Any Windows 'subversions' should be optional (1 Viewer)

[JohnHind]

Firstly I must admit I have not tried MP2 yet - there is no Feature Requests section for MP1 though. So sorry if any of the following is already implemented.

1. The option to have MP minimise to the taskbar like standard Windows applications rather than to the task tray.

2. When you attempt to start another instance of client when one is already running, this should restore (if necessary) and focus the running instance before terminating. At present it just mysteriously does nothing which is very confusing if MP is minimised in the task tray (and probably hidden completely in the overflow area).

3. Client should open at the same size and position as it was last closed (like standard Windows applications do). Obviously this could still be overridden by settings for open in full screen, show on a particular screen etc. I mostly listen to radio and find I almost always want to size and position the window immediately after starting the application.

4. The option to minimise in TV mode without muting the sound or pausing play, like the default behaviour for Radio.

5. Support "Live Taskbar Preview" of a mini-TV window when TV is minimised (to the taskbar).

6. Support "Taskbar Jump List" with ability to pin favourite channels (radio and TV).

7. A command-line option to start with a favourite channel (or perhaps with any channel) so it would be possible to create explorer shortcuts to particular channels. Obviously, if MP is already running this should work with 2 above to change channel on the running instance.

8. If minimised to the task tray, the context menu for the icon should have options for favourite channels.

9. Make sure everything works with the mouse - currently some sub-menus in some skins only work with keyboard arrow keys (and possibly touch). When you move the mouse pointer onto the pop-up sub menu, the sub menu disappears (the TV button in Titan is a good example of this).

- John Hind.

 

[mm1352000]

Hello John

there is no Feature Requests section for MP1 though.

Ummm, how about here?
https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/forums/improvement-suggestions.46/

Regards,
mm

 

[JohnHind]

Hello John

there is no Feature Requests section for MP1 though.

Ummm, how about here?
https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/forums/improvement-suggestions.46/
mm

OK, thanks - also posted here:

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/threads/improvements-to-integration-with-windows.128129/

John

 

[morpheus_xx]

Thanks John for your suggestions!

Let's simply start with the features that are already working this way:
1. works
2. works
3. If you have multiple screens, MP2 will remember the used one. The exact size/position is not yet restored, as main target is fullscreen app.
4. No automatic pausing of playback happens, so this works
9. MP2 is fully controlable with mouse, and recently I started to add touch support

Not yet working, but good ideas:
5. 6. 7. 8.
MP2 is based on plugin architecture, more than MP1 did. IMO those features could/should be added as plugin.

 

[JohnHind]

Thanks John for your suggestions!
...
MP2 is based on plugin architecture, more than MP1 did. IMO those features could/should be added as plugin.

Thanks for this, maybe it is time for me to try MP2 and see if it is stable enough for everyday use?

I am surprised by your final comment - these suggestions have to do with the basic integration with Windows of the framework app which would not normally be accessible to a scripted add-in. At least for 5,6 and 8 unless there are application hooks provided for these, they'd only be possible if you can make system calls and hook into the Windows message loop. I did consider doing some of this myself, but I expected to have to fork the sources on Git and recompile.

 

[morpheus_xx]

Thanks for this, maybe it is time for me to try MP2 and see if it is stable enough for everyday use?

I can only speek for myself: I use it over one year in production But best would be that you make your own experience.

I am surprised by your final comment - these suggestions have to do with the basic integration with Windows of the framework app which would not normally be accessible to a scripted add-in. At least for 5,6 and 8 unless there are application hooks provided for these, they'd only be possible if you can make system calls and hook into the Windows message loop.

I don't know yet which requirements your requests might have, my comment was very generic. Usually we avoid adding features directly into the "core", but everywhere we need a way of extension, we define some interfaces where plugins can contribute features.
Do you have code examples for the Taskbar feature integration?

I did consider doing some of this myself, but I expected to have to fork the sources on Git and recompile.

Any contribution is appreciated! You could either supply patches, or also fork the repo and submit pull request. I can assist if you have questions.

 

[JohnHind]

Do you have code examples for the Taskbar feature integration?.

Some of my own code is here:

https://github.com/JohnHind/Winsh.lua/blob/master/Winsh/src/WriteFrm.h (starting at line 116, then line 415)

Microsoft documentation:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd942846.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/windows/desktop/dd391692(v=vs.85).aspx

I've not done Jump Lists and I'm not sure if the thumbnail update will work with a video window (although this is clearly possible since WMP does it).

This is my code for custom tray icon menus:

https://github.com/JohnHind/Winsh.lua/blob/master/Winsh/src/JHCNotifyIcon.h

I'll give MP2 a go and then see if I can get into the code quickly enough to be effective.