Refresh Community Forum - Blogs https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/blog.php Refresh Community Forum en Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:12:56 GMT vBulletin 60 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg Refresh Community Forum - Blogs https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/blog.php refreshbloghttp://feedburner.google.com 2012 Support Roadmap http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/3PvuKZpuQVU/entry.php Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:16:27 GMT Today Refresh is announcing our support roadmap for 2012. Based on extensive user feedback, both in the Refresh Community Forum and voluntary reports... Today Refresh is announcing our support roadmap for 2012. Based on extensive user feedback, both in the Refresh Community Forum and voluntary reports from Helios & Selene, we've made some changes to our current support discontinuation plan.

In order to provide the best support possible we are introducing a third classification to our server requirements. Moving forward PHP & MySQL requirements for Refresh Software will be identified as one of the following:

Required - Minimum version(s) required for Refresh Software to function.
Supported - The oldest version(s) currently eligible for the full compliment of Refresh product support.
Recommended - The version(s) currently recommended for the best user experience (performance, future readiness, etc.).

Versions not covered by one of these three identifiers will be unsupported for both software functionality & product support. The most up-to-date server requirements for Helios Calendar & Selene Directory are always available in the documentation.

PHP

Background on The PHP Group's discontinuation of support of PHP 5.2 is available here. (PHP Release History).

5.2.0 - 5.2.16

While there are currently no known functional issues with older 5.2 versions they are no longer being actively tested with Refresh Software. Because of the limited differences between 5.2.17 (aside from performance improvements & bug fixes) and older 5.2.x releases we expect that Refresh Software will continue to function with older, unsupported, releases of PHP 5.2 for as long as we support 5.2.17, however, use of these older versions is not supported.

5.2.17

In an effort to assist Refresh Software users in transitioning to 5.3 and newer PHP releases, we will continue to support 5.2.17 into 2012. Current support plans provide full support of 5.2.17 until at least 90 days after the release of PHP 5.4. We will reconsider discontinuation of support for 5.2.17 once PHP 5.4 is released.

5.3

The current release of Helios Calendar (2.0.1 at the time of this post) and the upcoming release of Selene Directory 2.0 do not make use of any depreciated features in, and provide full support for, all releases of PHP 5.3.

5.4

Helios Calendar 2.0.1 & Selene Directory 2.0 do not make use of any functions removed from PHP 5.4. We are currently conducting further tests on this platform and expect to provide full compatibility & support with 5.4 when it is officially released.

MySQL

Details on Oracle's support of MySQL are available here. (MySQL EOL Notices)

5.0

We have received word from Refresh Community Members that, at least a minority of shared hosting web hosts, are currently only providing support for MySQL 5.0. This version of MySQL has transitioned into "Sustain" support from Oracle/MySQL AB. While there are currently no known functional issues for Refresh Software on this version of MySQL, and Refresh does not have immediate plans to implement functionality unavailable in this release, use of this older version is not supported.

Note: Helios Calendar 2.0 did not support installation on MySQL 5.0. Users requiring MySQL 5.0 installation support should use Helios Calendar 2.0.1 as it conforms to our new server requirements and permits installation.

5.1 & 5.5

The current release of Helios Calendar (2.0.1 at the time of this post) and the upcoming release of Selene Directory 2.0 fully support both of these versions of MySQL.

5.6

Helios Calendar 2.0.1 & Selene Directory 2.0 are currently being tested on this platform. We expect to provide full compatibility & support with 5.6 when it is officially released.

Thanks to the Refresh Community

User feedback significantly impacts development and support. We'd like to thank all of the Refresh Community Members who contributed to this discussion as well as those Helios & Selene users who contribute volunteer statistics regarding their installs. Current users can turn reporting on/off within their Helios Calendar & Selene Directory admin consoles.

While this overview represents our current plans this conversation is ongoing and you are welcomed to visit the Refresh Community Forum to join in the discussion. ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=43 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=43 Celebrate the Holidays with 20% Off! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/-QOb_GdYPok/entry.php Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:17:40 GMT


We're celebrating the holidays all December long with a 20% discount.

Helios Calendar License - $149 - $119
Selene Directory License (Still 50% Off!) - $149 - $75
Upgrades & Support Subscription Renewals - $49/$99 - $39/$79

Discounts are applied to your order automatically within the Refresh Members Site shop and are available now!


The Fine Print: Holiday discounts are available for a limited time. Cannot be combined with other offers (the largest of all your available discounts will be applied to your purchase at time of order). Discounts not available for developer licenses. Refresh wishes you and yours happy holidays! ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=42 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=42 This Facebook Thing Might Catch On http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/2VgECyYU-T8/entry.php Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:48:26 GMT Today we're excited to announce two new opportunities to connect with Refresh through Facebook. In addition to the opening of the official Refresh Facebook Community we've also added a variety of new Facebook features to the Refresh Community Forum.

Join the Official Refresh Facebook Community

Like Refresh at Facebook to join the Refresh Facebook Community for access to the latest updates on Helios Calendar & Selene Directory, to connect with Refresh staff, interact with other Refresh Community Members and more.

Click here to join us at Facebook.

Connect with Facebook at the Refresh Community Forum

Accessing the Refresh Community Forum is now easier than ever.

Current Community Members connect your Facebook account to your forum account for one click login and to post forum items to your wall.

New to the forum? Click the Facebook Connect button above to use your Facebook account to access the forum quickly and easily, publish forum items to your wall and more.

We've also added new sharing options for forum threads and blog posts. Like, Tweet & +1 buttons make sharing forum updates on your favorite social network easy.

More Ways to Connect

A comprehensive review of all the ways to access updates, news & announcements has also been added to the forum.

Click here for details. ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=41 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=41 <![CDATA[What's Next for Selene Directory]]> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/mQXn4T4ZIFs/entry.php Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:12:54 GMT The last sixteen months have been significant for Helios Calendar. With the recent release of version 2.0 we've reached the completion of over a year of planning & development. This accomplishment is, as we often - gratefully - cite, a testament to the outstanding support of the Refresh Community.

Over this same time period, however, several members of the Refresh Community have been pulling double duty. We have, albeit more slowly and quietly than with Helios Calendar, been diligently discussing and reviewing Selene Directory. While those conversations have bore much fruit we've not spoken publicly about Selene Directory much recently. That changes today.

Several weeks ago we began, in earnest, our efforts to dramatically re-imagine Selene Directory. Inspired by recent progress with Helios Calendar, as well as a mountain of user feedback, we set out an ambitious roadmap for what will ultimately become Selene Directory 2.0 (we'll discuss the version change more in a bit).

What Made the List

As is likely no surprise, many of the hallmark features of recent Helios Calendar releases will make their way to Selene Directory. These include:
  • Themes (HTML5, CSS3, Microdata, etc.)
  • Mobile Directory (Full Featured and Unified with "Full Site")
  • SEO Improvements (Canonical URL, SEO Breadcrumb, Microdata)
  • New Validation (HTML5 Input & JavaScript Library)
  • Admin Console Updates (Reports, Password Requirements, Social Tools, Design, etc.)
  • Google Maps Update (API V3, Mobile Browser Support, etc.)
  • Improved Caching (Lists, RSS Feeds, etc.)
  • Disqus Comments Support
  • Library Updates (TinyMCE updated, PHPMailer added, OpenID & wz_tooltip removed)
  • Browser Specific Functionality (Jump List - IE, Quick Dial - Opera, Speech to Text Input - Chrome)
  • Component Integration Support
and much, much more.

But Selene isn't just playing catch up. We're also adding a variety of unique features that have been requested by Selene Directory users. Including:
  • Browseable Listings Map (Filter By Category)
  • New Category Settings & Options (Description, Visibility: Show/Hide, Display on Map, etc.)
  • New Custom Field Types (Select List, Number)
  • Custom Field Settings & Options (Required, Placeholder, Min/Max/Step - Numbers, Options - Select List)
  • Improved Custom Field Validation
  • Flexible Paged Navigation
  • Redesigned Category Browse
  • Significantly Improved Category Caching
  • Improved, Category Type Specific, Listing Browse Layout (Classifieds, Directory, Knowledge Base & Links - all easy to customize)
and several other surprises.

A (very early) changelog has been made available in the documentation. However, it will be a work in progress over the coming weeks and subject to much revision.

What about version 1?

When we sat down to create the list of development for what was going to be the next release of Selene Directory it became apparent very early on that it was going to be a far more significant update than any we've completed previously. Because so much of what makes Helios Calendar 2.0 "version 2" is going to be included in this update for Selene Directory, and because the two applications will be equal in many core features (themes, admin console, third party libraries, utility functions, etc.) it made sense to version them equally to reflect this and skip Selene Directory 1.0.

What about current Selene Directory users?

When we original released Selene Directory 0.9.1 we promised all "early adopters" would receive free support & upgrades until one year after version 1.0 was released. This will NOT change. On the day Selene Directory 2.0 is released all existing licensees will have their upgrades & support subscriptions extended for 1 full year from that date (regardless of their original license purchase date).

What about that discount?

It's not going anywhere. The current 50% discount for Selene Directory will remain available until version 2.0 is released. Yes, you can buy a license today at half price, get 2.0 as a free upgrade and then get support & upgrades for a full year from the date 2.0 is released. (We love you too. :))

(Fine Print: Discount is for a "standard" license only. Details)

Ok, great. When can I see it?

How about right now? We've published a very early (be gentle) preview of the public directory portion of version 2.0. There is still much to be done, but we think the current preview helps show where we're headed.

Click here to visit the Selene Directory 2.0 preview.

If you'd like to share your thoughts on version 2.0, or Selene Directory in general, join us in the Think Tank. More Soon! ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=39 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=39 Share. And Share a Like. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/MSe1a6lURsY/entry.php Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:34:28 GMT We regularly receive emails from Helios Calendar users asking how they can show their support. I'll be the first to admit that up until now we've (inadvertently) made this far more difficult than it needs to be. Even while Helios Calendar has made it exceedingly easy to engage socially around events, Helios Calendar publishers had no easy means to show their support of the software powering their calendars. When we sat down (for the first time in 3 years...how time files) to redesign HeliosCalendar.com we made certain to address this.

Buttons, Buttons & More Buttons

Featured prominently on the HeliosCalendar.com homepage are now the familiar (particularly to Helios Calendar users) host of sharing buttons. It's now easier than ever to share, or share a like for, Helios Calendar. Just visit HeliosCalendar.com and pick your favorite social network (or two :)) and start clicking.

Click here to share Helios Calendar.

Reviews You Can Use

Many members of the Refresh Community are familiar with HotScripts.com, because that is where they first found Helios Calendar. As you may be aware Hot Scripts allows users to post reviews and rate software listings. Refresh has long encouraged Helios Calendar users to post (honest) reviews to Hot Scripts because, as a third party service, it provides an unfiltered platform.

Click here to post a review at Hot Scripts.

Community Resources

We also offer a variety of resources here in the Refresh Community Forum. For public feedback & review of Helios Calendar (and Refresh in general) community members are welcomed in the Soapbox forum. In addition to this there is also a section we call the "Think Tank", which is a place for community members to post suggestions, feature requests and engage in open dialog about current and future Helios Calendar development. Conversations in the Think Tank have directly influenced every release of Helios Calendar since it opened in 2008 including detailed discussion of Helios Calendar 2.0, the Newsletter rewrite of 1.7 and ongoing development in Selene Directory among it hundreds of topcis and discussions.

Click here to visit the Think Tank.

Click here to step on the Soapbox.

We hope this brief overview makes it easier for you to access Helios Calendar sharing & feedback resources. As always we'd love to hear what you think about ways to further improve upon these efforts. Visit the Think Tank or just send us an email. ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=38 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=38 The cake is (for this year) a lie. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/Uyt5Cid663U/entry.php Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:56:17 GMT So September 10th came and went this year without much fanfare, which was a huge disappointment given that last year we actually got cake... So September 10th came and went this year without much fanfare, which was a huge disappointment given that last year we actually got cake. Tardy as we might be for a birthday celebration, this week we celebrated a milestone significant in it's own right. The release of Helios Calendar 2.0.

As you are very likely aware version 2.0 is the culmination of over a year of planning & development. The Refresh Community has been invaluable since the very beginning in providing feedback all along the way. Version 2.0's release is a testament to the support of Helios Calendar users around the world.

Upgrades & Support Discount

We're celebrating the release of version 2.0 with a 20% discount for all expired upgrades & support subscription renewals. Renew your expired subscription in November and save 20% when upgrading to version 2.0.

HeliosCalendar.com

This week also saw the launch of a brand new HeliosCalendar.com. In addition to a new design we've expanded the content available and improved the organization and navigation making it easier to get to know Helios Calendar.

Thank You

As we mark the beginning of Helios Calendar's second version, seventh year and twenty-seventh release we'd like to thank the Refresh Community. Reaching this milestone has truly been a team effort and we're very excited to finally make it available. We hope you enjoy using it as much as we all enjoyed building it.

Download Version 2.0 Now ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=37 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=37 Helios Calendar 2.0 Blog Series Recap http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/V17VgX1JarY/entry.php Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:49:08 GMT With the release of Helios Calendar 2.0 just around the corner we thought we'd take a few minutes, just in case you've missed it, to recap our recent 2.0 blog series.

Helios Calendar 2.0 Blog Series

An Introduction - A high level look at some of the big changes coming in 2.0.

HTML5...So What? - Go beyond buzzwords to why HTML5 is important and what it brings to Helios Calendar 2.0.

From Templates to Themes - A detailed look at how we're reinventing public calendar design for 2.0.

Something for Admins - A behind-the-scenes look at design changes to the 2.0 admin console.

The Other Stuff - A look at a few of the other upgrades and improvements we're introducing in 2.0.

Early Access

Don't forget, existing upgrades & support subscribers can request early access to version 2 by joining our beta. Visit the forum for more details.

To preview version 2.0, check out the Helios Calendar demo. ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=36 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=36 Helios Calendar 2.0: The Other Stuff http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/L_vDof5hSxo/entry.php Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:35:39 GMT Given all the discussion of Helios Calendar's new themes it could be easy to overlook all the other new, and improved, that's part of version 2.0. In this, our last post in the Helios Calendar 2.0 blog series, we're taking time to briefly discuss some of the other aspects of 2.0 that we don't want you to miss.

Venue Maps

Version 2.0 introduces a variety of changes to Helios Calendar's use of Google Maps. With support for version 3 of the Google Maps API, venue maps now provide streamlined tools and improved functionality. Helios Calendar's new themes makes it easy to use custom maps push-pins, improved map syndication provides better event & calendar promotion and maps now include customized native tools, allowing users to browse events more quickly and easily than ever.

SEO Improvements

We've discussed HTML5 and the addition of microdata to themes previously, however, these are just the first in a series of SEO improvements. Canonical URLs are now supported for the entire public calendar, including every event and location profile. SEO breadcrumbs make indexed pages within popular search engines more useful by providing users additional "first link" options. The mini-calendar in 2.0 utilizes the same "bookend" navigation, introduced to calendar browsing in recent 1.x releases, significantly reducing the appearance of "blank pages" within the public calendar and further building on a string of SEO support improvements introduced over recent releases.

Click here to read more about Helios Calendar's SEO support.

New Event Approval Emails

Pending event approvals are even better in 2.0 with the addition of event promotion links in approval emails. Adding these new links to your event approval message allows event submitters to begin promoting their submitted events directly from their inbox as soon as they are notified their events have been approved.

Improved Syndication

Fewer steps and greater flexibility make it easier for users to syndicate events and venue maps from Helios Calendar in version 2.0. Rewritten event & location data objects, streamlined code and data caching improve performance and reduce server workload.

Click here to read more about syndication (and view samples).

Better Integration

Component integration has been completely rewritten for version 2.0. With just a single function call it is easier than ever to add Helios Calendar components to your site and provide an even better calendar experience.

Click here to read more about integration (and view samples).

Browser Specific Features

For some users the changes they experience in version 2.0 will be unique to their browser of choice.


Internet Explorer 9 Jumplist

Windows 7 users with Internet Explorer 9 will be able to pin Helios Calendar to their taskbar for access to a custom jumplist for easy calendar access.


Opera Speed Dial

Opera users can add Helios Calendar 2.0 to their Speed Dial to see a custom formatted layout to review the days events and quickly access the public calendar.


Chrome Speech-to-Text

For a futuristic event searching experience Chrome users can tell Helios Calendar the types of events they're interested in just by saying them out loud.

Just the Beginning

But this is still just scratching the surface. We've added dozens of other improvements, enhancements and fixes and now that we've made it to beta you can try Helios Calendar 2.0 on your site. Click here for details on how to request your copy of the beta.

Additional Resources

2.0 Preview
2.0 Changelog
2.0 Forum Discussion ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=35 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=35 Helios Calendar 2.0: Something for Admins http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/85wFEIKvjZE/entry.php Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:36:00 GMT In recent updates we've discussed at some length the changes public calendar users will experience with Helios Calendar 2.0, however, we have also added some important updates behind the scenes just for admin users. Thanks in large part to user feedback, the admin console updates in 2.0 further refine the Helios Calendar publishing experience making calendaring with Helios easier than ever.




The first update to greet admin users is the new admin console signin. In addition to a new aesthetic the signin form has been reorganized to make it easier to use.




The redesigned date select makes it easier to work with date inputs and has been updated throughout the admin console.



A redesigned data grid presents data in a cleaner, easier to read layout. Selection highlighting makes it easier to browse for individual records so you can locate what you're looking for more quickly to accomplish tasks more easily.



Newly rewritten CSS3 tooltips provide context relevant help when it's needed and stay quietly out of the way when it's not.




Helios Calendar's admin console favicon now notifies signed in admin users when pending events are awaiting approval. Firefox & Chrome users can used pinned tabs for realtime updates while working in other tabs making it easier for admin users to provide quick turn around on user event submissions. (Additional details are available in the documentation.)


But these highlights are just the beginning. We've updated and improved dozens of other minor design elements within the admin console, including:




Imageless, CSS3 menus and meters.




HTML5 input support (number input, in Google Chrome, shown).

and much, much more.

Changes You Won't See

The addition of HTML5 and CSS3 support in the public calendar has been carried into the admin console as well. Version 2.0 brings the same rewritten markup to the admin console which is the cornerstone of our public calendar rewrite.

Try It

You can preview the new admin console in it's entirety now by visiting the 2.0 Development section of the Refresh Community Forum. Current Helios Calendar users who want early access to version 2.0 can volunteer to help test the alpha release when it becomes available next week to be among the first Helios Calendar users to start working with version 2.0.

More soon! ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=33 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=33 Helios Calendar 2.0: From Templates to Themes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/ky1RaZQ0mSk/entry.php Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:41:53 GMT In our last update we discussed the role HTML5 will play in version 2.0, but there is more in store than just a change in doctype and a few new... In our last update we discussed the role HTML5 will play in version 2.0, but there is more in store than just a change in doctype and a few new inputs. To continue our look forward to 2.0 today we're discussing in more detail how Helios Calendar's existing template is being replaced by new themes.

From Cookie-Cutter...

As the examples in the samples gallery illustrate, Helios Calendar's 1.x template makes it easy to match the overall design of the public calendar to any website. This ease of customizing the overall design, however, is limited when it comes applying more complex customizations.

Our current approach utilizes a group of core files (that we call "component files") that are included in the template through simplified aliases to make putting together the "pieces" of the public calendar a relatively straightforward process (a process discussed in the documentation here). The advantage to this is that users who want to make overall design changes, to plug the calendar into an existing site design for example, can do so quickly and without touching much PHP code. This approach, however, has two significant drawbacks. First, users who want to make nuanced customizations have to dig into component files that contain content code (logic/data manipulation) in addition to presentation code (design/layout), requiring varying levels of modification to PHP code in addition to markup. Additionally, because these files contain content and design code they must be updated when upgrading to a new version, applying required updates to content while also overwriting design customizations, forcing users to reapply their customizations.

...to Individualized

We're addressing these shortcomings in version 2.0 in two ways. The public calendar rewrite, while notable for a transition from XHTML to HTML5, is, in truth, more about rebuilding the public calendar structure than just switching markup type. The single template file has been replaced by a more flexible, multi-file, theme structure. Presentation (design) code is now compartmentalized, multiple themes can be uploaded to a single install and replacing the "just installed" look is as easy as uploading a new theme.

Version 2.0 will ship with two included themes: the new default theme and a mobile theme designed specifically for mobile devices (like iOS & Android phones and tablets). We're also developing other themes for version 2, like our classic theme, which closely mimics the design and functionality of the 1.x default template. The classic theme, and others, will be available at the launch of our new Helios Calendar themes gallery (more on this below).

Comparison of the default and classic themes begins to highlight some of the new customization capabilities themes provide. In addition to the overall design differences between these two themes we've taken advantage of the new flexibility available to include a number of variations in both the design and functionality of the default theme. A few examples include:

Event Details Page (Classic Theme - Default Theme)
Location Map (Classic Theme - Default Theme)
Location Profile (Classic Theme - Default Theme)

These simple examples only begin to scratch the surface of the types of detailed customizations that can easily be accomplished using themes in version 2.0.

Not Just Prettier, Smarter

While half of what was once our component files is now contained within the new themes structure, the other half has been replaced by a diverse set of new core functions. What themes provide for presentation, our new core functions provide for content. In addition to separating logic and data manipulation from design we've introduced sweeping changes to Helios Calendar's internal documentation with expanded and improved PHPDoc comments support. For users of the many popular IDEs that support inline display of DocBlock documentation working with Helios Calendar will be easier than ever.

Long-term Impact

While introducing clearer division between content and presentation allows greater possibilities for customization it also makes upgrading to future releases much easier. Currently, if a component file is customized those customizations have to be reapplied after upgrading because the new version of the file, while required for content updates, doesn't contain the user's design customizations. By organizing content responsibility outside the theme structure we are able to easily apply updates to this code without disturbing the design changes users have made within their themes (which remain unchanged when upgrading). Additionally, users can now also easily extend their themes with custom functions of their own design. Advanced users can even utilize core functions within these modifications (which, because of their better internal documentation have a much lower learning curve).

Moving forward this approach will not only allow Helios Calendar users greater freedom and flexibility in creating a variety of both functional & design customizations, it will be easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the latest updates in core development by easily transitioning customizations upgrade-to-upgrade.

Join In

Now that initial development for 2.0 is "complete" we will shortly be making available our pre-beta ("alpha") testing release. As part of the extended beta program for 2.0 Refresh will be making copies of Helios Calendar 2.0 available to all upgrades & support subscribers to allow them to both assist us in testing 2.0 as well as to begin work on developing their own themes in preparation for the official release of 2.0. Keep an eye on the News & Announcements section for the alpha release announcement for details (coming soon).

Another exciting part of the beta pre-launch will be the start of work on the new Helios Calendar Themes Gallery (part of our HeliosCalendar.com site rewrite). Web Designers of the Helios Calendar community who are interested in building custom designed themes for version 2.0 should keep an eye on the blog for our theme drive announcement for a chance to receive fabulous swag :) (coming soon).

Last, but certainly not least, we've just posted another sweeping update to our preview install with the first alpha build. You can sample all of the new functionality in version 2.0 by visiting the preview and review the complete changelog in detail within the documentation - all of the details are available in the Think Tank. ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=32 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=32 Helios Calendar 2.0: HTML5...So What? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/021M16Ee4u8/entry.php Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:31:28 GMT Well, that was a fast couple months. We've made some exciting progress on version 2.0 since our last post and, as promised, are here with an update. Today, we're taking a bit more in-depth look at the impact HTML5 will have on the next major release of Helios Calendar.

Markup

In version 2.0 we've completely rewritten Helios Calendar's markup and as part of this rewrite we've transitioned from XHTML 1.0 to HTML5. In addition to introducing a variety of new HTML5 tags (which we'll discuss in a moment) we've restructured all of the markup so that it is both more simplified and semantic. Not only is the markup better organized and easier to navigate, but with the introduction of specialized HTML5 tags and better use of traditional tags the learning curve for working with Helios Calendar 2.0 is lower than in any previous version. This means users of all experience levels will be able to dive deeper into customizations and complete them faster.

SEO

One exciting aspect of HTML5 is the improved search engine friendliness it promotes. One of the biggest changes related to SEO in Helios Calendar 2.0 is the introduction of HTML5 Microdata. Embedding data within pages in a standardized format allows us to unmistakably tell search engines what the contents of the page are and how they should be used. Events, Venues, Navigation and more can be more accurately and easily represented to search engines, and ultimately more accurately indexed, in Helios Calendar 2.0 using these techniques.

We're also introducing support for SEO breadcrumb navigation in 2.0. Breadcrumbs have long been a user friendly means of navigation, but with the addition of the new breadcrumb data item Helios Calendar 2.0 allows that same navigation hierarchy to be indexed by search engines, providing users browsing search results even more options for which page they click to first when visiting your calendar.

Form Improvements

Aside from the new theme, the first change you will likely notice is the dramatic improvements we've made in forms. New HTML5 form inputs, more user friendly validation, clearer input requirements and more have all been added to 2.0.

Forms have received a lot of attention in HTML5 and we've made significant changes to them in Helios Calendar. With over a dozen new input types, HTML5 opens up a lot of new opportunities for customized form creation. In Helios Calendar 2.0 we're kicking things off with support for four new unique input types: Email, URL, Number and Tel(ephone) as well as two new input attributes: required and placeholder. The most obvious affect these additions will have is on validation. When an input is set to a type of Email a user's browser will now require them to input a valid email address, when an input is set to a type of URL they'll be prompted to enter a valid URL and so on. Required fields, you guessed it, they'll be required and placeholders will provide context relevant information to users before they fill in the form to help make things easier. The advantage HTML5 offers (in the browsers that support it) is that this validation is consistent across all sites that implement these new standardized techniques, offering a significantly improved user experience. We have also completely rewritten Helios Calendar's JavaScript validation library. In 2.0 we've not only streamlined the code so that it is leaner and more efficient, but we've also changed how it performs. In addition to the dialog notification currently provided, form inputs needing attention are now assigned a unique CSS class (which you can easily customize) that highlights the field, making it clear to the user which fields they need to address before resubmitting.

CSS Toys

CSS3 makes it possible to add a wide variety of "polish" easier than ever before. Unique fonts, image free effects, animations and much more are now as easy as adding a few lines of CSS. With Helios Calendar 2.0's more semantic markup you'll be able to dive in and get weird with your styles more easily and with CSS3 do more than ever to customize your calendar exactly the way you like it.

We're also employing some of these new design techniques in the admin console for 2.0. A ("detailed" :)) blog post about these changes is forthcoming, so keep an eye out here for more info soon.

Backwards Compatibility

HTML5 and CSS3 are both "living" standards. This means, to an extent, that we're all aiming at a moving target. Each of the major browsers support these new standards in slightly different ways, and to very differing degrees. If you're using Opera or Chrome, for example, our new number inputs will include arrows allowing you to change the value, users of other browsers will just see the "plain" text input. This means that if you're using Internet Explorer 8 Helios Calendar 2.0 won't "feel" much different from 1.7.1, however, if you're using the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox or Opera version 2.0 will feel a world apart. This difference will continue into the future as support for the things we're adding in 2.0 are improved across all major browsers. Users who more rapidly upgrade their browser will see these changes more quickly. In addition, support within Helios Calendar for further aspects of HTML5 will increase as browser developers increase theirs (we've got our eyes on Time, Date, Meter & much more), this trend will continue through subsequent 2.x releases.

We're not leaving users of old browsers behind. Our new HTML5 markup and CSS3 styles "degrade gracefully", meaning, for example, if a user's browser doesn't support the new input type they'll simply see a text input (just as they always have). This means users of older browsers will continue to experience Helios Calendar the way they always have, while users of newer browsers will have immediate access to the latest updates, but both will be able to work with Helios Calendar without issue. In addition, we're including "compatible" changes in 2.0 to provide an improved user experience for older browsers. Our new JavaScript validation, for example, more closely mimics the native HTML5 validation newer browsers support, to help bridge the gap and move users of older browsers forward more easily.

Give it a Try

Our preview install updates are ongoing. All completed development was posted to the preview this week and we've also freshly updated the changelog. Links to both are available, and our community discussion is continuing, in the Think Tank section of the forum. We'll also be posting several more updates before the release of 2.0 here in the blog, so keep an eye out for more details as we get closer to launch.

More soon! ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=31 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=31 Helios Calendar 2.0: An Introduction http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/5atxsfpVXzM/entry.php Fri, 20 May 2011 17:50:26 GMT Things have been quiet around the blog lately. Too quiet. We've had our collective heads down working tirelessly on version 2 of Helios Calendar and while bits and pieces have been shared in the Think Tank we've been waiting a bit to share our progress, and plans, publicly. That ends today.

Version 2 brings a lot of very important changes to Helios Calendar, changes that will have significant immediate impact and lay the foundation for growth for years to come. Over the coming weeks, leading up to release of version 2, we will be discussing these changes in detail here at the Refresh blog.

Your first question, "Why?", is probably the most appropriate. There are two ways to answer that. The short answer (or, tl:dr): it's time. More specifically (or, Chris gets to ramble for 600+ words), it's time to do three things: 1) embrace the future of the web, 2) clean up our six year old markup & css and 3) prepare for long-term growth.

HTML 5 & CSS 3

If you follow the world of web design & development with even a cursory interest, you've no doubt heard that HTML 5 and CSS 3 are going to usher in a wonderful new era. While this is true, it can be difficult not to get lost in a sea of buzzwords & hype, but to identify, in a practical way, how it is going to affect users day to day. In coming posts we will highlight specific aspects of Helios Calendar that are going to be impacted most heavily by our transition from XHTML/CSS 2 to HTML 5/CSS 3 with plain, accessible details (and probably just a bit of hype and a buzzword or two :)).

Long Overdue Housekeeping

Helios Calendar is now over five years old, but some of it's code and implementation techniques are nearly six. As with any continuously developed software of that age, it is beginning to show. One of the many benefits of revisiting our markup & css in transitioning to HTML 5 is that we're also able to rebuild and reorganize them using better, more modern techniques. These cleanup efforts are yielding code and markup that not only performs better and is more aesthetically pleasing, but that is far more accessible and shortens the learning curve for web designers and developers of all experience levels when working with Helios Calendar.

Laying the Foundation

Over the last several releases we've introduced a number of highly requested and exciting features to Helios Calendar. Newsletters, SEO Improvements, Location Profiles, new & expanded 3rd Party API/Service Support (Disqus, Twitter, bit.ly, etc.) and more have all helped continue to make Helios Calendar the most powerful and flexible calendar available at any price. With the introduction of themes, better mobile device support, faster & more scalable code, semantic markup and streamlined css Helios Calendar 2.0 lays the foundation for years of growth and will allow us to build features we all have on our wishlists. User accounts, calendar & event revenue (PayPal, Flattr, etc.), event invitations, blog support, location scheduling and much, much more, will ensure that Helios Calendar 2.x will enjoy the same quality evolution that has been the hallmark of version 1.

Ok, Enough Talk

All this talk is nice but where & when can you see it? Well, as promised we're rolling out pieces of version 2 as soon as they're "done enough" so that users can try everything out and provide feedback. We've been having an outstanding discussion in the Think Tank the last few months and you are welcomed to join us. There, you'll find details on, and links to preview, our work thus far and we will continue to update the Think Tank first when new items are ready and with details on what's coming next.

More to Come. (Much More) ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=30 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=30 Spring Cleaning: A Friendly Reminder http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/12nz7F2_O7s/entry.php Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:42:04 GMT Image: https://www.refreshmy.com/images/_blog/screen.png As you know, last year we announced that this *August 27th* Refresh would be dropping...



As you know, last year we announced that this August 27th Refresh would be dropping support for Internet Explorer 6 & 7. Last Monday (March 14th) Internet Explorer 9 was officially released and after celebrating it's first full week of availability we think now is a good time to start preparing for August.

Version 1.7.1 of Helios Calendar (available yesterday) is our last planned release for the 1.x branch. With the launch of version 2 (this summer/fall) we will be introducing a variety of new things (HTML5 & CSS3 chief among them) best enjoyed using a modern browser (there are many fine choices).

So take a moment to celebrate the start of spring (or Fall, for our friends south of the equator) and the release of Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 4 and Chrome 26 (they're up to 26 now right?) by upgrading your browser. Your computer will thank you.

(And remind your friends, August will be here soon. But not soon enough. :)) ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=29 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=29 Helios Calendar 1.7.1 Release Announcement http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/CGaZaZLG_TI/entry.php Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:24:37 GMT Today Refresh is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Helios Calendar 1.7.1. This latest release introduces improvements and new... Today Refresh is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Helios Calendar 1.7.1. This latest release introduces improvements and new features building on the 1.7 branch.

Lets Talk About Events (and Locations!)

New to Helios in 1.7.1 is native Disqus comments support. The Disqus service allows calendar visitors to comment on both events and locations within the public calendar. With social integration, sharing features, realtime updates and more Disqus provides a dynamic community building toolset centered around event discussion. By supporting secure login using accounts from many popular services, including: Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo and OpenID, Disqus makes it easier than ever for users to join in the conversation. We are very excited to be able to provide native support for Disqus comments in Helios Calendar with version 1.7.1 and we look forward to seeing the types of engaging social interaction that grows around it in the communities Helios Calendar serves.

For more information about Disqus you can visit their website or try it yourself now by visiting the Helios Calendar demo.

The next Helios Calendar

With the release of version 1.7.1 we can now turn our full attention to version 2. Planning for version 2 has been underway for several months and we can now publicly admit that in a secret bunker deep within the Refresh World HQ we've had our code monkeys hard at work on development for several weeks. There is still much to be done but the excitement around here is reaching a fever pitch.

In the coming weeks we will begin to highlight in detail what is in store and how we expect it will impact Helios Calendar users. Keep an eye out here, and in the forum, for details.

As you may know there are two long standing traditions here at Refresh. We're both huge proponents of user feedback and horrible at keeping secrets surrounding new development. Helios Calendar 2.0 will be no exception to either of these. We've already posted a preliminary changelog in the Think Thank and will be setting up a preview of Helios Calendar 2.0, while it's still far too rough around the proverbial edges, to allow Refresh Community members to preview coming changes and allow ample opportunity for feedback.

More Soon! ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=28 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=28 Helios Calendar 1.7 Now Available http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/refreshblog/~3/sjUlJcCFQWI/entry.php Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:09:46 GMT Refresh is very excited to announce the immediate availability of Helios Calendar version 1.7. This latest release includes a variety of highly... Refresh is very excited to announce the immediate availability of Helios Calendar version 1.7. This latest release includes a variety of highly anticipated updates including a complete overhaul of Helios' email newsletter functionality. I'm going to attempt to (briefly :)) address some of the highlights of this release but a full rundown is available in the (freshly updated) Helios Calendar documentation and eligible upgrade subscribers can download a copy now from the Refresh Members Site.

Better Control

Thus far, sending emails with Helios Calendar has been, in a word, unsophisticated. With version 1.7 Helios Calendar gains much finer control over how emails are sent. Remote mail server access, authentication (username/password) and security (TSL/SSL) support are all now included. Throttling settings for sending newsletters are now also supported to further fine tune sending emails, allowing Helios to operate smoothly in a wide variety of server/network configurations.

Subscriber management has been updated as well. Better organized browsing and integrated search make managing larger lists of subscribers easier. Subscriber groups have also been introduced to allow subscriber list segmentation, making it possible to send different types of newsletters to targeted subscribers.

Better Customization

Helios Calendar newsletter subscribers now have more options for customizing their subscriptions. Mobile site support (linking newsletter events to the mobile calendar) subscriber group options (to register for specialty newsletters) and improved subscription options make it easier for subscribers to manage their own subscription settings, personalizing the types of newsletters they receive.

More Social

Newsletter template variables have always made it easy to customize newsletters. Version 1.7 adds a variety of new social sharing tools to make sharing newsletters easier than ever. Publishers can now add official sharing buttons for Facebook, Twitter & Google Buzz anywhere in their newsletter templates allowing subscribers to share newsletters directly from their inbox. Additionally, when viewing newsletters in the public calendar archive these buttons provide an easy way for everyone, including non-subscribers, to share newsletters as well (and for administrators to see how popular their newsletters are).

Other Improvements

With all of the excitement surrounding the newsletter rewrite (finally!) it is easy to overlook everything else we've snuck in. Improved caching, bit.ly powered QR Codes, improved mobile device support, improved security, better internal documentation, improved iCalendar support and more are all included as well, but we're still just scratching the surface.

To review the full list of changes just visit the changelog. Or you can try out 1.7 yourself by visiting the freshly updated Helios Calendar demo.

More to Come

Version 1.7 definitely gets 2011 off to a great start, but we're just warming up. We are already hard at work on 1.7.1 which will bring big changes to comments and further improvements to event locations.

...and planning for version 2.0 is well underway. If you'd like to join in (or just check out what's in store) visit the Think Tank section of the Refresh Community Forum. ]]> chris https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=27 https://www.refreshmy.com/forum/entry.php?b=27