Okay, I finally got the packages uploaded to Google Code.

A new version is available through Software Update or on the Google Code page:

I fixed a bug that was preventing the program from downloading the latest Phoenix images, so this version is required for anyone who's using that functionality.

Since so many people requested renaming the images to match the image product id, the images are now copied to a "renamed" directory where they are so renamed. Unfortunately I have to keep the lg_xxx.jpg images where they are in the jpg directory, as the downloader uses them for comparison to see what needs to be updated. The images are also renamed when they are copied to the inbox folder now.

Finally, for Emily, a metadata.csv file is written to the {mmbdir}/Phoenix directory at the end of every Phoenix image update. This contains the metadata extracted from the jpgs, in csv form.

I haven't had much time to test this, so let me know what's wrong with it (or what you'd like different, within reason).

All hail Saint Michael, patron of raw image data!

I've updated MMB and the download is now running; so far so good. I seem to be getting veeerrrrryyyy slllooooowww download speeds on the larger autopan images, but that's not MMB's fault. If you build out the Phoenix functionality further, a feature request would be to have the option to toggle on or off the inclusion of autopan images in the update. But honestly I don't think that'll be such a big deal once I have run the first update completely.

Rubbing my hands in anticipation...barely able to suppress maniacal snickers....muhaha....

--Emily

"Fast Update" skips files over 500K for exactly that reason. But yeah, it could certainly be improved. Let me know how the metadata dump works out...

Actually things are going much faster now -- there don't seem to be as many autopans after sol 3. I'm now up to sol 7, so almost there.

--Emily

CSV metadata output is great, Mike. I'm husbandless tonight so I will work on my browse pages this evening and hopefully have them ready for people tomorrow.

Thanks again for the greatness that is MMB.

--Emily

Okay, just one last update, and then I'm done for awhile.

Just for the thrill of it, the latest version shows Phoenix images in the Update Viewer window as they download. And back in the MER panorama visualizer, I fixed the way that mousing-over hotspots makes the rover model appear, since it was bugging me.

That's it for awhile - possibly a long while. My next project is a game and has nothing (well, very little) to do with space; and it's running slightly behind schedule, so I need to get to work.

(Note to the moderator team: Yes, I know... seriously, this is the last one. )

For those that wanted to have a look at the MMB movies that MH made perviously that were on his dot.mac webspace ( but got taken down due to bandwidth issues ) - we've got bandwidth to spare...so they're re-posted here : http://mmb.unmannedspaceflight.com/


Doug

When MMB scans the folder for Phoenix metadata it appears to be scanning the entire folder, currently 7000+ images and increasing rapidly. Is there a way of avoiding scanning the entire folder or if not a way to shut that feature off.

The easiest thing will be to add a separate "generate Phoenix metadata" menu option and not do that as part of the update. I'll do that when I have a chance.

Hi Mike, the image renaming function of MMB's Phoenix image downloading thingy seems to be broken. Could it be a 10k image bug? It seemed to quit working right around the time that the images ticked over to filenames like "lg_10nnn.jpg"

EDIT: It's not broken for all, just some. And the JPEG headers on the ones that fail to be renamed seem to indicate that they are OM images, even though they're not, they're RAC and SSI images. Maybe the problem is on the LPL end...

--Emily

As far as I remember at the moment, I'm just taking the filename right out of the metadata. But I'll take a look later if I have time.

I got a reply from someone at LPL today saying yes, there was a bug in their pipeline, and that they had fixed it. Things seem to be working properly now. So don't sweat it, Mike!

They are having to repost all the images with the repaired headers; they seem to start around lg_11333.jpg, so those of you who view the images on the Phoenix website will see a lot of repeats starting on sol 43.

--Emily

Good, I'm glad it's not my problem. I can safely ignore other people's software problems

Okay, and here's a special message for MMB fans who may also have an iPhone or an iPod Touch: Go buy my game. Is this UMSF-related? Well it might be; if I can actually sell some of these, I might be able to do other things that are space-related. Oh and visit the website. Thank you.

Well, I'm not an iPhone user, so I'll just donate some money your way. Now I expect you to listen to all of my demands and get to work on them immediately!!11

Oh wait, I don't have any demands.

Hmmm...Actually, how about a truly 3D mahjongg, using cubical tiles. Imagine trying to remember what's going on with 6 different sides!