Progress Update - First run, offline mode, and Automations

I have some exciting progress to report!   Three areas, though offline and first run tie together well. And then a bit about the upcoming Automations UI that will be introduced, as well as a bit of where we're heading in February.

First Run

In software, the 'first run experience', or 'out of box experience' is usually the first thing a user sees when they start the software.  The settings UI you see above will be on the frame itself, and will be usable with a keyboard and mouse.  This will allow someone to setup the frame without worrying about if wifi is working or not, which caused alot of pain for those in different countries who need the wifi frequencies to be set to their country code before wifi will work at all.

We will also be bringing the above settings to the 'settings' page on the webUI. You'll be able to directly connect to the frame and then connect wifi to your home wifi if you choose.  None of this uses any hacks or crazy 3rd party software, we use the standard raspbian 'stuff' so advanced users will find the Wifi UI restored and be able to do whatever you'd like as well.

Offline Mode

Offline mode is progressing well...the frame will no longer require network, and if it's not networked it wont present a page stating so.  There will be a small notice (that you'll be able to turn off) displayed for a few seconds on boot, and then after that it'll just show pictures.  This should work great for the Gallery/gift scenarios.  We were able to figure out how to have the adhoc wifi showing...so if you want to connect directly to the frame to control it (even off home wifi..for instance at a gallery)...we figured that out and have had that work.  Wired networking is 'just' another network, so this works whether its wired or not (you can have it wired, connect 'directly' to it via wifi, control it over wifi OR wireless in that case, and then disconnect).  Let's just say there will be a lot more flexibility in the near future to use the frames how you want. When we get this into the alpha (at least a week out, but close!) then we can get more feedback about the actual implementation and ensure that we meet the use cases of our Patreons.

Note: The UI shown is placeholder UI, I'll work to make it much more appealing once we get functionality fully completed.

Automations

From the very start of the Patreon we had an ask about 'I'd like the frame to turn the screen off at a certain time'.  I always had a vision of that being much much more powerful...if we're going to do a certain time, then why not expose being able to do various tasks at those times...like setting the playlist values, or changing which tag filters (spoiler...exif tag filters are coming :) )  are set.  The UI you see is the first stab at that. I've got the engine for timing all done, and have part of the engine for 'commands' done.  The goal is that a series of actions or commands will be exposed, and you'll be able to say 'I want to run this command/action at this time during these days of the week, on these months'.  So you could:

Set a christmas playlist that only plays in December
Set a birthday playlist for certain birthdays
Turn off keywords to keep maybe images you wouldn't want kids seeing at a certain time, an then turn them back on at another time.  

The other thing about this approach is that if you want to turn it off at a certain time, but back on at another during the same day, you can.  It's not just a 'turn off at this time' type thing, but a much much more powerful engine.  

If you're a linux user familiar with cron, it uses a cron style syntax in the background, and there will be a UI exposing that level of control to the user in the most friendly way we can.

February

February is becoming the month where I'll get to expand some of the functionality I've exposed in the last three months and we'll really get to show the full vision of where this is headed.  Named Playlists that you can save and manipulate (the playlist editor, realized).  Exif tags getting back in.  An MQTT engine re -introduced which can hook into the commands mentioned above.  Frame Sync shoudl be back in January, but if it slips then February is where it'll land.  The overlay engine will become 'per playlist'.  For now, the automation UI should be a welcome entry point into a lot of that stuff coming in February and spilling over to March.


Thankyou so much for the support! We're slowly and steadily growing, which I love. We are all VERY excited about the above changes....internally we have said "We look forward to the day where none of our users have connectivity issues getting these on wifi".  I feel like this is the way.

Thankyou!
Joe
Geektoolkit