Simberon is proud to announce the release of the public beta 4 version
of ElastoLab - the Physics Playground.  This application is written in
VisualWorks Smalltalk with C++ primitives.  It allows you to develop 2D
scenes that incorporate particles, springs, elastics, gravity, air
resistance, and more.  You can find ElastoLab at
http://www.simberon.com.

David Buck
Simberon Inc.

Post a reply to this message

Is that little fella a frog or a stylized sphere? :)

<goes off to see "Elastolab">

Post a reply to this message

On Sun, 11 Mar 2001 08:16:26 -0500 David Buck wrote:

>Simberon is proud to announce the release of the public beta 4 version
>of ElastoLab - the Physics Playground.  This application is written in
>VisualWorks Smalltalk with C++ primitives.  It allows you to develop 2D
>scenes that incorporate particles, springs, elastics, gravity, air
>resistance, and more.  You can find ElastoLab at
>http://www.simberon.com.

  I just downloaded the public beta, David. Haven't had a chance to look at
it yet. On the Simberon site, the bar at the bottom of the page that
contains the following links:



  ...is a blue foreground on blue background and the minimal contrast makes
a little hard to see it using MSIE v5.5. The site looks good, though.

-- 
Alan
ako### [at] povrayorg
a k o n g <at> p o v r a y <dot> o r g

Post a reply to this message

On Sun, 11 Mar 2001 08:16:26 -0500, David Buck wrote...
> Simberon is proud to announce the release of the public beta 4 version
> of ElastoLab - the Physics Playground.  This application is written in
> VisualWorks Smalltalk with C++ primitives.  It allows you to develop 2D
> scenes that incorporate particles, springs, elastics, gravity, air
> resistance, and more.  You can find ElastoLab at
> http://www.simberon.com.

I've grabbed it and had a bit of a play, but it seems to have commited a 
cardinal sin as far as I'm concerned.  Where the hell is the offline 
help?

I personally object to the assumption that everybody is permanently 
connected to the net at all times, because I'm certainly not.

Other than that, it serves to point out the need for me to get a new PC 
:)

Bye for now,
     Jamie.

Post a reply to this message

Jamie Davison wrote:

> On Sun, 11 Mar 2001 08:16:26 -0500, David Buck wrote...
> > Simberon is proud to announce the release of the public beta 4 version
> > of ElastoLab - the Physics Playground.  This application is written in
> > VisualWorks Smalltalk with C++ primitives.  It allows you to develop 2D
> > scenes that incorporate particles, springs, elastics, gravity, air
> > resistance, and more.  You can find ElastoLab at
> > http://www.simberon.com.
>
> I've grabbed it and had a bit of a play, but it seems to have commited a
> cardinal sin as far as I'm concerned.  Where the hell is the offline
> help?

This is a beta version.  There's online help at
http://www.simberon.com/help.htm.  Offline help in the final version will be
in the form of video help files provided on CD-ROM, but these help files are
not yet ready.

> I personally object to the assumption that everybody is permanently
> connected to the net at all times, because I'm certainly not.

I understand this and may make the HTML files available in the download.
Having them available online helps me make changes quickly in response to
beta feedback.  I apologize if this is less convenient for you.  I assure you
that the commercial version will have plenty of offline help.  For now, I
need feedback on the usability of the package, bug reports, and general
comments for improvement.  Offline help is certainly an important one and
will be available.

David Buck
Simberon Inc.

Post a reply to this message

What will the cost be and when does the demo timeout?
d.

"David Buck" <dav### [at] simberoncom> wrote in message
news:3AA### [at] simberoncom...
> Jamie Davison wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 11 Mar 2001 08:16:26 -0500, David Buck wrote...
> > > Simberon is proud to announce the release of the public beta 4 version
> > > of ElastoLab - the Physics Playground.  This application is written in
> > > VisualWorks Smalltalk with C++ primitives.  It allows you to develop
2D
> > > scenes that incorporate particles, springs, elastics, gravity, air
> > > resistance, and more.  You can find ElastoLab at
> > > http://www.simberon.com.
> >
> > I've grabbed it and had a bit of a play, but it seems to have commited a
> > cardinal sin as far as I'm concerned.  Where the hell is the offline
> > help?
>
> This is a beta version.  There's online help at
> http://www.simberon.com/help.htm.  Offline help in the final version will
be
> in the form of video help files provided on CD-ROM, but these help files
are
> not yet ready.
>
> > I personally object to the assumption that everybody is permanently
> > connected to the net at all times, because I'm certainly not.
>
> I understand this and may make the HTML files available in the download.
> Having them available online helps me make changes quickly in response to
> beta feedback.  I apologize if this is less convenient for you.  I assure
you
> that the commercial version will have plenty of offline help.  For now, I
> need feedback on the usability of the package, bug reports, and general
> comments for improvement.  Offline help is certainly an important one and
> will be available.
>
> David Buck
> Simberon Inc.
>
>

Post a reply to this message

Dennis Milller wrote:

> What will the cost be and when does the demo timeout?
> d.
>

It will be $29.95 US according to current pricing plans.  On June 1, 2001, the
beta will timeout but you will be able to download a free demo from Simberon's
site.  There will always be a free demo version with some editing features
disabled (bitmaps, scripts, counters, and timers). The demo version can play all
scenes developed with the commercial version.

Incidently, discussions like this can be moved to Simberon's wiki site:
http://www.simberon-support.com:8080/ElastoLab+Beta+Test.  They really don't
belong on p.g.

David Buck
dav### [at] simberoncom

>
> "David Buck" <dav### [at] simberoncom> wrote in message
> news:3AA### [at] simberoncom...
> > Jamie Davison wrote:
> >
> > > On Sun, 11 Mar 2001 08:16:26 -0500, David Buck wrote...
> > > > Simberon is proud to announce the release of the public beta 4 version
> > > > of ElastoLab - the Physics Playground.  This application is written in
> > > > VisualWorks Smalltalk with C++ primitives.  It allows you to develop
> 2D
> > > > scenes that incorporate particles, springs, elastics, gravity, air
> > > > resistance, and more.  You can find ElastoLab at
> > > > http://www.simberon.com.
> > >
> > > I've grabbed it and had a bit of a play, but it seems to have commited a
> > > cardinal sin as far as I'm concerned.  Where the hell is the offline
> > > help?
> >
> > This is a beta version.  There's online help at
> > http://www.simberon.com/help.htm.  Offline help in the final version will
> be
> > in the form of video help files provided on CD-ROM, but these help files
> are
> > not yet ready.
> >
> > > I personally object to the assumption that everybody is permanently
> > > connected to the net at all times, because I'm certainly not.
> >
> > I understand this and may make the HTML files available in the download.
> > Having them available online helps me make changes quickly in response to
> > beta feedback.  I apologize if this is less convenient for you.  I assure
> you
> > that the commercial version will have plenty of offline help.  For now, I
> > need feedback on the usability of the package, bug reports, and general
> > comments for improvement.  Offline help is certainly an important one and
> > will be available.
> >
> > David Buck
> > Simberon Inc.
> >
> >

Post a reply to this message

Pentium III, 160.0MB RAM and win98, second edition 4.102222A.


*I don't have Direct8 , and I did not want to download it today either. It
is possible to assume then that I am deaf, -which is possible for any user,
isn't it? :-) .  Completely aware of this, I opened some scenes with sound.
It obviously  brings an error to the screen, which is perfectly normal. What
happens is that the box appears many, many times for the same error. I had
to reset the machine, because it crashed. Is it possible for that box to
appear only once, ?

*At About (Help) there is an Unhandled Exception, ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND (of
course there is no help yet), but once again, it appears a lot of times.

*Although it is a beta version, -or precisely because of it-, a readme. file
is highly needed. I think it is necessary to state at least the purpose of
the software, to whom is intended,  and what can you expect to do with it.
It also counts for a screen that can say the same. It should be able to
"sell"  the software and give the user a reason to buy it, I think.

* Changing "gravity" (Please forgive me if it is not that!) at the clown
scene, gives an error "Primitive has failed".

Appearance -or what I see-

*The installation process is neat, straightforward and almost independent of
the user. It looks pretty good also.
However, there is little consistency between the interface and the frog that
welcomes the user. Maybe this is the goal (to keep it simple ). I don't know
how changing button would compromise simplicity and objectivity.  On the
other hand, buttons seem understandable- :-).

*The right click function is obviously locked. I really hope it is used, at
least to give a description of what is going on on the screen. Speaking of
which, the text size -in "Tips" is big. Maybe it is my setting, 1280*1024
but I am afraid it would be worse at 800*600.


* Labels or some sort of "tip" would be nice when editing environment.

* I saw the unlock dialog at least twice in unexpected -to me- places.


Overall, I think it is possible more refinement, and interaction with the
user. I am not aware of all what is behind, but I perceive there is a lot of
work.



Best Regards,
Marjorie Graterol

"David Buck" <dav### [at] simberoncom> wrote in message
news:3AAB7AAA.D7C6D3B6@simberon.com...
> Simberon is proud to announce the release of the public beta 4 version
> of ElastoLab - the Physics Playground.  This application is written in
> VisualWorks Smalltalk with C++ primitives.  It allows you to develop 2D
> scenes that incorporate particles, springs, elastics, gravity, air
> resistance, and more.  You can find ElastoLab at
> http://www.simberon.com.
>
> David Buck
> Simberon Inc.
>
>

Post a reply to this message

You've raised some excellent points and pointed out a few flaws in the
distribution. I'll be posting a revised version shortly to address many of these
issues. If you don't mind, I'll post these points to the Wiki site
http://www.simberon-support.com:8080/ElastoLab+Beta+Test and follow them up
there rather than clutter up povray.general.

Thank you for your feedback

David Buck
Simberon Inc.

Marjorie Graterol wrote:

> Pentium III, 160.0MB RAM and win98, second edition 4.102222A.
>
> *I don't have Direct8 , and I did not want to download it today either. It
> is possible to assume then that I am deaf, -which is possible for any user,
> isn't it? :-) .  Completely aware of this, I opened some scenes with sound.
> It obviously  brings an error to the screen, which is perfectly normal. What
> happens is that the box appears many, many times for the same error. I had
> to reset the machine, because it crashed. Is it possible for that box to
> appear only once, ?
>
> *At About (Help) there is an Unhandled Exception, ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND (of
> course there is no help yet), but once again, it appears a lot of times.
>
> *Although it is a beta version, -or precisely because of it-, a readme. file
> is highly needed. I think it is necessary to state at least the purpose of
> the software, to whom is intended,  and what can you expect to do with it.
> It also counts for a screen that can say the same. It should be able to
> "sell"  the software and give the user a reason to buy it, I think.
>
> * Changing "gravity" (Please forgive me if it is not that!) at the clown
> scene, gives an error "Primitive has failed".
>
> Appearance -or what I see-
>
> *The installation process is neat, straightforward and almost independent of
> the user. It looks pretty good also.
> However, there is little consistency between the interface and the frog that
> welcomes the user. Maybe this is the goal (to keep it simple ). I don't know
> how changing button would compromise simplicity and objectivity.  On the
> other hand, buttons seem understandable- :-).
>
> *The right click function is obviously locked. I really hope it is used, at
> least to give a description of what is going on on the screen. Speaking of
> which, the text size -in "Tips" is big. Maybe it is my setting, 1280*1024
> but I am afraid it would be worse at 800*600.
>
> * Labels or some sort of "tip" would be nice when editing environment.
>
> * I saw the unlock dialog at least twice in unexpected -to me- places.
>
> Overall, I think it is possible more refinement, and interaction with the
> user. I am not aware of all what is behind, but I perceive there is a lot of
> work.
>
> Best Regards,
> Marjorie Graterol
>
> "David Buck" <dav### [at] simberoncom> wrote in message
> news:3AAB7AAA.D7C6D3B6@simberon.com...
> > Simberon is proud to announce the release of the public beta 4 version
> > of ElastoLab - the Physics Playground.  This application is written in
> > VisualWorks Smalltalk with C++ primitives.  It allows you to develop 2D
> > scenes that incorporate particles, springs, elastics, gravity, air
> > resistance, and more.  You can find ElastoLab at
> > http://www.simberon.com.
> >
> > David Buck
> > Simberon Inc.
> >
> >

Post a reply to this message

> > On Sun, 11 Mar 2001 08:16:26 -0500, David Buck wrote...
> > > Simberon is proud to announce the release of the public beta 4 version
> > > of ElastoLab - the Physics Playground.  This application is written in
> > > VisualWorks Smalltalk with C++ primitives.  It allows you to develop 2D
> > > scenes that incorporate particles, springs, elastics, gravity, air
> > > resistance, and more.  You can find ElastoLab at
> > > http://www.simberon.com.
> >
> > I've grabbed it and had a bit of a play, but it seems to have commited a
> > cardinal sin as far as I'm concerned.  Where the hell is the offline
> > help?
> 
> This is a beta version.  There's online help at
> http://www.simberon.com/help.htm.  Offline help in the final version will be
> in the form of video help files provided on CD-ROM, but these help files are
> not yet ready.

OK, fair enough.  Just so long as there was a reason for it not being 
there :)

I've just reread my post, and realised it looks incredibly aggressive, 
and for that, I apologise.

I'm not like that, honest :)

> > I personally object to the assumption that everybody is permanently
> > connected to the net at all times, because I'm certainly not.
> 
> I understand this and may make the HTML files available in the download.
> Having them available online helps me make changes quickly in response to
> beta feedback.  I apologize if this is less convenient for you.  I assure you
> that the commercial version will have plenty of offline help.  For now, I
> need feedback on the usability of the package, bug reports, and general
> comments for improvement.  Offline help is certainly an important one and
> will be available.

Ta, and again, sorry for sounding so aggressive.

Bye for now,
     Jamie.

Post a reply to this message