ATTENTION: Due to a problem in 1.40, I released a quick fix, which was version 1.42.  However, that didn’t really fix the problem, so I did it again and released 1.44.  Unfortunately, this problem was not likely to have been found during testing no matter way (weirdness in how Flash converts strings to numbers that would not have affected the string “0139” the same it affected “0140” (version number).  I apologize for the rapid updates, but I WILL release updates as much as necessary to correct problems with jScompass.  Thank you for your understanding.

Happy new year!  Today I am pleased to make available jScompass version 1.44.  This version incorporates many new changes and additions, as well as significant changes to the internals of the compass.  /vout is restored!  This new function will only operate if both persons (you, and the person you perform the /vout command on) are both using this version (or higher) of jScompass.

New features in the “Manage vecollections” panel allows you to quickly enable and disable entire vecollections, and give you more control over which vecollections are added to your compass configuration.  The first time you launch this version of jScompass, you will be offered all of the vecollections that used to be automatically included.  Select “Add” or “Skip” on each one.  Also, all of your old vecollections will be migrated to the new method.  If at any time, you want to be asked about these vecollections again, use the new command /vemote reoffer or /ve reoffer.  Volume is now able to be changed while an ad is playing, with the /ve vol ## command.

Also, the /url command now works differently.  If the url to invoke is a .JPG, .PNG, .GIF, or .FLV, it will now open internally.  Also, YouTube URLs will be attempted internally (like /yturl does).  If you want to force something to be done the old way, you can use /furl.  Also, you can disable this feature in the jScompass Options by selecting “classic” /url Mode.  Please let me know if you have any trouble with this new function.

One other thing … I made a commitment in the There Forums to make available a copy of the proxy script that is used for some server functions.  That can be downloaded at this URL: http://www.jscompass.org/hostedfiles/download.php?fileid=postproxy.  To override it, you need to create a section in your jscompass-config.xml called <override> and a tag called <postproxyurl> with the URL to your hosted postProxy.php file.  If you need help with this, please contact me.  Thanks.

I URGE YOU TO STRONGLY CONSIDER SIGNING UP AS A TESTER OF JSCOMPASS.  If enough people are able to test the compass and find problems before they make it into a general release, the compass would require less updates.  I feel obligated to release updates to correct significant problems, and because of the scope of changes made today, I expect at least one update will occur from this release.  I have tested everything as much as I can, but unfortunately sometimes problems don’t appear until after a release.  So, basically, I need more testers.  To become a tester, check out this page: http://www.jscompass.org/devdownload.  Please note… there is no test version right now, but there could be in the next few days/hours if the need arises to fix issues.

jScompass versions below 1.38 will be expired in the next few days, due to changes on the server.  Version 1.38 will be expired on an expedited basis as well, due to changes to vecollections and how they’re stored on the server.

Thanks so much for your support throughout 2009.  I never would have thought we’d be here today!  I look forward to continuing to make progress with jScompass throughout 2010.

One last reminder: The price of jScompass Paid is increasing on Monday, January 4, 2010 to 1000 TB (1K TB).

VERSION 1.39 AND 1.40 RELEASE NOTES:

• Added /retfrom all, to retrieve all items on loan to anyone.  This is different from /retrieve all, which retrieves all items that can be retrieved.
• Changed vecollection code substantially. Now vecollections that were normally always included will be offered to you at login.
• Restored /vout command in a new way that operates only on jScompass Platinum users, but takes into account the privacy considerations that lead to the first /vout being removed.
• Added /ve reoffer command to re-offer any vecollections that you did not previously add.
• Added "Manage vecollections" panel and "vemote Browser", to view vemotes yourself.
• Added /drive, /getout, /lock, and /unlock by request of Krazytots.
• Added /bing for Bing.com search engine by request of Seckoa92.
• Changed /url command to allow preview of images (links ending in .JPG/.PNG/.GIF) and video (YouTube URLs or .FLV links) through internal viewers.
• Added /lisa's,lisas for The Tower @ Lisa's Loaners by request of Drain_Bramaged.
• Limited /dressup to once per 2.5 seconds, due to a few reports of the function being misused.
• Made changes to listener core to resolve some problems that can cause IMs to stop being listened to in some cases.  The new method is considerably more stable and also seems to have a performance advantage.
• Restored /vout command, in a different way that does not have the privacy considerations of the old command.  To use this command, both you and the person you’re using it on must be users of jScompass Platinum. Also added a “Platinum options” section to the jScompass Options panel, so you can configure “Always ask”, “Always allow”, or “Always deny” for this command.
• Redesigned /fav command to use a new type of XML Parsing, which should be slightly faster but more importantly have considerably less lag when parsing.  If it works properly in /fav, I will next apply this new method to “My Things” commands like /hold.
• Revised Privacy Policy.
• Added an option to host the proxy script used by jScompass elsewhere.
• Changed the Uninstaller to allow a “complete” or “normal” removal.
• Many small changes and fixes.