New iPhone App: ShowTool LD

We just read over at JimOnLight.com about a new iPhone app for Lighting Designers called ShowTool LD by Daniel Murfin.  ShowTool LD packs 4 applications into one, dispswitch calculator, DMX calculator, gel calculator and a beam calculator.  All of this for only $3.99 through the iTunes App Store.

What is nice about ShowTool LD is first, 4 individual apps that are currently available through iTunes have been rolled into one application.  Next of course is the price.  Buying the four individual apps through iTunes can cost up to $7.97.  Then there is the fact that you have four individual applications to keep track.  and of course, only one of those apps can be open at one time.

JimOnLight.com has six free versions to give out in a contest.  We recommend high tailing it over to JimOnLight’s post about the ShowTool LD to win a free copy.

More information about Daniel Murfin’s ShowTool LD iPhone app can be found on his website at http://www.dsmurfin.co.uk.

Review: Zinman Software ML Finder iPhone App

Just last week, we wrote about Zinman Softwares latest iPhone App, ML Finder.  Michael was kind enough to send us a copy to write a review.  First, lets look at what Zinman Software says about ML Finder Pro.

ML Finder PRO is a complete list of parameters and channel assignments for over 500 lights, LEDs and media servers. For the tech addressing a light plot, a designer determining the functionality of a moving light, or a programmer building a profile for their lighting console.  This information is nicely integrated into one app.

Read the entire review: (more…)

Goboland Releases Black Steel Gobo iPhone App

Looks like another Gobo manufacturer has gotten on the iPhone App bandwagon. Goboland has just announced the release of their very own iPhone app that includes their entire Black Steel Gobo catalog.

From iTunes:

GOBOLAND is an independent, specialized manufacture of high quality glass and steel gobos for all lighting fixtures.  Easily browse the award winning Black Steel Collection gobos.  The app doesn’t require an internet connection while you browse the 1200+ gobo patterns available in high quality Black steel or glass.

The app requires iPhone OS 2.2.1 or later and runs about 41.9mb.  Not the smallest file size, but when you think about it, that is over 1200+ images and one less gobo catalog to print or carry around.

The Black Steel Gobo Catalog is a free app through iTunes, linky linky.  We are a little annoyed that this is yet another gobo catalog app running on the iPhone.  Can’t we just add all of these into one place?

SeaChanger’s ColorBug Has Landed…Finially

Around the time of LDI last year, we mentioned the announcement of a new measuring device from SeaChanger, the makers of the CMY color mixing engine for the source four. After seven or eight months now, SeaChanger has perfected the ColorBug and is ready to release it.

The colorBUG is an ingenious handheld sensor for testing color and luminosity in studio, architectural and theatre applications. Perfect for lighting designers, photographers and producers, colorBUG is no larger than a typical mobile phone and allows you to determine output with greater precision than ever before.

In concert with a free downloadable App on the iTunes App Store, the colorBUG allows you to share data with your iPhone or iPod touch. There’s simply nothing more convenient or clever for creating the perfect color and lighting environment.

The colorBUG makes analyzing data a snap. With its wireless capabilities, colorBUG communicates directly to your iPhone, iPod touch or Mac Wireless Router.

For more information on the ColorBug, visit SeaChangers website at www.seachangeronline.com. Visit the iTune App Store to download the ColorBug App now.  Then contact your local SeaChanger dealer to purchase the ColorBug.

New Gobo iPhone App On It’s Way

We heard from a reliable source the other day that Rosco Labs is in the works to release a new Gobo iPhone App of their entire Gobo catalog!

We just found confirmation of this on the Rosco website, www.rosco.com.  While details of the app are still missing in action, it is clear from the rotating image from the Rosco web page suggest that it is easily navigated to find a genre of gobos.

Visit the promotional page for the app to sign up to receive your FREE copy of the app for both the iPod touch and iPhone.

http://www.rosco.com/promotions/goboapp/

ETC iPhone/iPod Touch iRFR App Update

Doing our morning stroll around the internet, we noticed that ETC’s David Lincecum has posted an interesting and insightful update on the progress of ETC’s iPhone/iPod Touch app, the iRFR at the companies blog, Light Minds Think Alike.

The post gives us an insight to the delay of the release of the app due to ETC’s rigorous software testing and development.  Thus showing ETC’s commitment to providing products that meet their high standards of excellence and usability.

The post also mentions how ETC may have jumped the gun on announcing, demoing and advertising the iPhone app before completion and submitted to the iTunes App Store may have been less then a good idea. ETC has received numerous request for not only the app, but more information about it and when it might be available.  At the moment, the only thing the marketing department is saying at this point is “I hear that the iRFR is “almost done””.

We have not been able to confirm any information about when the app may be ready and available to the public.  We do know that the app will cost around $50. USD and that either all the proceeds or part of the proceeds will be donated to Behind the Scenes or Light Relief.

Wybron Updates/Addes more Gobo’s and Gels to iPhone Apps

We just heard through the marketing department at Wybron that they have updates to two of their iPhone app’s, the Gel Swatch Library and the Moiré Gobo Library.

Wybron has added over 500 gobo’s from Inlight Gobo and over 1,300 gobo’s from Apollo Design.  This means that the gobo library include over 3,300 different gobo patterns to view. A new feature included in the 1.1 update is the ability to “flip” the gobo between front and back sides.

The new updated version of the Moiré Gobo Library has been added to the iTunes App store and can be viewed here.  the update is free to current owners while new users, the price remains $9.99.

The Gel Swatch Library now includes 150 Apollo gels in addtion to the Gam, Lee and Rsoco gel colors.  This gives the total amount of gels that can be reviewed to over 1,000. The update to the Gel Swatch Library will be added to the iTunes app store within the next two weeks and will be free to current owners. Be sure to visit the iTunes app store to purchase and download the update when released.

Review: Synthe FX iPhone App, Luminair Version 1.5

We recently wrote about the arrival of an update and release of Synthe FX’s lighting control iPhone app, Luminair. Over the last month we have been following Synthe FX progress on releasing the update version 1.5 of Luminair.  Luminair allows you to control, view and manage intelligent DMX lighting fixtures and consoles, straight from your iPhone or iPod Touch. Using Artistic License’s Art-Net protocol  (DMX over ethernet), along with your device’s built-in Wi-Fi connection, Luminair can either control lighting equipment through it’s virtual touch-mixer and innovative channel
assignment board interface, or analyze incoming data packets in realtime.

With the touch of a finger, lighting control data is sent through the airwaves, allowing you to be unchained from the lighting desk or the closest patch-bay. Both projects and fixtures can be saved and restored at any time, making Luminair an indispensable tool for configuring intelligent lighting networks for one or more locations.

The kinds folks over at Synthe FX we able to provide a demo version of the updated version 1.5 for iSquint to do a review. Click read more link to read the entire review.

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Luminair iPhone App Version 1.5 Released

We have been following Synthe FX, the developer of Luminair over the past couple of weeks here at iSquint.  We just received the official word, Luminair lighting control iPhone App version 1.5 is released and ready for purchase and download on iTunes. Luminair enables you to wirelessly control, view, record and manage intelligent DMX lighting fixtures, consoles, media servers and other software directly from your iPhone™ or iPod™ touch. Using Artistic License’s Art-Net protocol over your device’s built-in Wi-Fi connection, Luminair communicates with other compatible hardware and software nodes on your network. A gorgeous user interface provides desktop-calibre features and performance, all on a mobile platform. Use Luminair as the ultimate remote focus tool, for advanced architectural lighting, or simply as the centerpiece of your intelligent lighting rig.

More from the Press Release:

Synthe FX has announced the immediate availability of Luminair 1.5 for iPhone™ and iPod® touch. This new version adds over 20 new major features and enhancements which make Luminair the ultimate wireless DMX tool for lighting professionals. Luminair allows users to control, view and manage intelligent DMX lighting fixtures and consoles, directly from an iPhone or iPod touch using the Art-Net protocol over a Wi-Fi connection. It can be used for a wide variety of tasks such as the ultimate remote focus tool, for advanced architectural lighting, by lighting technicians bench-testing fixtures, controlling intensities on set, or simply as the centerpiece of an intelligent lighting rig.

New in version 1.5, users can now create Quick-Touch cues, which provide easy touch based scene triggering. Each Quick-Touch cue has an individual fade time, which can smoothly and seamlessly transition from any currently running fade. Cues are enabled and disabled via large touch-trigger buttons, and arranged in sheets of six at a time. In addition, tracks can be reloaded and edited from each cue for further manipulation via Luminair’s output control tools such as channel faders, color changers, and 16-bit XY controls.

Another major new feature in version 1.5 is the ability to record snapshots of DMX data directly from Luminair’s Art-Net input port. This makes Luminair a great tool for backing up cues from a console or any other DMX source. By storing this data in a Quick-Touch cue, user’s can easily recall scenes from their main console, and even have individual fades between each one.

Other new features include an improved color-picker, improved CMY support, individual blackout and solo controls for each track, a new factory fixture preset library, plus many more. Like all previous updates, this new version also brings performance enhancements and other bug fixes, and is a free update for current users. Also included is a 10% off coupon with Luminair, good towards Enttec’s ODE Art-Net to DMX converters and related accessories, and valid worldwide via Enttec’s online store until June 30, 2009.

“Luminair was the first, and currently still is, the only true native DMX controller for the iPhone and iPod touch”, says company founder Ryan Hisey. “We have made a tremendous effort in bringing these capabilities to the iPhone platform, and in these first eight months the customer response has been phenomenal. Customers worldwide are using Luminair in a wide variety of markets, from theatre and stage, to architectural and studio. The new additions in 1.5 will make it an even more attractive product to a wider variety of users. The fact that there are so many different ways to either integrate Luminair with existing systems, or just use on it’s own, make the possibilities for use almost endless.”

Wybron Updates Gel Swatch Library iPhone App

We received a Press Release from Wybron that they have updated their iPhone/iPod Touch Gel Swatch Library App with detailed SED curves. Gel Swatch Library Version 1.3, which catalogues nearly 1,000 gel colors, now features SED graphs five times larger than the app’s previous graphs, revealing color details important to today’s lighting production personnel. Each SED graph displays a color’s wavelengths in nanometers, ranging from 400 to 700 nanometers and marked every 10 nanometers. Each graph also displays a color’s light transmission percentages marked in 10-percent increments.

Changes made in Version 1.3

• Full Screen viewing enabled by shaking the iPhone
• Ability to clear “Recently Viewed Colors” List
• Ability to turn off sounds
• New Splash Screen

The update to the Gel Swatch Library App will be free for current users that own the app already.  The updated will be loaded to the itunes store with in the week.  For new users, visit the iTunes App Store to purchase your copy of Gell Swatch Library for $9.99.

ETC iRFR iPhone App – Update

We wrote yesterday about ETC demonstrating one of their latest products on the show floor of the USITT Stge Expo, the iPhone iRFR app.  We were able to get a few more images of the iRFR in action as well as a bit more information.  One of our readers, robinsta, talked with ETC reps in the booth and was able to get a price on the new app at $ 49.95.  Compared to some apps in the iTunes library, this may seem a little high, but with the features this app provides it will be well worth the money.  Then of course there is the fact that either all or portion of the proceeds goes to Behind the Scenes and Light Relief, makes it even more appealing.

We are still waiting to hear when the iRFR app will be ready for download from the iTunes store.  At the time of this writing, it has not been added.  We also have to wait for the latest version of the Eos/Ion operating system upgrade to be released from ETC in order for the iRFR app to work in conjunction with the consoles.

We have added a couple more screen shots of the iRFR iPhone app in action to the 2009 USITT Photo Gallery.

ETC Demo’s The iRFR iPhone App

Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) just announced the release of their latest control product called the iRFR Lighting Control iPhone/iPod Touch App. The iRFR (iPhone Radio Focus Remote) is designed to work with ETC latest line of lighting consoles, the Eos, Ion, Element, Congo, Congo Jr. and Congo LPC.

System Requirements

• iPhone Software 2.0
• iTunes 8.0+
• Eos/Ion/Element Software 1.5v
• Congo Software 5.0v
• Closed Wireless Network

The iRFR functions much like the current Radio Remote Focus Unit that ETC offers for their line of console.  In fact, the layout is almost exactly the same.  Since the iPhone and iPod Touch are multi-touch devices, the iRFR is able to offer a few more features then the RFR. One feature that was integrated into the iRFR is the encoders page.  You can select a channel that is a device with Pan and Tilt features and then go into the encoders page of the iRFR and select the parameter that you wish to adjust, such as Pan and start to pan the fixture left or right.  All of the parameters of a device are populated into a large scroll wheel, (think the big wheel on game show, Price Is Right) and then scroll left or right to adjust that parameter.

Another great feature of the new iRFR iPhone app is the Live Color picker.  When you select a device channel that has the ability to change colors by means of either RGB or CMY through color mixing, you can find a color off a color wheel to send that fixture to.  At the bottom of the screen you are given the Hue and Saturation levels as well as cross heirs on the color wheel to let you know what color you have chosen.

As we mentioned in our earlier rumor posting, the iRFR is made available through iTunes at an undetermined price at the time of writing.  What is unique when purchasing the iRFR app through iTunes is that the user will be prompted to choose which charity that they wish to donate the proceeds of the purchase too.  ETC continues to support the industry that they work in by donating the proceeds to ESTA Foundations, Behind the Scenes and the UK equivalent, Light Relief.  Both organizations provide support for our fellow professionals who have become unable to work due to a work related injury. We at iSquint support both efforts and encourage our readers to do the same.  Please be sure to click on the logos below to learn how to support these great organizations.

ETC has not made information about the iRFR avilable through their website yet as it has not been offically released.  Look for more information to follow here on iSquint.