A few ideas

Grayda · 2006-11-09, 13:55

Been using MP a LOT lately, and loving every minute of it. There are some things I'd love to see added, to make this a true pleasure to use:

1) Global PIP

I use the My Programs plugin to read my vast collection of Peanuts comic strips. I don't like the idea of having to stop viewing TV to read them however. A good feature would be a kind of Picture in Picture, that is shown no matter what programs you have running. (ie. A small square in the corner of your screen that shows the currently playing media / TV). I've seen this idea in a utility I found (but can't remember the name of), that lets you overlay applications and windows in full-screen games. That's useful for putting cheats in notepad and showing them in-game. And this would be great for people who use MP as a 'sometimes' thing on their desktop PC (like I used to), as they can display TV on their desktop while they work.

2) 'Thinking' animations

This has been suggested before by a user called "....". When I'm launching My Music, it can take a looong time because I have many media files in the main directory. A little "loading" animation in the corner would be fantastic, much like the one that appears when MP is downloading info from the internet This would make sure I don't get frustrated, as my remote doesn't always work, and the music loading causes me to press the OK button heaps of times

3) OSK layouts

The on-screen keyboard is a useful thing, but tricky at times.. would it be a good idea to let people switch between the current A-Z layout, to a familiar QWERTY layout? I'd use it a lot faster that way, but that's just me..

That's all I can think of for now.. so what do you think? Feasible? Useful? Thanks for reading.. bed time for me.. damn wikipedia and MP forums

Marcusb · 2006-11-09, 14:01

Hi Grayda,
The PIP for current TV is a skin dependant thing. If you can get your head around it, it shouldn't be too hard to look in the XML for a screen where the PIP is on then copy the relevant code to the comics plugin. If you get stuck, there are heaps of people here who will be able to help. I'd look at it myself, but things are a little too hectic with work at the moment sorry.

mbuzina · 2006-11-09, 15:35

Hi Marcusb

I guess not really. What Grayda asks for is PiP in front of other programs. So you start an External Programm your TV stays in Front of (in a small window).

mzemina · 2006-11-09, 19:24

Regarding the PIP, MP has that type of feature, but it isn't very consistant and it is limited. If I want to view a trailer I can start the trailer and jump back to the home page and then go to another plugin, like the weather. The trailer continues to play (only the sound is heard, video can't be seen) but once you go back to the home page where the mini-display is in the lower left corner, you will see the video displayed again.

I wish MP had a standard (or at least it was an option) where whatever was playing (I'm think vieo here) will continue to play and to be seen on whichever plugin. That is until another video is started, then an OSD could be displayed asking if you want the current video to be paused, bookmarked, or stopped. If the user answers stopped, then that video would be halted and the next video would be started. If there was a standard like this where the plugin developers would use it, then if I wanted to check the weather while watiching the TV show - I could. Or if there was something on TV and I wanted to check it out on the wikipedia, then the TV could continue to play in the corner while continuting to check. Or if I wanted to check out a recipe (once that plugin is corrected to work with the latest code base) and watch & listen to the TV at the same time, it could be done.

Grayda · 2006-11-10, 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbuzina

Hi Marcusb

I guess not really. What Grayda asks for is PiP in front of other programs. So you start an External Programm your TV stays in Front of (in a small window).

That's exactly right mbuzina. I meant a feature that would show the picture that you see on the home-screen and such, in external programs like CDisplay, and whatever other programs I use, even when I minimize MP and start working. Much like an "always on top" thing, but just for the currently playing media, and shows when MediaPortal isn't running.

This shouldn't be too hard if I'm thinking correctly, but I'm no C# expert, only working with VB.NET, so I can't provide an example.. perhaps if I get moving and learn how to make plugins, I could take care of it myself.. hmm now if only VB6 could be used for MP plugins

2006-11-09, 13:55	#1 (permalink)
Grayda Portal Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Near Melbourne, Australia Age: 22 Posts: 46 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	A few ideas Been using MP a LOT lately, and loving every minute of it. There are some things I'd love to see added, to make this a true pleasure to use: 1) Global PIP I use the My Programs plugin to read my vast collection of Peanuts comic strips. I don't like the idea of having to stop viewing TV to read them however. A good feature would be a kind of Picture in Picture, that is shown no matter what programs you have running. (ie. A small square in the corner of your screen that shows the currently playing media / TV). I've seen this idea in a utility I found (but can't remember the name of), that lets you overlay applications and windows in full-screen games. That's useful for putting cheats in notepad and showing them in-game. And this would be great for people who use MP as a 'sometimes' thing on their desktop PC (like I used to), as they can display TV on their desktop while they work. 2) 'Thinking' animations This has been suggested before by a user called "....". When I'm launching My Music, it can take a looong time because I have many media files in the main directory. A little "loading" animation in the corner would be fantastic, much like the one that appears when MP is downloading info from the internet This would make sure I don't get frustrated, as my remote doesn't always work, and the music loading causes me to press the OK button heaps of times 3) OSK layouts The on-screen keyboard is a useful thing, but tricky at times.. would it be a good idea to let people switch between the current A-Z layout, to a familiar QWERTY layout? I'd use it a lot faster that way, but that's just me.. That's all I can think of for now.. so what do you think? Feasible? Useful? Thanks for reading.. bed time for me.. damn wikipedia and MP forums

2006-11-09, 15:35	#3 (permalink)
mbuzina Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Age: 34 Posts: 457 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Country:	Hi Marcusb I guess not really. What Grayda asks for is PiP in front of other programs. So you start an External Programm your TV stays in Front of (in a small window). __________________ * Power is nothing without control *

2006-11-09, 19:24	#4 (permalink)
mzemina Retired Team Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ft Smith, AR Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 33 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts Country:	Regarding the PIP, MP has that type of feature, but it isn't very consistant and it is limited. If I want to view a trailer I can start the trailer and jump back to the home page and then go to another plugin, like the weather. The trailer continues to play (only the sound is heard, video can't be seen) but once you go back to the home page where the mini-display is in the lower left corner, you will see the video displayed again. I wish MP had a standard (or at least it was an option) where whatever was playing (I'm think vieo here) will continue to play and to be seen on whichever plugin. That is until another video is started, then an OSD could be displayed asking if you want the current video to be paused, bookmarked, or stopped. If the user answers stopped, then that video would be halted and the next video would be started. If there was a standard like this where the plugin developers would use it, then if I wanted to check the weather while watiching the TV show - I could. Or if there was something on TV and I wanted to check it out on the wikipedia, then the TV could continue to play in the corner while continuting to check. Or if I wanted to check out a recipe (once that plugin is corrected to work with the latest code base) and watch & listen to the TV at the same time, it could be done. __________________

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2006-11-09, 14:01	#2 (permalink)
Marcusb Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,866 Thanks: 55 Thanked 24 Times in 24 Posts Country: My System	Hi Grayda, The PIP for current TV is a skin dependant thing. If you can get your head around it, it shouldn't be too hard to look in the XML for a screen where the PIP is on then copy the relevant code to the comics plugin. If you get stuck, there are heaps of people here who will be able to help. I'd look at it myself, but things are a little too hectic with work at the moment sorry.