Shira Universe 3.2
The newest version of Shira Universe (v3.2) presentation software has just been released and brings along many new features:
Manual calibration with precision settings for opposite cave mounting a 2 multi-projection system. Shira Universe supports either 2x 4K projectors (4096x2160 each) mounting wide angle lenses to provide a 4K output; or 2x 2K projectors (2560 x 1600) to provide a 2K output on the dome using a single computer. Distortion and blend calibration settings are also very simple to to the simple 2-projector system.
This solution does not require any another calibration software and only require basic hardware specifications.
A single computer with 2 external display output.
Cpu: I7 core
Ram: 8 gb
Disk drive : SSD 500gb ( ssd is important)
Display drive : Nvidia quadro or geforce series min 2GB ram
Two cave mounted with approprate lens projectors.
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| Windows 10 motitor settings | Two projector location image at the dome edges. |
4K result image (Image courtesy "Lochness productions") |
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- Shira Universe v3.2 delivers new Colored Hevelius constellation images.
- Added APOD (NASA Astronomy Picture Of The Day) JSON link to Data2Dome and capability to download youtube videos. Bug fixes
- Support to the Russian language both on the GUI and the sky.
Shira Universe 3.1 with new technique for 4K playing
Now, the Shira Universe 3.1 version has new technique for 4K playing.
In this technique 4K image sequence files are encoded two part of video file by using new Shira Encoder 1.0.1 version. Each part of video file has 4096x2048 resolution.
The Shira Universe plays them at the same time as syncronized and show on projector screens with appropriate warping.
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Added to the Shira Encoder two encode profiles :
- 4K High Quality that produces single 4Kx4K dome master movie file like old profiles
- 4K 2-pieces High Quality produces two 4K HD movie files.
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It can be tested as single file and two pieces file.
The end result of the experiments shows that the two-piece playback is working at high performance without any frame dropping with below hardware specifications.
CPU : Core I7
RAM: 8GB
Disk: SSD
Display Card: NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
Shira Player 2.2 Mac OS Version
Shira Player 2.2 Mac OS version has just published with full functions for single projector systems. For now, it has tested on MacOS Sierra 10.12.6 MacBook Pro includes Intel Iris graphic card. Action performance was perfect.
You can download "dmg image file" for MacOSX includes ShiraPlayer 2.2 and Shira Encoder 1.0.1 packages from single link.
Shira Player series version 2.3
"Simple Script Buttons" is new feature. With this feature users create own buttons includes short or long scripts like "Messier Buttons" or "Constellation Buttons". "Simple Script Buttons" feature has command buutons . Their functions find below buttons group image. Each buttons have hint description. Please watch video to learn how to create your smart buttons.
Learning video : How to design and work "Script buttons" feature.
- Some keyboard functions (like J, L date time functions) were removed. And some keyboard short-cuts were fixed. All working short-cuts keyboards are described in "Help Window". Please examine "Help Window".
- Added Spanish language to language options.
- MacOS version 2.3 has compiled.
- Shira Player Android Console application has updated to 1.4 version. It includes control of the new "Script Buttons" feature.
SkyWatch, Astronomy Education, Australia
Mr Dean Davidso who is CEO of the SkyWatch Education compay started to use his Astronomy educations.
http://www.skywatch.com.au
