================================================
		Welcome to uICE 
     The Universal Infrared Control Engine
================================================
Freeware Version

Copyright © 1999-2000 Christian Mueller, G-Ware
http://gware.virtualave.net
gware@gware.virtualave.net


>> Please turn on word wrap to read this dokument! <<


Contents
========

 Overview
 Legal Information
 Limitations of the freeware version
 System requirements
 Installation instructions
 Known bugs and issues
 Version history




Overview
========

uICE remotely controls many Windows procedures such as executing/closing applications, simulating keyboard input, adjusting audio volume and shutting down your machine by receiving commands from infrared or fm remote receiver hardware connected to your computer. Control your Windows system with remote controls from TV sets or other home theater equipment! 

The HotKey features in uICE even allow system control without any hardware.

uICE uses a plugin library technology for hardware access. If you are familiar in programming, you may create your own plugin for special hardware not included in the plugin package. Contact the author for development informations.


Legal Information
=================

Please see the file "LICENSE.TXT", located in the main application folder.


Limitations of the freeware version
===================================

The freeware version provides the same functionality as the retail version, except that the main window can not be minimized or hidden.
Requirements to use this version free of charge is a regularly available Internet connection and a properly installed web browser. Please see the file 'LICENSE.TXT' for more information.


System requirements
===================

- Windows 95/98, Windows 2000/NT5 or Windows NT4 (with limited functionality)
- Common Controls (comctl32.dll) v4.71 or higher (included with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher)
- Microsoft Foundation Classes and runtime library files (mfc42.dll, msvcrt.dll) located in your system directory (not included to decrease download size). The package is available at ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/win95/dll/mfc4260.zip
- Web browser
- Regularly available Internet connection

For remote control functions ( HotKeys are available without hardware ):
- home made or commercial infrared receiver supported by the included plugins, or a custom plugin for your special hardware
- remote control


Installation instructions
==========================

Run setup.exe and follow the instructions on the screen.

Make sure the MFC files (mfc42.dll, msvcrt.dll) are installed in your system directory. These files are libraries used by many Microsoft and other applications, so you should already have it. A complete package is available at ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/win95/dll/mfc4260.zip


Known bugs and issues
=====================

Minimized windows cannot be restored without using the "Restore application" action.

Sending a keystroke to an application not on top of the screen will force this application to become the foreground window. The previous state will not always be restored (especially if the 'Allow repeated commands' option is enabled)

In some cases, the UIR plugin thread does not terminate correctly, causing the UIR not to respond any more. If you experience this problem, just press the 'Test' button to reinitialize the UIR.

Direct Draw or OpenGL full screen applications running in exclusive mode (3D games) will minimize when the OnScreenDisplay pops up

Windows NT4 does not provide some system libraries required by some actions ( mainly actions manipulating applications by their executable file name ). Therefore, the functionality of uICE is slightly reduced on this platform.


Version History
===============

Version 2.2.0:

- new user interface look
- server can now optionally be made available to other machines
- added HotKeys for commands
- Volume Control OSD now has colored meter
- added Auto Key Capture for Keystroke Table dialog
- bug fixes
- new option 'Match Class Names Only' in the 'Available Windows'
  dialog to search windows by classname only
- NT4 compatibility partially achieved (see Known bugs and issues)
- Win2k compatibility achieved


Version 2.1.0:

- New plugin: 
	Generic COM device plugin with customizable serial port and device settings.
- New features:
	- Preset function to store often used configurations on hard disk or share
	  command configuration with others.
	- customizable threshold for repeated commands recognition
	- changed action listbox to action treeview
	- Volume Control
	- On Screen Display for Volume Control
	- WinAmp TCP/IP plugin is now available from the uICE homepage
	- Keyboard shortcuts for deleting (DEL) and renaming (F2) items in treeviews
	- uICE now uses DirectDraw to display it's windows even if you run DDraw
	  applications in full screen mode (for example tv applications)


Version 2.0.1 final:

- TCP/IP server development finished. See help file for server message formats


Version 2.0.1 b2:

- UIR plugin: fixed bug in learning a button
- Several smaller bugfixes
- Some cosmetic corrections
- New features:
	- Change the display mode
	- Included a special feature for ASUS V3400TNT/V3800TNT with TV-Out users.
	  You may specify additional parameters when changing the display mode:
	  in the parameter field, type "VGA" or "VGA+TV" or "TV"
	  (without the quotation marks!)
	  to enable the corresponding tv mode. This feature is only tested with 
	  driver version 2.25
	- Specify a delay before executing a command of command sequences
	- uICE now makes heavy use of multithreading to execute commands.
	  If you experience problems or run low on system resources, you may disable
  	  this feature on the 'General' tab.
	- 'Allow repeated commands' now works for the UIR too, if your remote control
	  supports repeating.
	  Try Panasonic RCs, they all seem to support repeating.
	- Command treeview icons now inform about not properly defined commands and 
	  commands with delays.
	- uICE now shows a shutdown window to reflect the state of application termination
	  (may be disabled). uICE has to wait for termination of all threads to exit 
	  properly. In some cases, this may take a while.
	- uICE now acts as a TCP/IP server.
	  You may connect your own client application to uICE to receive ir commands.
	  This feature is yet under development and will be finished in the next release.
	  At this time, the server listens on port 1234 and sends commands in the string
	  format "commandname|commandcount|remotename".
	  The port will be customizable in the next release.


Version 2.0.0 b:

- PlugIn technology
- converted built-in WinLIRC support to PlugIn dll
- included support for UIR
- new 'Send keystroke to window" action


Version 1.0.2:

- corrected bug in "Win98 workaround"
  Some applications were not safely brought to the
  foreground to receive keyboard events


Version 1.0.1:

Initial Release Build