Author Topic: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...  (Read 3307 times)

Offline dkulp

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New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« on: October 28, 2016, 01:50:28 PM »
Since my machine is now over 4 years old, I ordered a new MacBookPro yesterday with the new TouchBar built in.  Should get here in a few weeks.  However, I decided to try and experiment with programming the TouchBar to do something useful in xLights.   My very first pass, I can have icons for any of the effects so if you click on a cell and hit the "button", the effect is placed.   That is very simple.   It's also completely customizable so YOU can select which effects are on the TouchBar.   Seems to hold about 17.   Kind of neat.

However, I'm doubting that is the most useful way to use the TouchBar.  Thus, I'd like you folks that are actually doing sequencing to help figure out what this could do.

My thoughts:

1) A "color" button that would expand out to the 8 colors from the palette and then allow setting each of them based on the standard TouchBar color picker.

2) Effect Preset icons - not sure how to set icons for these.

3) Instead of individual effect icons, I could use a scroll view thing that would have all of them in it.  Slide left/right to find the right effect.

What other "often used" things might be a good idea to place there.

Obviously, this is for Mac folks only (and really just those folks planning on getting a new MacBookPro), but input from everyone is fine.   :)


« Last Edit: October 28, 2016, 07:33:41 PM by dkulp »
Daniel Kulp
Framingham, MA

Offline flyinverted

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2016, 04:23:21 PM »
I've cleaned up some space. Alternatively you can upload elsewhere and link to the image.
Steve Giron
Maricopa County, AZ
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Offline kevinp

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2016, 09:24:06 AM »
While I won't be buying a new lap top, I would buy a new keyboard if Apple integrated the touch bar into a stand alone keyboard.

I will have to start thinking of ideas to present to you...
Kevin Pankratz
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Offline logandc99

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2016, 12:56:50 AM »
Sounds very very cool. Just not sure I can justify a new laptop  ....... unless.....


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Offline dkulp

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2016, 07:06:16 PM »

I just stuck a 2016.54-alpha build up.   Could someone NOT running the latest Sierra please give it a try and see if it starts up ok and more or less works?   

For those running the latest Sierra and either have a TouchBar machine or have Touche installed (https://red-sweater.com/touche/ ) to simulate the touchbar, you can try out some of the basic touchbar things that I do have working.   Not a lot, but it's something.
Daniel Kulp
Framingham, MA

Offline kevinp

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2016, 08:12:59 PM »
Nope.  Won't start up.  Here's the debug box I get.
Kevin Pankratz
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Offline dkulp

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2016, 09:03:35 PM »

Thanks for that.  Forgot to check for TouchBar support in one place before creating the TouchBar.   Uploaded an alpha2 that hopefully fixes that.

Definitely the type of testing and feedback that I need right now.  Major thanks!
Dan
Daniel Kulp
Framingham, MA

Offline kevinp

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2016, 09:25:12 PM »
Alpha 2 will open up and run, but now I'm getting the same error as Travis with the invalid token at line 1.
Kevin Pankratz
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Offline Dazzled

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2016, 04:37:50 AM »
Hi Dan

Just downloaded Alpha 3, opened ok, made new sequence, saved and closed, reloaded and played ok.

Didn't have time for much else as I'm having the usual last minute rush before going live tomorrow.

OS is 10.11.6 hope this helps.

Stuart

Offline dkulp

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2016, 06:21:51 AM »

That's perfect, thanks guys!

I just needed to make sure it still ran on the machines not running 10.12.1.   The touchbar API's are only available starting in 10.12.1 so I need to make sure all the code paths that hit those API's are isolated and not called on machines running anything older, otherwise xLights will likely crash.   Looks like I did that right with alpha3.   

Thanks for checking!
Dan
Daniel Kulp
Framingham, MA

Offline dkulp

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2016, 02:30:52 PM »

If you are bored and want to see what the TouchBar could do, I created a short 5 minute video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv-nj1m2WGA

apologies for the crappy video and sound.  Had to record it with my phone sitting on a tripod between me and the computer which was a bit weird.
Daniel Kulp
Framingham, MA

Offline bluemaster

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2016, 03:39:59 PM »
That is so awesome!
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Offline Dazzled

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #12 on: December 01, 2016, 06:15:04 PM »
That really looks great Dan especially for the first go at it.

I have so got to update NOW!!!

I wonder if Santa gave my wife some diamonds ( which she is very partial too ) would it be ok if he gave me a new Macbook Pro ;D think I might duck down to the jewellers now to see how much I'm up for.

Thanks for the video its nice to see something new in action than just imagining how it will look.

Stuart


Offline keithsw1111

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Re: New MacBookPro TouchBar support...
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2016, 06:13:15 PM »
Looks awesome dan.