Announcement: MediaPortal II

[risu]

I see MPI is listed on features but is automatic plugin updates possible or planned feature of MP-II?

I mean a feature that would first check which version MPII (and possible TV-server) is and based on that check if compatible plugin updates are available(plugin author should set version demands on plugin revision)?

For example like it's done on Mozilla Firefox.

[infinityloop]

Originally Posted by risu

I see MPI is listed on features but is automatic plugin updates possible or planned feature of MP-II?

an alert for plugin, skin, MediaPortal 2, ect. "updates" is planed.
but the user will have to confirm that alert and launch the update progress.

launching that automatically without asking the user first, is not good imo.

note: boy, that thread grows at lightspeed

[rekenaar]

Any hint on required hardware? Similar, less or more required?

Industry trend tells us that newer/nicer software usually require more horsepower.

[infinityloop]

Originally Posted by rekenaar

Any hint on required hardware? Similar, less or more required?

Industry trend tells us that newer/nicer software usually require more horsepower.

simmilar as in MP 0.2.3

if you want to have the nice pixelshader effects, then you just need a grfx-card which supports shader model 2.
if your gfx card does not support it, then pixelshader effects are simply dissabled.

[Gixxer]

i dont know if this is the correct place so excuse me if not.

i recently discovered filmerit to check for correct codecs and stuff. i was wondering if implementing something like this in mpII would be possible.

i think that if you could make a way to check if all codecs are correct lots of post of people asking with video problems would be saved.

maybe this is totally impossible as no perfect codecs exist, its just an idea.

[scirocco790]

what about tv? will the tve be integrated? will it be optional like in the old releases?

[infinityloop]

Originally Posted by Gixxer

i recently discovered filmerit to check for correct codecs and stuff. i was wondering if implementing something like this in mpII would be possible.

i think that if you could make a way to check if all codecs are correct lots of post of people asking with video problems would be saved.

maybe this is totally impossible as no perfect codecs exist, its just an idea.

MediaPortal 2 will allow you to define which codec should be use for mpeg2, h.264, mpeg4/divx, ac3/dts.

normaly the "best" codec is choosen by the intelligent connect system of direct show which is looking for filters that can decode the media-stream. if it finds multiple filters then the one with the highest merit setting ("priority") wins and is used.

since MediaPortal allows the user to select the specific filter he wants to be used for some media-types, means that the merits become meaningless.
MediaPortal will always force to use the codec you configured.

this is extremely nice because without that you would have to manualy alter the merit of every installed filter so the right one (the one you want) gets used when playing a media file.

note: if you play a file you can not configure a filter for, then ofc the correct filter is choosen by Windows/DriectShow. i.e. mov files or avis with MJPEG.

Originally Posted by scirocco790

what about tv? will the tve be integrated? will it be optional like in the old releases?

i have allready answered this question

::this post::

[randell]

Originally Posted by infinityloop

well........ the average user does not always want to constantly leave the main application just for a small change in configuration.

Perhaps this is a good use of the service type architecture. Expose configuration thru a service and then have both the UI consume it and give the ability for a stand alone application (even one running on another computer) the abililty to change the configuration.

For example, I like to manage all my movies, tv-series, music, etc on a seperate computer in another room. I don't want to have to do anything on the tv but press the play button

[MadMac66]

Tough goals,
I'm looking at this Project (the old lady) very closely and have to say, that I was very impressed, of what I've seen (and of course worked with).
As for the featurelist I think that it sounds hard to complete within a short period of time, but I hope you'll make as perfect as MP I.
One thing to remember though is that if you "allow" the plugin designers to change and modify code close to the core of MP II it might be difficult to make sure, that the endusers don't get confused about what plugin designers changed and what dependencies result in this.
And as you told about the change of the "audience" of the MP users. When you look at the market of HTPC's you'll see that the devices get smaller and smaller. So if you want to use your system within your livingroom, they have to be as silent as possible. But this directly interfere with the need of "highperformance" systems and gfx-cards. So one goal should be to make the system as attractive as possible for chipset-gfx-based Mainboards.
The last thing to mention is that you want to allow to change the configuration within MP II. Please consider then to find a way to "block" this feature by the external configuration. When I think of my wife ("I did nothing dear. It broke by itself") , I see lots of work for fixing to come...

Beside that I'm waiting to see the new version.

[infinityloop]

Originally Posted by MadMac66

The last thing to mention is that you want to allow to change the configuration within MP II. Please consider then to find a way to "block" this feature by the external configuration. When I think of my wife ("I did nothing dear. It broke by itself") , I see lots of work for fixing to come...

the menu is fully customiceable. remove that section then

usermanagement is talked about too, so that section might be simply not selectable for user "wife" (and kids)