MyStrands for Windows Change Log

Version b 0.8.3.004, June 20, 2007

Corrected drag and drop functionality for pictures in partyStrands.
Corrected problem that did not display in the party pictures on the host interface photo tab.

Note: A Vista security feature stores some files in a different location than where the partyStrands photo feature expects to find them. Version 0.8.3.004 accounts for this incompatibility. However location data for some of the photos from your previous install may point at the old file location.

To fix this, close the MyStrands client. Go to your install directory, usually C:\Program Files\MyStrands_, where can be iTunes, WMP, or Winamp. Look for the file DefaultPartyPhotos.xml. (If you do not see it, click the Compatibility Files button on the top of the file explorer.) Delete this file.

Start the MyStrands client and start partyStrands. Drop your photos onto the photos tab and they will appear in the party normally.
Updated some screen messages
Included safegaurd for the Flash error that occurred when using partyStrands with non-English versions of Windows.

Please note: If you are using a non-English version of Windows, restrictions in the flash projector used with partyStrands make a Flash window the only available display mode. This means that you cannot automatically start a party in full screen mode on another screen. However, you can start a party in Window mode, drag the window to the second screen, and type Ctrl-F to expand the window to full screen. Typing Ctrl-F again will reduce the flash window.

MyStrands FAQ

Version b0.8.3.003, April 24, 2007

Support for Windows Vista. Note that in partyStrands, the Window version of the party display is not available.
Assorted bug fixes

Version b0.8.3.002, March 15, 2007

Start up tips added to provide more information about using MyStrands
partyStrands wizard provides easy way to set default partyStrands settings
partyStrands auto-DJ can be based on user play history--seed artist is no longer necessary
User can switch from auto DJ to manual DJ, but NOT from manual DJ to auto DJ
After running a party the save party option saves the current display, picture, and music settings as new defaults.
New partyStrands instruction screens appear for join party, text party, and add artist.
Instruction screen appear separately, not as a group.
Ads are no longer stored locally. Rather they are downloaded from the MyStands servers, and matched to the venue and party.
The frequency of ads can be set in the host display or the partyStrands wizard. High frequency means that there is about a minute between ads, low frequency means that there is about ten minutes between ads.
Syntax for instructions has changed.

The basic syntax that will work for all party commands is:
- JOIN the party: [partyCode] join [partyNickname]
- TEXT the party: [partyCode] text [text message]
- Hear an ARTIST: [partyCode] artist [artist name]
- VOTE for favorite: [partyCode] vote [a, b, or c]
All commands can be truncated to one letter, e.g., Join can be J, Text can be T, etc.

A new LINK command links a phone to a MyStrands account, by verifying that the phone's user is the account owner (using the MyStrands password). The syntax for the LINK command is:
- LINK [MyStrandsUserName] [MyStrandsPassword]
Users who have Linked a phone and account join a party by entering the partyCode
After a user has joined a party, partyStrands remembers that the phone is signed into the party. This means that after joining, the user does not have to enter the partyCode again for that party. The syntax for a user who is joined into a party is:
- TEXT the party: [text message] (text message cannot begin with the word "a")
- Hear an ARTIST: artist [artist name]
- VOTE for favorite: vote [a, b, or c]

Version b0.8.3.001, January 24, 2007

Activated Use MyStrands Playlist options
Added information about the MyStrands mobile portal to the partyStrands screen
Added the ability for non-SMS parties to hold votes by using the mobile portal

Version b0.8.3, January 2007

New approach to start up and feature selection: Upon opening the media player or clicking the MyStrands icon, an icon is placed in the Windows system tray. Right click on the icon to choose the MyStrands feature (music discovery, playlist building, partyStrands, community, etc.) to run
Support for WinAmp
Support for WMP 11
partyStrands! A new way to interact with music and other party goers. Guests join the party via SMS, mobile web page, or computer form to influence music, send messages for display at a party, and vote for favorites. partyStrands is available in both “personal” and “venue” versions.

General features
- partyStrands displays music info, messages, pictures and more on a Flash display that can appear on a PC screen or on a TV connected to a computer
- partyStrands can pick music based on tastes expressed by the guests who have “joined” (auto DJ) or can play music selected manually (manual DJ)
- The host can switch between Auto DJ and Manual DJ without quitting the partyStrands software
- Manual DJ can listen to iTunes, WMP, WinAmp or BPM Professional as selected
- Hosts can change to a different playlist (e.g. Salsa to Oldies) while a party is running
- Both auto and manual DJ partyStrands send a list of played songs to the host’s MyStrands page
- The host can delete SMS messages or pictures from a party via the host interface
- If a party loses its connection to the internet and runs through the "emergency" set of recommendations, partyStrands will select popular tracks from an emergency playlist (specified by the host) to keep the music going.
- The country of the host (for SMS purposes) is determined by the information set in the host’s MyStrands or partyStrands registration
Personal partyStrands is for any host that is not registered as a venue with partyStrands:
- Personal partyStrands allows SMS-enabled parties or lets guests interact through the local host display only.
- Ads are not shown at personal parties.
- Pictures shown at personal partyStrands party will automatically appear on the host’s MyStrands page
Venue partyStrands is available for those who have signed up as a venue through the partyStrands website
- Venue parties are SMS-enabled. Guests can join via SMS, through mobile.partyStrands.com, or through the host interface
- Venues can receive pictures from guests via email and see them on the party screen and the venue web page
- partyStrands, when run with only one user, acts as a personalized radio stream.

Version b0.8.2, July 2006

iPod Sync – add music played on an iPod to a personal music profile
Recommendation control – allow users to control the genre, popularity, and decade of the recommendations provided by MyStrands. Also, allow users to select whether recommendations are new music, or music from within the user’s library
Library sync button – add the ability to synch a library to the set of buttons on the main MyStrands window
Auto-start option – allow users to choose whether MyStrands automatically starts when the media player opens
Community window enhancements – add features such as a slide out panel that shows information about MyStrands community members who have been added as influences or who have listened to a user’s currently playing track. Information displayed includes affinity, recent tracks, public information about the user
Playlist builder – provide a new approach to playlist building, based on seed track(s) and filters rather than artist seeds.
Purchasing – give users the ability to link on a “purchase icon” and open a purchase link for the current track
Separate installers for iTunes and Windows Media player
Auto-fill – provide the ability to autofill a Windows Smart phone, or other device with music from the user’s digital library
Localization – Translation to Italian and Portuguese

Version b0.7.6, April 2006

Community enhancements – improvements to contact approval, fixes to tooltips used on the community window
Playlist builder updates – combined playlist builder and playlist completer functionality; add auto complete of tags in playlist builder
Synchronization improvements – increased efficiency in synchronization; increased logging of synchronization events, incremental synchronization; implementation of “stop” button in synchronization
Behind the scenes – simplification of the local library, improvements in event handling and threading, aggregation of calls for listening history
U/I modifications – various minor U/I updates
Localization – Translation to French and updates to German and Spanish translations

Version b0.7.3, February 2006

Community enhancements – added “who’s listening” to community features
Recommendations – added historical recommendations
Playlists – Added tag cloud feature