Changelog for Mac Helpmate Version 2.6

Bug Fixes


• Fixed the broken Network Scanner so it is no longer reliant on coffer.com for vendor information
• Network Scanner now downloads vendor information from the IEEE for faster processing
• Added better error handling to the Network Scanner for situations when a network connection is not available
• Added "Export" feature to network scanner to save the scan as tab-delimited text
• Fixed bug when resetting Software Update Server under Leopard
• Improved speed and error handling during screen sharing startup
•Faster Launch Times
• ASR multicast server now properly identifies versions of Mac OS X 10.4 > 10.4.9
• Fixed an issue where disabling Auto HelpMate filled the system.log with annoying (but harmless) messages

Changes for Mac OS X 10.5

• Improved ASR multicast server performance
• Added toggle for "Screenshot shadows" to Prefs tab
• Added toggle for "Time Machine Background Effect" to Prefs tab
• Added cleaning routine for "Clean User Font Caches" to Clean tab
• Clean User Caches is now more thorough
• Added "Alert on Time Machine Backup Failure" to proactive alerts

Proactive Alerts


• Any alert may now be disabled by setting it to a value of "0" - which allows for more granular control in the "Disks and Memory" section of the alerts
• Alerts now default to "0" for low memory and pageout alerts
• Added Added "Alert on Time Machine Backup Failure" to Disks portion of the alertsScreen Sharing / Control
• Growl now shows a notification for each machine that is shared, rather than just the first machine in the popup list
• Improved screen sharing setup now has "unified" connection and URL in the Auto HelpMate connection manager
• Subscribers may now activate screen sharing on up to five machines simultaneously through Auto HelpMate, including end users manually sharing their screens
• Addition of "Auto HelpMate Standard" for unlimited computer registrations for Auto HelpMate users
• Addition of "Mac HelpMate ZIRO (Zero Interaction Roll Out) for screen sharing via URL
• Availability of Mac HelpMate Widget to initiate screen sharing from DashboardAuto HelpMateImproved user interface
• Sessions initiated with Mac HelpMate version 2.6 and later (and Auto HelpMate version 1.3 and later) now appear as "Unified" above the "Legacy" connections of older versions which contained two parts - connection and URL
• Interface refinements including better viewing at all screen widths
• Added a time zone offset preference so that time stamps appear in your local time zone in the connection managerNew Features and Capabilities
• Auto HelpMate Standard (you must be an Auto HelpMate subscriber as well as a Mac HelpMate subscriber to use this feature) with unlimited registrations
• Auto HelpMate Pro (you must be an Auto HelpMate subscriber as well as Mac HelpMate subscriber to use this feature)
• Added the ability to set "first alert" offset for Auto HelpMate Pro clients for networks which might frequently go offline and come back online (such as wireless networks)
• Added "SMS-friendly" alerts option that limits alert email to a single text message
• Basic Hardware Information for Auto HelpMate Pro client machines - updated every six hours, or by request

New capabilities and features of Mac HelpMate version 2.6 - overview

About Auto HelpMate Standard and Auto HelpMate Pro


Starting with the release of Mac HelpMate version 2.6, there are now two classes of Auto HelpMate registrations: "Standard" and "Pro." Machines running version 1.3 of the Auto HelpMate client may be moved from "Standard" to "Pro" and back. Machines running earlier version fo the Auto HelpMate client may be managed as "Pro" only.


Auto HelpMate Pro


This is the same Auto HelpMate capability that has been included with Mac HelpMate since version 2 was first released, with some useful additions. Auto HelpMate Pro is targeted at managing servers or mission critical machines that need to be constantly monitored or for computers that are managed as a service offering (managed service) where service providers are looking for a revenue opportunity. Auto HelpMate Pro machines have the following capabilities and features as of the release of Mac HelpMate 2.6:

• Online presence tracking updated every minute
• Screen Sharing that activates in approximately one minute
• Up/down alerts by email when the machine is out of contact with the connection manager for more than five minutes
• Configurable interval for up/down alerts with repeated contact by email if desired
• Basic Hardware Profile and Mac OS X version now available within the machine record, as well as Ethernet address and external IP address
• 100 Auto HelpMate Pro registrations per subscriber (additional Auto HelpMate Pro registrations are priced at $175 per 100 per year)

Auto HelpMate Standard

Auto HelpMate standard is a new capability that all Auto HelpMate subscribers have in addition to their 100 Auto HelpMate Pro registrations. There is no limit on the number of Auto HelpMate standard registrations. Auto HelpMate Standard is targed at consumers, SOHO users, or for entire sites, such as education one-to-one deployments. Auto HelpMate Standard machines have the following capabilities and features as of the release of Mac HelpMate 2.6:

• Unlimited Auto HelpMate Standard registrations for each subscriber with Auto HelpMate
• Online presence tracking updated every six hours
• Screen Sharing that activates in approximately one minute
• Ability to ascertain the external IP address of the machine

About Mac HelpMate ZIRO

Since the release of Mac HelpMate 1.0 in March of 2006, subscribers to our service have had one outstanding feature request: to make it easier for end users to share their screens. The AutoShare version of Mac HelpMate went a long way towards achieving this goal, as it started screen sharing once the application was download and launched by an end user. However, for some end users, the process of navigating to the download link and the act of downloading, locating, and launching Mac HelpMate proved to be challenging. Now, Mac HelpMate ZIRO streamlines that step by offering a single-click download-and-launch experience via a URL either posted on a web site, emailed to an end user, or even transmitted via a chat session (provided that the chat service supports URLs). No accounts to configure or sign up for, no downloading on the part of the end user. After the screen sharing session ends, the end user may either keep or dispose of the Mac HelpMate application - it's their choice.

Here's how Mac HelpMate ZIRO works:

• Each subscriber may download their individual launcher for Mac HelpMate ZIRO from the Auto HelpMate connection manager
• The Mac HelpMate service provider either posts a link to their ZIRO launcher, or emails the launcher to the end user (or chats it)
• The end user downloads the ZIRO launcher, which then securely downloads the service provider's AutoShare version of Mac HelpMate to the end user's Desktop
• The ZIRO launcher then starts Mac HelpMate, initiating screen sharing

Key Usage Information

1. Mac HelpMate version 2.6 is backward-compatible with all previous versions and installations of Mac HelpMate, Win HelpMate, Mac UserMate and Auto HelpMate. There's still only one program for sharing and control.
2. Mac HelpMate version 2.6 supports Mac OS X 10.3, Mac OS X 10.4, and Mac OS X 10.5. It supersedes and replaces all previous versions of Mac HelpMate. We highly recommend everyone immediately begin distributing version 2.6 and replace as many copies of MHM in the field as possible as soon as possible. Everyone using Mac HelpMate should upgrade to take advantage of improvements.


•••Important••• Please also use MHM v 2.6 for any new Auto HelpMate registrations (as well as to update existing registrations - this is very important). Many outstanding issues with Auto HelpMate have been addressed and resolved in version 2.6 and the Auto HelpMate components bundled with it. While we have no immediate plans to discontinue support for older versions of the AHM components for machines which currently exist in the connection manager, we will be disabling Auto HelpMate registrations for Mac HelpMate versions < 2.5 on October 15, 2008.


3. It is easy to upgrade Mac Helpmate and Auto HelpMate remotely. Instructions on how to do this will be posted soon on the Auto HelpMate/Mac HelpMate connection manager. If you've never logged in, simply visit https://www.autohelpmate.com, and log in with your control username and password. At the top of the page, you'll see links to subscriber resources and information.
4. For support, we still encourage emails direct to developer@machelpmate.com.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Please check the Auto HelpMate/Mac HelpMate connection manager by logging into http://www.autohelpmate.com with your control username and password before emailing us or posting on the forum to verify that you and your customer have both connected to the Mac HelpMate gateway.