ETC Releases iRFR Preview iPhone/iPad App

Check it out, ETC has a NEW iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch app, the iRFR Preview App!  The Preview iRFR application for the Eos family of products – Eos, Ion and Element – provides a view-only Cue List display of the active cue list. Ideal for lighting designers and stage managers who need to only see current and pending cues, this application works on the iPhone, iPad Touch and iPad products. On the iPad, this application makes it possible for designers to take notes on cues, copy those notes to a text file and email them as needed.

iRFR Preview Features:

• iRFR Preview is playback monitoring only – there are no console control features in the software.
• Follow the cue list – Preview will allow you to monitor the cue playback status live.  You will see the cue number, the label, and the time remaining as the cue counts down.  Follow the fade in real time.
• See the current cue, as well as 3 pending cues and 3 completed cues.
• Page up and down through the cue list.  Single button touch to return to Live cue on stage.
• Navigate to any cue list using the [list][/][cue] syntax.
• Store console connection profiles, just like in regular iRFR and with the same credentials.
• On iPad, touch the cue and type notes.  These are aggregated in a separate viewing area, and can be copied to the clipboard for easy pasting in word processors or email.

What are you waiting for… if own or operate an ETC Eos family console, head over to the iTunes App Store on your iOS device and download a copy of the iRFR Preview app FOR FREE!  Also, you might want to check out the ETC WIKI page on how to setup an access point with your ETC console, as well as how to connect the iRFR app to the console.

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ETC Updates iRFR iPhone App to v1.1.33 with iPad Support

Mid last week, ETC’s, (Electronic Theatre Controls), iRFR iPhone App was approved through the Apple iTunes App store for release of version 1.1.33.  The most significant change from pervious versions of the iRFR app is the support to run the app natively on the iPad.  ETC has taken full use of the larger screen and added more functions to the app. Some of the new features found in version 1.1.33 are thus:

• View the active cue list
• interact with the active cue list, in a separate screen
• Access to a pan/tilt encoder display
• Console connect list
• iPad specific – create full encoder controls page, add cue notes

The iRFR app can be used with version 1.6 or higher of the Eos Family of consoles and version 5.1.0 or higher of Congo consoles.  There is a little bit of networking and wireless access point setup that needs to be completed before the iRFR app can connect to any of the afore mentioned consoles.  ETC has written up some how-tos and step by step guide to connect the iRFR to your console which can be found on their WiKi pages.

The app is a free update to current owners of the app and works both on the iPhone and the iPad.  For new users, the iRFR app cost $49.99 USD.  There are still to versions of the iRFR app in the iTunes app store, the iRFR-BTS and the iRFR-LR.  They are the same exact app, just that the procedes from the iRFR-BTS goes to ESTA Foundations Behind the Scenes and the procedes from iRFR-LR goes to Light Relief, both industry charities that support our fallen or disabled brothers and sisters.

Helpful hint, if you do not have a console to connect your iRFR app to, no worries, you can connect the app to the offline editor of either console family and get up running to get use to the new update.

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Just Released; The ETC iRFR iPhone App

It has been a long time since we last mentioned the ETC iPhone app, the iRFR. Today the iRFR iPhone app has shown up in iTunes! The iRFR is a remote focus unit similar in both function and layout of the Radio Remote Focus Unit but runs on the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch and works of the WiFi connection.  The iRFR is able to function as a remote for the Eos, Ion, Element, Congo and Congo Jr. Lighting consoles.

Before you get carried away and download the iRFR, to work with the Eos, Ion consoles, they must be running an unreleased version of the console software, version 1.5.  Version 1.5 is expected to be released in the near future.  Good news though if you are a Congo or Congo Jr. user, the iRFR needs the console software version 5.1 which is already released.

An additional piece of hardware that you will need to incorporate into your lighting network is a wireless access point in order for the iRFR to connect to the console. It is recommenced that you dedicated a wireless access point for the lighting network and not attach it to any existing computer or internet connection. For more information on setting up a wireless connection, visit the iRFR wiki page.

The iRFR retails for $49.99 through the iTunes app store.  There are two version of the iRFR app within the iTunes app store based on the charity that you would like to contribute to. The first one being the iRFR-LR where proceeds will go to Light Relief and the second being iRFR-BTS where the proceeds will go to Behind the Scenes.

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.

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.