Next Version (v1.20)

We are still working on our first update. Yes, we know itīs a long time ago since our first version is released - but pivique Astrology is not a dead project.

At the moment we rewrite the complete application on the basis of Microsofts new .NET-technology. This new version is not only suitable for Pocket PC's but there will be an additional version for desktop PC's and smartphones. Our current goal ist to finish the new release as fast as possible - but without lose quality. All verification-testīs must run with "O.K." before we put the application on our homepage.

New features:

     *   Better time corrections, mainly for the USA, european countries and Japan;
     *   ~16.000 more cities (= 436.000 cities in the internal DB);
     *   Export of charts in PDF (possibly SVG/HTML) for printing;
     *   New data-format to save and exchange chart data based on XML;
     *   New menu for easier navigation;
     *   A better Here&Now-chart solution;
     *   Simple astrology methods (solar return, etc.);
     *   Sorting of listed aspects (by asypects,planets and orbis-difference);
     *   Freeware for the older Pocket PCīs with SH3- and MIPS-processors;
     *   Some bug fixes;


  I can't help myself giving you another suggestion - it won't take much time to update your site with the information you sent me as well as with the terms and conditions for upgrades to the new version.

Sorry, weīve do some mistakes.


  When is the new version ready for download ?

We hope we can finish it in the next two (- or three) months.


  Can you sent me an email when the update is ready ?

We have a newsletter and will notify you about any news. If you donīt want to receive our newsletter just send an email so we can remove you from our mailing list.


  Is the next version (1.20) and version 1.30 free ?

Yes, all registered users can use the same licence-key. We called version 1.20, 1.30 as a "new version" but we treat it like an update. We plan no additional costs for our users.


 

Can I run the application on older Windows CE devices with MIPS- or SH3 processor ?

No. The new version run just on Pocket PCīs and newer versions of Windows CE.



 

Why it takes so long ?

The version 1.00 was written in pure "C" on the basis of Microsofts Win32 API. Since we release our first version Microsoft has introduce a new technology for developing software - called the .NET-Framework.
The new software environment has many advantages for complex applications like astrology software and we think that the old "Win32 API" has no future. So we rewrite the whole application in C# (called C-sharp) on the basis of .NET compact framework. This process was more than a simple syntax conversation - we have completely reimplement the software and its internal structure.



 

Also transits & synastry would really enhance this application. Please keep up development on it.

Astrologic methods one of the most missing features of this application. We know that me must implement this as soon as possible. But from a "software developer" view we like to have a good "basis" before we take the next step. Step-by-step is our philosophy but we know this is sometimes inappropriate.

In the first update we donīt include extensive astrology methods like transist. Just simple methods like Solar return (and other) we plan to implemented.



 

Is it possible to run the new version based on .NET on my desktop pc ?

Yes, you can execute the application on your desktop pc but you can see it just in the same size as on the pocket pc. In one of our next updates we implement a technique for a correct appearance on both platforms.



 

I would like to see two charts at the same time. Maybe a natal and transit or progression. What are you doing in this area ?

Additional to the standard wheel graphics the new version brings a new view that is twice the size than the standard graphics. On the basis of this new view it is possible to display two charts at the same time. In the first update we display just one chart in this new view because we try to get this update ready for download.



 

Is it possible to print the charts ?

Printing charts on PDAīs is a little bit difficult because the operating system of PDAīs (also palm os) donīt support printing. Windows CE does it but very basically and it is a hard job to get good results.
Also there is the connection-problem to the printer: infrared is a fine solution but just a few printers support directly printing via infrared. We think that printing via Bluetooth-Technology is a possible solution but not all people have such a technology now.

A possible solution is printing via PDF or HTML/SVG.



 

By PDF export do you mean that charts can be saved and exported as PDF files ?

Yes, the update brings a function that creates charts in PDF (and HTML/SVG) formats on the PDA. This files can be transferred to a Desktop PC and viewed and printed with Acrobat Reader (PDF) or Web Browser (HTML/SVG).
Or you can send this files via Email to a friend.

We have now just a simple export-style for a chart but more export styles (also calendars with moon phases, etc.) we implement in the future.


PDF		    
HTML/SVG

Please, click on the image to view a larger view.


 

I would like to know the location of the charts database ... so that I can store it in non-volatile ram to mitigate against data loss.

The chart database with the file name "pastrology_101.dat" is stored in the directory "\windows". When pAstrology starts it looks for this database and if it canīt find, the application creates a new empty database. So if you install pAstrology on a pocket pc, copy the database in the "\windows" directory before you execute it.

In the new version we changed the concept of the chart database. The current version have some disadvantages:

  * limited about 200-300 charts
  * the user canīt view and edit it
  * backup is difficult
  * import- and export from/to other database-formats (AAF) is complicate
  * the database should be in the same directory as the application

The new concept is based on AstrologyML - a new format for exchange astrology chart-data. AstrologyML is based on XML and is current under development.

Here is an simple example of an AstrologyML file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<!DOCTYPE AstrologyML SYSTEM "astrologyml.dtd">
<charts>

<chart>
  <personal>
    <name>Einstein</name>
    <name_first>Albert</name_first>
    <gender>male</gender>
  </personal>
 <event>
    <jd>284742.24245445</jd>
    <date>1879.03.14</date>
    <time>11:30:00</time>
    <dsc>-00:40:00</dsc>
    <tz_abbreviation>LMT</tz_abbreviation>
    <country>Germany</country>
    <city>Ulm</city>
    <latitude>48°24'_N</latitude>
    <longitude>10°00'_E</longitude>
  </event>
  <memo>
    Some additional text.
  </memo>
</chart>

</charts>

Where can I find more information on AstrologyML ?

On the homepage www.AstrologyML.org you can find details about format specification (DTD) but itīs current all in german. We work with some other persons and companies togehter to define AstrologyML as an open and free format for data-exchange.



 

Do you have in your projects a French version of your software ?

When we began to developed the application for the Pocket PC we include the technical basis for more then one language. We had the plan to support three languages: english, german and spain.
In the first version we have implemented english and german, but we donīt activate the german version. After some time we saw that just a few people are interested in other languges than english and we donīt support any other languages except english.

Why ?

The reason is that "multilanguage-support" make the application more complex. An astrology application is very time extensive in development and we would like first to implement astrology methods (like transits, solar return,...) before we supported features that are not so important.

There are still other reasons: When an application supported a specific language then also

  * documentation
  * help texts
  * (licences)
  * web pages

should be available in this specific language. And for every specific language we need a "Native Speaker" for... translating, checking the texts, menus and translations and supervision.



 

I calculate a Here&Now-chart but I get wrong results.

In the current release (version 1.00) there is an error in the "Here&Now"-chart calculation routine, but in the update the error is fixed.



 

Is your Astrology program compatible with PDAīs with Palm OS ?

No. Well, we have no intention to port pivique Astrology to Palm OS (or other PDAīs) before it isnīt a really good piece of software. That means, we implement first the common astrology functions in the Pocket PC version before we try to port the software to other platforms.



 

What do you with the customer data ?

Our privacy policy is that we only collects data from customers for market analysis and business activities. We do not give out any information to third parties and all data are kept in encrypted files. The use and payment of all services is permitted - if technically possible and reasonable - without specification of any personal data or under specification of anonymous data or an alias.



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