Internet Browser Import

[geogecko]

I was following this thread a while back, but nothing seemed to materialize.

Email and Internet browsing

I'm mainly interested in the internet browsing idea, especially like the Meedio screenshot shows.

What I'm wondering, is how hard would it be to do something like this? Basically use Firefox or IE, inside of SageTV, with buttons at the top to ease browsing with a remote, and a pop-up keyboard, that provided inputs or commands to the browser itself?

Must be pretty difficult, and probably not something I'd be able to "learn" Studio with, but maybe with a bit of help, I could at least get something kind of working.

So, basically, I was wondering if anyone has gotten some other program to launch inside of Sage like this, and have control over it by using Sage interfaces? Or will I just be ?

[Mahoney]

Eclipse has an integrated web browser, which is presumably written in java - you might be able to rip that. You could use up and down on the remote as the equivalent of tab/shift tab and OK as the equivalent of enter, that would allow you to navigate from link to link. And something to open up the bookmarks and allow you to navigate it. You'd need to set up a good hopemapge with lots of useful links.

[dblaine2]

I find it interesting that MozEmbed.EXE is bundled with Sage (find it in your Sage install directory). Not sure if that will help at all.

[geogecko]

Originally Posted by dblaine2

I find it interesting that MozEmbed.EXE is bundled with Sage (find it in your Sage install directory). Not sure if that will help at all.

Hmm...I'll have to look into that!

[Xsabre]

Originally Posted by geogecko

I was following this thread a while back, but nothing seemed to materialize.

Email and Internet browsing

I'm mainly interested in the internet browsing idea, especially like the Meedio screenshot shows.

What I'm wondering, is how hard would it be to do something like this? Basically use Firefox or IE, inside of SageTV, with buttons at the top to ease browsing with a remote, and a pop-up keyboard, that provided inputs or commands to the browser itself?

Must be pretty difficult, and probably not something I'd be able to "learn" Studio with, but maybe with a bit of help, I could at least get something kind of working.

So, basically, I was wondering if anyone has gotten some other program to launch inside of Sage like this, and have control over it by using Sage interfaces? Or will I just be ?

I do this already with SageMC and the built in RSS Plugin. Clicking on the RSS feed opens up IE and use remote to go back and forth through links (tab & ctrl tab). Alt F4 to kill IE and that puts me back in Sage.

[dblaine2]

I think he totally wants to use his remote (no keyboard). I can see I'd be interested too if that is the case.

[geogecko]

Originally Posted by dblaine2

I think he totally wants to use his remote (no keyboard). I can see I'd be interested too if that is the case.

Totally correct. And ideally, not use any additional custom commands to control it either, just standard Up, Down, Left, and Right controls and Select. There would probably have to be a way to get into the button mode, versus the page scrolling mode, but that could possibly be done in the "Options" menu.

[nielm]

Originally Posted by dblaine2

I find it interesting that MozEmbed.EXE is bundled with Sage (find it in your Sage install directory). Not sure if that will help at all.

See also this thread - this is the reason why mozembed is included...

[geogecko]

Very interesting. So I see some people have played around with the idea some, but it looks like it hasn't gotten very far...

[nielm]

Originally Posted by Mahoney

Eclipse has an integrated web browser, which is presumably written in java

nope, or rather not really: on windows, SWT embeds IE5+, and on Linux, it embeds Mozilla, and then SWT provides a Java API to the browser component -- which is similar to what happens with JDesktops browser component (used in the code in the other thread I posted above)...

However, it may have fewer focus problems than the JDesktop embeddable browser from the other code, and SWT is much better documented than JDesktop! (example code for SWT browser component is here)

[Mahoney]

Makes sense - thanks, nielm.

[technazz]

I just want to be able to browse the forums via Sage.. that could be cool to look for new features, updates and STVi's. I know Meedio was like that for new features and I thought that was really cool!

Technazz

[geogecko]

Yes, that would be very nice. I mean, I don't expect that most will use it for things that will require a lot of typing (unless of course, you have your system setup with a wireless keyboard or something), but to be able to surf the forums and view news sites, it's kind of nice.

And if this ever does happen, it won't happen to work on DIBU's install of Sage!

[Deadbolt]

Originally Posted by geogecko

Yes, that would be very nice. I mean, I don't expect that most will use it for things that will require a lot of typing (unless of course, you have your system setup with a wireless keyboard or something), but to be able to surf the forums and view news sites, it's kind of nice.

And if this ever does happen, it won't happen to work on DIBU's install of Sage!

Integration into the SageTV STV will also allow MediaMVPs to use the web browser...sweetness for us who only use extender front ends!

[nielm]

Originally Posted by Deadbolt

Integration into the SageTV STV will also allow MediaMVPs to use the web browser...sweetness for us who only use extender front ends!

No it won't. Embedding IE will work only on a Window's desktop as IE uses Windows APIs to do the rendering, but it will not work for an MVP because there are no Windows API's on an MVP

[Deadbolt]

Originally Posted by nielm

No it won't. Embedding IE will work only on a Window's desktop as IE uses Windows APIs to do the rendering, but it will not work for an MVP because there are no Windows API's on an MVP

Well, guess we gotta have someone import a java browser, or a sage import to pass API code between Sage IE embedded program and Windows.

[jdamore]

I am really for this idea! I am constantly switching over to IE to view things like news, email, "find a local business" for food delivery (google maps), and to view this forum.

Something that I have been thinking about is when Sage releases the HD extenders. I have great anticipation to replace my pc in the bedroom, and when I do, I will loose my internet browser. And I'm sure I am not the only one who will be swapping their pc with a new HD extender.

Anyone else still interested in this?

[roxy99]

Originally Posted by geogecko

Yes, that would be very nice. I mean, I don't expect that most will use it for things that will require a lot of typing (unless of course, you have your system setup with a wireless keyboard or something), but to be able to surf the forums and view news sites, it's kind of nice.

And if this ever does happen, it won't happen to work on DIBU's install of Sage!

It reminds me- have u ever been in a hotel with internet access via the TV where the TV remote is your keyboard? Painfully slow when you're used to a keyboard and mouse.

It would indeed by nice to have but more importantly along the same lines someone should develop an internet hookup in Sage so that SageTV can send important announcements to users. Sage would then be customized to poll the Sage TV website for important announcememts. Users would also add their own custom web site links for Sage to web scrape whatever. EG: Stock Quotes, sports scores, local cinema movie show times...

[roxy99]

Originally Posted by nielm

No it won't. Embedding IE will work only on a Window's desktop as IE uses Windows APIs to do the rendering, but it will not work for an MVP because there are no Windows API's on an MVP

Is Firefox also limited?

[stanger89]

Two thoughts:

How are you going to surf with just a remote?

How are you going to read anything on a 720x480 interlaced, overscanned display?