To all developers/users!
Hi all,
I'm developing and building HTPC's myself and also believe these systems, powered by software like MP, have the potential to become a main livingroom gadged in a not too far future.
There is one problem ( or you could call it a wish) with MP that, if ever solved, would bring the MP in combination with a HTPC onto a whole another level, that is; indepenant and simultaneous multi-zone audio/video distribution, from one HTPC!
For this the program would have to allow multiple instances so one can run several, independant instances of it, at the same time.
This would namely enable a multiroom a/v distribution and control which is NOT supported by the most mediacenter software, and the ones who claim that are either far too expensive or just not synchronized efficiently.
Right now, without this feature in MP, we're only able to run 1 MediaPortal on 1 machine at the same time, limiting the simultaneous multiroom display of audio and video to max 1 independant display since there is only 1 program. You cannot for example watch a movie in the livingroom, watch a game in the bedroom and play music in the kitchen SIMULTANEOUSLY AND INDEPENDANTLY using MediaPortal. (Tv-Server, when run on one HTPC, does add 1 extra zone wich is limited, but does not solve the multi-zone independancy from ONE HTPC).
The problem is that making multi-threaded multimedia software that allows multiple instances and is perfectly synchronized is not something you do for fun, so I've been told. It's not a simple plug-in issue, the program source would have to be altered and changed fundamentaly.
So here's the thing: Is someone here able and/or willing to make MediaPortal able to run multiple instances? If yes, to what extent and over what period?
Hell, if you don't get hot for the idea I'm even willing to pay/donate a respectable fee for it, because I believe that good, specialized work should of course be rewarded.
You could interpret this also as an investment offer from my side!
Put that aside I also would like to start a discussion regarding this issue, so all suggestions/comments/ideas and actually any communication regarding the subject are welcome!
I hope we can keep the spirit alive!
kind regards,
Hyperborean