Photo Browser Feature Requests - Wishlist

[Brent]

I've been playing around with the "Photo Browser" in SageTV and am realizing why I haven't used it much. It's pretty much the weakest photo application I've ever used in HTPC front-ends ever. I say this in the most SageTV-loving way I can

Here's my wishlist for photos for what its worth:

• Easier way to simply browse photos. Hit right key go to next photo, hit left key go to previous photo.
• Photo "wall" display without the menu buttons taking up much (or any) of the screen.
• Ability to zoom in and out on photo
• Ability to call music playlist from slideshow options
• Flickr (or other online site) Upload/download capability
• Ability to browse flickr photos, view flickr photos by slideshow etc.
• Tag support (sort by tags, slideshow by tags, tagging photos ability)
• Auto-rotate pictures based on EXIF data for display purposes without changing original file
• Have multiple photo and video menu items each with its own import directory. This is mostly so I can have a video item on the main menu that only has ripped dvds in it, and a seperate menu item that has family photos and videos in it. I could see this also being used for kids dvds vs adults dvds (Where the adult ones have a parental lock code, etc.)
• More transition types
• Merge photos and videos together, so if I have a directory of mixed media I can walk through both (like on the Wii). Usually we are using this feature to show recent photos and videos of the kids to relatives and its annoying to walk through the new photos then have to flick to videos and work my way to the corresponding videos.
• Photo Tagger Support
• Photo Playlist ability (build and edit playlist using SageTV interface)

This is one of those featuresets that is a nice-to-have thing, but it would be extremely useful to many of us I think. Anyone have any thoughts/additions to this?

By the way, Craig cncb has a nice PSE plugin for SageTV that does some of this stuff and more if you have PhotoShop Elements.

[mistergq]

I just wanted to add my support for this request. I think the ability to view flickr accounts would be awesome.

[Brent]

Whew,
For a minute there I thought I was the only one who cared about photos in SageTV

[mistergq]

The photo feature is not as important to me, probably because I corrupted the first Sage installed and did not get the photo feature working until 5 or 6 months after I started using it.

Truth be told, the best part is the screensaver for sage is the photos. Having said that, I would like a better photo album, organization, etc.

[tmiranda]

When people come over the house photo viewing is the #1 "attention getter" for SageTV.

[mistergq]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

When people come over the house photo viewing is the #1 "attention getter" for SageTV.

I agree. Photo viewing is much more important with guest over. Its also a way for Sage to recruit. They will be much more willing to use SageTV then cable company dvr.

[tedson]

Things I would like to see added...

* Merge photos and videos together, so if I have a directory of mixed media I can walk through both (like on the Wii). Usually we are using this feature to show recent photos and videos of the kids to relatives and its annoying to walk through the new photos then have to flick to videos and work my way to the corresponding videos.

* Have multiple photo and video menu items each with its own import directory. This is mostly so I can have a video item on the main menu that only has ripped dvds in it, and a seperate menu item that has family photos and videos in it. I could see this also being used for kids dvds vs adults dvds (Where the adult ones have a parental lock code, etc.)

* More transition types

[appelm]

Another feature request:

Auto-rotate pictures based on EXIF data for display purposes without changing original file.

Many photo viewers do this so I never have to actually edit my photos and rotate them manually. But in Sage now, the pictures taken veritcally show up sideways. If I rotate them in Sage, it physically changes the original file so now other photo viewers auto-rotate based on exif and end up OVER rotating! Anyway the above enhancement would resolve the problem.

[Brent]

Another user had a great suggestions:
Picture tagger:
While viewing photos in SageTV, ability to "tag" or "mark" a photo as:

1. print
2. burn
3. mail
4. upload to flickr
5. upload to picasa

Then save those tagged pictures (or locations of those pictures) to a queue. Once you're finished review your selections & take the appropriate action with them

[Brent]

Did I mention I think Photos is the one, untapped cool feature that SageTV could develop for that wouldn't involve a lot of dev time or money?

I thought I'd revive this old thread after lots of comments on GeekTonic about how photos was one of those unheralded features they loved about HTPCs. I agree.

[wrems]

I’m in agreement with everyone about the photos.

I’d especially love to see some sort of control over the screensaver that does the random slideshow of pics. Sometimes pictures come up and I’d like to be able to pause the sequence, possibly back up and then resume without necessarily jumping out of the screensaver mode.

[zoltran]

Yup...
Photo's and music are the crowd pleaser here too.
Better/cooler photo fades like an Apple TV should be added to the list too

[scat]

Does anyone remember if photos were mentioned on that recent SageTV survey?

[Brent]

Originally Posted by scat

Does anyone remember if photos were mentioned on that recent SageTV survey?

what sagetv survey?

[cncb]

Brent,

I have the feeling that you stopped using JRMC a long time ago but I just wanted to mention that the JRMC STVi has all the capabilities of the PSE STVi and more. I am also considering adding saving of playlists which would give you indirect Flickr upload capability (i.e. build and save a "playlist" of the desired images and then go into JRMC itself and do the upload). It also has the added bonus of not having to import all your photos into the Sage database and tagging, etc. support from a standard "2-foot interface". And finally, it works much better than the Beyond Media days since there are no focus issues - playback is handled completely by Sage and JRMC just needs to be running to have access to its library. In any case, now you know in case you are dieing to try it again .

[Brent]

Originally Posted by cncb

Brent,

I have the feeling that you stopped using JRMC a long time ago but I just wanted to mention that the JRMC STVi has all the capabilities of the PSE STVi and more. I am also considering adding saving of playlists which would give you indirect Flickr upload capability (i.e. build and save a "playlist" of the desired images and then go into JRMC itself and do the upload). It also has the added bonus of not having to import all your photos into the Sage database and tagging, etc. support from a standard "2-foot interface". And finally, it works much better than the Beyond Media days since there are no focus issues - playback is handled completely by Sage and JRMC just needs to be running to have access to its library. In any case, now you know in case you are dieing to try it again .

You're right - I haven't used it for quite a long time. I might give it another try once things slow down a bit as it sounds like its pretty nice.

I'm still hoping for robust photo improvements to be built-in to SageTV of course, but good to see 3rd party add-ons fill those gaps.

[QueOnda]

Too bad we can't add 3rd party apps to use with HD200...or can ya?

[Peter_h]

I have to agree with everything said above. The features for the Photos is sorely lacking.

For guests, the photo screensaver grabs the attention immediately. They are instantly interested and want to know how to get one or what it entails to get the same setup up and running.

However, it kind of sucks when a picture changes and someone asks me to go back or see more from that series of pictures.

I would welcome any improvements or new features.

[cncb]

Originally Posted by QueOnda

Too bad we can't add 3rd party apps to use with HD200...or can ya?

I'm not sure what you had in mind but I use the JRMC STVi exclusively with extenders. If you are referring to having a 3rd-party app display itself natively on the HD200 then no, this is not possible.

[Brent]

Like I did with the "music" thread I wanted to dig up this thread that is important to me. Photos in SageTV is important to me. I failed to discuss it much with Jeff on the GeekTonic interview so I thought I'd revisit it here.

Anyone have additional suggestions on what you would like to see in SageTV for photo improvements to the core? I'm not thinking SageMC or customizations here - more towards features we need in the SageTV core/default STV.