormPredator. This is for use with web pages using an external FTP uploader program to send SP images to your web page.
   
• You can now add a custom caption text for saved images.
   
• You can send images on scan zone alerts to email or cell phones/PDAs in various screen sizes and image formats. Options exist for sending as attachments or as embedded HTML email
   
• User-selectable SMTP port for the email program for non-standard email servers
   
• New Image Processing feature! An image smoothing option allows for smoothing out pixelated radar echoes to provide a look similar to TV news presentations. A slider control allows for custom settings to your preference
   
• Verbose mode for troubleshooting. Command line switch will be provided by tech support if needed
   
• New Full-screen mode including loop and beam. Press F4 to activate. ALT-L will start a loop, ALT-B will run the beam. Esc, F4, or mouse click will exit. Settings exist to allow full screen mode to fill the entire screen, or to preserve the 1:1 aspect ratio of the original radar image.
   
• Options panel can be collapsed in mini-window mode. Press Space Bar
   
• A broadcast TV version of SP 2.5 will be released soon, allowing for Storm Predator to run CCTV channels or to be used with live TV. This will include a custom 3D terrain map for the locations of your choice. An additional one-time cost for this broadcast version of the software will be required. Details will be forthcoming.
   

See DETAILS on usage of these new features in the HELP section

Bug fixes/enhancements:
 

• The program would stop updating after running for several hours. This has been fixed for stable Operating Systems such as 2000 and XP, but Win98/WinME users we cannot guarantee any long or even short term stability due to these OS's being unstable by nature.
• Under certain unique conditions, the program would not fetch the first image or subsequent images, but the history (loop) images were fetched correctly. This has been addressed.
• The SMTP server password was displayed in plain text. Now it is covered by asterisks
• The program would stop responding when some security software was running simultaneously. Most notable, Norton Internet Security 2004/2005 caused StormPredator to stop functioning, the bug is actually in Norton Internet Security's handling of certain web protocols. We do not recommend the use of Norton Internet Security for any reason.
   

Also, our new product WeatherFrame has been released! Its a self contained Internet enabled LCD screen that works like a GeoChron and private weather channel. See www.weatherframe.com to check it out.

REGISTERED USERS:

Download the Upgrade here click to download

You'll need to run the SP-Installer.exe program. NOTE: You'll need to plug in your existing serial number in the installer.

Version 2.15   ( maintenance release ) 12/14/04

Bug fixes/enhancements:

• Norton Internet Security 2004/2005 caused StormPredator to stop functioning, the bug is actually in Norton Internet Security's handling of certain web protocols (in this case checking for a zero length file size on the NWS radar file) but we created a workaround since Norton (Symantec) doesn't answer email from lowly developers like us. Thanks Norton.
• StormPredator would stop updating correctly after running for an extended period of time, resulting in a need for a program restart. This has been fixed. SP can run for days (possibly weeks) now with no need for restart.
• The Map Marker would not correctly update the new name typed in if the Enter key was pressed, only the OK button would save the change. This has been fixed.

• Due to the NWS servers URL locations changing in the Southern and Western Regions,and TWICE IN ONE WEEK, we have released an updated StormPredator program file that can be downloaded and installed over the existing program installation.

Version 2.12   ( minor maintenance release ) 5/28/04

Bug fixes/enhancements:

• Improved remote serial number and license validity checking to improve reliability.
• Created a different Trial License for the Trial version that is easier to use, added new splash screen for Trial Version.
• Related to above - fixed once and for all the "damaged license file" problem that affects some registered users by dumping the maddening SoftwareShield and getting a new software licensing system that actually works.
• Added screen in the installer to advise users that personal and corporate firewalls may need to be enabled for StormPredator to do port 80 (HTTP) access of remote content if that is blocked by default.
• Minor bug fixes in Internet content fetching engine.
• Minor cosmetic enhancements.

Version 2.11   ( minor maintenance release ) 4/02/04

Bug fixes/enhancements:

• Evansville, IN Radar put back into database, accidentally got deleted
• Email Dialog logic fix which greyed out From: line sometimes
• Email Alerts help file added and linked to button in Email settings dialog
• Email Test function has small internal reliability change

Version 2.10   ( major upgrade release ) 3/31/04

Bug fixes/enhancements:

• The license manager has been reworked. No more damaged license files! This is a major rework to solve a problem that has been fairly common, and due to a flawed third party license protection scheme, which has been removed and replaced with our own more sensible and robust version.
• You can now install over an old version and use the same serial number
• The serial number manager has been reworked. No more "Your serial number is in use by a different user"!
• The database uses data files rather than MS Access based ODBC driver linked database. That has many happy effects; no more installation hangups because of missing drivers, no more crashes when the program exits, any user (not just the installer or administrator) can use the program.
• All major dependencies on Microsoft database and other Microsoft libraries has been either removed or replaced with our own database engine and libraries to improve reliability. Microsoft Update had been breaking some StormPredator installs with "new and improved" MS flavor or the week code....no more, because we don't give Microsoft the chance anymore by getting all their code libraries out we could.
• The estimated time for the next update is corrected (at 10 min.) for Clear Air mode.
• The default filter option for Clear Air mode is to not filter data in Clear Air mode. No more confusion about seeing no data on the image when the site is not in Precipitation mode. All of the filter options remain, but the default is changed.
• The program now handles missing Internet connections gracefully. It will retry a missing connection until told otherwise.
• The email and pager function now works correctly with text file address lists.
• Additions of simple language descriptions to precipitation color keys to help the non-technical person determine strength
• Download and installer size has been reduced due to removal of Microsoft ODBC driver dependency bundles

New features in 2.10:

• Markers have been added and can be placed on the map, see help file for details
• The F9 key toggles between long and short range modes.
• An email test function has been added to the Email and Pager Address dialog
• Descriptive text has been enhanced in many dialogs
• A command line switch ( - nologo ) has been added to eliminate the splash screen if desired
  (registered version only)
• Trial version is significantly smaller (under 5 MB) and has some features disabled, and has no splash screen
• Trial version can no longer be registered, nor trial extended under any circumstances beyond 14 days on a single PC. user downloads complete registered version or gets a new CD ROM

Known Issues in version 2.10

• Custom Basemaps and overlays do not work in Mini Mode, or on the Tracker Dialog Will be fixed in future update release.
• Splash screen "may" cause some errors based on how a PC system is configured with other applications that share DLL's, use command line switch ( - nologo ) has been added to eliminate the splash screen if desired

Upgrade Method for owners of Version 2.0x  download and install over existing SP installation, or run from CD installer if you have just received your CD.