MrAudrey - for Misterhouse

Current 3com Audrey image for use with Misterhouse is MrAudrey_03-X.cf
You will probably have the best success using your browsers 'save target as' function when dowloading
The link above will download the image as if it is zip file, It is NOT Zipped it is an Image file,
This will aid in downloading in a browser. Do not try to unzip this file

Please read the terms of use in the text file instructions listed below, and agree to the terms BEFORE using this image
Well Maybe I've bested myself with gobs of little improvemetns this time, now even easier customizations !

Working with CF and images

Setting up MrAudrey

Tips

Audrey on ACID

Reference - not done yet-a work in process

FAQs

What's next (and/or things I'm contemplating )

Text file instructions in plain text HOW-TO format, for some settings (needs way more work !)

Release History / Notes
MrAudrey_03-2.cf - Maintainence Update - 5/23/2003

Description:

Minor fixups and tweaks, corrected typos, updated Tutorial. Made Switching to Photon from filmstrip more robust

MrAudrey_03-1.cf - Update - 5/20/2003

Description:
See the What's next page for more detail

This is an extension of my previous images with an Updated PhJuke and ehanced to ease setup and maintainence.
The single biggest and most noticable difference is that many of the standard applications have been stripped out, making this image have more room for operations. You should notice this in oveall snappier performance.
The Missing applications can be added back in, as this image has Channel and Package management capabilities.
The New Channel manager allows you to easily rearrange what channels are are on any of the channel slots. Additionally The misterhouse settings can also be changed fron the MrAudrey Setting page that is accessable from this page. The default starup channel has been made channel01, and is currently left unassigned for you to pick the default.
The Package manager is still in development, and has been included on the image, so you can get on the web, and go to my site to get any of the missing packages you may want to add in to your image. It is a bit quirky in operation, but will be updated in the future ....It really needs some indicators to show that it's doing something, so I've left several popup boxes to show where your going....The main thing is it works.
The phplay application is available as a package, and it includes updates to the mpregistry, so you can go to shoutcast.com an tune in ... not all the shoutcast channels work due to a limitation in the player (mostly 128K channels) so keep trying... you'll find one. All the patches and tweeks have been done to this package to give you pretty smooth playback, though if you're using the Audrey you will most likeley get some brief dropouts :(

MrAudrey_02-1.cf - Big time Update - 1/5/2003
NOTE: due to direct links referring to this package I have forced it to point to the current 03-x image please contact me if yuu wish the older version

Description:

This is a hybrid 3Com and QNX Photon Image, based on the InfinitySpecial image.
I've tried to achieve a balance of power, functionality, automation, and simplicity of setup (I'm still trying to make it even easier)

Ease of setup and use was the primary design consideration, I believe this has been achieved.. The other factors on the design included having all the tools available for integration with, and access to MisterHouse automation software.

Basically I believe this was achieved , and then some. Setup consists of doing Two things, Setting the unit's IP address, and changing ONE internal parameter so she knows where MrHouse is, that's it. Of course there is online documentation on this site that will aid you in tweaking the image to your personal preferences/needs.

My (field) beta testers (Bruce and Rick ) have given great feedback, and their sugestions have been incorporated into the system whenever practical, and applicable.

My Biggest Beta tester was my wife, who tollerated the many audrys sprinkled around our home. She has gone full circle from that thing on the ____ piano, desk etc , to "It really is useful" (her favorite feature is the MisterHouse announcements of her regular TV shows though )

I believe the single most useful feature that I hacked into the system is the channel selector. That knob at the bottom of the unit was just screaming to me to become useful again, and it is ! (please refer to the Reference page for a description of the channels that are setup out-of-the-box)

This Image has had an extensive graphical makeover, It is MrAudrey, an extension of MisterHouse (that's where the Mr came from, although MsAudrey was also thought about )

The following is a list of some of the changes that occurred during development, it is in no way a complete list

Added channel12 - Photo Screen
Added channel11 - MrAudrey Settings (view)
Added channel10 - Switch to Photon session (close and clean original apps), thanks Rick
1 more Channels left .... unassigned shows balnk MH screen (reserved for future option)
Added fireKey and fireKey.shtml (send audrey any key, and buttons too via http)
Revised Graphics for background images to be less intrusive on setup screens
Added startup line to launch ACID in stealth mode and can't be killed mode, will be commented out on the release.
Updated TimeServer0 to time.nist.gov , seems the old one has gone away.
Updated virtual keyboard app (now v1.1b), thanks Rick
Modified mhspeak.shtml to run playsound at a higher level (added nice )
There's now a MHSettings.shtml to show the MrAudrey/ MisterHouse server settings, and Audries IP info locally and remotely
Added Ricks volume.shtml method to do MASTER Volume, not just sounds.
Figured a way to Auto-Launch the Channels (filmstrip), now goes to ch00 (MrAudrey) by default (4 sec delay) mods available
All the Buttons on the Audrey work the same as they always did, and we still get Photon !

MrAudrey_01-4d.cf - Seems I may have gotten my images askew this should have been the 4c release. Removed RealPlayer for space reasons.

MrAudrey_01-4c.cf - A few more tweaks and nudges, installed full voyager client in the Photon menu. To get to the Photon session (that is in the background (if you pushed any audrey buttons) use the Address_book button (it's been remapped to allow easy access to photon). Updated the main 'button' screen accessable from the wheel (the Audrey selection). As for the configuration use the Photon File manager, browse to the '/config' directory, and highlight the MH_HostAddress file. From the file menu (on the FileManager) select 'Open With' then type 'ped' in the dialog. This opens a Notepad like editor, simply edit the file to include the address for your MH server (don't forget the Port ) .
I'm still not real happy about the interactions of the screens (sometimes it's difficult to read some of the text) on the setup (original Audrey apps). I'm also trying to find the best solution to the Button issuss, I'd like to use the Options button to get to photon, but there are underlying naming issues that that button has... I'll eventually get this too (I hope). then the Options will become a menu item in the photon session (the best of both worlds).

MrAudrey_01-4b.cf - This will most likely be the image of choice.
To customize it for your MH installation simply change the /config/MH_HostAddress file to point to your Base MH installation (ie http://192.168.0.2:8080) the wheel should work.
Standard setup options in the control pannel apply (currently DHCP for the Audry's addressing)

Like I said it's not final it is a close Beta with some clean-up still in process. Let me know if there are issues/features that need to be addressed, and I'll see what can be done.

The Action Palette and the address_book buttons on the 'welcome' screen need to be tweaked. The Address book button will bring up Photon (more precisely kill the kojak (audrey std) browser), and the Photon GUI button on the screen is really the ActionPalette.

ALL PREVIOUS VERSIONS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THIE SITE
if you need a parevious version contact me ...

MrAudrey_03.cf -Ok it's not quite perfect, and I am still working on making the browser accept remote redirects

eg http://your.audrey/cgi-bin/SendMessage?M=GOTO_URL&S=http://yournewpage.com

It appears that the SendMessage function is specifically linked to the original browser and applications, I am experimenting with various methods to give us equivalent functionality using the Voyager browser, unfortunately the IPC format that the original apps use is unavailable, so deep digging and coding may be the only option.
This image does however accept remote speech quite nicely

Update 12-18-02 : Still fighting with the image, trying others, and hacking away. I may drop back and punt on this by using a more standard image, and changing the browser engine to opera (still using the same slinger and Browser (older voyager) from the original images). After I get that done I'll add all the applets for MH, led, speak etc etc etc ... Maybe this will work maybe not we'll see ...