Jack 3.2.1 Released – Hello Asynchronous Downloads

I am pleased to announce the release of version 3.2.1 of Jack for AmigaOS and Amiga-like operating system.

Please visit OS4Depot, Aminet, AROS Archives or MorphOS Files and check it out today.

What’s New?

The most significant change in this version is the introduction of asynchronous downloads in the App-Store.. asynchronous what?  This means you can now download more than one item at once or continue to use as normal without ‘blocking’ the interface.
This new version of Jack also sports an arexx port with (initially) a small selection of Arexx commands on offer.

What’s Fixed?

See the changelog.

 

Thanks for your continued support, I hope you enjoy this latest release.

Jack 3.1 released

Jack 3.1 is now available on OS4Depot.

In the distribution you will find versions available for OS3/4, MorphOS and AROS.

SO WHAT’S NEW?

• Comprehensive Download Manager in the App-Store
• Added suport for AROS, Classic and MorphOS computers in the Community Statistics panel and elsewhere
• Improved general caching within the AppStore and increased archive name recognition database
• Platform-independency and removal of all (most) third-party tools and applications including Curl/Wget
• From now on all URLs are called via the OpenURL suite
• Watermarks fixed in single-image mode
• All fonts are now anti-aliased
• Many more numerous bug fixes and optimisations
• For full list of changes and bug fixes, read the .readme or the documentation included

Both the MorphOS and OS3 are untested and require through testing by myself, and the Amiga community.

Please join the new Jack Beta Mailing ( jack_beta@freelists.org ) – ensure you include the word ‘subscribe’ (without-quotes) in the subject of your email.

Thank you, I hope you continue to enjoy Jack for… everyone!

Download Manager (Update)

A quick update on the progress of the alll-new singing and dancing Download Manager for Jack.

At present the Download Manager doesn’t allow for asynchronous downloads, this will come in the future when I’ve learnt some more about the HTTP Protocol, but for now just about everything is working and the next update of Jack will be available shortly – fingers crossed for the weekend.

Jack for AmigaOS, Jack for MorphOS, Jack for AROS, Jack for Classic….

Yeah thats right I’ve started porting Jack to the other Amiga-like OSes in the last couple of weeks and so far have most of it working under AROS, still a fair way to go mind.

I have set up a mailing list, if you want to Beta Test Jack under one of the ‘Other OSes’ please send an email to jack_beta@freelists.org with ‘subscribe’ in the subject heading.

For the time being check out the increased number of options now available against each and every software released on OS4Depot.

Calling All Developers

Are you a developer? If the answer is Yes read on.

Do you receive any donations for all your hardwork? If the answer is a little or not much, please continue to read on.

Looking for yet another way to reach out to end-users? Of course you are!

Introducing the new Download Manager coming soon to Jack.

The new Download Manager can allow end-users to send a donation direct to the developer.

All you need is a PayPal account in order to receive donations.

Check out the images below to see how the process works.

“So how can I get involved as a Developer?”

How much does this cost me? Nothing, but the time it takes to get in touch with me by email; see my profile on AmigaWorld.

Still Interested? Simply provide the following information in your email:

1. Send URLs to files hosted on OS4Depot*:

* Fully qualified URL to the file
e.g. http://www.os4depot.net/share/audio/misc/ahirng.lha

2. Your preferred currency to receive payments in, e.g. GBP, USD.

3. The paypal email address in which you would like to receive payments into.

Mission: Platform-Independence

Hi,

Quick weekend update, made a start on porting Jack for another OS.  What’s this Icaros Desktop no less?

Not sure why the window transparency is not in effect, Hollywood or AROS limitation perhaps?  Also the mouse pointer is all skewed and non-recognisable.  Still, nice start.  Configured a few helper applications along the way, foreinstance ArosPDF is called instead of AmiPDF, MultiView instead of NotePad, FinderV3 instead of AmigaOS4-centric Find and a few more fixes to get this working in a new environment.  Still a little way to go to get everything working correctly, the hardest part was getting TO the interface.  Enjoy!

Wanna help speed up the porting effort?
 
Join the Jack Beta Mailing List: jack_beta@freelists.org. Don’t forget to insert subscribe in the Subject. Thanks I look forward to hearing from you.

Download Manager

Screenshot preview of the next upcoming version of Jack for AmigaOS.

Currently working on introducing asynhcronous downloads, in other words support for downloading multiple items at the same time.

Please comment and tell me what you think!

Bye bye dependancies

Hello reader,

Today and yesterday I trawled through Jack’s heavy codebase and removed all Wget and Curl dependancies.  Instead, they have now been replaced with Hollywood 5′s new Network Support commands.  This is addition to yesterday’s work on the new Download form available in the menu bar – making it easier than ever sign-up and get involved.

In regard to Jack itself – this was quite a lengthy job given that Jack uses a fair amount of network connectivity under the hood, here is a short list of areas effected by this changeover:

• Account Login and Sign-Up
• Account Password Management, i.e. Change Password/Forgot Password
• Featured Apps Page
• Rating Software
• Downloading of Applications/Software
• Uploading of your Knowledge-Base submissions
• Retrieving the OS4Depot software repository

Not got Jack yet?  Click Download above, fill in the quick form to join the App-Store and away you go!

Jack for AmigaOS 2012 on YouTube

Uploaded a new video on to YouTube showing (just about) everything Jack for AmigaOS has to offer.

Please like it and share it, enjoy!