This page lists changes that we have made in successive releases of StarTraX. They are listed with the latest changes first.
I am constantly looking for ways to improve the realism of the replay and to walk the tightrope between the desire to display a great deal of detail and at the same time provide a smooth animation – both of which put enormous loads on the computer processor to perform immense numbers of calculations a blistering speeds. The fact that a domestic desk-top computer can come close to achieving this is a constant source of amazement and awe!
This release, StarTraX 3.6.2, contains further enhanced the replay mechanism which have yielded a further major step up in replay smoothness. You can now zoom right into the cockpit of your fast moving aeroplane or hover 50 metres from your skier carving down a back run. You can follow your paragliders from a distance, or close in as they tightly circle in the thermal. It’s not perfect, we know – but given the practical limitations of the processor in your desktop PC or laptop and your broadband internet connection, it’s pretty good (even if I do say so myself!). These improvements apply both to the Standard and the Premium Edition. Experimenting continues with coding techniques to deliver even more realistic replays.
Some major improvements have also been made to the multi-tracking feature (in the Premium edition), providing a simpler method of loading multiple tracks by making multiple selections from the Windows File open dialog box instead of having to load each track separately. The details are explained in the User Notes installed with the program update.
It also contains a fix to the bug that prevented it running on computers with older versions of Google Earth.
New features include: For all StarTraX editions - Additional track file type -FAI/IGC gliding format - .igc. This enhancement has been implemented by integrating GpsBabel with StarTraX, making it easier for us to add additional file formats as requested.
For Premium Edition - Real-time track details display - see your speed, VSI or identity next to the moving model.
Version 3.5 is now available from the download page. It features a major re-write to deliver a far smoother animation. The User Interface has been upgraded with a new Menu structure which reduces the clutter on the front screen. The Professional Edition now supports multi-tracking. If you share your activity with GPS equipped friends (or competitors), then you can now animate all your tracks simultaneously.
The Premium Edition contains powerful new features to enrich your GPS track replay experience including: Fast Forward replay speed
Track smoothing Graphical Track Profiling Scenery Import Track coloring by VSI "Smoke Trail" Realistic banking
Details are available in the User Notes provided in the program download or directly from the Download page. Registration details are at StarTraX Premium Edition.
Now Windows 7 compatible - but see download page for info on registration keys. New Scenery features - add your own KML files for more reality. Improved File, Track and Point display
In this release, 2.1.0, we are delighted to introduce incredibly life-like models - planes, cars, bicycles, skiiers etc. to put you right into the picture.
This is a "point release" with a few modifications but a re-built back-end to read GPX files and write KML to Google Earth. The main user enhancement is the new "Follow/Observe" button which improves viewing of paragliding tracks. It also has additional progress information as GE is loading, initially and when loading image for a new track.
This is a radically improved new version that has been extensively re-engineered to interact with Google Earth's recently released Plugin and API. All the original features have been incorporated along with a bunch of new features to improve your animation experience. Download StarTraX 2.0.1 now from the download page.
Item
Modification
Reason
1132
Add Time (local) to GE balloon on the track points. Accessible by mouse-click on the track point.
Makes it easier to work out the direction of travel, and to identify the point.
1134
Re-do licensing. Remove requirement for MAC address registration.
Potential users were reluctant to provide their MAC address to a stranger. Fair enough.
Item
Modification
1130
ADD NMEA functionality
Item
Modification
Reason
1113
FIX - no need to uninstall old version of StarTraX before installing a new version.
1124
Locate the KML's in a %TEMP% and check its existence.
Were located in hard-coded Program Files directory, prevented users' flexibility.
1126
Improve waiting for GE to load. Warn only if user accesses StarTraX before GE loaded.
Improve user's experience.
1128
New head up display for Camera position and for Segment details using Screen Overlay.
Improved method of displaying animation details.
Item
Modification
Reason
User Notes
1114
FIX Crash when no time on tracks
Some tracks have no time, but still you may want to see them in ge.
1115
FIX GPX elevations.
Wasn't reading the GPX elevations, so OK in clamped mode, but failed when flying.
1116
Increase unlicensed timescale from 30 to 90 seconds
30 seconds was too short for a real review.
Item #
Modification
Reason
User Notes
1106
FIX loading GE
Still not working smoothly
Now waits till GE is "on line" and 100% loaded.
1107
Build custom control.
Improve the look and simplify the user interface.
Item #
Modification
Reason
User Notes
1098
Display distance with the point number.
Improve the user experience.
Additional menu option under "Options" to toggle the display on/off. The distance from the start of the track can now be displayed next to the point number on every tenth point in the distance units chosen from the drop down Units combo box.
1099
Improve the start up, when it waits for GE to load.
Clearer instruction and slightly improved sensing of when GE is loaded.
Puts up a message box at start-up if it senses GE not fully loaded. Still not perfect and can cause a crash.
1102
Fix to the "smooth altitude" function.
Wasn't working well.
The "Smooth Alt" button was not working well.
Item #
Modification
Reason
User Notes
1091
Deploy
the Network Link at run time. Warning - StarTraX will crash if you say OK before GE is up and
running.
Relieve
the user from having to set it up
Put
the Network Link in "My Temporary Places". Make sure it is
disabled if it exists when setting up. This could happen on second load of
StarTraX without a GE re-start.
1092
Add
facility to read KML files generated by GPSVisualizer. Warning - This only works with tracks containing time stamp
information.
Provide
a wider range of applicable file types.
Appears
as another file type in the Files menu.
1093
In
file load, search for a range of file extensions and deduce the type
Simplify
the user's experience. No longer have to choose format.
1094
Improve
camera elevation
Was
not following the track’s elevation –remained fixed at the nominated
elevation from the horizontal.
COM
API's limitation on camera tilt - prevents above horizon. Posted in Google
Groups KML Developer Support forum 15/5/08
1095
Make
it invulnerable to international differences. The GPX file uses period as
decimal separator.
Crashes
in Norwegian for example, when the decimal separator in decimal numbers, such as lat/lon, is a period (.) and the local representation is a comma(,).
To
do with locale. Force culture to "en-AU" English (Australian)
within the program.