Powered Up: 11 ⚡ App Update

2020-12-15 | Jetro

Today the Powered Up team released a new app update, adding new options and functionality to the app. These updates come in two blocks and with few additional notes.

Custom Controller version 2.0

The updated version of the Custom Controller presents the following novelties:

• Multiple widgets can be selected and added at the same time.
• Four new widget colors (colors can be changed from the new Widget Editor)
• Icons are no longer shown on widgets in the Widget Library, to put more focus on widget types. Icons can be added via the new Widget Editor, for increased customization.
• New decoration widgets (stickers/labels) added.
• Old Custom Controllers are automatically upgraded to support the new functionality.
• Widget Editor
  • Click on a Widget when in Edit Mode on the Custom Controller canvas, to add a name to the widget, and access the Widget Editor.
  • Change color, address and icon(s).
  • Use advanced settings for some widgets to change their behavior (e.g. the slider widget)
  • Cycle between widgets for easy editing of multiple widget

The update also includes a button to make your controller instantly more festive.

Unfortunately there is still very little guidance on how to use these buttons, sliders and switches from the programming perspective.

Grand Piano update

Four new songs added to the ‘Play’ mode:

• Johann Strauss II - An der schönen blauen Donau
• Beethoven - Ode to Joy (from his 9th symphony)
• Unknown - Frere Jacque
• Unknown - London Bridge

10 new songs added to the ‘Listen’ mode:

• Maurice Ravel - Mirroirs - Alborada del gracioso
• Schumann - Kinderszenen Op.15, "Scenes from Childhood" - Scene 1
• Eric Satie - Gymnopédie no. 1
• Mozart - Piano Sonata in C (K.545)
• Modest Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition (Promenade)
• Frédéric Chopin - Nocturne No. 20 in C sharp minor
• Tchaikovsky - Waltz of the Flowers
• Edvard Grieg - Peer Gynt : Morning Mood
• Brahms - Hungarian Dance No.5
• Rasmus Hartvig - Bricktown Stomp
• New shuffle and repeat mode for the Listen-activity
• Updated UI

What is still lacking from this interface is a simple and easy way for LEGO fans to add their own compositions to the piano, either by uploading or recording a sound file or by programming it through some kind of in-app keyboard.

Other updates

• Notifications
• New Warning: 32-bit devices that are soon to lose support will be notified on start-up
• Hardware Requirement got redesigned
• Support for angular motors (Mindstorms and Spike Prime)

What this means is that older devices (with 32-bit processors) will soon no longer be supported. The Powered Up app was likely already very slow and cumbersome on those devices, but at least you will get advanced notice you will need to find an alternative.

Fixed

Numerous bugs fixed, including:

• Fresh Boost hubs can be connected to again.
• Custom Controller blocks are available in the palette, when editing Composite Blocks.
• Some graphical glitches got fixed.

The list of fixes may not be complete, but at least there is a change log. That's something we have been asking for a long time. I certainly hope other software updates by LEGO will get a similar treatment going forward!

Thank you Powered Up team!!