I’ve uploaded a new build of Shion Touch with a new provisioning profile that will extend the beta license (the expiration was Apple’s doing – not mine). Right-click and “Save As” the links below:
Drag these files into iTunes, sync your device, and you should be good to go for a long with with Shion Touch. Let me know if you experience any problems or other issues.
Shion 3.0β8 is now available.
Please read the following release notes carefully.
This is a beta release for Shion 3. This software is still under construction and has some rough edges. In no particular order, some of the current major issues:
1. The RemoteBuddy interface remains unimplemented.
2. The DVR, Bluetooth, and GPS have not yet been implemented.
3. Sprinkler support is currently missing.
4. Changes in the device configuration from the preferences panel (modem & controllers) require an application restart to take effect.
Changes
This release fixes a handful of memory leaks and other performance issues. Users should notice better performance across the board.
Please submit any feedback in the comments below.
Shion 3.0β7 is now available.
Please read the following release notes carefully.
This is a beta release for Shion 3. This software is still under construction and has some rough edges. In no particular order, some of the current major issues:
1. The RemoteBuddy interface remains unimplemented.
2. The DVR, Bluetooth, and GPS have not yet been implemented.
3. Sprinkler support is currently missing.
4. Changes in the device configuration from the preferences panel (modem & controllers) require an application restart to take effect.
Changes
This release adds support for the new Insteon SynchroLinc load sensors as “Power Sensors” within Shion. It also includes a number of bug fixes and performance enhancements.
Please submit any feedback in the comments below.
Between consulting work and some big changes in my personal life, I’ve been neglecting Shion & Shion Online lately. I wanted to explain what’s been happening and what’s on the agenda.
The Shion Online launch
When I was planning late last year, I was hoping to launch Shion Online as a paid service sometime in late March or early April. I have the user account and payment infrastructure in place, and making the service “live” is currently a matter of me writing a few features to help users manage their account (change/retrieve password, cancel subscription, etc.) and changing my backend to point to the live Chargify site instead of the current test site.
Apple’s thrown a wrench into these plans by making signals that they will require in-app purchases for subscription services. While Apple hasn’t made it clear whether this policy would apply to Shion (there have been conflicting signals going both ways), I’m currently exercising the luxury of waiting to see what happens. Since Apple really doesn’t bring much to the process of recruiting Shion users (forcing me to distribute via the App Store cancels out any benefits of hosting the app, IMHO), I’m hesitant to acquiesce to their current scheme until I have reviewed the options available to me.
While I was previously content to launch on the Mac and iOS devices, this abrupt change in the App Store rules has prompted me to increase the priority of my Windows and Android ports of the respective Shion components. My plan has always been to expand the system to non-Apple platforms – the only question was whether that would happen before or after the initial launch. While I’m still reviewing my options, my inclination is to delay the official launch of the service until I have my Android mobile app out and the desktop app ported to Windows.
What this means for users is that the beta period will extend until whenever the service officially launches. I’m still interested in signing up iOS beta testers, but my focus will begin to shift towards Android as soon as I make a few more changes in the current offerings.
The new Shion test lab
One of the reasons that recent progress on Shion has been delayed is that my wife and I are wrapping up the purchase of our first home next week. Given that it’s of relatively recent construction, I couldn’t have asked for a better environment to fully outfit an environment for testing and evaluation purposes. While we go through the kabuki of the purchase process, I’ve delayed a few fixes and new features until we’re moved in and I can test them in this new environment.
Realistically speaking, we should be moved in and I’ll be back up to speed with Shion development by the middle of March. As a current resident of a Chicago high-rise, I’m quite excited about the change, as I’ll be able to install and test much more hardware than was possible before.
I’ll have a small garden, so the sprinkler module will get some nice real-world usage. We’ll have a proper entryway, so I’ll be able to evaluate both the door ringers as well as deploy Shion-controlled video cameras. When the inspector reviewed the place, she mentioned that the appliances would need replacement soon, so keep an eye out for Shion supporting smart ovens and refrigerators.
I’m quite excited about this, but apologize for the delay this change has introduced.
Thank you for your patience.
Shion 3.0β6 is now available.
Please read the following release notes carefully.
This is a beta release for Shion 3. This software is still under construction and has some rough edges. In no particular order, some of the current major issues:
1. The RemoteBuddy interface remains unimplemented.
2. The DVR, Bluetooth, and GPS have not yet been implemented.
3. Sprinkler support is currently missing.
4. Changes in the device configuration from the preferences panel (modem & controllers) require an application restart to take effect.
Changes
This release adds initial support for the SimpleHomeNet EZSrve network controller and a new beta driver for the SmartLinc 2414N controller (details).
This release also includes a variety of minor bug fixes and UI enhancements.
Please submit any feedback in the comments below.
(Editor’s note: FTW is the short form for “for the win”, a common online phrase denoting a positive development.)
I’ve been quite vocal in my dislike for the SmartLinc 2414N controller based upon its poor web API and related issues. However, given developments from the last week, it may now be one of my favorite controllers to use with Shion. Here’s the story…
About a week and a half ago, a helpful Shion user e-mailed me to let me know that an iPhone app called MiCasa used an unusual port (TCP: 9761) instead of the default web port that I’d been using to control SmartLinc controllers. Last week, I spent a couple of hours analyzing the traffic from the mobile app and discovered that the bytes being shuttled back and forth were the same ones used by the 2412 & 2413 serial port controllers. Since I was working on bringing the EZSrve support to Shion (another TCP socket-based device), I went ahead and combined code from the EZSrve driver with code from the 2412 driver to create a new beta driver for the SmartLinc. (Interested developers: my implementation is public and available on Google Code.)
My suspicion that the undocumented port was being used as a proxy for the serial commands was correct and I’ve been using the SmartLinc with the beta driver for the last week. In short, the device is as responsive as the serial port controllers (my current favorite) with the added benefit that Shion can use your network to communicate with the device without having to be physically connected to it. Furthermore, since the TCP port is a simple bridge to the embedded serial modem, my complaints about poor 2-way device support are no more.
I’m quite pleased at this development and support for the beta driver will be available in the next release of Shion. I’m planning to continue testing it with the intent of making it the default SmartLinc driver in Shion.
A very big thanks goes out to Kerry Cupit for alerting me to the undocumented port.
Shion 3.0β5 is now available.
Please read the following release notes carefully.
This is a beta release for Shion 3. This software is still under construction and has some rough edges. In no particular order, some of the current major issues:
1. The RemoteBuddy interface remains unimplemented.
2. The DVR, Bluetooth, and GPS have not yet been implemented.
3. EZServe network controller support is not present in this release. It will arrive in the next beta release.
4. Sprinkler support is currently missing.
5. Changes in the device configuration from the preferences panel (modem & controllers) require an application restart to take effect.
Changes
This update extends the “Favorites” option to the Shion menu that sits by the clock and other status indicators. Using this menu, you can manipulate your favorite devices, snapshots, and triggers without the need to open and navigate through the Console window.
This release also includes a variety of minor bug fixes and UI enhancements.
Please submit any feedback in the comments below.
Shion 3.0β4 is now available.
Please read the following release notes carefully.
This is a beta release for Shion 3. This software is still under construction and has some rough edges. In no particular order, some of the current major issues:
1. The RemoteBuddy interface remains unimplemented.
2. The DVR, Bluetooth, and GPS have not yet been implemented.
3.EZServe network controller support is not present in this release.
4. Sprinkler support is currently missing.
5. Changes in the device configuration from the preferences panel (modem & controllers) require an application restart to take effect.
Changes
This update adds a new “Favorites” option that allows you to designate favorite devices, snapshots, and triggers. The selected items appear in a new “Favorites” section in the topmost item browser.
This release also adds initial support for the SmartLinc 2414N networked INSTEON controller.
Some major caveats for this specific controller:
For users with the SmartLinc controller, I encourage you to give this release a try and send me your feedback. This is not a controller that I use regularly, so I need more help from the community verifying that its driver code is solid. If you’re using this controller and have some additional feature requests, please let me know. While the controller does not support monitoring thermostat and sensor devices at the moment, there may be a way to get some very basic support if there’s user interest.
Also, special credit goes to Scott Newman, who was instrumental in helping me achieve what limited status updates we have. Prior to his encouragement, I didn’t think that any status updates would be possible.
Please submit any feedback in the comments below.
Shion Touch 1.0β4 is now available.
This update addresses a number of usability and performance issues.
Changes:
If you are a Shion Touch beta tester and have submitted your iOS device ID (here’s how to find it) to touch-beta@shiononline.com, feel free to download and install this beta app.
Installation instructions:
1. Download Shion_Touch_1.0b4.ipa. Drag this file to your iTunes library.
2. If you have not already done so, create a free beta testing account.
3. In Shion.app, enter your account information in the “Online” section of the preferences.
4. Install Shion Touch to your iOS device. On first run, the app will prompt you to enter your account information.
5. Have fun!
If you have not submitted your iOS UDID and are interested in beta testing this app, please send your device ID to mailto:touch-beta@shiononline.com and we’ll update the appropriate files. Note that due to Apple’s limitation on public iOS beta testing, we may not be able to accomodate all requests.
Since this workflow is still under development and probably still contains issues, please report any problems in the comments below.
Shion 3.0β3 is now available.
Please read the following release notes carefully.
This is a beta release for Shion 3. This software is still under construction and has some rough edges. In no particular order, some of the current major issues:
1. The RemoteBuddy interface remains unimplemented.
2. The DVR, Bluetooth, GPS, and camera devices have not yet been implemented.
3. Networked controller support (SmartLinc, EZServe) is not present in this release.
4. Sprinkler support is currently missing.
5. Changes in the device configuration from the preferences panel (modem & controllers) require an application restart to take effect.
This release fixes a variety of user interface bugs and related issues.
Please submit any feedback in the comments below.
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