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Beta Testing SkySafari 6 (Mac OS X) - Read This To Participate!

Keiron Smith

March 19, 2018 20:56

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Invitation to OS X Users:

Everyone here in the Community Forums (with an Mac OS X computer) is invited to participate in the SS6 for OS X beta-testing cycle :) 

Your beta-testing feedback, whatever you can contribute, will be invaluable to the success of SkySafari 6 for OS X!

Please note if you participated in the SS6 iOS beta testing you are ALREADY officially approved for SS6 OS X beta testing.  You can download the beta now.  But please still read completely through this post to understand what we are doing differently (and to remind yourself about our process again) for this round of beta testing.

 

How to Apply:

Please reply here (in a comment below) if you can help us at this time. 

And please outline your experience with SkySafari, including what versions of SkySafari you have run previously, what telescopes you are controlling, what kind of astronomy you are involved in, if you are a power user, etc.  Please do not post requests to join the SS6 beta in other forums, as they will not be accepted.  If you're reading this you can reply here.

When you are approved to participate you will see and have access to the SS6 OS X Beta Testing forum.  The SS6 Beta Testing forum is hidden until you are approved to participate.  

When you are approved, you will be notified via an email and then you will be able to both view the SS6 OS X Beta Testing forum and download the SS6 OS X beta app.

Please note, not all applicants will be immediately included in the beta-testing.  So, if you apply and do not hear back please be patient.

*** If accepted to the SS6 OS X beta-testing forum please do NOT report bug/issues on this post.  See below for workflow ***

 

The Process:

As you find bugs/issues in SkySafari 6 please first review the current discussions in the SS6 OS X Beta Testing forum (which is hidden until you are approved).  If your bug/issue has already been identified please comment on the existing post. 

If your bug/issue has not been identified please create a NEW post in the SS6 OS X Beta Testing forum. 

For clarity regarding this bug reporting process please see the post "Example Bug Report" (hidden until you are officially approved)

Please do NOT submit tickets with bugs/issues.

 

How To Follow The SS6 Beta Forum:

As part of your participation we would appreciate that you follow the SS6 OS X Beta Testing forum.  Following a forum means you will receive email updates when anyone creates a NEW post or comments/replies to one of the existing posts. This is important for two reasons.

 

1. Following the forum ensures you receive email updates regarding all admin communications to the beta testers.  If admins make a post asking for assistance you will get an email update with that post.
2. Following is also very important so that you have an on-going status report regarding bugs/issues identified, confirmed, requiring further testing, or have been resolved, etc.  This will help you stay on top of the overall process, and ensure you are not duplicating efforts where issues are already known and resolved.

 

To FOLLOW the SkySafari 6 Beta Testing community forum please see here.  Note, you must have been approved first, and have access to the forum before you can follow it.

 

   

Replying to Email Updates:

When you follow the SS6 OS X Beta Testing forum you will receive email updates regarding new posts (and comments, if opted for).  Please do not reply to email updates using the "Reply" function.  Please first use the "View the comment" link to open the community forum post, then reply to the post. 

This point is crucially important - so please understand the image below (this an example of an SS6 OS X Beta Testing email update as seen using my web browser Gmail email account).

If you use the email update "Reply" function your reply will NOT be added to the community forum discussion.

 

  

Downloading the SS6 OS X Beta app:

In order to participate you will need to download the SS6 OS X app from the download link in this forum post here (note, approval is required first):

https://support.simulationcurriculum.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360001523393-Get-the-SkySafari-6-OS-X-Beta-here-

 

About Updating the Beta:

When you run the beta app, it will look for a newer version and notify you if there is a newer version available.  There is a button to download the newer version but you will be responsible for unzipping and copying the new beta app to your OSX / Applications folder (and please delete the previous version as well)

 

How to Use the Community Forums:

For clarity regarding how to use the Community Forums (posting/replying/following) please see here:

How To Sign Into The Community Forums (Required For Posting And Replying To Topics)

Browsers Supported by Simulation Curriculum Community Forums (Cookies Must Be Enabled)

How To Use Your New Community Support Forums

  

SS6 OS X Beta Testing Summarized

Please...

1. SIGN IN or create account on this Simulation Curriculum support website.
2. REPLY to this post (in a comment below) in order to apply to the SS6 OS X Beta Testing group.
3. When approved to join the beta testing, download, unzip and copy the beta app to your OS X Applications folder. 
4. Previous SS6 iOS beta testers are ALREADY approved (you can go get the beta now!).
5. FOLLOW the main SS6 OS X beta forum to be kept up-to-date of any new posts (bug reports) and discussions thereafter (you get email updates).
6. REVIEW previous beta testing discussions before posting your bug report.
7. COMMENT on bugs already reported.
8. Create NEW posts for bugs not yet reported.
9. Follow the bug reporting GUIDELINES when reporting or commenting on bugs.
10. Do NOT reply/comment to community forum email updates.  Instead, VIEW the post first, then comment in the forum.
11. Post any questions, about anything to do with the beta testing, in the beta forum.  We will reply to you there. 

Please also read the What's New and What We Need Tested post here (approval required):

https://support.simulationcurriculum.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360001539094--What-s-New-in-SkySafari-6-OS-X-What-We-Need-Tested-

Thank YOU! 

We are very excited about the up and coming release of SS6 and we're looking forward to working closely with everyone involved in the beta testing.

Again, this is only for Mac OS X computers, at this time.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

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83 comments

• 0
  
  B Stroz March 19, 2018 21:39

  hi keiron,

  I would like to test sf6 for os-x.

  I was impatient waiting for sf6.

  regards

  bohumil

• 0
  
  Eskil Swahn March 19, 2018 21:52

  I am interested in the beta testing as well. I am currently using SS5 on OS X (and SS6 on iPad/iPhone).

• 0
  
  François Tasse March 19, 2018 22:12

  Hi, I would like to participate to this beta testing as well. I use SS5 Pro on OS X, and I already have SS6 Pro for iOS.
  Regards
  Francois

• 0
  
  Rémi March 19, 2018 23:05

  Hi. I've been using SkySafari since 2011 on iPhone then on Android : version 3, then 4 Plus, and now 5 Pro. I use it on my phone for planning observations and stargazing in the field (with ra ubylith sheet on the screen). Last year I bought SkySafari 5 Pro because its huge stars database looks like what I see in my Mewlon ocular.

  A very very long long time ago I used Starry Night on my Mac desktop computer, long before OS X ! Nowadays I use Stellarium, but I'd be glad to test SS6 for OSX.

  Rémi

• 0
  
  Pierre Paquette March 19, 2018 23:08

  Hello Keith and everyone else!

  I’ve posted the information before, but I’ve been using SkySafari since version 3, which I translated to French for Tim DeBenedictis, working with Agustin Guerrero. I also worked on a French translation of SkySafari 5, but it never was used. I beta-tested SkySafari 6 on my iPhone, reporting a minor issue.

  I’ll be happy to beta-test SkySafari on my still-new MacBook Air!

  Best regards,

  Pierre Paquette

• 0
  
  Jonathan Kade March 20, 2018 11:43

  Hello,

  I've used SkySafari since version 3 and Pro since version 5. I don’t use the telescope controls, but do a lot of historical simulation and spend a surprising amount of time experimenting with locations and times for occultations.

• 0
  
  Pete Gladstein March 20, 2018 13:23

  Hi Keiron,

  I would like to participate.

  Thanks,

  Pete 

• 0
  
  Vortex331 March 22, 2018 00:07

  Good evening Keiron,

  I am very much interested, as I would like to get all of my telescope control onto one platform, in conjuction with camera control. I am currently using an AVX and a CGE Pro with SkySafari 5 and the Celestron SkyQ module.

   

  V/r,

  Wyatt

• 0
  
  Steven Elliot March 22, 2018 07:39

  Hello,

  I am interested in the beta, I use the Sky Safari 5 as my main planning guide for my imaging sessions on my Macbook Pro, and send basic telescope commands to my remote imaging/ control pc using the tcp/ip settings.

  Thanks,

  Steve

• 0
  
  Konstantin March 22, 2018 08:41

  Hello,

  I would like to participate in beta testing. I owe Sky Safari 5 Pro on OS X and Sky Safari 5 Pro and Sky Safari 6 Pro on iOS

  Thanks.

  Konstantin

• 0
  
  Jim Grubb March 22, 2018 14:13

  I would like to participate in SSP6.  I use SSP5 on Mac with several mounts:

  Astrophysics 400GTO, Mach1, and 1100GTO with encoders.  

  I'm also an IOS user, and SN7 user.

   

  Thanks,

  Jim

   

• 0
  
  Lowenthalm March 22, 2018 19:45

  Experience:

  1) I am a former C/C++/Postscript software engineer, with experience with designing and writing cross-platform Mac and Windows apps, with GUI, graphics and SQL database backends.

  2) I have been using SkySafari Pro 5 for a year and a half both under iOS and Mac OS X. I am a fairly advanced visual and EAA observer, and use SkySafari Pro for observation planning and research. I also use SFP5 to drive my Orion XX16g 16" goto dob using SkyFi from both my Mac laptop and my iPhone. I use the iCloud shared folders mechanism under SFP5 to share observing lists between the various systems I use (a MacBook Pro laptop running High Sierra, an iMac running El Capitan and an iPhone 6 running iOS11).

  3) I have been testing out the new SFP6, but have not begun using it exclusively yet because I have been waiting for the SFP6 desktop version since I need to share observing lists between all the platforms I use.

  I am interested in helping out with beta testing. Should have plenty of time over the next few weeks while I wait for the next new moon and clear sky combo!

• 0
  
  Jean-Claude JESIOR March 22, 2018 19:59

  Hi everybody,

  I've been using SkySafari Pro since a long time.

  I'm using now SkySafari 5 Pro on my Mac and SkySafari 6 Pro on my iPad.

  I have been testing SkySafari and that's the reason why I would like to keep going.

  Regards,

• 0
  
  Piotr Śpiewak March 22, 2018 21:15

  Hi Keiron,

  I would like to participate in the SS6 OS X Beta Testing. I worked as a beta tester during my studies, so maybe some old skills are still alive :)

  Thanks in advance.

  Regards,

  Piotr

• 0
  
  Jernej Filipcic March 22, 2018 22:20

  Hi!
  I was invited, but I have no OS X devices, so unfortunately this time I can't contribute.

• 0
  
  Andre Cajolais March 22, 2018 22:32

  Hello Keiron

  I'll be glad to participante to this beta test of SS6

  André

• 0
  
  moshen March 22, 2018 23:28

  Hi, I have been using SkySafari Pro since v5 on iOS. I am using an alt-az mount with DSC and wirelessly connect SF to my Nexus DSC. I have many Macs of various kinds, laptops and desktops. Thanks.

• 0
  
  Greg Sincock March 23, 2018 00:19

  Hi, I've previously used SkySafari 3 and at that time, mainly for locating objects.  I have a Meade LX90 and am into imaging and methods of controlling the telescope - other than the included hand controller.  I have a Macbook Pro, iMac 27" and iPhone X.

• 0
  
  David Thrasher March 23, 2018 01:51

  I would like to participate to this beta testing as well. I use SS Pro on OS X, and I already have SS4 Pro for iOS. pad pro and Iphone 8Pro

• 0
  
  Peter Tijerina March 23, 2018 02:06

  Howdy!  I've used SkySafari Plus r1.8 for quite some time now on my older MacBook Pro. I use it to control a 8" SCT mounted to a Celestron Advanced GT GEM. I'm just getting into imaging using a ZWO ASI174MC Cooled as my main camera along with a ZWO AI290MM as a guide camera, both connected to a Celestron OAG. I just purchased SkySafari 5 Pro for my newer MacBook Pro, and I've been running SkySafari 5 Pro on my iPhone since it was released. 

  I would like to beta test SS6.  I would also like to ask if there has been any thought, or plans, to incorporate image acquisition into the product to provide an all in one platform for astronomy and astrophotography.  

  Cheers,

  Peter

• 0
  
  munkong March 23, 2018 02:13

  I am interested in the beta testing. I am currently using SS Pro 4 on iOS. Mainly using to explore the skies but without much observation.

• 0
  
  Andrew Barton March 23, 2018 06:19

  I would like to participate in the beta test. I am an astrophotographer running an AP Mach 1. I currently use SkySafari 5 Pro on a MacBook Pro and SkySafari 6 Pro on IOS. I use SkySafari for astrophotography planning and sending my mount to targets via Wifi. I've had very good luck controlling my mount with SkySafari for IOS but get frequent disconnects when controlling my mount from the Mac OS version. I am also interested in support for park positions beyond Park 4.

• 0
  
  david kwon March 23, 2018 16:00

  I am also interested in the beta testing. I am currently using SS Pro 5 on Mac OS X. Decided to install SS Pro 5 becasue of my big love for the beauty of the space. I am so much glad and honored to be part of SkySafari. 

• 0
  
  Russ Pinder March 23, 2018 20:14

  Be very interested too - currently using SS6 on iOS and SS5 on OSX - have used previous versions on both - controlling a AZEQ6-GT with ASCOM on win10 (linked to skysafari via wifi and with Lyknos on RaspberryPi linked similarly.

• 0
  
  Gregory Cook March 23, 2018 20:18

  I'd like to be a beta tester. I'm a Professor of Physics at Wake Forest University, and I use SkySafari 5 Pro during some of my lectures when I teach the introductory Astronomy class.

• 0
  
  JoeTimmerman March 23, 2018 21:46

  I would like to be a beta tester.  I have used SkySafari Pro since it was initially introduced in both the OSX and IOS versions.  I've logged over 1,000 observations in SkySafari and use it to control my telescopes in my observatory for both visual use and photography.

• 0
  
  Ken Simpson March 23, 2018 22:21

  Love to help out. Use OSX and iOS. Celestron VTX mount,

• 0
  
  Joe Khalaf March 23, 2018 22:35

  I'd like to help out.  OSX High Sierra 10.13.3 and iOS 11.2.6.  I'm currently using SS Pro 6 on the iPhone, but Starry Night on the Mac.  I've been using SS since version 3, and always the pro version. I use it to control my NexStar 8SE and 12" Meade LX200GPS, and I am an exclusively visual observer.

• 0
  
  Robert Davey March 23, 2018 23:45

  Hi. I have been using SkySafari on my iPhone since 5. I have the latest MacBook Pro 13” and would love to beta test the new OS X ss6 on it. Currently use Starry night 7 on my OS X  Only have a 8” Dobsonian atm But have a Meade ETX 125at on the way.

• 0
  
  steveg March 24, 2018 00:18

  Hi, I have been using Skyfari on both iPhone and Macbook Pro from as early as v3. I currently use them for observing with 10" Meade privately and at our University open astronomy nights. I would like to participate in SKySafari Pro 6 beta testing.