i3_tech_update

i3 Tech Update: Q3 2022

Written by i3-Technologies
Tuesday, September 20, 2022

This quarter in our technical newsletter, we discuss new feature releases in i3RDM, the new Miracast feature on E-One, and a look at the upcoming releases.

Watch the new i3STUDIO and RDM features in action!

In this demo, our global product manager Alex goes over all the new features of this i3STUDIO release, including i3RDM updates, i3WHITEBOARD and sharing content with Miracast.

New Feature in i3RDM: Remote Firmware Management

Installing update 1 of 5…
We’ve all experienced that moment when finishing up a long workday and have just turned off our Windows-based machine (Credit to Apple users here).

Nothing says installing and managing updates is a much-needed task to keep all our systems up and running, but the process could, in some cases, be more pleasant.

At i3-Technologies, we understand this necessity, and therefore took some time to put the management of updates in your hands!

In our upcoming November release, our i3RDM (Remote Display Management) solution will be extended with the following features:

1. Automatic notifications if new firmware becomes available for your devices

In your i3RDM user profile settings, you can turn on the notifications you would like to receive about new firmware releases. Be it a browser popup, or an email, receive the information the way you like it

Notifications menu in i3RDM

2. Enable or Disable the ‘Automatic firmware updates’ setting

By default, firmware updates will be automatically installed on all i3-Technologies devices. However, if you start managing your firmware installation schedule, you can safely disable this setting for one or all of your devices simultaneously.

Automatic Firmware updates settings in i3rdm

3. Install firmware updates remotely to any of your managed devices

From the detail page of any device, you can push newly released firmware to that specific device.

remote firmware update settings i3rdm

4. Schedule the device updates whenever you see fit

Perhaps the most important and interesting feature is the ability to schedule when the firmware will be installed. Schedule the update when it fits your organization best, ensuring the most uptime for the displays and avoiding unconformable side effects.

calendar schedule firmware updates i3rdm

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Miracast is coming to E-ONE : a technical deep dive....

In our upcoming November release, our i3TOUCH E-ONE panels will support Miracast streams. What is Miracast?

Well, Miracast is a very easy-to-use casting standard that utilizes Wi-Fi direct, differentiating it from other casting standards such as Google Cast, Airplay, etc.

Miracast is a standard developed by the Wi-Fi alliance and is therefore accessible to everybody wanting to adopt it. (But for example, Apple chooses not to…)

Let’s take a closer look at the 3-step process of setting up a Miracast stream to the i3TOUCH E-ONE display.

Miracast on i3touch e-one

1. Broadcasting

As with most casting solutions, the display will make itself detectable by sending out broadcast packages.


These packages are UDP/mDNS, so to use Miracast, the network should be properly configured to allow the transmission of these packages. The devices that want to cast to the E-One panel should also be in the same subnet as the display to receive these broadcast beacons.

wifi direct connection pc and miracast on e-one

2. Wi-Fi direct connection

Today most current Windows laptops support Miracast, so just by hitting the Windows+K keys, your laptop should display - and search for - available casting devices.

By clicking the available i3TOUCH E-ONE, a Wi-Fi Direct connection will be negotiated, including credentials over the existing connection. (this can take a few seconds) As the name indicates, this network connection is a direct wireless pipe between your casting device and the display. This is the biggest advantage of Miracast, by using a direct Wi-Fi connection, it is not affected by any actors or traffic on the network.It’s even possible to turn off the Wi-Fi connection completely once the Wi-Fi Direct connection has been set up.

wifi direct connection pc and miracast on e-one

3. Casting and controlling your display

Once the WiFi-direct connection has been established, Miracast will open two “pipes” to the display, one for the actual data streams: Soundstream and video stream (UDP), and one control stream(TCP).

This last one, the control stream, allows for returning the touch data to your connected device over the WiFi-Direct connection, allowing you to make annotations in your presentations, pause videos from the display, etc.

Don’t forget to allow touchback from your casting settings (Windows+K)

Upcoming firmware releases

Precursor:

The below-announced scope and timing are subject to change. Although the i3-Technologies Product Development Team is investing a lot of time and effort into adhering to the release calendar, delays and or scope changes may occur.

In these releases:

  • New languages: Italian, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Romanian,...
  • i3WHITEBOARD updates:
    • New tools: Compass, Ruler, and triangle tools added
    • New backgrounds for sports and business
    • Password-protected i3WHITEBOARD files
  • i3RDM updates:
    • Remote firmware management
    • Added Remote Configuration functionalities
  • Various stability improvements and bugfixes

Release-Calendar:

Below you can find the preliminary planned release schedule.
i3-Technologies will send a short notice, at least 24h before the actual releases are rolled out.

Release

 

Projected Release Date

 

Release notes

i3STUDIO applications

 

Week 46 2022

 

Release overview

i3TOUCH Firmware updates

 

Week 47 2022

 

Release overview

Release notes will become available after their respective releases on the designated product page on i3DOCS.

Leave your Feedback and Suggestions

Don’t forget to subscribe to our technical newsletter to stay up to date with the latest developments!

Which feature would be useful for your team to control remotely? Want to try using i3RDM? Any other questions or feedback?

Leave your feedback and suggestions in our short form.


i3-Technologies
i3-Technologies

i3-Technologies is one of the world´s leading manufacturers of interactive technologies for group collaboration and education. We ensure you can leverage your existing technology by building solutions that work in the way your teams want to work. Our innovative solutions bridge digital and analog environments, giving you technology that's easy to use and integrate into your existing infrastructure. We aspire to create environments where our interactive and integrated solutions inspire human interactions.