Slim Player (internet radio, mp3, wma, etc from SlimServer)

[CanadianEh]

Funny enough, I'm trying to get the XMRadio plugin to work, but it appears that it is broken in the latest version of Slimplayer... not Koelec's issue however

[mkanet]

Chris, FYI, I got Sirius music stations to work with Slimplayer. Currently, I can't add a Sirius radio stations to my favorites.

Also, for those of you who want Howard Stern via Slim Player.. .thats not possible currently. You can only access music stations from sirius and a few talk stations... NOT Howard. This isn't a limitation of Slimplayer... Howard Stern isn't available from Sirius via this method currently.

[mike1961]

Hello - from reading the posts it appears that this player is more compatible with some webstreams that are not from stout but are in other formats.

Here's my confusion as I have not installed this yet:

1. Are there certain programs (such as slimserver) that is only installed on my file server where I am running the SageTV Service Control application?

2. If so, I'm wondering what I install on the server and what is installed on the computers running SageClient? Or, is the installation the same for all the computers and I allow SlimServer to act as a server on all my clients (but that would not seem right). It seems that SlimServer should run on the file server. Is this right? I just want to try and get this app up and running as easy as possible.

3. At the first post I read the installation instructions to download the slimplayer but I could not find the download for the plugin to interface this with Sage. Shouldn't there be a plugin for this to download somewhere?

Thanks,
Mike

[koelec]

Originally Posted by mike1961

Hello - from reading the posts it appears that this player is more compatible with some webstreams that are not from stout but are in other formats.

For a number of radio streams (shoutcast, radioio, live365, and others via slimserver's plugins) you can browse from either slimserver's web interface or from SlimPlayer and add stations to a playlist. For others you can use the tune in function (where you paste the url into an input field) on the slimserver's web interface and add it this way to a playlist or favorite list, so it becomes available in SlimPlayer.

1. Are there certain programs (such as slimserver) that is only installed on my file server where I am running the SageTV Service Control application?

SlimServer is only installed on your file server.

2. If so, I'm wondering what I install on the server and what is installed on the computers running SageClient? Or, is the installation the same for all the computers and I allow SlimServer to act as a server on all my clients (but that would not seem right). It seems that SlimServer should run on the file server. Is this right? I just want to try and get this app up and running as easy as possible.

Install SlimServer on your file server. And the SlimPlayer plugin (STVI and jar files) + softsqueeze.jar on each Client.
Make sure you change the slimserver hostaddress (defaults to localhost) on each of your clients. See the installation procedure for details on this.

3. At the first post I read the installation instructions to download the slimplayer but I could not find the download for the plugin to interface this with Sage. Shouldn't there be a plugin for this to download somewhere?

Its in the download area under STVI imports, SlimPlayer v1.0.
I've updated the installation procedure as well.

Thanks,
- Chris

[koelec]

Hi All,
Here's a patch for SlimPlayer. Unfortunately I cannot upload this new version to the download area, because there's a problem with the SageTV Community Database at the moment. That's why I have attached it here. This patch only contains a new slimplayer.jar and slimplayer-1.0.stvi file.
installation:

1. Extract the attached zip file like usual in your SageTV install folder (where SageTV.exe resides).
2. After restart of SageTV reimport the slimplayer-1.0.stvi

changes:

1. SlimPlayer will not change configured skin of SoftSqueeze anymore. This means that you don't have to change things in the registry when you want to start SoftSqueeze again after running SlimPlayer.
2. Fixed standby issue where SlimPlayer prevented System to go to standby automatically. Be sure to press the power button to power down SlimPlayer (SlimPayer has an active connection with SlimServer) when you want the system to go to standby automatically.
3. Added menu playback control. Added Play button and Stop Playback button. New OptionsDialog when pressing enter/select on playlist/favorite item shows dialog where you can start playback or view details.

I will make this into a more formal release whenever I can upload to the Download Area again.

- Chris

[mkanet]

Hi Chris, I just tested your latest patch. Here are my comments/opinons/sugestions:

1) When pressing Enter/Select, you have to press enter again to play the radio station. 95% of the time people are going just simply want to play the radio station by just pressing select once. Adding an extra click is uncessary hassle just so people gain alternate means to access "relatively" seldom used features (View Details/Delete). The delete key on the keyboard and remote control already do this easily. Viewing details should be acccessed via a different part of the menu (as before). Delete can also be placed in a different part of the menu as well. This sub-options menu would be more useful if there were options offered on there that people used almost as much as selecting to play a radio stations.

2) I still cant add several stations as favorites via transparent mode. The option to add to favorites list simply isnt there for no apprent reason. This happens on all the sirius radio stations as well.

3) You may consider renaming the feature "Transparent mode" and moving it to the root menu of slim player. Even I had a little bit of trouble figuring out the interface. This is probably one of the most important functions of slmplayer; and, its currently hidden away in the menus.

Anyway, keep up the great work!
Michael

Originally Posted by koelec

Hi All,
Here's a patch for SlimPlayer. Unfortunately I cannot upload this new version to the download area, because there's a problem with the SageTV Community Database at the moment. That's why I have attached it here. This patch only contains a new slimplayer.jar and slimplayer-1.0.stvi file.
installation:

1. Extract the attached zip file like usual in your SageTV install folder (where SageTV.exe resides).
2. After restart of SageTV reimport the slimplayer-1.0.stvi

changes:

1. SlimPlayer will not change configured skin of SoftSqueeze anymore. This means that you don't have to change things in the registry when you want to start SoftSqueeze again after running SlimPlayer.
2. Fixed standby issue where SlimPlayer prevented System to go to standby automatically. Be sure to press the power button to power down SlimPlayer (SlimPayer has an active connection with SlimServer) when you want the system to go to standby automatically.
3. Added menu playback control. Added Play button and Stop Playback button. New OptionsDialog when pressing enter/select on playlist/favorite item shows dialog where you can start playback or view details.

I will make this into a more formal release whenever I can upload to the Download Area again.

- Chris

[koelec]

3) You may consider renaming the feature "Transparent mode" and moving it to the root menu of slim player. Even I had a little bit of trouble figuring out the interface. This is probably one of the most important functions of slmplayer; and, its currently hidden away in the menus.

Anyway, keep up the great work!
Michael[/QUOTE]

Michael, thanks for your quick response.

1) When pressing Enter/Select, you have to press enter again to play the radio station. 95% of the time people are going just simply want to play the radio station by just pressing select once. Adding an extra click is uncessary hassle just so people gain alternate means to access "relatively" seldom used features (View Details/Delete). The delete key on the keyboard and remote control already do this easily. Viewing details should be acccessed via a different part of the menu (as before). Delete can also be placed in a different part of the menu as well. This sub-options menu would be more useful if there were options offered on there that people used just as much as selecting to play a radio stations.

I think it's a matter of taste. The current implementation is consistent with the other functions of SageTV, e.g. TV recording list, music list, when you select it you get an options dialog. If you want direct playback from the list without goiing through the options dialog, just press the play button.

2) I still cant add several stations as favorites via transparent mode. The option to add to favorites list simply isnt there for no apprent reason. This happens on all the sirius radio stations as well.

SlimPlayer transparently shows what slim server sends it in responds to a key you press. If there's the feature 'press right to add to favorites' is missing it must be missing in the Slim Server's plugin (in this case sirius plugin). You can try adding the station via the slim server's web interface.

3) You may consider renaming the feature "Transparent mode" and moving it to the root menu of slim player. Even I had a little bit of trouble figuring out the interface. This is probably one of the most important functions of slmplayer; and, its currently hidden away in the menus.

You're probably right with this one, but it depends. If your through with browsing for new stations and are confident with your favorites list and playlists, then you can easily control the playback of your stations without going to the transparent mode. But I will reconsider this.

thanks,

- Chris

Oh Michael, one more thing, about the ALT-F4/sleep issue. This is a known problem. SageTV is not notifying the STV code about going to sleep when either ALT-F4 or the X are selected. Currently webradio or slimplayer won't stop playback if you put SageTV to sleep via ALT-F4 or X. If you choose standby from main menu or use the sleep timer plugin, I verified it to work correctly. I've posted a bug report on this, hopefully they agree to add this for V6.

[mkanet]

Thanks for explaining. I think you tried telling me this before; but I guess I didnt understand at the time. My main concern was getting the sleep timer to be compatible with this plugin. It appears the only way this would work is to have Sleep Timer be aware of Slim Player (If Slim Player is active, then close SageTV properly via Slim Player instead of sending a X/F4 command). Im not sure if Dirk is willing to do this. I think adding a sleep timer/alarm clock would certainly add value to this great plugin. What do you think?

Originally Posted by koelec

3) Oh Michael, one more thing, about the ALT-F4/sleep issue. This is a known problem. SageTV is not notifying the STV code about going to sleep when either ALT-F4 or the X are selected. Currently webradio or slimplayer won't stop playback if you put SageTV to sleep via ALT-F4 or X. If you choose standby from main menu or use the sleep timer plugin, I verified it to work correctly. I've posted a bug report on this, hopefully they agree to add this for V6.

[dflachbart]

Originally Posted by mkanet

It appears the only way this would work is to have Sleep Timer be aware of Slim Player (If Slim Player is active, then close SageTV properly via Slim Player instead of sending a X/F4 command). Im not sure if Dirk is willing to do this.

Michael, the Sleep Timer does not send an X/F4 command, it sends and ordinary 'PowerOff" command

I thought Chris meant that there shouldnt be a problem with the Sleep Timer right now ?

If you choose standby from main menu or use the sleep timer plugin, I verified it to work correctly.

Dirk

[mkanet]

Hey Dirk! No, the problem is still there. The "Power off" command sent by sleep timer has he same affect as pressing X/F4.

Here are the conditions necessary to reproduce the problem:

"Display Video on Menus=Always" AND there's a TV channel currently recording. If these conditions are true and Sleep Timer, X, F4, Power off, etc, then this will cause the bug...

BTW: Dirk, I use your sleep timer every single night! But, only currently with TV... not internet radio.

Originally Posted by flachbar

Michael, the Sleep Timer does not send an X/F4 command, it sends and ordinary 'PowerOff" command

I thought Chris meant that there shouldnt be a problem with the Sleep Timer right now ?



Dirk

[koelec]

Originally Posted by mkanet

Hey Dirk! No, the problem is still there. The "Power off" command sent by sleep timer has he same affect as pressing X/F4.

Here are the conditions necessary to reproduce the problem:

"Display Video on Menus=Always" AND there's a TV channel currently recording. If these conditions are true and Sleep Timer, X, F4, Power off, etc, then this will cause the bug...

BTW: Dirk, I use your sleep timer every single night! But, only currently with TV... not internet radio.

Michael, I've been able to reproduce the problem!
Currently analyzing log files and looking for a solution.

- Chris

[koelec]

Michael, I think I've solved it.
As a sideeffect of the solution there will be a little delay for the sound to stop (less than a second). This patch will not work with ALT-F4/X for known reason, but I tested it with the sleep icon (it will work with sleep timer too). Without the patch it resumes live tv audio when sageTv is sleeping in the tray. With this patch applied it is completely silent. Only when you restore SageTV from tray Background TV will start playing again.
Please try the attached patch.

1. unzip into SageTV folder
2. restart SageTV
3. reimport slimplayer-1.0.stvi

Cheers,
- Chris

[mkanet]

Chris, you fixed it!! I've waited for months for this to be fixed! Check this out..



Thank again!!
Michael

Originally Posted by koelec

Michael, I think I've solved it.
As a sideeffect of the solution there will be a little delay for the sound to stop (less than a second). This patch will not work with ALT-F4/X for known reason, but I tested it with the sleep icon (it will work with sleep timer too). Without the patch it resumes live tv audio when sageTv is sleeping in the tray. With this patch applied it is completely silent. Only when you restore SageTV from tray Background TV will start playing again.
Please try the attached patch.

1. unzip into SageTV folder
2. restart SageTV
3. reimport slimplayer-1.0.stvi

Cheers,
- Chris

[mkanet]

Chris, could you please consider making it so that when first go into the Slim Player menu, if the Power isn't on, to automatically turn it on ...and, by default, to automatically display Favorites (or Playlists) in the right hand pane (with the last played Favorite/Playlist item highlighted). So, all a user really has to do is press Enter or up/down to select the station they want (when they first enter the main Slimplayer menu).

Ideally, a user should be able to press the Slim Player button on their TV remote, the last played favorite radio station should be highlighted, the user can just press select/enter and it will start playing or press up/down arrow for a different station.

BTW, I still dont think its a good idea for to have to press Enter twice to play a station from Favorites. I know SageTV does this in the program guide. However, I just dont see any value at sacrifcing an extra key stroke every time you want to listen to music for "View Details" information. Perhaps you would consider adding this as an option.... something like "slimplayer/simpleselection=true" in the properties file? Please??

PS: I was finally able to listen to the Howard Stern Channel (Howard 101) via SageTV slimplayer! Unfortunately, there's not easy way to access it since there' no way to add it as a favorite

[koelec]

Originally Posted by mkanet

Chris, could you please consider making it so that when first go into the Slim Player menu, if the Power isn't on, to automatically turn it on ...and, by default, to automatically display Favorites (or Playlists) in the right hand pane (with the last played Favorite/Playlist item highlighted). So, all a user really has to do is press Enter or up/down to select the station they want (when they first enter the main Slimplayer menu).

Ideally, a user should be able to press the Slim Player button on their TV remote, the last played favorite radio station should be highlighted, the user can just press select/enter and it will start playing or press up/down arrow for a different station.

BTW, I still dont think its a good idea for to have to press Enter twice to play a station from Favorites. I know SageTV does this in the program guide. However, I just dont see any value at sacrifcing an extra key stroke every time you want to listen to music for "View Details" information. Perhaps you would consider adding this as an option.... something like "slimplayer/simpleselection=true" in the properties file? Please??

Thanks for your positive comments. I'll reconsider the interface for the next version.

PS: I was finally able to listen to the Howard Stern Channel (Howard 101) via SageTV slimplayer! Unfortunately, there's not easy way to access it since there' no way to add it as a favorite [/QUOTE]
When howard is playing wait until the display turns back to showing: "Now playing ...." in transparent mode use right and then down keys until it shows "press right to add to favorites". If this doesn't work you could add it to a playlist by zapping (special key in transparent mode: add.hold) it to the "zapped" playlist. But, I just discovered that this is broken in this version.
In Slimserver 6.5 they renamed the function behind add.hold. I'll fix this in the next version.

- Chris

[mkanet]

Chris, I found out from the creator of the siruis radio plugin that even if we were able to add the howard channels to favorites/playlists, they will not work because these streams/links are only valid for a minute or two.

The only way I can think of to make this work is to add the ability to manually add favorites to the SageTV SlimPlayer favorites list which will launch an invisible macro to navigate and select the radio station (or feature) desired.

Adding this capability can also allow for other interesting automations added to the favorites list! You can get pretty creative with some of the plugins at: http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.cgi?PluginsAudio

Chris, or anyone... what do you thnk??

Originally Posted by koelec

Thanks for your positive comments. I'll reconsider the interface for the next version.

PS: I was finally able to listen to the Howard Stern Channel (Howard 101) via SageTV slimplayer! Unfortunately, there's not easy way to access it since there' no way to add it as a favorite When howard is playing wait until the display turns back to showing: "Now playing ...." in transparent mode use right and then down keys until it shows "press right to add to favorites". If this doesn't work you could add it to a playlist by zapping (special key in transparent mode: add.hold) it to the "zapped" playlist. But, I just discovered that this is broken in this version.
In Slimserver 6.5 they renamed the function behind add.hold. I'll fix this in the next version.

- Chris

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by mkanet

Chris, I found out from the creator of the siruis radio plugin that even if we were able to add the howard channels to favorites/playlists, they will not work because these streams/links are only valid for a minute or two.

There is also a SlimServer plugin for XM, and it behaves in the same way. It's quite annoying having to navigate to the same station each time I start my Squeezebox. As you mentioned, the only 'workaround' is an auto-navigation to the appropriate station, but to be honest this should be in the plugin rather than the front-end app, and I doubt this will happen.

Andy.

[mkanet]

Having this done in the plugin will only affect that particular plugin. However having macros added to favorites for this frontend (slimplayer) will be able to save stations from ANY plugin... xmradio, etc...

Originally Posted by AndyS

There is also a SlimServer plugin for XM, and it behaves in the same way. It's quite annoying having to navigate to the same station each time I start my Squeezebox. As you mentioned, the only 'workaround' is an auto-navigation to the appropriate station, but to be honest this should be in the plugin rather than the front-end app, and I doubt this will happen.

Andy.

[mike1961]

Hello - I've installed slimplayer on my fileserver but I'm still a bit confused about how to set it up on a workstation. I've installed the plugins in Sage. But, all I get is the SlimPlayer menu with the options Power, Play, Now Playing, etc. But, there is nothing in the window on the right. I have not adjusted any registry settings on the my workstation as of yet because there is no setting for

HKEY_USERS/Software/JavaSoft/Prefs/org/titmuss/softsqueeze/slimserver

In fact in my registry there is a HKEY_USERS but no HKEY_USERS/Software.

Let me know what I can do to get this working because the Web Radio was great and easy to setup but I want to try this if it has access to more stations/formats.

Thanks,
Mike

[mkanet]

Hi Mike, the location to the key/value you're looking for is here:

HKEY_USERS/S-1-5-21-XXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX-XXXX/Software/JavaSoft/Prefs/org/titmuss/softsqueeze/slimserver

You can make sure Slimserver is working correctly by testing it with softsqueeze.

Good luck...

Originally Posted by mike1961

Hello - I've installed slimplayer on my fileserver but I'm still a bit confused about how to set it up on a workstation. I've installed the plugins in Sage. But, all I get is the SlimPlayer menu with the options Power, Play, Now Playing, etc. But, there is nothing in the window on the right. I have not adjusted any registry settings on the my workstation as of yet because there is no setting for

HKEY_USERS/Software/JavaSoft/Prefs/org/titmuss/softsqueeze/slimserver

In fact in my registry there is a HKEY_USERS but no HKEY_USERS/Software.

Let me know what I can do to get this working because the Web Radio was great and easy to setup but I want to try this if it has access to more stations/formats.

Thanks,
Mike