eKeypad v2.16.6 is now available on iTunes

Another big update is now available for eKeypad. Available today is a new update.

Changes in this update include:
- Added support for Philips Hue LED colored lighting (eK ISY and eK Pro)
- Added support for profiles (device associations) 
- Added a failsafe mode (see device settings app) 
- Various performance improvements and bug fixes 
 
IP Video Module: 
- Added support for more TRENDNet IP Cameras (572 and 672) 
- Added support for Visualint IP Cameras (all 14 models) 
- Added support for Visualint NVRs (all 4 model lines)


The new profile feature allows any set of configured devices (Alarm Systems, Automation Systems, IP Video, Audio, IR, everything...) to be associated together in a profile. Any devices associated with the same profile will be automatically consolidated together and only those devices will be visible when that profile is active. You can have an unlimited number of profiles.
 
Please contact us if you have any questions or issues. We are happy to help. 

There are a lot of fancy new features coming in future updates. Keep any eye out for:
- The eKeypad Mobile Access Module. Hardware module to simplify and secure. Enables several new advanced features.
- Sonos Audio support. Whole house audio and surround sound without the wires.
- Voice Control. You say it, eKeypad will do it.
 

I apologize for the confusion this update has caused for some people. System configuration data was not lost but  a few tweaks may be required to get eKeypad to make the most of our new profile management feature added in this update.
 
The new profile feature allows any set of configured devices (Alarm Systems, Automation Systems, IP Video, Audio, IR, everything...) to be associated together in a profile. Any devices associated with the same profile will be automatically consolidated together and only those devices will be visible when that profile is active. You can have an unlimited number of profiles.
 
To implement this large enhancement required an upgrade to the configuration file format eKeypad uses and adds a completely new configuration aspect (profiles) to the configuration.  Unfortunately eKeypad was already very flexible in how it could be configured making the migration process excessively complicated. We identified this risk and gave it extra testing but a few bugs did elude us and are affecting a small number of users.
 
To make things worse the extensive message we generated to explain what the migration process has done is not displaying as it should, leaving users without an explanation of what happened.
 
Thanks to the extra testing effort none of these issues causes permanent problems. They are mostly cosmetic and only one requires a bug fix update (which is already in testing at Apple). Let me cover the two scenarios affected users are encountering and the resolution path for each.
 
1. The appearance that system configuration have disappeared. The systems are still there but associated with the wrong profile. If a system is not associated with the currently active profile it will not be visible. The resolution is to review the profile associations of the configured devices. If you have a more complex configuration you will find discrepancies that once resolved will return eKeypad to the way it looked and worked before. Pay special attention to the default profile setting. This is the profile eKeypad uses when it is launched.
 
2. Missing favorites. This is a straight up bug. In some scenarios eKeypad can orphan the data in such a way that the GUI can not find it. To resolve this the update Apple is reviewing will be required along with a special procedure from us. If you are affected by this, email support after you have loaded the update (version 2.16.8) and we ill be happy to help. It is also worth an honest assessment of your favorites setup. In most cases it is both faster and less time consuming to just recreate the favorites list. However we are happy to help you automatically recover them if you prefer.
 
You may also notice a configuration backup was automatically created by this update called, "PreMigration4". This is a backup of your full configuration from before the configuration file migration occurred. This backup is password protected because it requires a special procedure to use correctly. Once you have eKeypad working the way you want (be sure!) you can delete this backup. It is also the time to make a new backup of your eKeypad configuration and store it somewhere off your phone. 
 
A few things to note about profiles that you may find useful.
 
- All systems associated with a profile are automatically consolidated together.
- Only the devices associated with a profile are visible when the profile is active.
- You can have an unlimited number of profiles.
- Previously you defined a default system to connect to at launch. This has been replaced by a default profile.
- Deleting a profile with move any associated devices to the "Default" profile (this is the profile with the lock symbol)
- You can not delete the Default profile, but you can rename it.
 
Please contact support if you have any issues. We are always anxious to help.

Count me among the people who would very much like to upgrade his eKeypad M1 to eKeypad Pro. If I remember correctly, back in the days, the only difference between the M1 and Pro versions was IP camera support. Now, I cant see myself buying a second and separate app.