Net Control ² Classroom, Net Control ² Professional and Net Control ² SmallClass updated to version 25.1
The teacher module GUI improvements:
Six color groups (three new color groups added) make possible dividing students of the class into six groups; students of a color group can be selected by one click on the respective button of the left toolbar.
Color tabs at the top of the connections list; when the respective color group tab is clicked, the connections list will show only the connections of that color group.
Filters: computers in the connections list can be filtered by various criteria, using the new Filter button in the bottom right-hand corner of the teacher console.
Queues of help requests and hand raise requests: the teacher console shows the order number of help and hand raise requests, so the teacher can know which request was the first one, the second one and so on.
The new help and hand raise requests panel provides quick access to the requests and logs of processed requests.
When a teacher calls on a student, a full screen notification is displayed on the student computers, which the student cannot miss.
The Student Groups Manager button is removed from the left toolbar and moved to the Advanced tools tab of the top toolbar.
The popup connection information toolbar of the Connections list can be immediately shown by pressing the Shift + Space key.
We are pleased to announce the expansion of support for the Net Control ² Professional “Professional Edition” for Linux and Android operating systems. The following packages are now available:
Teacher module (version 25.1) .RPM package (Centos, Alma Linux)
Mobile client (student module) for Android, as a downloadable .APK package.
All packages are already available for download from the customer area account for license holders within the free maintenance period (two years from the date of purchase). If you are the owner of a Net Control ² Professional license, but the packages are not visible in the list of available downloads in the user account, please try refreshing the page in the browser cache by pressing F5, and please check that your license is within the free maintenance period, or just contact us.
A video demonstrating the installation of the module for Android (using the Classroom edition as an example):
Net Control 2 Classroom mobile client for Android has been updated to version 24.11
We are pleased to announce the release of a new mobile client for Android OS for the Net Control 2 Classroom edition.
The previous version of the mobile client was released in 2017 (with minimal subsequent changes), and supported work with the teacher module version 11. The new version has been completely rewritten and is based on a single code with other platforms, which implies the possibility of easier adaptation to subsequent versions in the future.
In particular, the new version:
Supports the latest versions of Android and is recommended for Android versions 9.0 and higher;
Specifically designed for 64-bit platforms;
Adapted for tablets with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and higher, but can also be launched on devices with smaller screen sizes and resolutions;
Supports work with the teacher module version 24;
Already available for download from your user account.
We are happy to announce today that the teacher and student modules of Net Control 2 Classroom and Professional for macOS are updated to the version 24.3
This version was compiled for better compatibility with macOS 14 (Sonoma), provides compatibility with high resolution displays, includes updated Chat, Whiteboard and other tools and features modified since the version 21.11.
The version is already available in the Downloads section of your customer area account, if your license is within the free maintenance period.
We are happy to announce today that a major update for Net Control ² Classroom, Net Control ² SmallClass and Net Control ² Professional for Windows, the version 24.0 is already available for download.
This update introduces significant changes in the internal structure of the student module, which will provide better compatibility with user mode settings and applications. The update is more focused on improving the usability of existing tools and features, tuning of the user interface details and constructing a base for further products development.
The new version includes the following changes:
Redesigned the Student Console:
Docked and Windowed modes. The Docked (classic) mode shows the console as a docked to the right side of the screen window. In theWindowedmode, the console is shown as a standard window on Desktop, which can be resized, minimized, restored by clicking the taskbar icon and so on. The windowed mode is more adapted for simultaneous work of students with the Student Console and other applications, and provides faster and more flexible access to Net Control 2 Student Console’s features.
Student Console displays information in a smarter way, adapting content to the screen and console dimensions.
Student Console’s blocks are redesigned to be more compact and informative.
New information blocks are available in the Student Console: license information, more detailed lesson information, connection time, detailed system and network information on the About page.
The file collection subsystem has been completely redesigned, allowing students to send files to teachers. Students can send files to teachers just by dragging them onto the Files panel of the Student Console. The classic AutoSend folder is also available.
The feature supports two modes: the simpler send-and-delete mode assumes that files placed to the folder will be sent and subsequently deleted from the folder; and the more sophisticated Keep and Synchronize mode keeps all files on the student computer with providing the necessary versioning.
The student module runs now under a user account, when a user is logged in in the system. This provides better compatibility and interoperability with other user-level applications, system settings and eliminates known restrictions of the system account.
The automatic update subsystem was completely redesigned for more frequent and transparent updates.
This update address also several improvements in the sound subsystem, which is used by different tools in the software, including lesser latency of the captured audio and support of the system audio capture in the Remote Desktop / Control tool.
We are proud to announce today a new product in the Net Control ² family of classroom management products – Net Control 2 for Linux.
Net Control 2 for Linux was designed for Debian branch Linux operating systems and adapted for Ubuntu operating systems running 64-bit x86-64 (amd64) architecture processors.
The product is currently only available in the Classroom edition, licensed under the same rules as Net Control 2 Classroom for Windows: with the volume licensing model, you can purchase separate licenses for teacher and student computers; unlimited educational site and organization-wide licenses are available for bulk licensing.
Throughout 2023, Net Control 2 for Linux will be licensed interchangeably with Net Control 2 Classroom Edition, and our customers will be able to use both products under a single Net Control 2 Classroom license for Windows, macOS and Linux in any combination, just preserving the total amount of licensed computers.
All Net Control 2 for Linux licenses purchased during 2023 include three years of free upgrades to any future versions of the software, instead of two years for Net Control 2 Classroom. The main condition here is to purchase a license specifically for Net Control 2 for Linux.
For more information about the product and features, please refer the product home page:
While the setup process is quite common for desktop Linux operating systems, we also recommend the Release Notes document, which briefly describes the main installation steps and the nuances of working on the platform:
Net Control 2 Classroom, Net Control 2 SmallClass and Net Control 2 PRO for Windows are updated to the version 22.1
Version 22.1 includes:
New Remote Desktop and Broadcast Desktop engines. Significantly improved the performance of Remote Desktop (Control) sessions, usually it is in several times faster in comparison with the previous versions. Improved performance of Broadcast Desktop engine and better tolerance to network packet losses during the transmission. Users are able to change scaling and compression levels during the broadcast and control sessions, which may be useful when working with high- and ultra-high-definition resolutions.
Monitor. The new computer use monitoring tool replaces the legacy Event Monitor tool. With the new tool, Instructors receive immediate information of all applications used at the time in the classroom, individually per each user: what application is running at the moment, what document or a web link is opened in the application, usage statistics by time (how long the application is used since last switch; the total use time and the percent of use per session). You will get a notification if the application is opened from a non-standard location (e.g. from a removable storage). The tool will alert if no activity is found on the student computer within some time.
New Timers tool allows Instructors to show customizable timers on User computers: countdown or count up timers, for any defined by Instructor time; show the current time clock, execute actions when the timer elapses (e.g. notify the Instructor, play a signal, shutdown the computer and so on). Three designs and three sizes of timers are available for customization.
UI improvements: updated top toolbar icons, adapted for UHD displays; added several tooltips, other minor improvements.
Recently we have updated the student and teacher module packages for macOS to the version 21.11. This version introduces support of Apple macOS BigSur and Monterey operating systems (11.x – 12.x).
Latest versions of macOS operating systems demonstrate higher security requirements for applications, with limiting access “by default” to system resources and other applications. Particularly, this means that users must authorize applications manually when this application attempts to perform a “restricted” action, like access to Desktop or Documents folder.
Speech and Camera tool is available on the Messaging tab of the top toolbar, and is represent on the toolbar with the “Speech” icon.
The tool provides access to the following features:
• broadcast the teacher’s voice from a microphone (or other recording device) to students;
• listen to a voice from student computers, recorded from a microphone or other recording device;
• broadcast the system audio of the teacher computer to students;
• listen to the system audio of student computers;
• display an image from a teacher’s web-camera to students; optionally, together with the teacher’s voice or the system audio;
• view an image from the student webcams, optionally, together with the system audio or a sound from the microphone;
• audio conference calls between the teacher and students so that all participants can communicate with each other.
• video conference calls between the teacher and students;
• ability to record the received sound from student computers with saving to a file;
• divide participants of a conference call into conference groups (up to 4 groups) for individual work;
• dynamically change the capture and output settings, the volume and recording levels.
The Speech tool is available only in modules for Microsoft Windows.
To use the tool, please select students in the connections list, then click the “Speech” button on the “Messaging” tab of the main toolbar. In the appeared window you can select an initial mode of the tool (the mode can also be changed and customized later, within the speech session):
Speak – teacher speaks to students, the voice recorded from a microphone is playing on student computers
Listen – the teacher listens to the students (their voice recorded from a microphone)
Play System – plays the system audio of the teacher computer on student computers. The system audio is the sound that is currently playing on a computer.
Listen System – plays the system audio of student computers on the teacher computer
Show – displays an image from the teacher’s web-camera and sound from a microphone on student computers
Watch – displays an image from web-cameras of student computers on the teacher computer
Aud. Conference – enables the audio conference call mode
Video conference – enables the video conference call mode.
After selecting the mode, the “Speech” tab appears at the bottom of the main window:
The top toolbar of the Speech panel provides access to the commands and features of teacher computer:
Microphone – turns on the microphone on the teacher computer and broadcasts the sound to student computers. As the microphone, Net Control 2 uses the default audio recording device, as it set up in the Windows sound settings.
System – broadcasts the system audio of the teacher computer to students. The system audio is a sound that is currently playing on the teacher computer.
The “Microphone” and “System” modes are mutually exclusive, only one of them can be used at a time.
Camera – turns on the web camera connected to the teacher computer and broadcasts an image from the camera to students. The default recording mode is 640×480 or closest.
Conference groups (1, 2, 3, 4) – adds a membership of the teacher in the respective conference group. Please see Conference groups section below for more details.
Volume and Recording levels – set up the sound volume and recording level on the teacher computer. The recording level of the system audio cannot be modified.
Settings:
System – displays the Windows system sound settings dialog, where the sound settings of the teacher computer may be customized.
The Users panel (on the left) contains a list of students that participate in the speech session. If you need to add new students to the session, just select them in the connections list (on Connections tab) and then click the Speech tool button on the top toolbar again:
The mode of each student in the list may be configured independently, you can turn on or off the necessary features individually for each student.
To enable or disable certain functions for a specific user, you can use the buttons at the right side of the student item in the list.
To enable or disable functions for several users at the same time, just select students using the checkboxes at the left of the student’s name, and then use the respective buttons of the “Users” panel’s toolbar:
Clear selection – resets the selection of users in the list
Select All – selects all users in the list
Invert selection – inverts the selection of users in the list
Microphone – turns on the microphone (or other “default” recording device) on the student computer.
System – turns on the capture of the system sound on the student computers.
Camera – turns on the web-camera connected to the student computer, and displays an image from the camera on the teacher computer.
1, 2, 3, 4 – enables or disables membership in the respective conference group.
Play – turns on the playback of the sound from the teacher or other student computers.
Record – enables recording of the received audio from the student computer and saves it to a file.
Volume – allows adjusting the sound volume or recording levels on student computers.
Broadcast and playback of the sound.
With the Speech and Camera tool, you can customize features for each participant in the session individually, just by turning on or off the necessary sources (devices) and enabling or disabling the playback.
For example, to play the teacher’s voice on student computers, you need to turn on the microphone in the teacher panel (the top toolbar of the Speech tool), and to enable the Play feature for those students in the list, who need to listen to the teacher’s voice. Respectively, for the students who should not be able to hear the teacher, the “Play” feature should be disabled.
When you are selecting the initial mode at startup of the tool, the respective features will be enabled or disabled by default, depending on the selected mode.
Audio conference call mode. Conference groups
By default, when you are turning on the microphone on student and teacher computers, the teacher can hear all students, but students can hear the teacher only and cannot hear other students.
If some students should be able to hear other students, you need to join them into a conference group. Net Control 2 provides access to four conference groups, and members of one group can hear each other but are unable to hear members of other conference groups.
To add a student to a conference group, just select them in the Users list and click the number of the respective conference group (1, 2, 3 or 4) in the Users panel
Moreover, if some students are assigned to a conference group, the teacher will not be able to hear such students unless the teacher is also the member of this conference group. To assign a conference group to the teacher, please use 1, 2, 3, 4 buttons on the top toolbar of the Speech tool.
Video conference call
When a web-camera is enabled on student and teacher computers, the teacher can watch all selected students (images are appearing in the central part of the Speech tool panel), but students are able to see only one, the “source” computer. The source computer is marked by the following icon:
By default, the “source” is the camera of the teacher. The teacher can change the source just by clicking the source button on the respective web-camera image. To disable temporarily showing the camera on student computers, just click the source button again.
An image from the teacher or another “source” computer is displayed on student computers in a small window at the top righthand corner of the screen. Students cannot close this window, while the session is in effect and the camera “source” is selected and enabled.
Recording audio from student computers
To record a sound from student computers (the microphone or the system sound), just click the Record button in the user list. The audio is recorded in MP3 format and saved in the My Documents\Net Control 2 folder under the name of the computer from which the recording was made, with the respective time stamp.
Performance and protocols
The performance of the tool (refresh rate of the camera image, delays in voice/audio transmission) depends on the number of participants in the session, network load and latency, configuration of the hardware.
Small delays in the transmission of the voice or sound (about 1 second) are acceptable and inevitable, due to peculiarities of the sound capture, compression and transmission technology.
When the tool should be used in sessions with a large number of participants (above 15) or in loaded networks, multicast protocols may significantly reduce the network load and sometimes to increase the performance of the tool. To change the protocol, please open the teacher module settings (N – Options – Options), the “Commands” page:
in the “Speech and Camera” section, select the necessary protocol and click OK button.
Unicast is the default protocol that is recommended for the most of situations.
Multicast generates less network traffic and provides better performance on busy networks or when the tool is used in sessions with many participants.
UDP Broadcast is an alternative to Multicast, when the Multicast protocol is not supported by the network configuration.
Closing the session
To close the speech session, just close the Speech tab at the bottom of the main window of the teacher console, or click the Close Session button in the top-righthand corner of the Speech panel:
Net Control 2 Classroom, Professional and SmallClass Editions version 21.4 (April 2021) is released. This update is currently available for Windows platform only.
Automatic update for Net Control 2 Classroom and SmallClass will be sent to the eligible owners of the version 20 licenses within next two weeks. The software may be downloaded and updated manually right now from the downloads section of your customer area account on our website.
The main changes:
The new Speech and Camera tool, completely redesigned and rewritten from scratch, provides access to the following features:
broadcast the teacher’s voice from a microphone (or other recording device) to students;
• listen to a voice from student computers, recorded from a microphone or other recording device;
• broadcast the system audio of the teacher computer to students;
• listen to the system audio of student computers;
• display an image from a teacher’s web-camera to students; optionally, together with the teacher’s voice or the system audio;
• view an image from the student webcams, optionally, together with the system audio or a sound from the microphone;
• audio conference calls between the teacher and students so that all participants can communicate with each other.
• video conference calls between the teacher and students;
• ability to record the received sound from student computers with saving to a file;
• divide participants of a conference call into conference groups (up to 4 groups) for individual work;
• dynamically change the capture and output settings, the volume and recording levels.
The update includes also multiple minor user interface improvements and bug fixes.
