SensorPanel -- a new flexible monitoring module to replace OSD and Sidebar Gadget

[Fiery]

After several rewriting of this very complex module we've named SensorPanel, it has finally reached the stage that we can show it to the general public

Please find the first SensorPanel beta in the following new beta release of AIDA64 Extreme Edition:

http://www.aida64.com/downloads/aida64extremebuild1455u8nmy1wgcbzip

[[[ link has been updated to the latest beta ]]]

After upgrading to this new version, make sure to restart Windows to finalize the upgrade.

You can enable the new feature in AIDA64 / main menu / File / Preferences / Hardware Monitoring / SensorPanel.

You can set the update frequency for the SensorPanel in AIDA64 / main menu / File / Preferences / Hardware Monitoring / Update Frequency.

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A couple of limitations and important things to know about this first SensorPanel beta:

1) Most of the settings are moved out of the usual place (the central AIDA64 Preferences), so you can control most properties of the SensorPanel items straight from the SensorPanel itself. Just use the right-click context menu to modify, remove or move an item, or to close the SensorPanel. We'll add more options into the right-click menu soon.

2) You can only put BMP and PNG format images on the SensorPanel right now. We'll add JPEG support later on. In case you want to add a full background image to the SensorPanel, make sure to use BMP format, since it is the most efficient way to handle large images.

3) Currently there's only one bar style, a solid (classic) one. In case you've seen a bar design that you think would look cool in AIDA64, make sure to post a screen shot here in this topic. We'd like to extend the range of bar styles to allow fancier SensorPanel design, and also to make it easier to tell various sensor item bars apart from each other.

4) We'll implement sensor graphs in the near future too, probably before the summer. In case you have an idea about a visual sensor item representation that is not a simple label, not a bar, and not a graph, then post your idea in this topic, and we'll discuss it.

5) Currently there's no way to re-order the items to allow better overlaying and to allow placing an image behind a sensor item easier. Currently you need to add the images first, and then the sensor items, to make sure the sensor items are shown in front of the image(s). We'll add a "SensorPanel Manager" feature soon, to let you have a quick overview on all the items placed on the panel, and to re-order the items. BTW, it's possible to re-order items right now, if you close AIDA64, and edit AIDA64.INI file in a text editor. Not a very user-friendly way, but please keep in mind that this whole SensorPanel feature is only in the first beta stage right now

6) We have a lot of plans to make it easier to handle the panel items, and to generally make the SensorPanel user-friendly. For example:

- Lock the size of the panel, so the user cannot accidently resize it.

- Lock the position of the panel, so the user cannot accidently move it.

- Temporarily hide one or more items on the panel, and also to unhide them.

- Flashing the sensor item when the sensor value reaches the "Limit3" point.

7) Even though AIDA64 doesn't warn you about this, but it's important to understand that when you enable a bar, and you select its Place as "Embedded", then you need to set the bar's Indent property to a non-zero value to let the label text fit there. If you leave the "Indent" at zero, the label will be hidden under the bar.

8) FYI, even though the SensorPanel feature was developed as a replacement for both the OSD Panel and Sidebar Gadget feature, it will not effectively replace them. So if you prefer the easier layout of the old features, you can still use them. You can even use them together, if you want.

If you have more ideas about how to make the SensorPanel feature more convenient, let us know here in this topic.

Thanks,

Fiery

[Fiery]

A quick update, to fix a couple of small issues:

http://www.aida64.com/specialbeta/aida64extreme_build_1347_sensorpanel.zip

[Arctucas]

Fiery,

Is there any way to select all the sensor panel items at once, as you can with the OSD by highlighting the first and then holding shift while highlighting the last?

Or must we add the items one-at-a-time?

Thanks.

[Fiery]

Fiery,

Is there any way to select all the sensor panel items at once, as you can with the OSD by highlighting the first and then holding shift while highlighting the last?

Or must we add the items one-at-a-time?

Thanks.

The SensorPanel starts empty, so you have to add items one-by-one. Currently, once you have multiple items on the panel, you can not select multiple ones at a time to perform mass re-configuration. We'll add that feature soon.

We'll also implement a "Default settings" panel too, where you can select your favorite color, font type, bar design, etc. And so when you add a new item, those default settings will be automatically applied on the new item.

[Fiery]

Here's a new AIDA64 beta release to further improve the SensorPanel feature:

http://www.aida64.com/specialbeta/aida64extreme_build_1349_sensorpanel.zip

In this beta we've applied the following improvements:

- SensorPanel Manager

- items re-ordering (via SensorPanel Manager)

- item hiding (via SensorPanel Manager)

- configurable default settings

- Preferences / HW Monitoring / SensorPanel / new option: lock panel position

- Preferences / HW Monitoring / SensorPanel / new option: lock panel size

- SensorPanel item properties window position restoring

- JPEG image support

- bar frame support

- shadow support (for labels, values, units, bars)

You can launch the SensorPanel Manager and open the default settings configuration window from the right-click context menu on the SensorPanel.

In the upcoming days we'll work on the mass re-configuration, items flashing, new bar styles, and profiling (export/import complete panel settings).

[bala_gamer]

This is really good, Just downloaded the beta, Does it have the ability to show ingame osd about hardware?

[Fiery]

This is really good, Just downloaded the beta, Does it have the ability to show ingame osd about hardware?

In-game OSD is still not supported, but as soon as TechPowerUp get ready with their new OSD Server software, we'll implement support for that in AIDA64. Using that you'll be able to put AIDA64 sensor readings onto in-game OSD.

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2230019

[Mice007]

I've created a sample with the latest AIDA64 Beta version to show some of the capabilities of this new feature.

[bala_gamer]

oh nice!! I thinks there is lot more to be unleashed!! nice work

[Fiery]

Another new AIDA64 beta release to improve on the SensorPanel feature:

http://www.aida64.com/downloads/aida64extremebuild1351rx6vnfkj1czip

In this beta we've applied the following changes:

- vertical bars, with a new bar placement option called "3-line"

- image preview

- copy-paste (in the right-click context menu on the SensorPanel)

- SensorPanel Manager / Duplicate button -- to clone an item

- URL on static labels and images -- the link can be opened by double-clicking on the item on the SensorPanel

- improved background image handling

- rendering order has changed to render the bar first -- so now label and/or value and/or unit can be drawn right on the bar, using e.g. the "Embedded" bar placement option

- fixed: item hiding

Another sample shot to show off the latest capabilities of the SensorPanel feature:

[Fiery]

A new AIDA64 SensorPanel beta release:

http://www.aida64.com/downloads/aida64extremebuild1375vq2sd8myrczip

In this beta we've implemented the following new features:

- mass actions: modify, delete, copy-paste (select items with Ctrl-LeftClick on the SensorPanel)

- SensorPanel Manager / mass actions: move, reorder, modify, delete, hide/unhide, duplicate

When performing mass modification, the SensorPanel item properties to be altered are marked with a red stripe.

Note: In this beta we've changed the SensorPanel configuration tags. It will effectively break compatibility with previous SensorPanel beta releases, so you'll have to re-configure all items.

[Arctucas]

Fiery,

Thanks for the update.

I will still need to add sensor items one at a time, correct?

Will adding multiple items at once be a feature in upcoming releases?

[Fiery]

I will still need to add sensor items one at a time, correct?

Will adding multiple items at once be a feature in upcoming releases?

Since you typically want to customize every items you add, and place them at individual (X,Y) position on the panel, I don't think a mass addition feature would work well in the real life. Even if you added a lot of items at once, you would still need to go through them one by one and alter them, move them, etc...

[Arctucas]

Since you typically want to customize every items you add, and place them at individual (X,Y) position on the panel, I don't think a mass addition feature would work well in the real life. Even if you added a lot of items at once, you would still need to go through them one by one and alter them, move them, etc...

Thank you for the prompt reply.

Actually, as you already have the sensors grouped quite well, I believe that, personally, I would leave them as is once placed onto the sensor panel.

For me, this would save a great deal of time.

However, I understand your position.

While the new Sensor Panel appears to be a great addition to AIDA64, having briefly tried it out, perhaps I will simply continue to use the OSD as it serves the purpose I use it for quite well.

Thanks for continuing to provide an excellent application.

[Zoork]

Thank you very much for this great feature! My first Sensor-Screen attached. Now i can plug off my G19.

[Fiery]

Thank you very much for this great feature! My first Sensor-Screen attached. Now i can plug off my G19.

Wow, that is one awesome panel layout! Keep 'em coming, guys

[pepe22]

will be possible in future versions include a transparent background, and view the information directly on your desktop?, would make me happy

btw: great job so far

[Fyew-jit-tiv]

Has the SenorPanel been removed from v1.7...?

[Fiery]

Has the SenorPanel been removed from v1.7...?

Yes. We didn't feel it was mature enough to include it in the stable release, but it will be put back in the next beta release. We're planning to finalize it before the next stable release due in less than 2 months.

[Fyew-jit-tiv]

Fiery.....WHY... I was just getting down with some great ideas.... ... Oh well guess ill have to wait for next beta version.

[Fiery]

Fiery.....WHY... I was just getting down with some great ideas.... ... Oh well guess ill have to wait for next beta version.

Don't worry. You are one of those power-users who're always using the very latest beta release, so this small issue shouldn't affect you much The next beta will be out in a few days, so stay tuned Until then, you can use the last beta release, it is virtually identical to the v1.70 stable release:

http://www.aida64.com/downloads/aida64extremebuild1375vq2sd8myrczip

[Fyew-jit-tiv]

Brilliant... Ill downgrade now.! thanks:D

[Unwinder]

In-game OSD is still not supported, but as soon as TechPowerUp get ready with their new OSD Server software, we'll implement support for that in AIDA64. Using that you'll be able to put AIDA64 sensor readings onto in-game OSD.

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2230019

Hi Fiery,

Still no luck in supporting RivaTuner OSD server as well, so AIDA readings could be available to EVGA Precision/MSI Afterburner users? I've been offering to do so for Everest for so many years

[johnbriner]

Hey! This is great! Very nice idea! I will be waiting for more new versions! Thanks for sharing!

[Fiery]

Hi Fiery,

Still no luck in supporting RivaTuner OSD server as well, so AIDA readings could be available to EVGA Precision/MSI Afterburner users? I've been offering to do so for Everest for so many years

It's great to see you here, Unwinder We've implemented Rivatuner OSD Server (RTSS) support in the latest beta version of AIDA64 Extreme Edition available at:

http://www.aida64.com/downloads/aida64extremebuild1426qv1kl8cw0czip

You can activate and configure it in AIDA64 / main menu / File / Preferences / Hardware Monitoring / External Applications.

Regards,

Fiery