new sun path program [Archive]

sbaechler

07-23-2008, 03:03 AM

Update: The iPhone Version is out! Get it here (itms://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sonnenstand/id340838631?mt=8)
Update: The PC and Mac versions are out! Get yours here (http://www.westfilm.ch/sunrays)!

Hi

I was out of work last two weeks and decided to write a small tool for cinematographers that shows the position of the sun during the day for a given location. I wasn't too happy with the page that sunpath produces so I decided to write my own program.

It uses Google Earth for displaying the position of the Sun.

http://www.westfilm.ch/sonnenstand/Site/English_files/Central2.jpg

I'ts now available as a beta version. Anyone who is interested is welcome to try it out.

http://www.westfilm.ch/sonnenstand/Site/English.html

Regards
Simon

Mark Phelan

07-23-2008, 04:31 AM

Simon,

This is too cool for words! The program works as described. We have used other devices over the years, but this one is VERY useful. Now if there would be some way to have this on my iPhone so when we're out in a field somewhere...

Thank you very much for creating and sharing your great idea.

Best,
Mark

Emery Wells

07-23-2008, 06:11 AM

iPhone version please :)

sbaechler

07-23-2008, 01:39 PM

iPhone version please :)

My program runs on the iPhone. The question is, will Google Earth? ;-)

Mark Phelan

07-23-2008, 03:52 PM

Well it looks like it could, but it's not in the app store yet. What would be really snazzy is to be able to have the map move as you moved the iPhone, so it sync'd with your location. Don't know if Google Earth has that kind of functionality, but would be a neat trick with your software added.

Daniel Reichenbach

07-23-2008, 10:30 PM

I always knew that you are a smart boy, works perfect.

4Kcuts.com

07-23-2008, 11:53 PM

Very nice program, I tried it out and it truly vizualizes the sun. Any updates to do the moon? You are gifted and talented, and being selfish, I hope you are out of work again sometime. You are following the greats out there, sharing and colaborating talents.

M.Halsell

07-24-2008, 04:13 AM

Cool application. Would be great as a Maya plugin.

Ed Watkins

07-24-2008, 02:04 PM

That is a wonderful application. Great work!

Patrick Tresch

07-24-2008, 02:06 PM

Thanks Simon.

Hope to see you in the sun of Locarno!

Patrick

CJ Mckenzie

09-29-2008, 07:58 AM

I have spent hours trying to figure out how to get this program to work.... I am not a wizard on a computer and no matter what I do I cannot get past the first window. Input file, Output file and so on.

I think my problem is with the Input File

In 'Google Earth' I am right clicking at a location and selecting 'save as'.

I save the file as a 'kml' file to my desktop.

I then click the '?' button to the right of the Sonnenstand window and a Browser window appears.

Here I select the 'kml' file.

When I select 'start' I get a window saying 'The input file doesn't exist!'

I have also tried 'copy & paste'. This gives me a somewhat large text file.

This also doesn't work.

What am I doing wrong?

I am also not sure what to enter into the 'Output File' box. I guessed that this is where you save information to.... so I opened a folder and linked this selection to it.

Sorry for asking something that is probably really obvious when you know how.

Clearly if you have written the program you are a computer wizard.

Please take pity on us mere mortals.......

Thanks a lot and good luck........

Mac....

CJ Mckenzie

09-29-2008, 08:23 AM

Please forget the last post.... I figured it out.... My problem was entering information into the 'Output File' box.

When I selected the correct 'kml' file in the 'Input File' box, no information was automatically entered into the 'Output File' box. Because it was full.

Anyway....... Thanks a million..... Looks great all ready......

Mac.......

Jonas Rejman

09-29-2008, 10:08 AM

Works like a charm.
Thank you so much.

ppo

11-06-2008, 06:40 AM

thanks, please a windows mobile 6.1 version

Tom Lowe

11-06-2008, 09:26 AM

Wow, this looks pretty amazing. Can you do something like this for the Milky Way/Moon?

How do I get started with this whole sunpath thing? I have never used it.

Florian Stadler

11-06-2008, 10:38 AM

What do you use as input file?

Jason Ing

11-06-2008, 12:36 PM

very cool. thanks!

David Wyatt

11-06-2008, 04:42 PM

My program runs on the iPhone. The question is, will Google Earth? ;-)

Google Earth is working on the iPhone now so how about an App Store version of Sonnenstand? It would be very handy to be able to use this in the field (3G signal permitting). Great program by the way, seems to be absolutely spot on.

Mark L. Pederson

11-06-2008, 06:23 PM

Hi

I was out of work last two weeks and decided to write a small tool ...

Simon - you should be out of work more often!!

Seriously, awesome!

sbaechler

11-13-2008, 02:07 PM

What do you use as input file?

You have to use a kml file that you export from Google Earth. Just set one or more placemarks in GE and save it to a kml file.

Petr Dvorak

11-13-2008, 10:36 PM

Wow thanx!

ADRIAN BROWN

11-18-2008, 03:30 PM

sbaechler

11-19-2008, 01:51 PM

Hi Simon,

Amazing, fantastic program well done.

You mentioned it works on the iPhone - how do you load it on, is there a specific apps for it? I have got Google earth loaded and it works fine.

brownbox.com.au

Unfortunately it was not as easy as I thought. The programming language I've written the app in is not (yet) supported in the SDK. And Google Earth doesn't let you exchange data with other apps.

I'm planning to do a simpler version of the program for the iPhone that better uses the iPhones abilities.

Michael Morlan

11-22-2008, 06:17 AM

I'm a little confused. The Windows download only has a MS Word file with the single word "Hallo" within.

Michael

Benjamin Rowland

11-22-2008, 07:36 AM

What does the "UTC" button do?

Jonas Rejman

11-22-2008, 09:26 AM

AH! I found it again!

Very cool Simon! Thank you!
I just added you and the program to The Purgatory Magazine listing.

sbaechler

11-22-2008, 02:27 PM

I'm a little confused. The Windows download only has a MS Word file with the single word "Hallo" within.

Michael

Oops. I did a FTP sync on my Mac and I guess this overwrote the correct file. I'm going to fix that tomorrow. The word file was a placeholder for iWeb.

ADRIAN BROWN

11-23-2008, 02:46 AM

Unfortunately it was not as easy as I thought. The programming language I've written the app in is not (yet) supported in the SDK. And Google Earth doesn't let you exchange data with other apps.

I'm planning to do a simpler version of the program for the iPhone that better uses the iPhones abilities.

Hi Simon
No probs - i'll keep a look out for it. Again well done and thanks

Adrian

sbaechler

11-23-2008, 04:43 PM

What does the "UTC" button do?

It has something to do with time zones. The UTC button automatically sets the difference between local time and UTC once you loaded a placemark.
DST adds one hour for daylight saving time.

sbaechler

05-15-2009, 05:25 AM

iPhone version please :)

The iPhone version is on its way. I'm looking for beta-testers now.

If you're interested, PM me.

You need to have an iPhone (preferrably 3G) or iPod touch of course.

Regars
Simon

Mark Phelan

05-15-2009, 06:01 AM

PM sent...

PaulClements

05-15-2009, 06:20 AM

PM sent...
Snap! Me too.

Tony Brown

05-15-2009, 11:21 AM

Nice programe. Sunpath is great when you are there.... now I dont have to go on recces :)

S60 version ??

Carl Dieker

05-15-2009, 03:10 PM

Pm me too, please.

Tony Brown

09-25-2009, 06:31 AM

Is the 3d version ready?

sbaechler

09-30-2009, 04:12 AM

I haven't been able to work on the software for some time now but now I'm back. The 3D version should be out soon. The main 3D modules work but I'm adding some new features that might still take some time.

The iPhone version is coming along nicely. The beta version is almost ready. I could still use some testers from the southern hemisphere (Australia / South Africa).

Regards
Simon

Patrick Kaplin

11-16-2009, 04:08 PM

Received an error message when trying to open the .kml.

"Sonnenstand has encountered a fatal error and will now terminate. A Python runtime could be located. You may need to install a framework build of Python, or edit the PyRuntimeLocations array in this application's Info.plist file."

Tried installing Python 2.6.4 but didn't work. Any ideas? Not much of a computer whiz over here so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Daniel Crooks

11-16-2009, 04:32 PM

hi Simon

happy to do some southern hemisphere iPhone testing... in Melbourne.

cheers../daniel

Patrick Kaplin

11-18-2009, 05:17 PM

Dylan Macleod, CSC

11-18-2009, 08:48 PM

Slightly simpler - but the Sunseeker app for the iphone is the best $2.99 I've spent in a while!

Matthew Chuang

11-24-2009, 07:03 PM

PM sent

sbaechler

11-25-2009, 01:21 AM

Thanks everyone for your help. We submitted the app to Apple. It will be out soon!

Look out for Sunrays for iPhone (all models) and iPod Touch.

Patrick Kaplin

12-03-2009, 08:21 AM

Can anybody offer any help here? Would like to see how it works! Thanks!

Topping for the hope of a bit of help.

sbaechler

12-05-2009, 01:38 AM

Can anybody offer any help here? Would like to see how it works! Thanks!

Hi Patrick

I have some Mac users (two) that have issues running the program on their systems. I haven't been able to figure out the issue.
There is an all-new version coming out very soon.

Regards
Simon

sbaechler

12-05-2009, 01:42 AM

I'm proud to announce the iPhone version of Sunrays has hit the app-store!
It came out really good and I believe it's a really helpful tool for all cinematographers.
Get it here (itms://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sonnenstand/id340838631?mt=8) . If you like it, please don't forget to give a good rating so we can sell more ;-) (and develop further!)

Best Regards
Simon

Mick van Rossum, NSC

12-05-2009, 03:44 AM

Congrats, one of the most amazing apps for google earth. Bought it straight away.

Mark Phelan

12-05-2009, 05:42 AM

Finally! Thanks Simon for all of your hard work.

Stephen Williams

12-05-2009, 12:59 PM

Thanks Simon, Thats really cool!

Elmer Tenkink

12-05-2009, 06:19 PM

Nice app..just got my first iphone and it's great that there are some cinema tools!
And I bought this one too..(i really should stop buying more apps before i go broke..lol)
Great that you can take a picture of ray readings..is there also an option to read the estimated times to the degrees of sunray?

Elmer Tenkink

12-05-2009, 06:23 PM

sorry my mistake I all ready see the times..stupit of me!

Mick van Rossum, NSC

12-06-2009, 02:35 AM

Simon, I found a little bug, my GPS location tells me I am in Petrovsk with GMT4, while my gps coordinates give me the right numbers (Amsterdam), so if i use petrovsk/my corrcet GPS coordinates it willl give me the wrong hours....

sbaechler

12-07-2009, 04:40 AM

Some people are reporting wrong GPS / places readings. Could you please PM me the GPS coordinates that you are getting, your actual location and the name of the city that is shown? So we can fix this right away.

Thanks
Simon

Mick van Rossum, NSC

12-07-2009, 04:52 AM

PM sent

David Morgan

12-07-2009, 05:51 AM

Any chance of getting this on the Droid Market?

sbaechler

12-07-2009, 06:29 AM

We located the issue and fixed it. The new version should be online in a week or so. (Apple needs to check it, too).

Regards
Simon

sbaechler

12-22-2009, 06:21 PM

New version is out and the App is available again at the app store. :-)

Brent J. Craig

12-23-2009, 07:19 AM

New version is out and the App is available again at the app store. :-)

It looks interesting, but the initial version from the start of the thread did not work very well at all. I'm not willing to spend $9.99 to find out if it works now. Would you consider a limited demo version?

Also, the English page on your website is quite non-english.

sbaechler

12-30-2009, 03:06 AM

Any chance of getting this on the Droid Market?

Maybe. I am looking into it.

sbaechler

12-30-2009, 03:17 AM

It looks interesting, but the initial version from the start of the thread did not work very well at all. I'm not willing to spend $9.99 to find out if it works now. Would you consider a limited demo version?

Also, the English page on your website is quite non-english.

The updates are free and I did not get any complaints from users at all so I guess it's working well everywhere.

Yes, the program website is german only right now.

Regards
Simon

sbaechler

12-30-2009, 03:19 AM

I just finished the new PC version. Would anyone like to beta-test it? You'll get a free licence!

You can create 2D and 3D graphics in Google Earth, as well as PNG and SVG images.

Regards
Simon

Stephen Williams

12-30-2009, 10:56 AM

I just finished the new PC version. Would anyone like to beta-test it? You'll get a free licence!

You can create 2D and 3D graphics in Google Earth, as well as PNG and SVG images.

Regards
Simon

Hi Simon,

Happy to beta test on PC.

Best wishes,

Stephen

sbaechler

02-16-2010, 11:46 AM

The PC and Mac versions are finally out! It's now shareware ($24.95). But you get a lot more features this time. And the free version still has the same features as the old one did but with a nicer GUI.

Download it from here:
http://www.westfilm.ch/sunrays

Best Regards
Simon Baechler