DL Uplink application

DL Uplink is the PC application which manages all DL2000 offline and online functionality. About 80% of the work is done and we'll take the next week to complete it 100% (Chinese holidays - can't do much else). All you see in the screenshot is presently working and debugged. But we're still adding, documenting, and simplifying the interface.

Click to enlarge.



The application of course requires a DL2K-LINK, the USB interface to the DreamLover 2000.

The application can be used by both the male and the "administrator". The administrator is the person who has the right to initiate all actions, and will likely be the male's owner, significant other or "hired gun" male training specialist.

The male normally opens the application which can be minimized and completely hidden from the taskbar and tray, then connects to the male management server.

When connected, commands can be dispatched. A possible source of such commands is the male management online control screen (shown in the browser window). You would use this to remotely control your male through a web browser or HTML enabled mobile phone.

When operating locally on the other hand you may use the administration section of the DL Uplink application directly. From here, many DL2000 operating parameters can be customized.

Of course, the male's cooperation in setting up the remote link is not necessary. As long as you can log in with his ID and have a DL2K-LINK connected to a PC on the male's side (hopefully locked somewhere and tamper-proof or tamper-evident), you will be able to remotely control the male.

In the screenshot you can see the customization screen for the arousal inducer. Relax - it won't be so difficult. We're writing plenty of help files as we go along. Soon you will be able to download this application and start playing with it and reading the help.

We also plan to integrate some "wizards" which will simplify the process of creating presets for the pulses, timers, and arousal inducer. The screen shown here is the most technical you will encounter as it allows you to precisely customize all parameters used internally to manage the timed activities. Most users will not have a need to customize these parameters directly, because they can be exported and imported. Savvy users and male management technicians will be able to publish presets on our website. The most effective male management parameters will receive recognition and glory!

There is even a simulation for each type of timed pattern so you can preview the results before actually customizing the DL2000.

Comments

By Henry at 2010-10-01 05:34:34 Reply

None of the above will work for me as we don't use windows.

I think this has been asked before, but do you plan to support other operating systems (Linux, Mac)? Or if you don't have the resources will you encourage and support the development of open-source alternatives?

If all non-windows people post a "me too" message, perhaps this would show the demand.

By dreamloverlabs at 2010-10-01 06:32:20 Reply

Max OS X has a 4.5% market share according to Wikipedia.

Doesn't make any sense for us to get involved with this. Open source? Maybe, but much later - first, make some money and get a lawyer to consult on the liability involved.

As for free Linux distributions ... those are great but... it's not really a lady's OS now is it? :) Worst case just get an old laptop from somewhere and leave it inside a closet running the uplink. Anything that runs .NET will do...

By johnsteed at 2010-10-01 10:00:18 Reply

Here's a good reason to support Linux: The obvious, eventual product addition would be a dedicated DLNK device. Using a small, inexpensive computer you would build something that you plug into the power, and then plug into Ethernet, or it picks up WiFi (maybe advanced models will have a cell network interface like a Kindle).

This way, no worries about having to have software running on a PC all the time, no worries about what OS the user is running, of you support that OS. Oops! User upgraded from XP to Vista and now the software doesn't work because the drivers need to be different!

Yes, a nice, self-contained little box. But no-one in their right mind builds such boxes on any flavor of Windows. Everyone uses Linux. Plus, you don't have to pay the Windows "tax" on every box you sell.

By zapster at 2010-10-01 16:07:33 Reply

What does wikipedia say about the percentage of self-described potential DL customers who use windows?

personally, I think there's a good chance that your target market might overlap significantly with that 4% who use MacOS.

By dreamloverlabs at 2010-10-02 01:20:49 Reply

From Google Analytics:

84% windows
12% mac
3.59% linux

By Henry at 2010-10-01 12:33:18 Reply

Not a ladies OS? I guess you haven't used linux for a few years. The lady in this household knows next to nothing about computers and is very happy under Ubuntu. However, I think she's going to struggle with your complicated remote control.

By fgordon at 2010-10-01 12:42:28 Reply

Maybe a virtualization solution (e.g. VMWare) with the cheapest Windows on top would do the trick?

By dreamloverlabs at 2010-10-01 12:44:53 Reply

VMware is a seasoned solution; it should support the USB driver...

By fgordon at 2010-10-01 13:14:54 Reply

True. However, they had certain USB devices working since Workstation v4, and they're at version 7.1 now, so who knows, maybe it works. But I agree it's a hack and it wouldn't worth spending money to buy VMWare or Windows without making sure first, somehow.

By lizliz at 2010-10-01 14:36:23 Reply

Some of my thoughts on the sample window...

On the spin dials for 'off' and 'interval', rather than incrementing/decrementing the value by 1 and then having the user figure up how much time that corresponds to in their head, change the increment/decrement value by 468. Then internally convert that number to the number of ticks. This way figuring up the time isn't likely to be a daunting task.

Where passwords are entered, that field needs to be marked as being for passwords so that only dots are displayed as it's being entered. Otherwise, anyone who looks at the screen will learn what the password is.

Is the male going to have access to this screen? What's to keep him from modifying it so that the patterns gets watered down?

The administrator should have the option to set the program to run at system start-up. It shouldn't necessarily require user action to run. Often times computers have a tendency to reboot themselves.

When referring to "hired guns", they should be called male-training specialist (with the hyphen). If the hyphen is left off, it could be confused with training specialist who happens to be male, which I don't think is what's intended.

What does the 'simulate' button do?

By dreamloverlabs at 2010-10-02 01:28:08 Reply

It's still software under construction so some edges are still rough.

1. time is calculated automatically (ticks to h:m:s)
2. males do not have access to this screen unless they have the admin password
3. autostart of the application is easy

The simulate button simulates a sequence of blank ticks and activations so that you can preview with what frequency the timed action will deliver its stimulus.

By melissa at 2010-10-01 18:29:09 Reply

I'm an another possible customer with linux operating system, installed on my PCs.
Please, consider the possibility to compile the the software for linux operating systems.

By Happy at 2010-10-01 19:55:47 Reply

What would be the best way to share access to the control panel with friends?

By dreamloverlabs at 2010-10-02 01:05:32 Reply

Granting specific privileges to other existing users, ex. being able to activate the pulses but not modify any settings etc.

By Happy at 2010-10-02 21:30:30 Reply

That's exactly what I'd be looking for.

By akw123 at 2010-10-02 08:01:31 Reply

If the interface that you created uses either XML and or HTML then the OS is irrelevant, all you need is a browser. If the interface is based upon graphics calls, then the OS and supporting graphic package is relevant.

I don't agree that EVERYONE is using UNIX. It seems that users in the minority market share are making the most noise over supporting their OS. Stick with your current plan to release supporting the OS with the greatest market share.
There is also no guarantee the the display drivers in the different versions of UNIX will support the graphics call that Windows uses. There is enough development work to ensure that the graphics work seamlessly across all the current windows platforms, XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

By MistressI at 2010-10-02 22:09:46 Reply

I disagree about the "majority market share" argument. The DL is going to get started (presumably) by selling to the people who are already aware of its impending release. Only later, once the revenue stream is established, will it go into mass production. The majority of people who will walk into a shop and discover the DL once it's being mass-produced will undoubtedly be Windows users. But the people who will "bootstrap" the company up to the point where it's financially viable to go into mass-production are the ones who read this blog, they're the ones to survey for OS preference. If (hypothetically) 95% of the first-run customers won't use Windows, then if DL Labs only provides a Windows version of the software, the company is shooting itself in the foot before it gets that foot in the door .

And just for the record, I vote for a Linux version. Or OS-independent web-based control software.

By dreamloverlabs at 2010-10-03 00:35:54 Reply

Actually the average market share of win/mac/linux reported on wikipedia is almost perfectly reflected in our general site views, in the notify list subscribers and the number of people who've visited us over 50 times.

By Henry at 2010-10-03 06:44:20 Reply

Indeed it may not be worth DL Labs investing much time to develop software for other platforms, but my question was: would DL Labs encourage and support open-source alternatives by making interface details available, or would it obstruct such activity by refusing to publish such details?

You (DL Labs) can have software working on all platforms with minimal effort providing you don't go into an irrational "its-top-secret-my-business-is-threatened" lock-down. Here's to hoping your lawyer doesn't scare you senseless again :-)

By fgordon at 2010-10-04 02:40:58 Reply

I would love to see the software being let open source, since no one could rip the benefits off, as the hardware would have to be purchased nonetheless.
However, the problem I see is that one can get hurt (and the definition of "hurt" may vary) by using non-certified/malfunctioning software, then try to blame it on DL Labs. This can have legal and marketing implications and has to be carefully thought over.

By Henry at 2010-10-04 04:10:52 Reply

Well that's what disclaimers are for. If you use non-DL software, don't come crying. If you use non-DL hardware the same applies. As a silly example: if for same crazy reason you decide to replace the receiver battery with a car battery and then go take a bath and get electrocuted, you're not going to blame DL-Labs, right? :-D