Android App: Phoenix for SageTV

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by jpaddock3000

Thinking there is a bug in the BMT UI that limits the number of characters that shows up. Just checked via the Installed Plugins on Sage directly and sagex-services - SageTV Remote API Services and sagex-api - SageTV API Extensions are at version 7.1.9.12.

Also, I'm running on ICS (4.0.4).

So, if I understand correctly, you can enter the sage information, and test connection returns OK, but when you select the server from the list, you get an error?

You might want to check the logs/phoenix.log and/or sagetv_0.txt log and see if there is an error, or email them to metadatatools at gmail dot com

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

What is the expected functionality of the 'Play On Device' action item?

Initially you can probably expect the same as TaSageTV... Then hopefully after that he can figure out what's wrong with the iOS streaming plugin and make it work better on Android devices and such...

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

So updated, and it seems to work great. What is the expected functionality of the 'Play On Device' action item?

Keep in mind that this is very beta build and typically in my beta builds I'll include menu options for things that I'd like to implement, and this is one of those features. The expected behaviour right now (as Fonceur noted) is that is does nothing (But maybe someday, I'll see if I can get streaming working on some devices)

Originally Posted by Fonceur

Initially you can probably expect the same as TaSageTV... Then hopefully after that he can figure out what's wrong with the iOS streaming plugin and make it work better on Android devices and such...

[brewston]

If anyone (like me) is wondering why they don't see all their TV shows in the TV shows view, it doesn't display archived TV. Just go into BMT and unarchive the ones you want to see

[Dargason]

Are you looking for some feedback on features that might be nice to have? I can't help but think of a few...

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by Dargason

Are you looking for some feedback on features that might be nice to have? I can't help but think of a few...

Absolutely... I've already gotten a bit of feedback on features, so yeah, if there's something that you want to see added, then post it here or on the G+ page. My standard disclaimer applies... This is a side project so progress is going to be slow coming.

I've also had one person ask (in a nice way) what's the point of this app? The mobile webserver does more.

I'll answer that here as well.
- I'm replacing (for my own needs) BMT and the Mobile web server with this app. This also means that I won't be any other major updates to BMT, since over time, I'll add features from BMT to this app. I don't have to time to work on both, so this app wins.
- In terms of what I need... I want to be able see what is recording, what is going to record and what has already been recorded in a quick to see/access screen (this is done)
- I want to be able to search movies and play it back on the TV (not concerned about streaming) (this is done)
- I want to quickly be able to manage the fanart for a given show (not done)

Features that are on my short list include
- Ability to pick which Phoenix/Gemstone views show up on the menu
- Ability to customize a view (ie, filtering, sorting, grouping options)

Features in the next build (ie, already complete)
- Ability to rename extender client from the extender list (long press on client name)
- Shows currently recording on the home screen

And finally... if someone (ie jorton, balio, meinmaui, etc ) wants to send me some mock ups of a much "fancier" home screen then I'm open to that as well. Right now, it's very "blah" but that's the extend of my graphical talents (embarrassed to say that I'm the son of an artist ) (any other layout types of suggestions are welcome as well)

[Fuzzy]

In that vein then, I'd like to point out the only thing I've ever really used the webserver for from my phone - and that is adding a favorite, or a manual recording, from the guide.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

In that vein then, I'd like to point out the only thing I've ever really used the webserver for from my phone - and that is adding a favorite, or a manual recording, from the guide.

That's actually quite high up on my list. The last thing I added before I released this beta was the Search... and I've yet to get around to adding the ability to add a favorite... but given that it's something that I needed to just just a day ago... it's made it into the top spot

[Dargason]

As a side project, I'm not sure how much time/effort you're looking to spend on an app like this, but here are some features
that I think would be useful.

Sheduled Recordings Management
- ability to view schedule, cancel recordings, mark watched (to avoid recording favorites you've seen already), etc
- ability to browse EPG and schedule new recordings
- Resolve conflicts
- Favorites management

Media Management
- Browse/Search media
- Delete, convert, or download items (so I have something to watch on the plane/train)
- Edit selected metadata fields... you mentioned this app replacing BMT, and grabbing fanart/editing metadata is a pretty
basic function of that app, at least for me.

Media Playback
- Control an extender -- you've started this, but you may as well add full remote control functionality.
- Stream videos -- not a priority for me, but many other people like it.
- Stream music, playlists
- Playlist management

System Management
- Basic information screen like uptime, status messages, file space used/available, heap usage, etc.
- Plugins management (not something I'd probably use, but maybe other people.)
- Restart Server

I actually use the webserver and BMT quite often... I use them to manage things, browse upcoming movies, schedule recordings,
etc, while I'm on my lunch break at work. I would welcome an app for my phone or tablet to do this.
Also, it would be nice if the views on the front page were configurable... I don't find "Recently Imported" to be very useful
and I wouldn't mind replacing it with "Upcoming movies" or "Intelligent suggestions" or something like that. In classic
'SageTV' style, maybe there could be a configuration file somewhere...

Oh, I just thought of another one... how about the ability to do a google search for trailers of upcoming airings?

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by Dargason

As a side project, I'm not sure how much time/effort you're looking to spend on an app like this, but here are some features
that I think would be useful.

Sheduled Recordings Management
- ability to view schedule, cancel recordings, mark watched (to avoid recording favorites you've seen already), etc
- ability to browse EPG and schedule new recordings
- Resolve conflicts
- Favorites management

Media Management
- Browse/Search media
- Delete, convert, or download items (so I have something to watch on the plane/train)
- Edit selected metadata fields... you mentioned this app replacing BMT, and grabbing fanart/editing metadata is a pretty
basic function of that app, at least for me.

Media Playback
- Control an extender -- you've started this, but you may as well add full remote control functionality.
- Stream videos -- not a priority for me, but many other people like it.
- Stream music, playlists
- Playlist management

System Management
- Basic information screen like uptime, status messages, file space used/available, heap usage, etc.
- Plugins management (not something I'd probably use, but maybe other people.)
- Restart Server

I actually use the webserver and BMT quite often... I use them to manage things, browse upcoming movies, schedule recordings,
etc, while I'm on my lunch break at work. I would welcome an app for my phone or tablet to do this.
Also, it would be nice if the views on the front page were configurable... I don't find "Recently Imported" to be very useful
and I wouldn't mind replacing it with "Upcoming movies" or "Intelligent suggestions" or something like that. In classic
'SageTV' style, maybe there could be a configuration file somewhere...

Oh, I just thought of another one... how about the ability to do a google search for trailers of upcoming airings?

Thanks for the suggestions.... Just so you know some of what you are asking for is already there....

ie, You can search media, delete media, set watched/unwatched, etc.
You can search the EPG (ie, Airings) but you can't yet schedule a recording. I'm not sure I'd ever build an epg browser, other than just searching, since I never browse and epg. I usually hear about a new show, search for it, and then record it.


So what I see (in your list) as new, and the likelihood of getting done at some point
+ Browse EPG (very low)
+ Resolve Conflicts (low)
+ Favorites Manager (high)
+ Stream Music (med)
+ Stream Video (low)
+ Download (music, video, image) (high)
+ Convert (med)
+ Extender Remote (med)
+ Edit Metadata (med)
+ Playlist Management (med)
+ Basic Information Screen (high)
+ Plugin Management (low)
+ Server Restart (med)
+ Youtube Trailers (med/high)
+ Ability to customize menu (very high)(ie, add new views like, "Upcoming Movies" -- These menus are just referencing existing Phoenix/Gemstone VFS views, so there's not technical limit on the types of views that you can create, I just need to expose the ability in the app interface to select a new view, which I'm currently working on as well)

This is quite the list

[Dargason]

Yeah, I know some is there already... just trying to be complete.

It looks like your priorities align with mine very well. I'd like to elaborate a little on one thing though. I travel a reasonable amount, sometimes for a couple weeks at a time. It would be really nice to be able to browse recordings and as I am doing so, mark them as part of a playlist or 'current selection' or something like that. Then be able to perform batch functions on the current selection, such as convert and download the batch. This would allow me to select items and then queue them for conversion and downloading while I am in the hotel sleeping for viewing while on the plane or whatever.

[jpaddock3000]

Originally Posted by stuckless

So, if I understand correctly, you can enter the sage information, and test connection returns OK, but when you select the server from the list, you get an error?

You might want to check the logs/phoenix.log and/or sagetv_0.txt log and see if there is an error, or email them to metadatatools at gmail dot com

Sorry for the delay, but yes, I get an OK when I test the connection. When I try and select a server, I get the message stating "Failed to get SageTv information". I disabled the local firewall and I have the same issue.

I believe this is the log line in sagetv_0.txt:

Wed 10/17 11:49:37.324 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1@fad2a1] Calling: Api: Wed 10/17 11:49:37.325 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1@fad2a1] nullWed 10/17 11:49:37.325 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1@fad2a1] ; Command: Wed 10/17 11:49:37.325 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1@fad2a1] GetServerAddressWed 10/17 11:49:37.325 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1@fad2a1] ;

This was the recent data in phoenix.log:

2012-10-17 11:48:47,797 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Recent Recordings; id: phoenix.view.util.instantstatus.recentrecordings; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Recent Recordings; id: phoenix.view.util.recentrecordings; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Recorded TV (Archived); id: phoenix.view.primary.recordedtvarchived; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Sage Archived Recordings; id: phoenix.view.source.sagearchivedrecordings; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.sources.SageMediaFilesFactory - Creating Source Folder: Sage Media Files For Sage Media Files: TL
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.sources.SageMediaFilesFactory - Returned 5 items for Sage Media Files; mask: TL
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created Source: Sage Media Files in 0ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,799 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Sage Archived Recordings in 1ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,799 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Recorded TV (Archived) in 1ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,799 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Recorded TV; id: phoenix.view.primary.recordedtv; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,799 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Sage Recordings; id: phoenix.view.source.sagerecordings; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,799 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.sources.SageExpressionSourceFactory - Evaluating Expression for media items: phoenix_util_ToArray(phoenix_util_RemoveAll(GetMediaFiles("T"), GetMediaFiles("TL")))
2012-10-17 11:48:47,800 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.sources.SageExpressionSourceFactory - Expression: phoenix_util_ToArray(phoenix_util_RemoveAll(GetMediaFiles("T"), GetMediaFiles("TL"))) resulted in 210 files in 1ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,800 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created Source: Sage Expression in 1ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,801 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] WARN  sagex.phoenix.vfs.sage.SageMediaFile - Found Movie Title is wrong place for: Happiness Is a Warm Blanket Charlie Brown
2012-10-17 11:48:47,803 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Sage Recordings in 4ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,823 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Recorded TV in 24ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,825 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Recent Recordings in 27ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,829 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Recent Recordings in 32ms

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by jpaddock3000

Sorry for the delay, but yes, I get an OK when I test the connection. When I try and select a server, I get the message stating "Failed to get SageTv information". I disabled the local firewall and I have the same issue.

I believe this is the log line in sagetv_0.txt:

Wed 10/17 11:49:37.324 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1@fad2a1] Calling: Api: Wed 10/17 11:49:37.325 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1@fad2a1] nullWed 10/17 11:49:37.325 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1@fad2a1] ; Command: Wed 10/17 11:49:37.325 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1@fad2a1] GetServerAddressWed 10/17 11:49:37.325 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1@fad2a1] ;

This was the recent data in phoenix.log:

2012-10-17 11:48:47,797 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Recent Recordings; id: phoenix.view.util.instantstatus.recentrecordings; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Recent Recordings; id: phoenix.view.util.recentrecordings; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Recorded TV (Archived); id: phoenix.view.primary.recordedtvarchived; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Sage Archived Recordings; id: phoenix.view.source.sagearchivedrecordings; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.sources.SageMediaFilesFactory - Creating Source Folder: Sage Media Files For Sage Media Files: TL
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.sources.SageMediaFilesFactory - Returned 5 items for Sage Media Files; mask: TL
2012-10-17 11:48:47,798 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created Source: Sage Media Files in 0ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,799 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Sage Archived Recordings in 1ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,799 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Recorded TV (Archived) in 1ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,799 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Recorded TV; id: phoenix.view.primary.recordedtv; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,799 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Creating view for: Sage Recordings; id: phoenix.view.source.sagerecordings; Options: null
2012-10-17 11:48:47,799 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.sources.SageExpressionSourceFactory - Evaluating Expression for media items: phoenix_util_ToArray(phoenix_util_RemoveAll(GetMediaFiles("T"), GetMediaFiles("TL")))
2012-10-17 11:48:47,800 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.sources.SageExpressionSourceFactory - Expression: phoenix_util_ToArray(phoenix_util_RemoveAll(GetMediaFiles("T"), GetMediaFiles("TL"))) resulted in 210 files in 1ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,800 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created Source: Sage Expression in 1ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,801 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] WARN  sagex.phoenix.vfs.sage.SageMediaFile - Found Movie Title is wrong place for: Happiness Is a Warm Blanket Charlie Brown
2012-10-17 11:48:47,803 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Sage Recordings in 4ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,823 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Recorded TV in 24ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,825 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Recent Recordings in 27ms
2012-10-17 11:48:47,829 [16437921@qtp-6905859-1] INFO  sagex.phoenix.vfs.views.ViewFactory - Created view: Recent Recordings in 32ms

Is your sage server running Java 1.6 or greater? I'm just curious because the sage info does use some javascript executed on the server, and that would require java 1.6.

[jpaddock3000]

Originally Posted by stuckless

Is your sage server running Java 1.6 or greater? I'm just curious because the sage info does use some javascript executed on the server, and that would require java 1.6.

This is what is running: 1.6.0_35-b10

[Fuzzy]

So, how are the views created/stored in this app so far? is it using a view from the server, or is it hard-coded into the app at this point? I'd like to see about making some customized appropriate views for it, but need a starting point. Thanks...

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

So, how are the views created/stored in this app so far? is it using a view from the server, or is it hard-coded into the app at this point? I'd like to see about making some customized appropriate views for it, but need a starting point. Thanks...

The views are coming from the SageTV server (vfs xml files -- which is what Phoenix and Gemstone use to create views).... But the views that the app can access are hard coded at this point. In my environment (and I was really hoping to get it released this weekend) I have the ability to Add new views from the server to the main menu.

[Fuzzy]

That's what I had figured, just noticed that I don't have any vfs views with the same name as those showing in the android app, so I thought they might be hard-coded.

[bikesquid]

Awesome! Love it, and I think it's exactly what I've been looking for. Other than the windowed payback already discussed, it seems pretty far along.

I'm in the process of renovating a house we'll be moving into soon and was hoping to sprinkle a few tablets around to control various aspects of home automation, this looks to be a great way to control clients/extenders without having to turn on the TV (I listen to a lot of music/tv news/streamed internet audio, etc via amps and automated AV routing switches, rather than just watch a TV) so having to turn on the TV to control Sage has always been a thorn to me. This will be a great solution.

A few questions and a comment:

Any plans to add other library views such as music? I see "stream music" as a medium priority, but I'm making a distinction between stream to the tablet vs play on a client/extender via the tablet....

So do I have to un-archive all the archived TV shows to get them to show up as discussed earlier in the thread, or will views that include that be coming...? I see Fuzzy's question, but I'm not smart enough to understand if/how that answer explains this .... .

I notice the app re-polls whenever I exit a menu selection and re-enter, which , for me, feels like it's slow. Granted I've no idea what I'm talking about, but any plan on adding some re-cache logic (or some other magic) to help with that?

and an observation - the setup/options menu disappears when I drill down off the main menu, it would be handy if it was available all the time....

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by bikesquid

Awesome! Love it, and I think it's exactly what I've been looking for. Other than the windowed payback already discussed, it seems pretty far along.

I'm in the process of renovating a house we'll be moving into soon and was hoping to sprinkle a few tablets around to control various aspects of home automation, this looks to be a great way to control clients/extenders without having to turn on the TV (I listen to a lot of music/tv news/streamed internet audio, etc via amps and automated AV routing switches, rather than just watch a TV) so having to turn on the TV to control Sage has always been a thorn to me. This will be a great solution.

A few questions and a comment:

Any plans to add other library views such as music? I see "stream music" as a medium priority, but I'm making a distinction between stream to the tablet vs play on a client/extender via the tablet....

So do I have to un-archive all the archived TV shows to get them to show up as discussed earlier in the thread, or will views that include that be coming...? I see Fuzzy's question, but I'm not smart enough to understand if/how that answer explains this .... .

I notice the app re-polls whenever I exit a menu selection and re-enter, which , for me, feels like it's slow. Granted I've no idea what I'm talking about, but any plan on adding some re-cache logic (or some other magic) to help with that?

and an observation - the setup/options menu disappears when I drill down off the main menu, it would be handy if it was available all the time....

I would not go unarchiving shows that you want to remain archived. The views in the app now are just holders for testing. It should, as it comes along, allow full customization of what content is available in which of however many views. That's the nature of the Phoenix vfs API. Just not fully unlocked in teh android app at this point (baby steps).

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

I would not go unarchiving shows that you want to remain archived. The views in the app now are just holders for testing. It should, as it comes along, allow full customization of what content is available in which of however many views. That's the nature of the Phoenix vfs API. Just not fully unlocked in teh android app at this point (baby steps).

That's exactly correct.

Originally Posted by bikesquid

Any plans to add other library views such as music? I see "stream music" as a medium priority, but I'm making a distinction between stream to the tablet vs play on a client/extender via the tablet....

Yes, there are plans... but it's going to take time. RIght now there are TV and Movie specific views... I still need to add Music and Pictures. Again, this isn't hard, but I don't have alot of time to spend on this, so I can't say when that will be available

So do I have to un-archive all the archived TV shows to get them to show up as discussed earlier in the thread, or will views that include that be coming...? I see Fuzzy's question, but I'm not smart enough to understand if/how that answer explains this .... .

I think Fuzzy explained it... basically wait until I ship another version that will allow you to pick which VFS views you want in the menu.

I notice the app re-polls whenever I exit a menu selection and re-enter, which , for me, feels like it's slow. Granted I've no idea what I'm talking about, but any plan on adding some re-cache logic (or some other magic) to help with that?

Caching is being worked on... but I'm trying some new things that I'm learning in Android to try and transparantly cache data without having the UI make too much of an effort to cache or know about caching. It's coming, but it's taking time.

[/quote]
and an observation - the setup/options menu disappears when I drill down off the main menu, it would be handy if it was available all the time....[/QUOTE]

Sounds reasonable.