Today we release a Release Candidate version of Pamela Professional 4.6. Release Candidate means that unless we find a serious bug, this version will go live in the next days, replacing Pamela 4.5.
So, what are the big changes? First of all we completely redid the Skype video recording module. This was used a lot in Pamela since introduction in 2006 but since then evolution of the software world has caused more and more issues with it. So we decided to completely re-write the recording part.
We have managed to create a very low resource recording, this is especially critical as any video application already uses considerable resources. We also wanted to make the settings very simple. In Pamela 4.6 you will see only three main settings regarding video. FPS, the captured Frames Per Second. This impacts file size and quality of the video. Then there is the size of the video file (320×200 up to 800×600 including a YouTube setting). This obviously impacts size of the recording too. And then there is the audio quality starting from “low” to “highest”.
The output file is default WMV format and with Pamela 4.6 we’re doing away with all the complex codec configuration.
In addition there is a video custom recording option which will just record anything from the webcam.
If you have Pamela Professional you can just download and install which will update your Pamela to 4.6. If you do not have Pamela Professional or another Pamela version you will have Pamela Professional in trial mode (full functionality for 30 days).
UPDATE: Pamela 4.6 is now released as final version. Download from www.pamela.biz
Today we released a PamFax server update which addresses some performance and usability issues we have seen. This update does not require you to re-install PamFax.
Today we released a pretty significant update which bumps up the version to 2.0.10.16. The main focus is performance and stability improvement. Below a list of the changes. The server part requires no update on your computer. The PamFax Windows version does require a manual download and install if you are effected by the issues listed here.
Changelog:
PamFax Server Platform 2.0.10
Fixed: Removed flash document uploader for improved reliability
Fixed: Macintosh application could hang when uploading same file again
Fixed: Issues from error logs and automatic reporting. Improved stability
Fixed: Bug when hovering on submenu-items in portal
Fixed: Missing prices/countries on rates page in PamFax Portal
Fixed: Display of incorrect Skype country for some Macintosh users
Fixed: Hopefully fixed bug with pending faxes where payment was done after the fax was submitted
Change: Changed zone calculation for service and mobile numbers
Change: Added notification settings explanation
Change: Unpaid faxes are deleted after 3 days (was 30 before)
Change: Removed some fax-in area codes (provider related, service level could not be guaranteed)
PamFax application 2.0.x.16 (PamFax Windows only)
Fixed: Installer no longer flashes but downloads all files at once
Change: Removed check if Flash is installed
Change: Updated scanner module with better scanner support
Feature: Availability of a full install package which does not download anything (Link: http://www.pamfax.biz/PamFaxFullInstaller.exe)
Vista Sidebar Gadget 2.0.0.11
Feature: Added PamFax inbox so you can see incoming faxes
Feature: Added auto-update function
Fixed: Occasional disconnect with “server error”
Written by Dick on 10. July 2009 in category PamFax
The team is currently working on revamping the video recording module in Pamela. It is a feature requested and used a lot and the 1.0 version we have currently has some limitatons. We have addressed some of them in Pamela 4.5 but are still not happy with the results.
So, we decided to re-write the entire module from ground up based on DirectX. This is a Windows subsystem which allows for easy access to audio and video components in Windows.
The engineers have created a first test application which works flawlessly already. The CPU usage is between 3-5% and thus really low. The output file is WMV format which is compressed and a lot smaller then the current AVI. There will also be no more requirement to select a codec or install one so the trouble with this will be gone too. We are testing this internally and plan to release this in Pamela 4.6.
The inital results are very promising. I will keep you updated as the development progresses.
Oh, you may ask yourself when we plan to release this module? With a bit of luck it should be out second week of July.
We’ve just pushed out the second server and first user application update out to the live systems. Since the launch on April 27, we’ve had a lot of good but also some critical feedback. We’re analyzed the feedback carefully and prepared the two updates. By the way, you can always see the server and local application version in the bottom left corner of the PamFax application window. The second digit from the right is the server version number and the furtest right is the local PamFax application number. The server number may change without an application update which means we released an update to the server.
The changes we made in server version 2.0.2.x were mainly focussed on fixing some key backend issues like login problems, stability and performance.
The changes made in todays release (2.0.3.x) are:
Local PamFax application: Improved printer driver (Windows)
Local PamFax application: Installer shows real filenames (Windows)
Local PamFax application: No more installer timeouts (Windows)
Server: Improved “forgot password” function on Portal login page
Windows users will be prompted for an automatic update when you start PamFax.
With this update we have addressed the most mentioned issues. However as we continue to strive for perfectionism, please keep the feedback coming via our helpdesk system.
We are currently collecting the feedback and checking the servers intensively for further improvements. The main points of focus, besides bugfixing, will be:
Further increase PamFax application performance (startup and responsiveness)
Roll out improved fax conversion systems
On the conversion servers we already have achieved remarkable results which I will share with you soon. We are coming closer and closer to our objective to make a fax come out as if it is a printed document.
Yesterday a joint Skype/PamFax promotion went live on the Facebook pages of Skype for Business.
Till November 30, 2008 you can get a coupon code that will add 5 free (zone1) fax pages to your PamFax account. For further details and how to get the code see the Facebook promotion page.
You can find the home page of Skype for Business on Facebook here. Everyone is free to join the group and invite others. Keep an eye on it for further promotions!
Written by Dick on 13. November 2008 in category PamFax
Beginning this year we have founded the “Scendix Software GmbH” which focusses on selling our “off the shelf” software products like Pamela, Call Recorder, mcePhone, etc.
As of October 1st, Pamela has been switched over to this new company. In addition we upgraded the Pamela Store to a complete new solution. After 2 years of working with the old store, we now have a real solid platform. The PamFax store already uses the new system.
The new store provides a much better shopping experience as products are grouped better with detailed descriptions, requirements and direct download possibility. Now we are able to offer license packs for all products. Support for multi currency is built in. The new system provides you with an account login area where you can retrieve your activation code as well as download an invoice. Upgrading Pamela is also a lot easier. In addition the new platform allows us to do promotions and affiliate deals much simpler, so stay tuned!
- The PamFax Windows Vista Sidebar Gadget was just published to the Windows Live gallery (see PamFax Gadget details page). Give it a try and experience a complete new feeling and comfort of sending faxes.
- In the next three days, Dick and myself will be in Athens, Greece at the Skype Developer Days 2008. This is a great yearly event and always a great opportunity to meet the Skype staff and a lot of interesting people working with Skype. After Prague, Czech Republic back in 2007 and Tallin, Estland in 2006, we are really looking forward to visit Athens this year for this event.
- TapiRex updated: We finally managed to update TapiRex to version 1.7.2. This update fixes some problems like the error message after wakeup, reverse lookup in Canada, …
Just download and install the newest version from the downloadpage.
We also started an experiment with Open Source: the next version of mceTapiRex has been published as Open Source. We have uploaded the complete source code of the current development version of mceTapiRex V2 to CodePlex: Open mceTapiRexV2 on CodePlex. We hope that many developers join us to develop this very nice TapiRex plugin to the next stage. If this works well, we can start thinking of making other components of the TapiRex system open source…
Written by Christoph on 15. September 2008 in category General News,PamFax
We are proud to announce the new version of mcePhone for Skype, which brings Skype to your TV using Microsoft Media Center (2005 or Vista). This next version 2.2 will have integrated Skype Video calls and Skype chat support.
This is a screencam of the complete overhauled version with new UI:
Unfortunately, Skype was unable to add an API to Skype in the past 3 years to give us access to the video of Skype calls directly, although we have asked and pushed hard for so long. As Skype video calls on TV was the most requested feature of mcePhone, we have invested a vast amount of time to make this possible even without any change from Skype’s side. With this new version, you will get fullscreen Skype video of the person you are calling on your TV and even see your video in the lower left corner (see ~1:30 in the video above).
Another very nice new feature is Skype chat integration: While you can still see the current media playing in the lower left corner of your TV (i.e. while the commercials are playing), you can chat with your friends and family. You even get a notification overlayed over your current media (TV, DVD, …) if a chat message comes in. With one click, you are in the chat conversation to answer the incoming chat message (see ~3:30 in the video).
We plan to make a beta of this new version available very soon to you. Be prepared to get a totally new feeling of Skype in your living room
Let us know what you think.
Written by Christoph on 1. August 2008 in category PamConsult
Our callerID-notification tool TapiRex was updated to version 1.7.1. This update improves the communication between the server and the clients and the reverse lookup for contacts.
Also available is now a free plugin for reverse lookup in your Google contacts. This plugin was built by Thomas Ardal using the free TapiRex SDK (see http://www.codeplex.com/trexgooglecontacts). We hope that more users and companies follow this example and add more functionalities to TapiRex. We are more then happy to help you with that if you want to.
The license keys from previous orders are still valid in this new version. To update TapiRex, just download the latest version from our website and run the setup without uninstalling any previous TapiRex first. Be sure to say “No” in the installation when it asks to replace the file “data.mdb” to keep your call-history. The call-history and all settings will then be available in the new TapiRex as well.
Read about new stuff on Pamela for Skype, Pamela Call Recorder, PamFax, mcePhone, Jaast and our other media center solutions and digital home projects. But we will also share interesting things with you that we bump into. Profit from our more than 6 years of Skype and eBay experience. Enjoy!
In the next three days, Dick and myself will be in Athens, Greece at the Skype Developer Days 2008. This is a great yearly event and always a great opportunity to meet the Skype staff and a lot of interesting people working with Skype. After Prague, Czech Republic back in 2007 and Tallin, Estland in 2006, we are really looking forward to visit Athens this year for this event.
