Animation

[popcornhax]

Hey Dirk,

I know this project is a couple years old, but the current software for these badges supports animated gifs. Have you played around with that at all to see how they are sent over to the badge?

[Danimations]

Interesting to hear that animated .GIF files can now be sent to the B1248.

What's the software you've seen this feature in called, @dbrowder ?

And can you advise whether the badge displays halftones when displaying animated .GIF files?

I'm an animator and have a few of these on order that I plan to customise the content on.

[popcornhax]

The windows software that came with my badge is called "HDSmart". It just converts the GIF files into 2-bit on/off images, no halftones - so most look pretty terrible. you are able to create your own but it limits the size to 11x11px

Software comes on the device's flash storage, but mine was corrupt. Was able to get another copy online through one of the links in the Amazon post.

https://www.amazon.com/MECO-Rechargeable-Programming-Restaurant-Exhibition/dp/B01N79TVFF

[Danimations]

Thanks @dbrowder .

The 11 x 11 pixel restriction in the software you describe is pretty crappy. Some folks here are looking into the possibility of storing full resolution animation on the b1248's existing memory. @Effix has done some great work already, getting one of these to display halftones and act as an external monitor... and building on that Firmware, there's an opportunity to store and call full frame art and animation.

Here's the project.. we're discussing it under the "issues" tab.

https://github.com/Effix/LedBadge

[Danimations]

Hey @dbrowder .

I downloaded the HD Smart program from the link you pointed me to. I was then able to create and demonstrate a 12 x 12 pixel 4 frame duration animation in the program, but wasn't able to send it to my badge. It claimed there was a "screen mismatch" but I doubt that is the problem.

The error is more likely to be a result of my 2017 variant of the badge (its actually a GD1144, pretending to be a b1248) using wildly different electronic components to its predecessors.

How old is your badge? And have you had a look at the PCB inside it?

If you like, I can send you the software that works with mine for the sake of comparison. You may also be able to find it online. It's called "Mini LED 9.92" (for Windows)

[Danimations]

Hey @DirkReiners , @dbrowder ... I just found this blog post which describes how art is handled by some LED badges. I thought it might be of some interest/use to you both.

http://zunkworks.com/projects/programmablelednamebadges/

[Danimations]

Hey again, @dbrowder .

I just discovered that the Mini LED Display V10 program also appears to support loading animated .GIF files onto LED badges, though hardware/firmware compatibility may be an issue. I've just had a play with the software, but it doesn't appear to be compatible with my badge (which was bundled with Mini LED V9.92 instead).

This does look like it unlocks the promise of full frame, 1-bit (mono) animation for this kind of canvas though. True 2-bit animation would feature 2 additional steps of tone between 0% and 100%.

You can see for yourself if your badges support Mini LED V10 by downloading the program here: https://pan.baidu.com/s/1jHEIWMq

[popcornhax]

Thanks for all the info, its very interesting. I'll try out the Mini LED program on mine this week. The LedBadge project is super cool too but I prefer not to be tethered to another device :)

[Danimations]

I found a seller on Alibaba which sells badges at 11x44 resolution, compatible with the HDSmart software. This is the only current seller listing I've been able to find which advertises the provision of this software with a badge. I tried using HDSmart with the badges I have already, and none of them were compatible.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Red-Color-LED-Badge-Rechargeable-USB-Powered-5mm-Pixels-Moving-Text-Display-Customized-Business-Card-Tag/32822927351.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.17aa4c4dNyQ1Ph