For full compatiblity with the new features available in version 2.7.0 of the Vectir PC software, users should be running version 1.5.0 or later of the Vectir WiFi remote control phone software or version 2.6.0 of the Vectir Bluetooth remote control phone software. At the time this post is being written, the latest client phone software is not available in all supported app stores but should be within the next few days.

Users upgrading from existing versions of the Vectir PC software should make sure they have the latest remote profiles. They can be downloaded from http://www.vectir.com/download/remote-profiles/.

Vectir 2.7.0 also has a new dependancy on the microsoft .net framework 3.5 SP1. If you are currently running a previous version of the .net framework, the Vectir setup will guide you through the process of installing .net 3.5 SP1. The auto update feature will also not trigger on any versions of Vectir before v2.7.0 due to this new dependancy.

Summary of updates in Vectir 2.7.0:

• Support for paging in large media player menus
• Support for new albums by artist menu
• Minor bug fixes
• New dependancy on .net framework 3.5 SP1

Android WiFi remote control version 1.4.7 and Bluetooth remote control 2.5.6 have also been released. These mobile versions include some bug fixes and compatibility updates for server version 2.6.0.

Summary of updates in Vectir server 2.6.0:

• WiFi server hostname option
• WiFi server PC sleep/wakeup problem fixed
• Winamp trackname fix
• Winamp plugin memory leak fixed
• Auto update feature fixed
• Profile fixed databindings for application states

For full compatiblity with version 2.5.3 of the Vectir PC software, users should be running version 2.5.5 of the Vectir Bluetooth mobile client software or version 1.4.6 of the Vectir WiFi mobile client software.

The Vectir WiFi Remote Control client is available for download in the Android Market under the Media & Video section. A search for “Vectir WiFi Remote” should find the product download page.

The Vectir Bluetooth Remote Control client is available for download in the Android Market under the Media & Video section. A search for “Vectir Bluetooth Remote” should find the product download page.

Vectir 2.5.1 also features a number of minor bug fixes and improved remote desktop performance.

Vectir 2.5.0 features a new file browser menu type. This feature allows users to browse their computers hard drive directly from their mobile phone and open selected files. A file browser menu may be attached to any remote profile. This allows quick and easy launching of files associated with the profile from an optional customisable base directory.

Another new feature in Vectir 2.5.0 is the inclusion of a mouse touchpad control in the remote profile designer. This control when loaded on a touchscreen mobile phone will allow the user to control their PC’s mouse just like a laptop touch pad.

To take advantage of the new features listed above, users must be running the latest version of the Vectir mobile software (Bluetooth 2.5.0 or WiFi 2.4.0).

Summary of updates in Vectir 2.5.0:

• File browser menu type added
• Remote profile menu designer updated
• Mouse touchpad control added to remote profile designer
• Winamp unicode track select bug fixed
• Minor bug fixes

Instructions for updating earlier versions of Vectir to work with file browser and touchpad features:

First of all make sure you have Vectir 2.5 installed. The easiest method is to use the auto-update option (Help > Check for updates).

You will then require profiles compatible with the new features. The file browser and touchpad features are available in the latest system profiles available for download from the remote profiles download page. Import the profiles from File > Import. An alternative (and faster) method is to run the device setup wizard again (Tools > Setup Phone or Hardware Device). Note that your original profiles will not be overwritten and the new profiles will be in a new group and the profile names will have (2) appended to them if profiles with the same name already exist. Once the profiles are imported, you can load the new system profile and start trying out the new features.

Alternatively, if you wish to update existing profiles or create new ones to take advantage of the new features, here are some instructions to help you get started.

Touchpad profile
Edit an existing profile or create a new one. In the Remote Profile Designer, you will notice a new TouchPad control has been added to the toolbox. Add this control to your design, position and size it appropriately then load the profile on your phone and test.

File browser
Edit an existing profile menu or create a new one. On the Menu Designer dialog, set the menu type to File Browser. Optionally set a base directory to load when the profile loads. Click OK when finished then load the profile on your phone and test.

Due to the popularity of Nokia touch screen phones, a dedicated “Nokia touch” profile group is now included in the Vectir setup package. A big “thank you” goes to Saurav Srivastava for providing a Windows Media Center touch screen remote profile and Dark13 for providing iTunes and Winamp touch screen remote profiles.

The latest release of the Vectir mobile software (Bluetooth v2.4.0 and WiFi 1.3.0) also includes full Blackberry trackpad compatibility. The Blackberry system profile has been updated for trackpad mouse remote control.

Summary of updates in Vectir 2.4.0:

• Artist/Composer/Genre menus added for Winamp, WMP and iTunes
• Playlist track preview menus for Winamp, WMP and iTunes
• Updates for multiple menu levels in remote profiles
• Nokia touch screen profile group included
• Remote profile designer arrow key positioning
• Remote profile designer window size remembered and restored
• Vectir window size remembered and restored
• Minor bug fixes

• Control new applications
• Interface with hardware devices attached to your computer
• Quickly add WiFi or Bluetooth remote control support to your own .net applications
• Use the example RemoteApplication project to control your own .net applications over a TCP/IP network
• Stream text or image data to remote profiles running on the Vectir mobile software

Example C# projects are included in the SDK to help users quickly get started with Vectir plugin development.

The SDK is available for download from the Developer page.

A number of bug fixes and updates are also included in the latest Vectir PC software release. The high CPU usage problem related to writing messages to the activity log text box control have been significantly improved. The text box is no longer updated when the activity log panel is collapsed or when Vectir is minimized to the system tray. When the activity text box is visible, the CPU usage during updates has been reduced. Another important update is the inclusion of a workaround to the .net framework bug that causes the Vectir menus become unresponsive. No Vectir users should encounter this problem any more.

Summary of updates in Vectir 2.3.1:

• Updates for Vectir SDK release
• WMP updates
• Touch screen profile multiple progress bar bug fixed
• Window maximized with auto hidden task bar bug fixed
• Workaround included for .net framework non responsive menus bug
• Support for 800×600 screen resolution
• Activity log text box high CPU usage problem significantly improved

Nokia 5800 Xpress IR Remote Control Profile

With the help of a device called the USB-UIRT, Vectir lets you control your TV, DVD player, Stereo or other IR device from your mobile phone. When the USB-UIRT is plugged into your PC, it can be used to record IR signals from any standard IR remote control. Vectir stores these signals as Send IR commands. The Send IR commands can then be mapped to keys on a mobile phone connected to your PC over Bluetooth or WiFi. In this mode of operation, Vectir works as a Bluetooth to IR or WiFi to IR converter.

Here are some instructions for setting up Vectir to control your TV or IR device with a USB-UIRT.

1. USB-UIRT Preparation
Make sure your USB-UIRT drivers are installed and your USB-UIRT is plugged into an available USB port.

2. Create Remote Profile
In the Vectir PC software, create a new remote profile and name it to match the IR device you wish to control. “TV Remote Control” for example. Download links for the remote profile and profile skin image used in this example are at the end of the post. The remote profile has been designed to fit the display of a Nokia 5800 Xpress but should also fit other Nokia touch screen phones. For all other touch screen phones, resize the background image to fit the screen resolution of your phone. For non touch screen phones, may either design a custom background image or use text labels to indicate which keys will control each IR command.

3. Setup IR Send Command
In the right hand Setup panel, expand Hardware > USB-UIRT > Commands. Drag the item called “Send IR” into the “Key Commands” folder of your IR remote control profile.

The “Send IR Command Setup” dialog will load. Follow the dialog instructions to record an IR signal from your remote control. When a signal has been recorded, the dialog status will change to say “An IR code is available”.

Click the Save button when you are ready. The IR send command will now be stored in the Key Commands folder of your remote profile. Rename the command to match the button that you pressed on your remote control. In the following example, a play button was recorded.

4. Map Phone Event to IR Send Command
If you own a touch screen phone, right click on the IR send command and select “Add Touch Screen Event”. Select the name of the button you wish to control the command and a new event will appear under the command.

If you own a phone with a keypad, connect to Vectir from your phone and load the IR remote control profile. In the Vectir PC software, right click on the IR send command and select “Add Touch Event”. The Event Setup dialog will load. Now press the button on your mobile phone that you would like to control the IR send command. The Event Setup dialog will close and a new event will appear under the IR send command. Rename the event to match the button that you pressed on your phone.

5. Repeat For Remaining Commands
Repeat steps 3 and 4 for all remaining commands that you would like to setup.

6. Test!
You can now load the IR Remote control profile on your mobile phone and start remotely controlling your TV and other IR devices!

Downloads:
Nokia 5800 Xpress IR Remote Control Profile
IR Remote Profile Skin