Messages

[Idea:]

Idea: Miro integration

Description: Allow Miro feeds to be viewable within the LinuxMCE, or call up the Miro interface from LinuxMCE's UI, or read and retrieve videocast/podcast links from Miro's XML data while maintaining watched/unwatched status and keeping that status still unable by Miro.

Skills Required: unsure, but guessing XML parsing, python, DCE control,...

Mentor: TBD

colin,

It WILL work. Add the routing commands to the IR database and adjust the scenario's commands in the webadmin. The other method is too ugly to offer here.

I was inspired by the layout attempt here and came up with a possible design: http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=8522.0

Feel free to weigh in.

[did]

tschak: I did watch all of your sceencasts, but I'll wait for more feedback before I respond to the "busy" statement. BTW, did you look at every page and read every description carefully? I know you're busy and a bit stretched thin at the moment.

cylon7: can HADesigner use transparencies? I thought it could because it uses PNGs. We already know it uses gradients because it does now. And the color scheme already exists in the UI1 layout now. I just included it into each function's button scheme. Did you notice that there are datagrids in this design? Look at the graphic components that scroll, such as program and channel listings. Those are intended to be datagrids.

Gentlemen (and ladies),

I need some feedback for a new UI design that was partly inspired by tschak's UI1 PVR layouts. I added a bunch of graphics and icons from a theme that I like on kde-look called Dark Glass by mentalrey to get the finished look. The rest, I just jammed it all together using Gimp and Openoffice Draw. I think this interface will work well with what I believe the community here wants to see in their designs and installations, but I need confirmation on this.

In short, does this design fit what LinuxMCE should represent?

I have created a PDF here: www.digilifellc.com/uploaded/LinuxMCE_UI1_rev.pdf. I know the file is a bit large, but the design is icon-heavy, and I'm using unscaled graphics with their native resolutions. These graphics can be shrunk down quite a bit if it is decided to make this UI a reality. Please let me know if this design is on track and if this design should be made a reality in future releases of LinuxMCE.

Also, as an experiment, I decided to apply this design as a UI2 overlay. I think it looks cool, but I wonder what anyone else may feel about it. I have a PDF created for that application as well: www.digilifellc.com/uploaded/LinuxMCE_UI2_rev.pdf. Unfortunately, this file is twice as big as the first for the added reason that I was trying to mimic the standard flickr screensaver images to get a take of how the UI looks with differing background images and designs.

Enjoy the show, gentlemen.

-W

--Edit--
I did forget to say that this design is specifically for 10" and larger applications. Different layouts will be necessary for all other smaller devices.

-W

rndinokc:

Save your money! Use an IR router instead! Xantech makes these and they are a lot cheaper than multiple MDs (and take up less space at the same time). Check here: http://www.xantech.com/Controls/ControllersSwitches/Routers/RT8/
and here: http://www.xantech.com/Controls/ControllersSwitches/Routers/RT16-10/

You will have to add the IR routing to all of your normal IR commands to route the command before it's sent. It's a roundabout way, but it makes your installation smarter in the long run. If I were you, I would accumulate the hex code sequence (to include the IR routing commands) into a spreadsheet or database and enter it using the web admin. This way, if you ever need to adjust the sequence, change the outputs, or change your equipment, you can do it fairly quickly.

On another note, I wonder if one could connect USBUIRT units to remote MDs and maintain control of equipment local to the MD. Is this possible?

-W

posde,

I realize that. Just stating what we do know. I'm working on UI and some documentation now trying to make some things a little 'nicer'.

@PlatypusPedersen:

This is an excellent article! This project could actually be organized in the same manner. The only thing that may be an obstacle is, for those whom are at the n00b levels, there is no entry to contribute, with the exception of UI design, IR/RS-232 database, and template generation. There does not seem to be any tools created to make lower-level tasks (coding) more automated.

I myself am probably better prepared now to jump into some lower-level coding after two years of following directions posted by everyone else (my experience in C++ began with programming AMX systems), but I intend to grow to larger-level functionality by cutting my teeth on what I can get my hands on--anything! In the meanwhile, I'm documenting everything that I think all of this means with plans to post it up to share with everyone else in the community as I go along.

I agree with many things that were said in this thread, but I observe one thing that tmoore kept pushing that didn't help the situation at all: trying to get in at the middle of the ladder doesn't work here. Management is necessary, but not the type of management that he was promoting AT THIS TIME YET. It seems that current management of this project lies in the IRC channel, not this forum. The likelihood that anyone would be "assigned" a management billet by attempting to jump in at the middle of the ladder would be worse than dog mess not stinking. This project is NOT at the point where such management is necessary. Now documentation is a different story...

I am a military man, 4 years Active Duty Marine Corps as a grunt, 6 years Army Reserves as a Drill Sergeant. Leadership is quite a bit more than many here have expressed. Management requires more than many here has expressed. The difference between leading at-will employees and military personnel is military personnel MUST look out for each other in order to survive for themselves! Even officers must start at the bottom before receiving their commission to serve.

An officer is expected to be able to do EVERYTHING that their subordinates are instructed to do, with more enthusiasm, more endurance, and more precision. They are expected to be better, faster, smarter, stronger, and can utilize their members as extensions of themselves. They are expected to jump in first, leave last, sacrifice their time/resources/energy if ANYTHING needs to get done, and ALWAYS train up a replacement.

To those who agree that management is the key, CREATE the thing to manage. If people like it, you will attract subordinates. There is a high price to be a manager in this project, and without compensation, I don't think many would have the stomach to subject themselves to the effort. Maybe tmoore or someone could manage DOCUMENTING this project to different audiences of understanding (coders v. graphics v. installers v. system builders v. etc.) to get that validity he needs...

BTW, I'm ready to jump in on the IRC by now. I think two years is long enough to take the bib off.

Wesley

Tim,
Stop badgering Thom. Understand that he is frustrated. I question your leadership ability based on your reactions to him. Leadership is convincing someone to do something they don't want to do, and having them satisfied in doing it.

Thom,
Remember that frustration is not a valid reason to lash out at people unwarranted. There are several here trying to help. Understand that they don't know where the front door is to get in. Also, don't misunderstand my planning so far into the future. There is a useful purpose to all of these things. I don't expect everyone to understand, but I have an awesome vision for this project that can take us into some rewarding places. You don't worry your pretty little head about management. You have your own fish to fry. I do like Pnuts' suggestion of a todo list. Things that must be done to get us to a completed 0810. Would you mind compiling this list please?

geekyhawkes,
Could this document be in another format possibly, such as a table or spreadsheet? It's awful to look at in its present form. I like formations, so columns and rows are a favorite of mine. Not being a nag, just asking for a personal favor.

The rest of us,
We have several roles that do need to be filled. We need persons willing to fill them. Please refer to my document in my previous post and add the roles you are qualified to do, and the roles you are interested in. Commitments are not binding yet, but we do need to assemble ourselves. geekhawkes, if you would not mind, please add fields for "Roles Qualified" and "Roles Interest", and transcribe all of these contacts into a spreadsheet for sorting capability so that decision-makers are able to view the list easy-to-manipulate forms.

Everyone please understand that you may not be ultimately assigned a favorite task or one you are completely familiar with. It will be necessary to have an open mind with this process. Our current objective is to help get this big bus out of the mud. When we are back on the road, then, and only then can we select which seat we want on this trip. I sincerely hope that we can get things moving again in a quick and orderly fashion. I will be posting my information in the morning.

-Wesley

All,

Since Thom initiated this thread, I have generated an outline to help put this project into smaller chunks for all of us to determine how, and what we can contribute. There should be some requirements for some of these roles, and I spell out which ones in the following document.

The one thing I think is necessary is to require that everyone refrain from playing musical chairs with these roles. If everyone believes that we can show this project to be more professional than it currently is, then that responsibility is on US! We must show discipline if we want to showcase this project as professional. This does NOT mean clocking in or any other conventional corporate measurement or means. It DOES mean dedication to the team and tasks you decide to commit to. This also means populating the ENTIRE schedule of roles. In the word 'TEAM', each letter has a position it holds to spell the word. Two letters cannot be in front. One letter MUST be last. Each position MUST be filled in order to spell this word. There will be roles that are unpopular in this list, but THEY MUST BE FILLED! I simply ask that everyone fill a role, and not play favorites, myself included.

I have taken quite a bit into consideration when generating this outline, bringing this project through its current form and incorporating a commercial hybrid format. There are revenue-generating sections, and pro-bono sections. I believe all contributions should be rewarded in some manner--it may not always be money, but payment isn't everything. If we can assemble this project into a deliverable project that functions as well as its host operating system, I personally think we can kill two of the world's current leaders in both computers and home automation--Microsoft and Crestron, in one product and take over their markets. This would ensure compensation for even the doorman!

I also appreciate the efforts of our developers and all they have contributed to this project thus far. This project convinced me as well to jump into Linux three years ago. I have performed several installations since version 1.1, added a number of components to my installation, I use most of LinuxMCE's functions, and am now going through the steps of following through with Linux certification. I have designed databases and remote control interfaces on my own, and I have been published several times in a number of home automation and construction industry periodicals. I am a Marine and a Drill Sergeant, so I know how to perform in a team, and moreso how to develop a team. Please check my LinkedIn page for reference: http://www.linkedin.com/in/digilifellc

I have other documents that I have generated for this project, along with business plans on target markets that LinuxMCE can serve well. I will contribute them when they are completed.

The outline is here: http://www.digilifellc.com/uploaded/LinuxMCEProjectDirection.doc
I also have a connection diagram here: http://www.digilifellc.com/uploaded/LinuxMCEConnections.pdf

Guys,

Thank you all for your assistance. I found the issues and am now downloading at 7-10Mbps. I disconnected my Core from the cable modem directly and put it behind a Belkin 54G router. It's still a mystery that connecting the Core directly to the cable modem doesn't maintain the same download speeds. Thanks again for all your feedback.

-Wesley

@colinjones:

I'm downloading video-wizard-videos now [469MB] and it doesn't show the download rate in the terminal. I'm using knetload to see what the download speed is, and it's averaging 60kbps. I said that earlier.

Anyone else in northern NJ experiencing this issue?

Guys,

I'm at 11.5Mbps up/1.8Mbps down in NY and 80kbps up/1.6Mbps down in Seattle. My download speed when I run the mce-install script is averaging 60kbps. I swapped my NICs (eth0 and eth1) as suggested to match the installation script, and no improvement! I now think it has to do with where the download server is and how many hops until the data get to me. Thanks for all your help in this matter. I was going crazy thinking it was something on my installation botching things up. I wonder if there's anything else I can do to speed things up... a DVD install maybe? **nudge, nudge** 

So does it seem possible that eth1 is being used instead of eth0? Could that be what's slowing me down?

I've been trying to install 0810 from scratch to installer 7, and its taking almost two days to download and install

Could this be a NIC issue (I am able to download, but it's not fast) or a repository issue? My Core is a dual-core Intel, 2GB RAM, nVidia 9400 w/1GB RAM, 80GB SATA II drive. It installs LMCE 0710 in 1 hour, start to UI2 (clean install), so I know it's not my hardware, and I'm using Optimum Online for internet access.

I have followed the instructions on this page: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/LinuxMCE-0810_alpha2, and I'm open to any and all suggestions to speed this up.

Thanks in advance,