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--- en:blog [2024/05/04 10:53] – mastertailer
+++ en:blog [2025/03/01 17:08] (current) – darkgrue
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+{{ :en:news_fox_for_docs.tailco_copy.jpg?600 |}}
 ====== Blog and News ======
+===== March 1, 2025: TailControl Love Is in The Air! =====
+{{ :en:tailcontrol20250208.jpg?400 |}}
+==== Welcome Tailer Community ====
+Welcome back to another blog edition! First up, is some new branding:
+"TailCoNTROL" is now "TailControl", and the [[https://docs.thetailcompany.com/doku.php?id=en:dev:tailcontrol-command-protocol|documentation]]
+and references have been updated to reflect it. My typographical artistry was
+just too far ahead of it's time, clearly...
+Also, EarGear, is now a Registered Trademark! This joins the Crumpet the Fox
+logo, and MiTail and is a big step forward for the business to establish its
+name and branding, especially as a business trading internationally.
+==== Even-more Unified Firmware ====
+The first blog posting was the announcement of the unified firmware system,
+that brought all the tail hardware-based products (MiTail, FlutterWings, and
+MiTail Mini) under the same banner. But one product had yet to be brought into
+the fold, and that's the EarGear.
+I can finally announce that EarGear is now under TailControl... control!
+This means the ears will benefit from TailControl's advanced move system, move
+easing, and other features and bugfixes. I've also worked behind the scenes in
+the code to continue to organize and improve the code organization and
+stability, which all the products will benefit from.
+==== New Moves ====
+The ears now have new moves, and are much more energetic and lifelike now. Ear
+twitches are much more twitch-like. Previously, all ear moves took the same
+amount of time to execute: 1000 ms, or 500 ms, depending on whether "be
+excited" was selected. Obviously, this didn't allow much flexibility in move
+design. With the TailControl EarGear firmware, the fully-parameterized move
+system is now available, and the ear move set has been redesigned to take
+advantage of that new flexibility.
+==== Conference Mode ====
+In the previous blog posting, I talked briefly about the Midwest FurFest 2023
+BLE spam attack and plans to address issues around those sorts of problems.
+[[https://docs.thetailcompany.com/doku.php?id=en:dev:tailcontrol-command-protocol#conference_mode|Conference Mode]]
+is now implemented in both TailControl and The Tail Company app. This mode
+establishes a BLE Bond and protects your Tail Co device from unauthorized
+connections, replay attacks, and encrypts over-the-air communications.
+Practically speaking, this means that only you will be able to connect and
+command your Tail Company devices, and it will prevent anyone else from
+interfering in your tailing experience.
+It comes coupled with a factory reset function
+([[https://docs.thetailcompany.com/doku.php?id=en:dev:tailcontrol-command-protocol#unbinding|described in the Unbinding section of the protocol reference]]),
+to reset the device back to factory settings, in case the bond gets lost and
+can't be reset - or any other persistent setting causes issues. Back to
+factory-fresh, with the press of a button!
+Conference Mode is available to try out now, but we'll continue to adjust and
+develop this feature in response to customer feedback to make it more
+user-friendly and functional.
+==== App Updates ====
+The Tail Company App continues to get new features and updates, and has seen
+several releases in this time. Be sure to check out the new version, if you
+haven't already!
+==== New Products ====
+There's a new accessory for tails that's recently come out for those who want
+to hang their tails vertically: [[https://thetailcompany.com/product/the-verticalizer/|The Verticalizer]].
+This is an optional adapter that fits between the tail and the D-clip on your belt
+and gives you a new option to wear your tail!
+In celebration of the new ear firmware, there's a new EarGear product! Complementing the
+[[https://thetailcompany.com/product/eargear-cosplay-ears-creators-edition/|EG Creators Edition]],
+The Tail Company is adding the [[https://thetailcompany.com/product/eargear-headphones-edition/|EarGear Headphones Edition]]
+to the EarGear lineup! Ears... on your headphones! 'nuff said!
+The Tail Company is always on the move - just like our products! New stuff is
+already in the pipeline in different stages: prototype all the way up to
+coming out soon, there's stuff to look forward to!
+==== What's Next? ====
+Firmware development never stops. There are still new features being explored,
+and new products that are upcoming or being considered. Firmware development
+will continue to bring more value to existing and future customers of The Tail
+Company!
+Watch for the wag!
+Your Friendly Lurking Horror,
+Dark Grue