hotComm 7.0 Highlights
	Document number: hc.70 Copyright (c) 2001-2007 1stWorks Corporation. All rights reserved.

Revision 7.0 is a required upgrade, due to the new Timed Camera technology.

These are highlights of revision 7.0:


New Timed Camera Technology
   New Timed Camera Technology
   Timed Camera Mirror Driver for Presenters
   New CL installer for Moderators and Presenters

New Link Connection Technology
   New !m-live link connection technique (!Bang)
   Auto-startup of client on clicking a !Bang link
   Improved connection sensing
   Link parameter can prohibit typing by users

Room Management Changes
   Session Control - Isolate Users & Keyboard Disable

User Interface Improvements
   Which product am I using?
   Moderators and Presenters are easier to identify
   hotComm CL - new menus and behavior change
   Microsoft Encoder install moved
   Ctrl+[, Ctrl+] text sizing support

License Changes
   Automatic hotComm Lite Activation Keys
   Lite and Standard unlock codes are Interchangeable
   Unlock Code error messages changed

Operating System Changes
   Windows Vista Compatibility
   File locations have moved

Technical Notes
   About the Mirror Driver

New Timed Camera Technology

The basic Timed Camera technology has changed. hotComm still sends the initial image, followed by incremental changes; and the changes are sent at timed intervals; but the process for determining changes is now faster, more efficient, and should use less bandwidth for both presenter and recipient.

Because the images are transmitted faster, it should also make it easier to connect and stay connected.

The way you use Timed Camera and its features has not changed. The only thing you should notice is increased speed.

The specific changes are:

• hotComm sends incremental changes in small rectangles, instead of a full line of data.
  
  
• hotComm treats an existing image being scrolled differently than a new image.
  
  
• Use of a mirror driver for detecting changes.
  
  

Timed Camera Mirror Driver for Presenters

In addition to improvements in the basic Timed Camera technology, this revision introduces the mirror driver technology for presenters. Image changes are determined by comparing screen activity with a mirror copy of the screen, instead of with a saved image.

• The Mirror Driver is available for hotComm Standard/Pro and hotComm CL for Moderators and Presenters, but not for hotComm Lite.
  
  
• hotComm 7.0 revisions can see images sent without the Mirror Driver, but hotComm 7.0 is required to see images sent with the Mirror Driver.
  
  
• During the installation, when you are ask this question: "Will you present dynamic content from this computer?", answer Yes, so it installs the Mirror Driver.
  
  
• If you have the Mirror Driver installed (and therefore, available), an "M" icon appears on the bottom line of your hotComm window. An "M" icon appears on the bottom line of your hotComm window.
  
  
• Command line options for the Mirror Driver are below. For instructions on adding a command line parameter, see www.hotcomm.com/faq/faqk30.asp, except add /mdx or -qq instead of -k30.
  
  

  Option	Explanation
  /mdx	Do not load the Mirror Driver.
  -qq	Keep the Mirror Driver active until you exit hotComm. As you turn the Timed Camera on and off, you'll get a brief screen flash as it turns the Mirror Driver on and off. With this option, you'll only get a flash the first time you start Timed Camera.

  
  
  
• Vista note: In Windows Vista, you run a special version of hotComm, the hotComMD.exe executable. When you start this version of hotComm, it launches the hotComm Loader with Run as Administrator to load the Mirror Driver and then start the usual hotComm executable (hotComm.exe) normally. Vista may ask for permission to launch the hotComm Loader.
  
  To see the setting on the desktop icon, right-click the icon and select Properties, then click the Advanced button on the Shortcut tab, and you'll see that Run As Administrator is checked.
  
  

New CL Installer for Moderators and Presenters

If you ever use hotComm CL for moderating or presenting, please install the hotComm CL for Moderators and Presenters, which includes the Mirror Driver. You can download it from www.hotcomm.com/downloadCLmp.asp.

During the installation, when you are ask this question: "Will you present dynamic content from this computer?", answer Yes, so it installs the Mirror Driver.

New Link Connection

There is a new weblink connection available for hotComm Windows clients, called the !bang link. It is a direct connection, not using Java, that can take advantage of many of the customizable options of the hotComm Java link.

The !bang link code is similar to the traditional link, except that ! replaces the first i in im-live. For example, the link to connect to the hotComm Audio Test room is (password= 123):

http://relay.ezpeer.net/!m-live/support7.htm?-rm=test

Notes:

If you have a hotComm product installed but not running, clicking the link automatically starts the hotComm product. See Auto-startup.

The !bang link can use the same *.htm file as a regular Java link, including parameter assignments.

Support notes:

• The !bang link does not work with the Java client. You must have a hotComm Windows product installed. For Java clients, use the traditional link.
  
  

• In Windows Vista, you may be prompted to download and open the hotComm.HCurl (default) file, which is identified as a hotComm URL Redirector. We recommend that you check "Do this automatically for files like this from now on" and click OK, in order to avoid being repeatedly prompted for this.
  
  Click here for a screenshot.
  
  

Auto-startup of client on clicking a !bang (!m-live) link

When you click a hotComm !bang link, your hotComm client is automatically launched.

Notes:

• If you have multiple hotComm clients installed on the same computer, it launches the most recent client you used. For example, if the last client you used was hotComm Lite, it would launch hotComm Lite. (Note: you can have multiple hotComm clients installed on the same computer, as we do for testing, but you can only run one at a time.)
  
  
• If you use hotComm Standard/Pro and it is not running when you click the link, the connection process starts automatically, and you're prompted for the room password after hotComm goes online, but you don't join the room until all the Relays in your User List are green. So, you may prefer to start hotComm Standard/Pro before you click the link.
  
  

Improved connection sensing

hotComm has always included technology to sense whether you are connected or not, and to automatically reconnected you if you lose connection. This technology has been improved.

NOType link parameter can prohibit typing by users

There is a new link parameter that allows you to prohibit typing by any user-level participant, including Java, CL, Lite and Standard/Pro users. Moderators and Presenters are not affected, and can still type.

The syntax for the NOType parameter is:

Parameter	Action	Default
NOType=0	Typing by users allowed	Default
NOType=1	Typing by users prohibited	Optional

If NOType=1 (typing by users prohibited), the setting cannot be overridden by the Session Control toolbar.

Session Control - Isolate Users & Keyboard Disable

The Isolate Users button on the Session Control toolbar now prevents users from seeing other users in the Invited List, but no longer prevents users from seeing typing by other users. You can control the typing with the Keyboard Disable button, which hasn't changed. In revision 6.5 and prior, Isolate Users included both functions.

As of revision 6.75, Isolate Users and Keyboard Disable together have the same effect as Isolate Users alone in revision 6.5 and earlier.

As of revision 6.75, the Isolate Users button allows Std/Pro, Lite and CL users can see themselves, moderators, presenters, and the "BOT" in the Invited List, but not other users. Java client users do not have any Invited List.

Which product am I using?

We've made it easier for you to identify which product you're using:

hotComm Standard/Pro now shows the type of license you have in the top title bar: hotComm Standard or hotComm Pro. Note that the hotComm Pro label is used for any license of hotComm Presenter Pro or higher.

Moderators and Presenters are easier to identify

• Transcript posts - Moderator and Presenter posts are color-coded dark Blue.
  
  
• Invited List - In the Invited List, Moderators and Presenters are always at the top of the list.
  
  
• Icon - CL Presenters have a Blue and Yellow icon. (Blue C, Yellow L). CL moderators continue to have an all-Blue icon.
  
  

hotComm CL - new menus and behavior change

hotComm CL now exits when you close the chat window. In prior releases, the program stayed resident when you closed the chat window.

hotComm CL now includes the Reset Mic & Cams and Close Room options for Moderators. Reset Mic & Cams turns off all the microphones and cameras in the room and resets the room server-side settings. Close Room disconnects everyone and closes the room.

hotComm CL has new visible menus, along with the familiar right-click menus:

Menu	Contents
Preferences	Includes options for the way CL looks and behaves.
Session	Includes options such as Close This Session, Audio record, Audio Record Timer Setup, and for moderators, Reset Room Sounds and Cams.
Help	Includes help and support options.
Right-click on headset icon	Includes options such as Change Identity, Cascade Windows on Primary, Restore and Exit, and more. Moderators have additional room management options on this menu.
Right-click on toolbar	Includes many of the same options as the Preferences menu. For moderators, includes Room Passwords, Preferences (timed camera settings) and AE Settings.

Microsoft Encoder install moved

The Microsoft Encoder download and install has been moved from the hotComm Standard/Pro installer to the Session Recording Setup dialog. If the Microsoft Encoder is not installed on your computer, you must install it before making recordings in Windows WMF format. If it is already installed, that dialog does not include a button for installing it.

You can install the Microsoft Windows Encoder 9.0 from our site, or from Microsoft. To download from our site, click here: WMEncoder.exe.

Ctrl+[ and Ctrl+] textsize controls

To change the size of the transcript text, click in the transcript area, press-and-hold your Ctrl key, and press your left-bracket [ or right-bracket ] key until the textsize has become the size you want.

If your mouse has a roller-ball between the buttons, you can press-and-hold your Ctrl key, then roll the roller-ball until the text is the size you want.

hotComm Lite Automatically Activated

hotComm Lite is now automatically activated when you register. You no longer need to wait for an 8-character activation key to be sent by email.

Note: hotComm Standard/Pro still requires the 44-character activation key.

Lite and Standard Unlock Codes are Interchangeable

Because of the number of people who bought unlock codes for the wrong products, we decided to make the unlock codes interchangeable, to some extent.

You can now use a hotComm Lite unlock code in a hotComm Standard product, and you can use a hotComm Standard unlock code in a hotComm Lite product. The number of days you get is adjusted accordingly, because a Standard license costs more than a Lite license.

You can also use a hotComm Lite unlock code in a hotComm Pro product, but you get hotComm Standard time, which does not have the same features as hotComm Pro. If you try to use a hotComm Pro unlock code in hotComm Lite, you get a "Product Code Mismatch" error message.

As always, new license time adds on to any time remaining on your current license.

If you prefer to exchange your unlock code for one for the right product, don't use it -- contact hotComm Support, see www.hotcomm.com/support.asp.

Adjustment Table
Unlock code		Used in Lite	Used in Standard or Pro
Lite	1-month	31 days	26 days
	3-month	93 days	79 days
	12-month	372 days	294 days
Standard	1-month	36 days	31 days
	3-month	108 days	93 days
	12-month	469 days	372 days

¹ Note: for the correct license used in a product, each month has 31 days.
² Adjustment ratios are set as of May 15, 2007 and may change without notice.

Adjustments based on these Ratios
License period	Ratio based on price of ...
Greater than 15 days and less than 12-month	1-month Lite to 1-month Standard
12-months or greater	12-month Lite to 12-month Standard

Unlock Error Messages changed

Many of the unlock code error messages have been clarified.

Windows Vista Compatibility

Issues running hotComm clients under Vista 32-bit have been resolved.

• You no longer need to selecting Run As Administrator when starting the hotComm Windows clients.
  
  
• The links now work in Internet Explorer, FireFox, Mozilla and Netscape.
  
  

We have found the following with Vista:

• Internet Explorerer note: when downloading a hotComm installer, start Internet Explorer with the Run As Administrator option.
  
  
• Vista's security system asks for permission to run hotComm components. Always select Allow. You may be prompted to allow:
  
  

  Component	Description
  hotComm Loader	Starts hotComm or hotComm CL with the Mirror Driver available. Presenters and Moderators should expect this.
  hotComm.HCurl	This is the hotComm URL Redirector, used by the !bang connection link. Anyone connecting with the !bang link on Vista should expect this.

  
  
  
• Dr. Watson notes:
  
  Dr. Watson is a utility that provides valuable diagnostic information to engineers in case Windows detects a program error. Vista includes the old version of Dr. Watson that you may remember from Windows 98, but not the very useful drwtsn32 version included in Windows XP.
  
  To start Dr. Watson, click Windows Start, in the Search box type run, then in the Run box, type drwatson, and click OK. To find the resulting log, search for drwatson*.log.
  
  

Note: Vista 64-bit is not officially supported.

File Locations have Moved

In order to accomodate changes in Microsoft Windows Vista, hotComm data files are now stored in different locations in Windows Vista and XP. During your first upgrade, existing data files will be moved, so your first installation may be slower than usual.

Note that the folders containing these files may be hidden. See Show hidden files.

Windows Vista	Windows XP	Windows 2000 and 2003
Program Files My Computer    Local drive (c:)       Program Files          1stWorks Data Files¹ My Computer    Local drive (c:)       Users          your user account                AppData                   Local                      1stWorks	Program Files¹ My Computer    Local drive (c:)       Program Files          1stWorks Data Files¹ My Computer    Local drive (c:)       Documents and Settings          your user account             Local Settings                 Application Data                    1stWorks	All Files² My Computer    Local drive (c:)       Program Files          1stWorks

¹In Windows XP, for hotComm Standard/Pro, you can designate a drive for the program files, and a foldername for program and data files.
²In Windows 2000 and 2003, for hotComm Standard/Pro, you can select a location for all files.

Formerly, all hotComm files were stored in the Program Files/1stWorks/ folder.

Show hidden files


1. Click Windows Start
2. Select Control Panel
3. Select Classic View (or Switch to Classic View)
4. Select the Folder Options icon
5. Select the View tab
6. Under Advanced Settings, Hidden Files and Folders, check "Show hidden files and folders"
7. Click Apply, then OK.
8. If you want to get out of Classic View, click Control Panel Home (or Switch to Category View) in the left column.

About the Mirror Driver

The hotComm Mirror Driver is installed automatically in hotComm Std/Pro and hotComm CL on Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows 2003. Vista users may need to install manually. It is not included in hotComm Lite.

To see if the Mirror Driver is installed:
Vista:
	1. Open Windows Start, then Control Panel, then Device Manager (or Hardware and Sound, then Device Manager). 2. Click Display adaptors. If the Mirror Driver is installed, the list of displaty adapters includes hotComm Mirror Driver.
XP:
	1. Open Windows Start, then Control Panel, then System (or Switch to Classic View, then System). 2. Click Hardware, then Device Manager. 3. Display adaptors. If the Mirror Driver is installed, the list of displaty adapters includes hotComm Mirror Driver.
To install the Mirror Driver manually:
Vista:
	1. Open Windows Start, then Control Panel, then Classic View, then Add Hardware. 2. In the Add Hardware wizard, click Next. 3. Select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced), and click Next. 4. Select Display Adaptors, and click Next. 5. If the hotComm Mirror Driver is already installed, the Manufacturer list should include 1stWorks; when you click on 1stWorks, the Model list should include hotComm Mirror Driver. If so, click Cancel. 6. If the hotComm Mirror Driver is not already installed, click Have Disk. 7. Click Browse, and navigate to the location where the hotComm Mirror Driver files reside. In most cases, this will be in C://Program Files/1stWorks/yourhotcommproduct/BIN. Select the hcmirror.inf file and click Open, then OK. 8. Click Next, then Next again, then close the Add Hardware Wizard.
XP:
	If you are installing the Mirror Driver on XP, run the hotComm update for your product and that will install the Mirror Driver. During the update, when the installer tells you that you already have the current revision on your computuer, select Continue Anyway.

Please report any issues with this revision to support@1stWorks.com.

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