FrontView/iMon under WM 7 Feedback

[Flying Kiwi]

About all I'm using at the moment from Soundgraph with my Antec Fusion Remote Max case is the FrontView feature to correctly display whats going on in Windows 7 RC Media Centre. I installed Windows 7 with my Microsoft MCE Remote and USB sensor plugged in (so all my TV Tuner options appear - all the input methods) but currently I just use my Logitech MX5500 desktop to control everything. I really wish the Soundgraph IR sensor eye had the same functionality as the Microsoft MCE Remote one though. I cant see why this isn't possible. My iMon software auto updated some time ago to version 7.62.0630 with firmware version 0x380208 LCD HID OEM. Now onto the feedback:

The scrolling program names displayed have no spaces at the start and end so for unfamiliar programs it's not clear what the program actually is called eg is the show Diagnosis Murder or Murder Diagnosis? This could be easily fixed by adding a few spaces at the start and finish of the name gathered and displayed on Frontview.
[Edit 23:30 20/07]If the name will fit into the FrontView LCD screen without any scrolling required, then of course there's no need to add spaces - the software will need to distinguish which situation applies and behave accordingly.

I've also found the scrolling to stop at times but changing the FrontView font size and clicking apply, instantly got the scrolling moving again - the PC was tested under the High Performance Power scheme so no PC sleeping was causing it.

Clicking on the colour depth option in iMon Manager Resolution Changer causes a wackey 'menu flicker' from the top left of Internet Explorer 8 and Resolution changer has big problems with my Intel G45 (latest Beta) Graphics drivers. My native resolution set up under the Intel drivers is 1680 x 1050, 32 bit colour and 60 Hertz. This all works fine with circles being circular etc but if I use iMons resolution changer to select 1680 x 1050 32 bit 60 Hz - LOOK OUT! Things get massively distorted and circles become elliptical etc.

When iMon is not controlling FrontView and it's just displaying the time, the fonts used, although futuristic looking, are far to unclear - I never thought it was possible to have a time of 1.99 PM until today (or was it 1.66 PM?) when FrontView showed that :eek: I hope that the firmware (which I assume is responsible for this font) is flash upgradable because I don't want to be stuck with these "Startrek like" fonts forever more.

The iMon Manager Software is somewhat Clunky and Awkward under Windows 7 and looks alien to the OS. Please try to redesign it's appearance so it blends in better. Things like less scrolling required, a minimising and Close button that fit in with Win 7 styles and support for Aeroglass would be a start.

Finally, the help/linked pdf file makes no mention of what the graphics on the LCD actually represent. Some of them are quite clear like the L and R in individual boxes represent speaker sides but many are not. Please include a thorough explanation of these little pictures (perhaps with a picture of all the options in your pdf/help file).

If you need me to help dignose any of these issues or Beta Test some fixes, just sing out and I'll be glad to help.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and I look foward to the next iMon live update (no other Soundgraph software is of interest to me since it's a Windows 7 (MCE) equipped OS).

[slash.kim]

Dear Flying Kiwi,

Thank you for reporting several things need to be improved.

The scrolling program names displayed have no spaces at the start and end so for unfamiliar programs it's not clear what the program actually is called eg is the show Diagnosis Murder or Murder Diagnosis? This could be easily fixed by adding a few spaces at the start and finish of the name gathered and displayed on Frontview.
[Edit 23:30 20/07]If the name will fit into the FrontView LCD screen without any scrolling required, then of course there's no need to add spaces - the software will need to distinguish which situation applies and behave accordingly.

I've also found the scrolling to stop at times but changing the FrontView font size and clicking apply, instantly got the scrolling moving again - the PC was tested under the High Performance Power scheme so no PC sleeping was causing it.
There seems to be a problem with calculating the width of the string displayed. Actually, iMON already calculates the width and if the string is fit into the area, it does not make a scroll. However, as you said, there's scroll occurs when it thinks the string width is over the view area. We'll add this bug to our To Do List.


Clicking on the colour depth option in iMon Manager Resolution Changer causes a wackey 'menu flicker' from the top left of Internet Explorer 8 and Resolution changer has big problems with my Intel G45 (latest Beta) Graphics drivers. My native resolution set up under the Intel drivers is 1680 x 1050, 32 bit colour and 60 Hertz. This all works fine with circles being circular etc but if I use iMons resolution changer to select 1680 x 1050 32 bit 60 Hz - LOOK OUT! Things get massively distorted and circles become elliptical etc.
So much time past after the Resolution Changer feature is implemented. This tool uses old Windows API and we need to check there's something problem with wide resolution. We'll add this bug to our To Do List too.


When iMon is not controlling FrontView and it's just displaying the time, the fonts used, although futuristic looking, are far to unclear - I never thought it was possible to have a time of 1.99 PM until today (or was it 1.66 PM?) when FrontView showed that :eek: I hope that the firmware (which I assume is responsible for this font) is flash upgradable because I don't want to be stuck with these "Startrek like" fonts forever more.
The font used with the time displaying when iMON Manage is turned off, the font is generated in the firmware as you expected. And this font has problem with distingishing '4' and '9'. 1:99 PM is actually 1:44 PM. However, there's no way to upgrade the firmware and we could not fix this bug.


The iMon Manager Software is somewhat Clunky and Awkward under Windows 7 and looks alien to the OS. Please try to redesign it's appearance so it blends in better. Things like less scrolling required, a minimising and Close button that fit in with Win 7 styles and support for Aeroglass would be a start.
As you said, many pages of iMON Manager require scroll. In order to support multiple languages, the pages use the dynamic arrange of controls and it makes many scrolling required pages. Anyway, we need to revise and redesign the layout of iMON Manager in order to serve more convenient usage. We'll add iMON Manager's redesign request to our To Do List. However, it'll take somewhat long time.


Finally, the help/linked pdf file makes no mention of what the graphics on the LCD actually represent. Some of them are quite clear like the L and R in individual boxes represent speaker sides but many are not. Please include a thorough explanation of these little pictures (perhaps with a picture of all the options in your pdf/help file).
OK.. the manual also need to be up to date.


Thanks and best regards,
slash.kim

[Flying Kiwi]

Dear Flying Kiwi,

Thank you for reporting several things need to be improved.


There seems to be a problem with calculating the width of the string displayed. Actually, iMON already calculates the width and if the string is fit into the area, it does not make a scroll. However, as you said, there's scroll occurs when it thinks the string width is over the view area. We'll add this bug to our To Do List.It's not just the scrolling vs non-scrolling scenario but also multi-word titles that do scroll sometimes aren't clear where the start and end of the title are (eg my Diagnosis Murder vs Murder Diagnosis example). A greater amount of space needs to be inserted between the end of the title and the start of it when it next scrolls by. I hope this is clear?

So much time past after the Resolution Changer feature is implemented. This tool uses old Windows API and we need to check there's something problem with wide resolution. We'll add this bug to our To Do List too.As already mentioned, I only use the iMon FrontView Functionality anyway so I'm perfectly happy if you just chop out the Resolution changer all together. Every decent video card comes with its own graphics driver resolution changer these days anyway and I'm sure people have no NEED for Soundgraph to incorporate this functionality. One less non-essential thing for your techs to work on means they can more effectively allocate their resources to the essentials which are needed in iMon, things like FrontView, audio knob and remote control (including Microsoft remote) support and seamless integration with the operating system. Perhaps Soundgraph wants to survey customers to help ascertain what we really want and need versus those things that aren't considered as important. The alternative is that you end up trying to please all the people all the time by being a Jack of all trades... and we know what that results in - being a master of none :( I'd certainly be keen to help by filling in my views and priorities on such a survey or poll.

The font used with the time displaying when iMON Manage is turned off, the font is generated in the firmware as you expected. And this font has problem with distingishing '4' and '9'. 1:99 PM is actually 1:44 PM. However, there's no way to upgrade the firmware and we could not fix this bug.OK thanks, that'll be one for me to complain to Antec about (since it's their hardware/firmware). Is the chip that stores the firmware replaceable (ie socketed) or is it permanently soldered in place? My sugggestion is to make future firmware stored on EEPOM so it can be flashed. It may cost a little more for the memory chip to perform this function but in terms of bug fixes and issues such as this, the advantages are clear. The days of firmware being stored in plain old ROM are long gone with most state of the art hardware. I'd also suggest that you stick with more conservative 'defaults' such as more basic firmware embedded fonts or at least test them for readability because although this font I have looks 'flashy' and modern, it's not very practical if you're unsure what the time actually is after reading it.

As you said, many pages of iMON Manager require scroll. In order to support multiple languages, the pages use the dynamic arrange of controls and it makes many scrolling required pages. Anyway, we need to revise and redesign the layout of iMON Manager in order to serve more convenient usage. We'll add iMON Manager's redesign request to our To Do List. However, it'll take somewhat long time.Rome wasn't built in a day as they say so I understand such massive change won't come quickly. I do think it'd help if you develop a 'lite' or more modular edition of iMon though (without resolution changer and many of the 'non-essentials') for those who only need basic functionality. That way there's less to be scrutinised and to worry about in the first place.

OK.. the manual also need to be up to date.Sorry for being so negative. You really have a useful product which has heaps of potential - one of the reasons why the major case makers such as Antec have picked them up I'm sure. There just needs to be a little more attention to these areas and software style/design for big customer satisfaction improvements in my opinion. You've done very well so far meeting reasonable customer requests for FrontView (eg screen now blackens out when powered off as an option, date display is an option to go with time but not essential, spelling corrections etc) and I've no reason to think that the good work won't continue.:)

[slash.kim]

Dear Flying Kiwi,

A greater amount of space needs to be inserted between the end of the title and the start of it when it next scrolls by. I hope this is clear?
It's clear. For example, when scrolling the "ABCDEF_GHIJK" (assuming '_' is a space character), it shold be shown as
"ABCDEF_GHIJK__________ABCDEF_GHIJK", instead of
"ABCDEF_GHIJK__ABCDEF_GHIJK"
We'll add this fix to our To Do List.

I'd certainly be keen to help by filling in my views and priorities on such a survey or poll.
From the threads users post, we are accumulating them into our internal forum, and reported bugs and requested features are added to the To Do List when we revised. For the priority, it seems to be reasonable to have a survey or poll and so users can control the priority. We'll discuss about this internally.

My sugggestion is to make future firmware stored on EEPOM so it can be flashed.
Actually, we are now under developing new product and from this product the firmware upgrade feature was added and will be added.

Rome wasn't built in a day as they say so I understand such massive change won't come quickly. I do think it'd help if you develop a 'lite' or more modular edition of iMon though (without resolution changer and many of the 'non-essentials') for those who only need basic functionality. That way there's less to be scrutinised and to worry about in the first place.
The version of iMON Manager is 7.60. We have been trying to hear users' demands and requests. And we have been trying to apply almost all of them if possible, even though not so many users want. Because of this reason, so many non essential things were added and added. We also think iMON Manager is needed to be totally revised. And more modular edition is needed. If we do in future, you could give us many valid idea.


Thanks for your sincere advice.

Best regards,
slash.kim