Want to know what has changed since a previous version? This page lists those changes. You can alter the range of release notes to display if you wish.

The latest release of Simon is version 5.1.1.

• Added a MySQL notifier plug-in, kindly written by Daniel Ellis. Like the new MySQL service, it allows connecting to a local or remote MySQL database and performing a query, e.g. to add an entry to a table. (Note, it hasn't been fully tested in this release. If you have a MySQL database, please give it a try.)
• Renamed the new Arbitrary DNS service plug-in as Specific DNS, and reworded some of the user interface, based on customer feedback.
• Removed the superfluous initial frame and dissolve of the splash window, so Simon now starts faster.
• Added TestUsername and TestPassword as notifier variables.
• Fixed a bug where editing a service made the selected service in the Edit Test window inappropriately jump to the first one.
• Fixed a bug where the Check Now toolbar button draw over the Stop Check state via thread-based service plug-ins like MySQL.

• Added a MySQL service plug-in, kindly written by Daniel Ellis. It allows connecting to a local or remote MySQL database and performing a query, to ensure it is working correctly. (Note, it hasn't been fully tested in this release. If you have a MySQL database, please give it a try. You'll need to add the service first if you've previously used Simon.)
• Added file:// as an available default protocol in the Basic service.
• Changed the default preference for double-clicking on a test to edit it instead of preview, since it is more general, particularly with tests that don't support previewing.
• Fixed a bug that affected only the Application and new MySQL service plug-ins, where an error from the first check after adding it would be ignored.
• Updated the French localization.
• Updated the User Guide.

• Simon now allows checking sites with bad server certificates. These can occur when for secure sites that use their own certifying authority, or an expired one, but these issues aren't relevant for Simon, so shouldn't interfere with loading pages.
• Fixed a bug that prevented the Setup Assistant from displaying when running under Mac OS X 10.3.9.
• Fixed the Duplicate function; it was using the default Kind instead of the appropriate one.
• Fixed the E-mail notifier when using multiple addresses with the Automatic transport.
• Fixed a crasher when closing the Capture Session window of the Port notifier while still connected.

• Updated the new Growl notifier plug-in (written by Daniel Ellis).
• Can now drag a URL from a web browser or elsewhere to the Simon Monitor window, to quickly add a new test.
• Fixed an issue introduced in the previous release where Simon would fail to launch under Mac OS X 10.3.9.

• Changed the Simon Monitor window to use a modern "flat metal" style instead of the less fashionable "brushed metal" style. Also got rid of excess margins around the controls, again in keeping with modern style conventions.
• Enhanced the splitters. You can now hold Option while dragging a splitter to resize the window at the same time as moving the splitter bar. Also added drag areas to help move the splitters, now that they are only one pixel wide.
• Added an Arbitrary DNS service plug-in, kindly written by Daniel Ellis. Unlike the older DNS plug-in, which simply uses a default DNS server, this new one allows using a specified DNS server to look up the domain name, and optionally matching against an expected IP address.
• Added a Growl notifier plug-in, kindly written by Daniel Ellis. This allows using the popular Growl notification service to display floating alerts when a test changes, fails, or recovers.
• The Port service now includes all service variables. For historical reasons, it accepts either TestUsername or Username, and TestPassword or Password, as equivalent.
• Added TestStatusExact and TestStatusType service and notifier variables to give the current status of the test; the difference is that the Exact one indicates how long the status has been in that state.
• Also added TestLastRecoveryDate and TestLastRecoveryTime service and notifier variables, to compliment the existing TestLastFailureDate etc ones.
• Added more example service scripts to the Simon Extras page. If you write a script that others might find useful, please share it! Save it and send it to Dejal.
• All of the example scripts to date are now bundled with Simon for new users. Existing Simon users should download the ones they want; new users should also check the Simon Extras page, in case more are added since Simon was released.

Script Service:

• Added new Script service plug-in. This is a very flexible tool, allowing you to create your own services very easily using AppleScript, a shell script (with any shell), Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, or any other scripting systems available via the Unix command line.
• The Edit Test window options for the new Script service includes a display of instructions and fields of custom variables for the script to use.
• The Edit Service window's options include a text area where the instructions can be written, tables of custom variables and result messages, menus of script types and variables to insert, the script source editor, and buttons to run, build, get more scripts, and load and save the script.
• A few example service scripts are provided online on the Simon Extras page, and more will be provided over time. If you write a script that others might find useful, please share it! Save it and send it to Dejal.
• Added a Script preference page, to allow editing the default script types, script font, and foreground and background colors in the Script service. If there's another script type I should include by default, please let me know.

Other:

• Enhanced the Preview window so it works with the new Script service in a special transcript mode. It now also includes a status icon at the bottom, and improved progress indicators. Also renamed it from Preview Page to just Preview, since it is now used for more than web pages.
• Added CheckDateShort and CheckTimeShort variables, that output the date and time, respectively, in ISO order and without any separators, e.g. "20061016" and "172453". Useful in filenames etc in scripts (e.g. see the Screenshot script).
• Added TestChangeDifferenceWithHTML and TestChangeDifferenceWithoutHTML variables, that have just the text that is different, as used by the Smart Change Detection feature, with or without any HTML tags. These variables are also available for reports, along with DifferenceWithHTML and DifferenceWithoutHTML for the Change block of reports.
• Added a Logging preference to display change differences without HTML tags, like the above variables. Useful to see the page text without obscuring HTML. It is off by default to preserve the old behavior.
• Replaced the "As the Apple Turns" default test with Apple's Mac OS X downloads page, since the former is no longer being updated.
• Changed the default sort order of the tests table to the Name column.
• The "static" in the Dock icon now continues during the Setup Assistant window, just for fun.
• The tests are now not checked until the Simon Monitor window first appears, to avoid confusion during the assistants.
• Fixed an exception with writing out tests in some timeout situations.
• Fixed a bug that prevented the Setup Assistant from appearing in some situations. It now appears on the first launch, or if there are no tests data.

• Added tables to the Basic service plug-in, used by the Web (HTTP) service, to display and allow editing URL parameters and cookies.
• Enhanced the Basic service plug-in to support the POST method in addition to the default GET, to allow posting form data. You can try it via an Example Forms page if desired. It also now supports the more esoteric HEAD, OPTIONS, PUT and TRACE methods.
• Enhanced the Basic service plug-in to automatically remember cookies and use them for subsequent checks. Cookies that require user interaction (like logging on to a web page) can be set via the Preview window.
• Now uses the more elegant unified title and toolbar look in all windows, other than Preferences (which sticks with the conventional page-switching style).
• Added a confirmation sheet to the license editor page of the Simon Assistant window, to avoid the common confusion of clicking Continue or Finish before Add when adding license details. (This was only an issue if entering the license details manually, instead of automatically via the clipboard or the built-in Kagi purchasing tool.)
• Fixed some obscure bugs that could lead to crashes when using the Preview window for some people.
• Fixed a minor cosmetic issue where the Dock icon could show the status after being reset while quitting.
• Fixed a bug where the date in the optional Last Recovery column in the Simon Monitor window was set for new tests.
• Now displays "none" in the optional Last Downtime column in the Simon Monitor window if the test has never failed.
• Fixed a bug with the View Options sheet where the absolute/relative option for the Next Check column wasn't working quite right.

• Now stops all Tests when you sleep the computer, and waits for 15 seconds after waking to allow time for networking to be re-established.
• Fixed a bug where new Tests sometimes weren't being saved.
• Fixed a bug preventing FTP Services from working.

• Added a Setup Assistant window to allow importing URLs from browser bookmarks files or HTML files.
• Integrated the license agreement and options into the assistant.
• An integrated Kagi purchasing tool is now included, allowing purchasing without leaving the app.
• Replaced the implementation of the Basic service to eliminate dependency on the old CURLHandle framework, which wasn't Universal.
• The Basic service now supports checking secure https:// sites — a much-requested feature! It also supports checking feed:// URLs.
• Removed the proxy fields from the New/Edit Test window, as they are no longer used — it now uses the proxy settings from the System Preferences.
• The Tests table in the Monitor window is now not updated when the application is automatically hidden, to decrease processor usage.
• Fixed a minor issue where the position and current page of the Preferences window might not be remembered if quitting with that window open.
• Added a confirmation sheet for the Restore Defaults function in the Preferences window. The confirmation can be disabled or enabled via the General page.
• Enhanced the preference to automatically start the app on login to remove any other copies of the app, in case you set it when the app was in a different location.
• Enhanced the Check for Updates feature to include the release notes of new versions, among other improvements.
• Fixed an issue with the helper used by the Reports feature, where sometimes the last file uploaded could be incomplete.
• Updated the Pantomime third-party framework to the latest version, and rebuilt it as a Universal binary. The SSL option in the E-mail Notifier should now work properly (please let me know if it doesn't work for you).
• Built as a Universal Binary for PowerPC and Intel architectures.
• Several more enhancements planned for upcoming betas.