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SoftSkies Changelog

What's new in SoftSkies 2.4.2

Feb 11, 2020
  • Installer for macOS now better accommodates Mojave and Catalina (to the best that is possible).

New in SoftSkies 2.4.1 (Jul 28, 2018)

  • Added setting 'Prevent Display Sleep'
  • Improved compatibility with Windows screensavers.
  • Addressed JRiver Media Center crash.
  • Major updates to Windows no longer require SoftSkies reinstallation.
  • Working-around iTunes for Windows issue causing freeze/lockup.
  • Fixed OpenGL/Direct3D toggle setting on Windows.
  • Fixed macOS screensaver reverting to main display only mode.
  • Fixed SoftSkies sometimes not being detected in Windows Media Player or iTunes.

New in SoftSkies 2.4 (Jan 4, 2018)

  • Now bundling all-new Windows audio driver called SoundSpectrum Audio Cable, offering audio loopback from the system output to SoftSkies Standalone.
  • Added 'Reload Audio Devices' button in Settings.
  • On macOS, added control over which displays show the screensaver.
  • Addressed retina support on macOS High Sierra.
  • Added 64-bit support for J River Media Center!
  • Enhanced installer detection on Windows for 64-bit iTunes and Windows Media Player.
  • Help windows now stay hidden when closed.
  • Fixed iTunes not zeroing audio when paused.
  • Updated SoftSkies Standalone docs.

New in SoftSkies 2.3.1 (Jun 25, 2017)

  • Fixed screen saver for macOS retina displays.
  • Fixed not restoring Direct3D state under VirtualDJ.
  • Smarter hotkey support for Winamp and MediaMonkey.
  • Fixed audio frozen visually when iTunes is paused.
  • Fixed prefs not always being saved when quitting iTunes.

New in SoftSkies 2.3.0 (Apr 22, 2017)

  • Added Retina display support on macOS.
  • Enhanced UI support for high resolution displays.
  • Fixed not getting keystrokes in full screen mode in iTunes.
  • Overhauled support for 'UI Menu Scale' setting.
  • Album cover art animation is now resolution independent.
  • Improved text anti-aliasing quality on Windows.
  • Fixed macOS installer overwriting ~/Library permissions.
  • Now bundling Virtual Audio Cable with Platinum on Windows.
  • Added shadows to white icons.

New in SoftSkies 2.2.0 (Jan 16, 2017)

  • Fixed erroneous console message "Undefined function Refresh()"
  • Fixed flashing of junk frames immediately following a resize or fullscreen change.
  • Standalone on Windows nows works with Aero's 'auto-snap'
  • Addressed fullscreen mode state issues under iTunes and in Standalone.
  • Fixed stability issues for the OS X screen saver.
  • Standalone for Windows now only changes the input device volume if below 50%.
  • More console messages when in partial or debug console mode.
  • Aesthetic tweaks to some track animations.
  • For large viewports, UI items now auto-scale up in size (UI.AutoScaleFromHeight).
  • Full debug mode no longer generates a debug log file on disk.
  • Fixed network-based album cover art not loading on Windows.
  • Album cover art now loads more smoothly under Windows Media Player.
  • Now looking for album cover art under WMP more aggressively (e.g. folder.jpg).
  • Now gracefully handling cover art that fails to load.

New in SoftSkies 2.1.2 (Feb 27, 2016)

  • Workaround for iTunes fullscreen mode flag bug that caused cursor to persistently be hidden and ESC fail to exit fullscreen.
  • Improved 32-bit iTunes detection for Windows.
  • Improved artist string extraction logic for Windows Media Player.
  • Track text animation fixes.

New in SoftSkies 2.1.1 (Feb 7, 2015)

  • Added 64-bit support for iTunes 12.1 under Windows.
  • Fixed case where track text didn't always appear when pressing 'T'.

New in SoftSkies 2.1 (Jan 14, 2015)

  • Now using pixel buffer objects for improved performance.
  • Improved performance for some render to texture operations under OpenGL.
  • Fixed audio processing issue that sometimes impaired live audio responsiveness when running SoftSkies Standalone, V-Bar, or Screen Saver.
  • Fixed OpenGL render to texture issue affecting stability.
  • Frames are now synchronized with the display device to prevent frame tearing.
  • Now supporting VirtualDJ on Windows!
  • Now only supporting 10.6 and later on OS X.

New in SoftSkies 2.0.1 (Jun 25, 2014)

  • Added 'My Skies' Living Images support.
  • Addressed track text animation not appearing under some audio players.
  • Addressed compatibility issue under OS 10.5.

New in SoftSkies 2.0.0 (May 17, 2014)

  • Major improvements and enhancements to SoftSkies stability and aesthetics.
  • All-new track text and album cover art animation.
  • Major enhancements to the UI and Screen Saver.
  • Major editorial edits and additions to Formations.
  • All-new "Nighttime" mode of night skies
  • All-new "Time of Day" mode that displays blue skies, sunsets, or nighttime skies based on the current time of day.
  • Fixes and improved support for jetAudio, Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, RealPlayer, J River Media Center, and iTunes.
  • On OS X, now using Apple's new flat package format, requiring OS 10.5 for installation.
  • Added album cover art and extended track info support for Winamp.
  • Added drawer integration support for Winamp.
  • Added debug 'HUD' to display performance metrics (via SHIFT+D).
  • Fixes and enhancements to international support.

New in SoftSkies 1.7.0 (Dec 7, 2011)

  • FFT audio data is now auto-normalized, offering automated visual response sensitivity adjustment based on incoming audio. This ensures that you get a visually responsive experience no matter what you're listening to.
  • Added audio auto-detect, which auto-scans all audio input sources for an active audio source. This new feature is enabled by default for the screen saver and can be enabled for the V-Bar and Standalone.
  • Added UI elements in the screen saver control panel/settings to set the audio auto-detect, the preferred audio source, the frame rate, and the current visual preset.
  • Improved screen saver and V-Bar support, including the internal sharing of audio devices so that multiple engine instances can now visualize the same audio source.
  • The V-Bar for Windows now supports multiple display devices.
  • Fixes to tile modes in the V-Bar.
  • Added 64-bit support for iTunes and Standalone on OS X.
  • Added 64-bit support for Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center.
  • Addressed an issue where SoftSkies would hang on exit due to a deadlock.
  • Now mangling ObjC classnames to prevent OS X namespace collisions within iTunes and the OS X screen saver subsystem.
  • Fixed issue where clicks were not hitting UI elements.
  • Improved OS X and Windows audio input source detection and handling.
  • Fixed issue under Windows where the full screen resolution selection list was empty.
  • Various install/uninstall fixes for J. River Media Center.
  • Addressed issue where license code validation would mistakenly fail or the engine would mistakenly report that it needs to be reinstalled.
  • OS X and Windows installer improvements for better compatibility.
  • Removed Google Desktop support (it has been discontinued by Google).
  • Now using the new iTunes visual API in iTunes 10.5 and later.
  • Enhanced error handling support for the OS X installer under PowerPC.
  • Fixed 'Reset All Settings' in the Settings menu.

New in SoftSkies 1.6.1 (Apr 12, 2011)

  • Fixed screen saver support error message on 64-bit OS X systems.
  • Fixed bug where the engine would check for updates on every launch instead of honoring the period specified in the prefs.

New in SoftSkies 1.6.0 (Feb 17, 2011)

  • Now using OpenGL shading language instead of ARB.
  • Major internal revisions and countless fixes.
  • Improved performance and visual quality on most systems.
  • Added 64-bit screen saver support for OS X.
  • Fixed full screen and possible hang issues under iTunes.
  • Fixed RealPlayer support.
  • Various fixes to full screen mode on OS X.
  • Fixed hang on exit under OS X if the local network doesn't have an internet connection.
  • Now signing all executables on Windows to prevent anti-virus false positives.
  • Added support for J. River Media Center 15.
  • Resolved switch to full screen mode issues on multiple display device setups.

New in SoftSkies 1.5.2 (Mar 27, 2010)

  • Fixed fail to enter to full screen mode in the Standalone app on OS X.
  • Fixed issue where clicking 'Settings' would result in an error on non-English setups.
  • Fixed screen saver on OS X appearing pixelated and/or blank.
  • Added support for J. River Media Center 15.
  • Now using Python 2.6.5.

New in SoftSkies 1.5.1 (Mar 16, 2010)

  • Now using OpenGL 'framebuffer_object' extension for improved offscreen rendering stability and performance.
  • Fixed case where the screen saver would crash under OS X.
  • Fixed 'Scene Interval' integer conversion causing it to be saved as 0, resulting in flashing or erratic frames.
  • Addressed the "black screen" issue in Windows Media Center (caused by an issue in WMC under Windows 7).
  • Addressed WMP issue where double-clicking would cause a blank screen or crash.
  • Fixed issue where pressing the 'Shuffle' button would sometimes fail and show an error message.

New in SoftSkies 1.5 (Dec 29, 2009)

  • Internal implementation and performance enhancements.
  • Higher quality cloud transitions.
  • Added install support for non-ASCII OS X user names.
  • The 'Natural' set has been split into Blue Skies, Sunsets, and Storms.
  • The GUI controls now detect the presence of WMP 12 (and move to where they can be clicked).
  • Fixed issue where SoftSkies wouldn't install properly under Vista x64.
  • Addressed issue where SoftSkies would fail to start if the x86 version of WMP is run on Vista x64 system under a non-admin user.
  • By popular request, SoftSkies no longer overrides the right-click menu in Windows Media Player.
  • Fixed issue where SoftSkies for iTunes would sometimes fail to be properly registered if installed by a non-admin user on Windows.
  • Windows Media Center and Windows Media Player compatibility enhancements.
  • Added support for J. River Media Center 13.
  • Pref keys are now strings (rather than four character strings).
  • Fixed broken screen shots under OS X.
  • Each Living Image now has its own icon.

New in SoftSkies 1.4.5 (Aug 13, 2008)

  • Cosmetic UI enhancements.
  • Internal bulletproofing.

New in SoftSkies 1.4.4 (Jul 12, 2008)

  • Improved full screen support under Windows.
  • Fixed stability issue triggered when a version update was detected.

New in SoftSkies 1.4.3 (Jul 8, 2008)

  • Cosmetic enhancements to the UI.
  • Improved OS X installer permissions handling.

New in SoftSkies 1.4.2 (Jun 28, 2008)

  • Three all-new Living Images sets containing over 75 high-quality images!
  • New Windows screen saver "Display on all monitors" mode.
  • Fixed issue that was causing multi-account installations to fail under OS X.
  • Improved frame rate regulation (preventing frame rate degradation on certain Windows systems).
  • Fixed installer issue that was sometimes causing SoftSkies to not appear in J. River Media Center.
  • Improved OS X full screen support for non-standard display devices.
  • Fixed issue that was causing the V-Bar to crash when running under Vista or when switching users.
  • Enhanced performance in iTunes.

New in SoftSkies 1.4.1 (May 14, 2008)

  • Fixed Living Images "black background" problem on PowerPC systems.
  • Fixed OpenGL texture stability issue triggered on machines having a texture width limit of 2048 or less.
  • Fixed Windows installer issue where a message would appear on startup saying that an error occurred and to contact SoundSpectrum support.
  • Added workaround for a Mac OS 10.3 installer issue where files from a previously installed version were not being overwritten by the files from a newly installed version.
  • The default full screen resolution mode is now the display device's currently set resolution mode (rather than a preset factory value).
  • Fixed "error 18" issue occurring on certain Mac OS X systems.