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The History of TimeMan
To keep the size of the .ZIP file down, I left the history section out. However, for those of you who are really interested, I've made this page specially!
- v2.7a released on 22/04/1996
- v2.8 released on 28/04/1996
- Extra error handling added
- Totally different registration system, the code is now defined from the user's name
- Fixed bug of countdown timer window remaining open if you pressed escape on the time dialog
- Fixed bug of countup and countdown timer's windows remaining open if escape was pressed during a pause
- v3.0 released on 03/05/1996
- Further improved error handling
- Quick Voice Memos added
- Quick Note Taking added
- Removal of some registration nag screens and pauses :-))
- Fixed a small bug when a new settings file is created.
- v3.2 released on 23/05/1996
- Alarms added, they can now also contain most of the System sounds
- Improved memory handling/detection
- Settings file changed - program recognises you're an upgrader and creates a new one.
- Bigger font on the stopwatches :-)
- Battery Checker
- Voice Memo no longer uses Record - it starts recording immediately so there are less key presses - length defined via "Preferences"
- Tidy Voice Memos option (you can also play a memo from here to see if it's still needed)
- Preferences: Clock type, Voice memo length, Confirm exit and Default alarm sound are set via this now
- Voice Memo and Quick Note now allow more than 10 files (upto 99!)
- Quick Dialer added
- Battery Checker added
- v3.3 released on 29/06/1996
- A second screen option - accessed by pressing diamond key
- Upgrade tracker - watch it guide you through the process!
- Lottery predictor
- Quick Memo Playback
- System Memory Checker
- Conversions Module
- File Manager Module
- Help detectabele from ALL menus
- A few more which I can't seem to recall...
- v3.41F released on 20/09/1996
- Old bugs from v3.x fixed
- Daily/Hourly Reminders added
- Updated File Manager
- Faster drawing of clocks
- VAT Calculator added
- Edit Memo option to edit/view existing quick notes
- Tidy notes option to delete old/unwanted quick notes
- .PIC Viewer/Editor - view/edit all your favourite .PIC files!
- Quick Calculator added
- As always, a few more... ;-)
- v3.42F released on 12/10/1996
- Some minor bug fixes over v3.41F, mainly related to TimeMan's file handling
- v3.5F released on 26/10/1996
Not really a major release, more "cosmetic" and "hidden" changes...
- All known bugs now fixed!
- Cache and cache handling added to improve speed
- Faster operation (not only because of cache, I changed some of the drawing routines too).
- Tightened up on memory usuage slightly
- Also tightened up on what the user can do (covered most ways users can make TimeMan crash that I know of)
- Modified help to make it read better and also more to be useful.
- v3.42S released to Clove Technology only on 19/11/1996
- This release was basically just a copy of v3.5F with some extra changes to accomodate it being put on all new 3c machines from Clove in a semi-registered form. This was part of a special deal with Clove who said they wanted to supply TimeMan to all their new 3c users since it was such a useful program!
- Although the release version at that time was v3.5F, I numbered this copy v3.42S to indicate not only that it was different and therefore "behind" v3.5F, but also that it was "Special" (S) and not just "Final" (F).
- v3.6F released on 18/01/1997
This release was a HUGE step forward from all previous versions. There were so many things re-written or added that I can't remember them all! Here are the highlights!
- All known bugs fixed!
- Clocks now drawn in 1 graphics window which uses less memory both System wide and from the Window Server. Thanks to Steve Godfrey at for this amazing new technique!
- Clocks now support the new round 3c/3mx version (3c and 3mx's only ;-) )
- View .PICs from .APP/.OPA/.IMG/.GRP/.ALS files
- Fuel Consumption module added
- Help file greatly improved
- Stopwatch re-written to use the accurate FRC: device
- Added a Hotkey for quick switching to TimeMan
- The ability to Save/Restore System settings. This code was provided by Brendan Breede from his SARCon program. I am extremely grateful for his cooperation here!
- A new settings file format which allows more settings and uses less disk space and .OPP code. Again thanks go to Brendan Breede for showing me this technique!
- There were also a lot more, but I can't recall them all ;-( That'll teach me to write them all down next time.....
- v4.00F released on 12/07/1997
Well! I honestly don't know where to start! v4.00F is a great improvement over all of the prior versions. When I wrote v3.6F, I was sure that was excellent. Now, I think (although I may be biased of course ;-) that v4.00F puts it to shame!
- All known bugs fixed, including the error when you tried to Edit a .PIC file.
- Lots of very subtle things changed to make TimeMan look and feel more like a "standard Psion" application.
- All 100K+ of TimeMan's code was re-examined and many wasteful areas have been cut out or replaced. Not only does this help to improve speed, it also keeps the program's size down to a minimum too.
- At long last! Access to the World application was added. It was made optional, so the data which TimeMan uses to set the clocks can either be obtained directly from World or can be user defined (like in all previous versions). I have to thank Alan Clifford very much for helping me on this one! He provided exactly what I needed.
- With the new World access comes a rather handy "City details" function. It won't tell you much more than what the actual World program will, but it's easier to use and read and it's within TimeMan (saves lots of switching away!).
- The Conversions and File Manager made into optional modules. Both were also exapanded over their v3.6F counterparts, the File Manager more so and support for such things as multiple file tagging, date/time touch on files and directories, etc. was added.
- A "Large Digital Clock" implemented - it is the now the third "view" available in TimeMan (thanks to whoever write the "S7.OPL" code from NWT's archive!)
- The code from Brendan Breede's SARCon v1.10F has now been inegrated. This marks a large improvement over the v1.00F code which made up the "System settings" section in v3.6F. Again, I'd like to say a BIG "Thank you" to Brendan for his help!
- TimeMan now has the ability to Launch not only ROM applications but also external applications on any of your disks! This was thanks to Tom Dolbilin who was brilliant in helping and letting me use some of his advanced launching code. This code is compact, efficient and extremely well written! Thanks a lot Tom!
- Currency Conversions added to the Conversions section
- Full numerical base convertor added to the Conversions section (courtesy of B. Belfield) which handles Hex/Dec/Bin/Oct values!
- "Save last values" option added to Conversions.
- I've managed to add a much requested "Time calculator" function
- Ability to set the System time/date added - again to save people having to switch away to Time and do it.
- The program now handles CONTROL-HELP keypresses to show the help index (thanks to Jochen Siegenthaler)
- Not only that, but help is available from all of the menus and main dialogs. Where possible, this is also context-sensitive, so you get help on what you're trying to do/use!
- And of course, to go with that new help availability, I've completely re-vamped the help file. Using the Windows based "Helpedit" program, the help now has links to other useful topics as well as many new and improved subjects!
- Quite a few improvements over old features were made. These weren't major, but they were commonly in terms of speed and looks.
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