Messages

46

Developers / Re: Is LinuxMCE dead or is it just the webpage (www.linuxmce.org)?

« on: April 18, 2011, 02:55:42 pm »

I don't advocate an overhaul. As you say, I'm quite new to the project (though I've been reading), and without knowing it I would be making a fool of myself. I'm simply inquiring into people's perception of their own work and what would be an appropriate way to consider the project. And I add my own opinion, which people are free to reply to

But I think people generally would agree that the website on linuxmce.org must be changed, as was my initial suggestion. posde asked for a mockup, which I'm working on.

Suggestions should be welcomed and not shot down. That some people over-promise or fail to deliver at all is a separate problem, and shouldn't lead to turning down what could prove a positive resource to the project.

47

Developers / Re: Is LinuxMCE dead or is it just the webpage (www.linuxmce.org)?

« on: April 18, 2011, 01:39:41 pm »

Thanks for the input!

Perhaps a combination of the two would be an idea? For instance, you have the linuxmce.org adress for the LinuxMCE open source project (developers, users, the site that exists today) as well as a linuxmce.com for the showcase/brochure rationale?

Perhaps even linuxmce.com could provide a contact point for people wanting to hire linuxmce-savvy users to set it up in their homes? ("Click to find a LinuxMCE expert in your area..")

I still think it is sensible to change the current design to reflect LinuxMCE's real strengths: a) Linux kernel and b) the DCE Router in a way that attracts existing Linux users and developers, and one way would be to change the design to target its users and not (just) amaze those that will rarely learn and improve the software.

EDIT: Let me expand on my "product vs. project" constellation. A 'product' is merely the result of an action whereas a 'project' involves both the road to as well as the result of a process or collaboration. What I'm saying is that by emphasising LinuxMCE as a product, you are rendering its developers and the LinuxMCE community invisible, which IMO is harmful to any open source project (in which the project members are usually crucial).

48

Developers / Re: Is LinuxMCE dead or is it just the webpage (www.linuxmce.org)?

« on: April 15, 2011, 05:47:38 pm »

I got some feedback from user TSCHAKeee in the chatroom that I thought I would reply to here as well:

(16:42:12) TSCHAKeee: (1) logo way too big
(16:42:45) TSCHAKeee: (2) the tagline kerning is very agoraphobic
(16:43:06) TSCHAKeee: (3) corners way too round
(16:43:16) TSCHAKeee: (4) borders are way too thick

Being more of a sketch than a mock-up at the time being, this thing exaggerates some of the sizes and does not take into account widescreen either, so (1) and (2) will not be a problem. Usually a border is 1 pixel, and that's what I would use. The corners are also way too round because of the size exaggeration.

TSCHAKeee also mentioned www.Crestron.com, www.Plutohome.com and www.control4.com as examples of sites that "sold the solution". This makes an interesting point though that we can form in a question; is LinuxMCE a product?

I think not. I am a member of several open source projects (distros mainly) and don't consider myself a consumer or customer. When I intend to use LinuxMCE I expect to give something back, though not necessarily in the form of money. Instead, I can test devices and perhaps do some development, documentation or design work. I don't even consider myself a user, but a member.

So to me LinuxMCE is an open source project more than a commodity. The philosophy of the project will have to be conveyed on the project's website so this is an interesting debate indeed. I don't want to be stepping on anyone's toes, not at all! But personally I feel that sites like crestron.com target business execs (e.g. the non-savvy consumer) and plutohome.com your average Ikea shopper. They both use Flash heavily which isn't even supported on Free operating systems. People who come to LinuxMCE will (in my mind) usually be either a) Home automation geeks or b) users that are not happy with Tivo/Mythbuntu/Boxee solutions, and the website should reflect this, thus encouraging new developers to join.

49

Developers / Re: Is LinuxMCE dead or is it just the webpage (www.linuxmce.org)?

« on: April 15, 2011, 04:04:56 pm »

Here's some sketches of the ideas I'm playing with.

The LinuxMCE website (more just a news page with links)



The stipled line is where I'd imagine the page break to be. The ratio is wrong for widescreen atm.


LinuxMCE features



This graphic would be on the front or the about page, to visualize what LinuxMCE is all about. Please let me know what you think!

50

Developers / Re: Is LinuxMCE dead or is it just the webpage (www.linuxmce.org)?

« on: April 12, 2011, 12:13:04 pm »

Alright, I'll post a mockup here when I have time!

51

Developers / Is LinuxMCE dead or is it just the webpage (www.linuxmce.org)?

« on: April 12, 2011, 12:06:50 pm »

Smile, that was a joke :)

There is a lot of activity and hard work being done on the LinuxMCE project, but I don't think the project website reflects this in any sensible manner.

From the design I cannot tell whether the website is "selling" a PDA device, medical supplies or holiday apartments in Spain, when it should be the LinuxMCE portal to the world. The layout is a modified version of the Rocket Theme called Affinity for Joomla, if I am not mistaken.

Maybe a simple blog on the front page with project news (as in Developer and feature showcase) would make the project seem a bit more alive? It's a great way to attract more people. Just my 2 cents..

I am not a professional web developer but I do know my way around XHTML and CSS. If I can help out, let me know. Personally, I am learning Drupal atm, but skinning Joomla shouldn't present much of a problem.

52

Feature requests & roadmap / Re: Boxee Box's QWERTY RF remote

« on: March 11, 2011, 02:36:45 pm »

Thanks for the tip, I'll be getting one of these!

I should add that I contacted Linksys about the remotes and availability, but never got a reply.

53

Users / Ambient lighting hack from hackaday

« on: February 16, 2011, 08:43:02 pm »

Just thought I'd share this AMBIENT LIGHT hack from Hackaday: http://hackaday.com/2011/02/14/arduino-based-pc-ambient-lighting/

The processing sketch continuously takes screen captures and then takes the resulting pictures and averages all the colors together. That average color is fed down to the Arduino over its stock serial connection, where it is output to 3 of the pwm capable outputs. Those outputs are connected to the 2003 Darlington transistor array to switch the 12 volt led strip.

The result (youtube): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am55k0k9eq8

There are several comments on HaD recommending the Phillips ambient light. I was not able to find it in the LinuxMCE wiki, but it should be cool to try out. Here's a how-to DIY clone called Amblone: http://amblone.com/

54

Users / Re: System Monitor Question

« on: February 15, 2011, 12:35:05 pm »

All you need is top.

But there are a lot of Linux tools available, judging by the number of "admin tools" articles in Linux Journal and LinuxMag the last year.. I'll see if I can find what you need there.

Btw, Nagios is all the rage these days but perhaps a little overkill; http://www.nagios.org/

55

Users / Anyone tried ML1154 Jensen internet radio?

« on: February 15, 2011, 12:32:58 pm »

I've been looking for some audio player that can handle both regular FM & DAB radio, as well as play the music I am playing on the LinuxMCE, and was wondering if anyone have tried the Jensen iRadio Extreme Media:Link 1154? It will replace my current Tivoli kitchen radio and should be simple, and don't have to sound like a diamond Bang & Olufsen hi-fi stereo. (Used mostly for BBC news and parties, but FM is a must.)

Here's the product sheet (PDF): http://www.jensenscandinavia.com/products/pdf/Jensen_MediaLink_1154_EN.pdf

It only says "UPnP" on the internet part. Here's a translation from one of the reviews:

In addition to the internet radio part of it (probably preloaded net stations), the radio can also play music from a computer connected to the same wireless network. It can either play music from shared network resources or music that is served by a UPnP server. All this works nice when it is setup correctly, but it may take some networking knowledge. It supports  only MP3, WMA and AAC....

It gets positive views for its battery usage, featuring DAB+ and being able to play many sources, but the remote is worthless, the sound is only average and the LCD is crap.

56

Users / Re: Can I control a DLNA device (SONY TV) from Linuxmce?

« on: February 11, 2011, 11:36:38 am »

Sounds great, tm, I didn't know about RenderingControlService!

57

Users / Re: ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11-U

« on: February 09, 2011, 11:24:28 pm »

That's what I thought. How much RAM do you need if you have the Nvidia GPU?

58

Users / Re: Can I control a DLNA device (SONY TV) from Linuxmce?

« on: February 09, 2011, 11:23:18 pm »

All HDMI hardware includes the CEC protocol wires. Though few includes all CDC features, and most of them use proprietary ones, I would bet that those that do have CEC functionality support turning device ON and OFF.

Read more here:
http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=9664.0

So if your TV has HDMI then it has the CEC wires. Sony uses its own version of CEC called BRAVIA Sync.
We just need a few years of hacking it:)

59

Users / Re: ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11-U

« on: February 09, 2011, 11:16:13 pm »

Are you using the barebones version (only adding RAM) or do you have a harddisk in them?

60

Users / Re: Problem to run VLC from Computing screen

« on: February 09, 2011, 10:46:58 pm »

This is not a bug. Believe me, you don't want to run as root unnecessary. They put in this block for a reason.

If you are root, open up a terminal and type login. This will let you login as non-root user and run vlc. If you type logout when you are done, you should be back to root terminal. On my Mint box:

Code: [Select]

T61 ~ # login
T61 login: sigg3
Password:
Last login: Wed Feb  9 22:36:51 CET 2011 on pts/2
sigg3@T61 ~ $ vlc whatever.avi
Please note that mplayer is more well-equipped on the command line than VLC is.

Of course, you can circumvent it through SUID: Bash script running program as a certain user