SAFARI Montage^® Version 5.7.x

Product Release Information

Introduction

This document contains the release notes for SAFARI Montage 5.7.x. This is a full release of the SAFARI Montage System and the following sections provide details to its release. SAFARI Montage 5.x is not a software-only upgrade from SAFARI Montage 4.x and may require a new OS drive, increased RAM, and/or a new server. Contact SAFARI Montage Customer Service (1-800-782-7230) regarding SAFARI Montage 5.x upgrade options.

New in this Release

• Digital Curriculum Presenter (DCP)
  • Bulk Import of Classes
    • Administrators may now perform an initial bulk import of district classes, assigning courses, teachers and students via .csv file.
  • Enable/Disable My Lessons - Per School
    • My Lessons, the ability for Teachers to copy, create, and organize customized lessons, may now be selectively enabled or disabled on a per school basis to support district implementation needs.
• State Standards and Correlations Updates and Additions
  • Academic standards and packaged content correlations have been comprehensively updated.
  • Standards American Library Association standards have been added.
  • International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) Standards for Teachers, Students, and Administrators have been added.
  • School District Administrators may now selectively suppress outdated standards on an individual basis.
  • Standards navigation has been improved with breadcrumb-based navigation within standards hierarchies.
  • CreationStation standards correlation has been improved to enable the selection and correlation of, multi-standards in a single step.
• CreationStation/My Locker
  • New Supported Formats:
    • Apple iBooks (.IBOOKS)
    • Mobipocket eBooks (.MOBI, Kindle-compatible format)
    • Google Earth (.KML, .KMZ)
    • M4V video (w/o DRM) (.M4V)
    • PNG Images (.PNG)
    • eInstruction Examview Question Bank (.BNK)
    • eInstruction Examview Test (.TST)
    • IWB Common File Format
    • CyberScience 3D v4 Animation (.CSSESSION)
  • Closed Captions may now be uploaded for new and existing CreationStation video, enabling integrated playback of captioning in parallel to that provided for licensed content.
    • Supported closed caption file formats are QTtext (.qttext) and SAMI (.smi, .sami).
  • Spanish Language support has been extended:
    • CreationStation metadata now allows the designation of titles that include Spanish language audio, allowing users to search for CreationStation titles containing Spanish language audio and view available language tracks in search results and title detail pages.
    • Bulk upload support has been extended to support the designation of titles with Spanish language audio.
    • The SAFARI Montage Media Player will display the English/strongish language toggle for titles containing English and Spanish audio.
  • Interactive Whiteboard support has been improved and streamlined:
    • Any supported interactive whiteboard file type (SMART, Promethean, StarBoard, eInstruction Interwrite) may be uploaded, irrespective of system settings, school settings, and individual user preference.
    • All interactive whiteboard file formats are now presented on a single, unified "Whiteboards" search tab.
  • Interactive Whiteboards and Documents now support multiple, associated file formats, allowing management of a single learning object while serving each user their preferred format, including the universal, mobile-friendly PDF format.
  • Interactive Whiteboard and Document resources now display a clearly labeled "Open" action, representative of the file type for clarity.
    • The use of file format icons, displayed in place of the traditional play button.
    • Icons a labeled as "Open" for added clarity of the icon's associated action.
  • Application-Based Selection.
    • Enable the association of multiple document file formats with a single resource with centralized metadata, supporting multiple clients with a single resource, e.g., Windows, OS X, and, for mobile clients, the universally accessible PDF format.
  • Auto Conversion of Documents to PDF.
    • Automatically convert supported document formats to a complementary PDF version to serve mobile clients and workstations without the required document software.
  • CreationStation metadata may now be updated in bulk for existing uploads.
    • Administrators and Curriculum Administrators may now download, edit, and re-upload mass changes to existing metadata via .csv file.
• My Locker
  • My Locker, available directly from the Dashboard and Modules, allows school districts with CreationStation to extend upload rights to students through the new Student w/ Upload user type.
  • Students w/ Upload may upload files of any supported type to a personal locker; organize uploaded files by folder; add, edit, and delete uploaded files; view available storage at any time, and may request additional storage from administrators if required.
  • Students w/ Upload are prompted for title and description when uploading to My Locker.
  • Additional metadata and actions are now displayed for resources, for consistency.
  • Administrators maintain full control over associated locker storage based on system and individual storage limits and a simple storage request system allows users to request and receive additional storage from Administrators.
• Search
  • Extended the results page to include My Uploads, allowing Student w/Upload users to quickly and easily identify personal uploaded CreationStation assets
  • Whiteboard and Document tabs now filter titles and file formats in accordance with newly expanded Interactive Whiteboard and Office Suite personal preferences.
• Preferences^®
  • Extend Interactive Whiteboard and Office suite user preferences allowing users to select which additional file formats should be displayed/available to open on Search, Detail, Playlist and Lesson pages:
    • My Interactive Whiteboard File Settings
    • My Document Settings
• Selective Video Streaming
  • Improved playback by adding support for VideoLAN VLC media player
    • When VLC is installed, the SAFARI Montage Media Player will use VLC to playback SVS streams.
    • Administrators may optionally automate the installation of VLC on client computers by entering URL paths to the VLC installation packages.
    • Customers are responsible for any licensing associated with the installation of VLC.
    • VLC installation packages may be found at the following locations:
      • Windows: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html
      • Windows: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html
• Pathways SM
  • CMC/Kiosk group management now allows CMCs & Kiosks to be managed in logical groups, providing the ability to schedule and distribute playlists and content to an entire group without the need to update each unit individually.
  • Newly supported devices:
    • Boxlight Seattle X30N+ Projector
• Subjects
  • Professional Development subjects have been added for correlation with CreationStation uploads:
    • Administration
    • Classroom Management
    • Counseling & Guidance
    • First Year Teaching
    • Non-instructional Staff
    • Paraprofessionals
    • Parent-School Relations
    • Special Needs
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Technology
• Cyber-Science 3D Interactive Model (2013) Content Package & Cyber-Science 3D v4 Viewer
  • Now supports for Microsoft Windows 8 (Desktop) and Apple OS X Lion and Mountain Lion (10.7.x and 10.8.x)
• Admin^®
  • Usage Reporting by User Type
    • Total and Home Access usage reports have been expanded to include reporting by User Type to streamline summary reporting.
  • Monthly Email Usage Report
    • Administrators may now choose to have a monthly usage report sent automatically via e-mail.
  • Multi-Format Auto-Converter
    • Admins may now refine settings for conversions for each of the three bitrates in to Admin > Auto-Converter.
    • High bitrate, HD video conversion improved.
  • Content & Modules
    • Assigned Schools listed alphabetically on Individual Package Activation Page
      • Admin > Content & Modules > Content Packages > Activate
  • Data Recovery
    • Help info added to the Add Destination page.
  • Channel Guide
    • Administrators may now set available programming based on channel guide ratings.
  • Content & Modules
    • Admin Menu – accessing settings do not redirect back to controller if on an expansion server.
    • NDVR Settings are now displayed correctly for administrators based on whether the server is an NDVR, WAN Controller, Expansion Server, or Remote Server.
      • "Maximum Live Recording Time" description changed to "Maximum On Demand Recording Time" for clarity.
  • Reporting
    • Montage Selective Video Streaming has been added to Playbacks by School Detail report.
  • Schools
    • The number of Content Packages assigned now appears in the school list Settings > System.
    • "Alert to Install SAFARI Montage Media Player" change to "User Installable".
  • Digital Curriculum Presenter
    • Digital Curriculum Presenter has been modified to incorporate the standard SAFARI Montage top navigation.
    • All DCP pages modified to use a fluid layout and justify page content to the left.
• Web Browser Support
  • Support for the following web browser types:

    Operating System	Microsoft® Internet Explorer®	Firefox®	Apple® Safari®	Chrome™
    Microsoft Window® 8 (Desktop)	10	20.0	Unsupported	26.0
    Microsoft Window® 7	9.0 and 8.0	20.0	Unsupported	26.0
    Microsoft Window Vista®	9.0 and 8.0	20.0	Unsupported	26.0
    Microsoft Window XP SP3	8.0 and 7.0	20.0	Unsupported	26.0
    Apple Mac OS® X 10.8	Unsupported	20.0	6.1	26.0
    Apple Mac OS X 10.7	Unsupported	20.0	6.1	26.0
    Apple Mac OS X 10.6	Unsupported	20.0	5.1	26.0

Installation and Upgrade Notes

• Installation and Upgrade
  • See the SAFARI Montage 5.7.x Upgrade Instructions tab above.
• Minimum System Requirements
  • See the SAFARI Montage 5.7.x System Requirements tab above.

5.7.25 Release Details

• SAFARI Montage Media Player
  • SAFARI Montage Media Player version 5.7.2 (Microsoft^® Windows^® 8, 7, Vista^®, XP)
  • SAFARI Montage Media Player version 5.7.3 (Apple Mac OS X 10.8, 10.7 and 10.6)
• Cyber-Science 3D v4 Viewer
  • Cyber-Science 3D v4 viewer version CS.4.0b.2075
    • System Requirements:
      • Windows (XP SP2, Vista SP2, 7, 8)
      • Mac (OS X 10.6 or later)
      • CPU: Intel Pentium III or equivalent
      • RAM: 1 GB
      • Hard Drive: 750 MB free disk space
      • Graphics: Graphics card with DirectX 9 level (shader model 2.0) capabilities, 128 MB of RAM

Browser Plug-ins (All Platforms)

• SAFARI Montage Media Player
  • Plays both Windows Media^® and Apple QuickTime^®

  Installers

  • Version 5.7.2 (32-bit Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP)
  • Version 5.7.3 (OS X 10.8, 10.7 and 10.6)

  Required for:

  • Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7 Compatibility
  • Digital Curriculum Presenter^™ (DCP)
  • Pathways SM^™
  • SAFARI Montage Managed Home Access Module
  • Closed Captioning Toggle
  • Alternate Language Audio Tracks
  • Enhanced Full-Screen Playback
  • Playback of Career Clips Content
• VideoLAN

  Required for playback of Selective Video Streaming (SVS) streams.

  • Version 2.0.6 (Windows all versions)
  • Version 2.0.6 (OS X all versions)
• Apple QuickTime

  Required for Windows operating systems and Mac OS for playback of QuickTime and H.264 content, and Managed Home Access.

  • X (OS X 10.8, 10.7)
  • 7.7 (OS X 10.6/Windows 8, 7, Vista and XP)
• Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 (Windows XP and Windows Vista) or Microsoft Windows Media Player 12 (Windows 8 and 7)
  • Required for the playback of Windows Media. Windows Media playback not available on Mac OS.
• Adobe^® Flash^® Player 11 - Required for Visual Dictionary interactive image package.
• Adobe^® Acrobat^® Reader XI
• Sun^® Java^® 7 Standard Edition - required for CreationStation uploads.
• Cyber-Science 3D v4 Viewer
  • Required to view Cyber-Science Interactive 3D models

  Installers

  • Version CS.4.0b.2075 (Windows and OS X all versions)

Additional Local Software

Additional software may be required to create or view certain CreationStation content.

• Software clients for the associated file types
  • SMART Notebook^® software / SMART Notebook Interactive Viewer software - .NOTEBOOK / .NBK
  • Promethean^® ActivInspire^® / ActiveStudio^® / Flipchart Viewer - .FLIPCHART / .FLP / .AS3A
  • Hitachi^® StarBoard^® - .YAR
  • eInstruction^® Workspace^™ - .GWB
  • Microsoft Office / Office Vewiers - .DOC/.DOCX, .XLS/.XLSX, .PPT/.PPTX
  • OpenOffice.org^® - .SDW/.ODT, .SDC/.ODS, .SDD/.ODP, .ODG; .ODF, .SDP
  • Apple iWork^® - .PAGES, .NUMBERS, .KEY
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader - .PDF
  • An EPUB^® Reader - .LIT, .EPUB
• Interactive Whiteboard Integration - supported software versions.
  • SMART Notebook Software / Notebook Interactive Viewer - v 9.5 or greater
  • Promethean ActivInspire (v 1.5 or greater) / ActiveStudio (v 2.5 or greater) / Flipchart Viewer
  • StarBoard (v 8.11 or greater)/StarBoard LE - Viewer Only (v 3.0 or greater)/StarBoard for OS X (v 9.2 or greater)
  • eInstruction Workspace for Windows (v 8.90 or greater)/eInstruction Workspace for OS X (v 5.10 or greater)

Managed Home Access Clients

• SAFARI Montage Media Player 5.7.x
• Appled QuickTime
• 768kbps Broadband Internet Connection

Local Area Network

• 100Mb Wired Ethernet
• NetBIOS Protocol
  • Windows: "Client for Microsoft Networks" protocol must be active on client machines.
  • OS X: The "Samba" suite of protocols is already active. No changes are required.
• Switched Backbone
• Full Duplex

Please read these instructions in their entirety before you begin:

• These instructions and all related documents are available online at http://www.safarimontage.com/support
• It is important that you review the SAFARI Montage 5.7.x Release Notes available online, as these may include Known Issues that you should understand before running the upgrade.
• Review the SAFARI Montage 5.7.x System Requirements, which include important information that will ensure your environment meets all requirements.
• Allow for time to backup your system in your update planning.
• No one should use the SAFARI Montage System during the update process, so please perform this update during off-hours.
• Review any questions with Technical Support in advance. Please note that SAFARI Montage Technical Support is available Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time and they may be contacted by telephone at 800-782-7230 or online via http://www.safarimontage.com/support/.

Important Considerations:

1. We recommend you update all client computers to the current version of the SAFARI Montage Media Player prior to running the OS upgrade. Not doing so will result in all users receiving an alert upon logging in to SAFARI Montage instructing them to upgrade the player. Administrators can suppress this notification in the following location: ADMIN -> Settings -> System -> Alert to Install SAFARI Montage Media Player. The latest version of the player is available for download at http://www.safarimontage.com/support.
2. If monitoring the update from the console, be aware that the system may appear to be inactive at certain times during the upgrade. This does not mean that the upgrade has stopped.

WARNING: DO NOT interrupt the update in any way or power off the server at any time during the update process or database optimization. Doing so may severely and irreparably damage your Safari Montage system.

If you are running WAN Manager with Expansion Server(s):

1. The Expansion Controller must be upgraded first. See Upgrade Instructions below.
2. Once the Expansion Controller has been upgraded, it will automatically push the upgrade to all of the Expansion Servers. The progress of the upgrade can be viewed by navigating to Admin -> Expansion Server -> Expansion Servers.

If you are running WAN Manager with Remote School Server(s):

1. The WAN Manager Parent server must be upgraded first. See Upgrade Instructions below.
2. Once the upgrade is completed on the WAN Manager Parent server, you will be able to automatically 'push' the upgrade to the Remote School Servers, thereby eliminating the need to upgrade them separately on-site.
   1. Navigate to Admin -> WAN Manager -> Remote School Servers
   2. Either check 'Remote update all servers', which will update five servers at a time until they have all been upgraded, or select individual servers to be upgraded by checking the box next to the server name.

Total time to upgrade all expansion and/or remote school servers will depend upon the total number of servers and available bandwidth. The upgrade will be downloaded to each remote server, where the upgrade process will run automatically and take approximately one to two hours. If 'Remote update all servers' is selected, servers will be processed in groups of five, and upgrades will run concurrently on each group of remote servers.

Download and Upgrade Instructions:

1. Backup your SAFARI Montage system via the Administration tools:
   1. Navigate to Admin Data Recovery Backup
   2. Perform a full backup setting the backup option "Data Only" to "No".
2. Download upgrade media (ISO) using the link provided in the email from SAFARI Montage.
3. Upload the downloaded ISO file to the SAFARI Montage system via the Administration tools:
   1. Navigate to Admin » Tools » Software Update History.
   2. Click on the Upload an ISO image of the update and install link.
   3. Browse to the location of the ISO file downloaded in Step 2 and click on Open.

   The ISO will begin uploading to the server. Once the upload is complete, the upgrade will begin and will take approximately one to two hours, after which the server will reboot.

~ THIS COMPLETES THE SERVER UPDATE PROCESS. PLEASE TEST FROM A CLIENT BROWSER. ~

Deploying the SAFARI Montage Media Player:

Go to http://www.safarimontage.com/support/ to download the latest version of the SAFARI Montage Media Player and for instructions on how to deploy the player to your client environment.