V2.0.12 Observations

[mikejaner]

Overall, I am very impressed with the stability of this release. I love the new options for the Sage Recordings Sections, and I am currently running two tuners with a PVR 350 output enabled with all the options!!! I have to say though, getting the Hauppauge drivers to work properly with the two cards in the same system was three hours of my life I will never get back, but that's not Sage's fault.

I have some observations about this beta I would like to share in hopes to help Dan and Jeff with tweaking the UI etc.... Some of these are minor tweaks, which I would hope can be fixed in upcoming betas.

1: TV guide opens at the beginning of the channel linup. I would like to have the guide open at the channel and show which is currently being watched. A toggle for this option would be good for those who don't want this feature.

2: After deleting a show in Sage Recordings, the list does not update and you can't move the cursor is not present, therefore you can't move to other recordings without going out and coming back in.

3: Show genre color scheme. I would like to be able to change the color for types of shows through the GUI

4: One button delete. Being able to delete a show with the click of a single button would be a nice feature.

5: Commands to open the major menus. For example Music, Pictures, Shows, Imported Videos, DVD

6: Time and location within the show on the OSD does reflect the current position for about a quarter of a second. This happens when you go to fast forward or rewind. It will show the position as the last time you hit rew or ff, before updating to show the current position about a quarter of a second later. Not a biggie, but a minor tweak which would polish the interface.

Oh yeah, still hoping for REW and FF like Tivo, and a web interface,

Oh, and a far out request for if you are really bored ;-) See if there is any way to work out with Hauppauge a driver addition which would let XV output on the 350 output. Then make it so sage can take advantage of the s-video input and route the TV output of the system's video card through it and out of the 350 output. This way we all can play DVD's and still have hardware decoding for our TV shows.

Hope these comments help.

mikejaner

[kevthor]

Those requests are basically the exact same as mine. It would make this product close to being able to walk on water. The only thing missing from there is the ability to delete straight from the imported media.

For some reason when I upgraded to .12 some of my shows that were recorded moved over their instead of Sage Recordings, and I don't think there is anyway I can delete them from Sage. If I can, someone please enlighten me.

Thanks

[GbrNole]

i'm really happy with this new release and my biggest desire really lies in the ancilliary functions ie. music and dvd modules.

for music the module works great if you group by album but really lacks if, like me, you have one huge mp3 folder and prefer to play back via genre.

i'd like to just be able to select easy listening, pop, rock, reggae etc. and have sage playback all the files listed under that genre like i can do with wmp9.

file search also never works for me. i can search for a specific song, find it, but am unable to play back said song.

for dvd function i'd like to be able to fill screen for 2.35:1 titles.

[insomniac]

Thank you for allowing me to get rid of the preview window!!!!

That was a showstopper for me. Way to slow. I need speed!

[fafurd]

Another thing that would be nice is if one could enter the channel number, from the LiveTV Guide, and it jumps to it. For me, scrolling from 100 to 300 takes a long time. Maybe it's there and I just have not figured it out yet.

[Opus4]

Either type the nubers on your keyboard & press Enter, or enter them on your remote & use OK.

- Andy

[fidget]

Originally posted by fafurd
Another thing that would be nice is if one could enter the channel number, from the LiveTV Guide, and it jumps to it. For me, scrolling from 100 to 300 takes a long time. Maybe it's there and I just have not figured it out yet.

You can. Enter the channel number they hit ENTER and you will jump to the channel. There is no positive feedback, but it does work. On a realated note, you can enter a number and then FF or RW to jump that many days through the channel list (i.e., 1 FF will jump you one day forward in the listings).

[fafurd]

Ah, thanks. Since I didn't see the positive feedback, I didn't think it worked. Although a very low priority item, it would be nice to see that feedback.

Another thing that would be great is a way to increase the size of the fonts on the OSD as well as the in the guide. Maybe Studio will have it?

Thanks for the info. I've been following the forums for a month now and just bought it this weekend. It definitely looks great!

[theMixxMaster]

Originally posted by mikejaner

2: After deleting a show in Sage Recordings, the list does not update and you can't move the cursor is not present, therefore you can't move to other recordings without going out and coming back in.

Definately! It really frustrates me when I can't do ANYTHING after trying to delete, other than going to the home menu, then go BACK to the Recordings folder.

3: Show genre color scheme. I would like to be able to change the color for types of shows through the GUI

I haven't tried that yet, is it adustable, like in 1.4? Customizability is very high in my priorities.

4: One button delete. Being able to delete a show with the click of a single button would be a nice feature.

Once again, I highly agree. There should be as many simple one touch solutions, AS WELL as more in depth menus and solutions for that personalized feel for the inner geek in all of us!

5: Commands to open the major menus. For example Music, Pictures, Shows, Imported Videos, DVD

This also goes with the previous idea(one touch button solutions available for those unfortunate enough to be married, and/or lacking in tech skills.).

6: Time and location within the show on the OSD does reflect the current position for about a quarter of a second. This happens when you go to fast forward or rewind. It will show the position as the last time you hit rew or ff, before updating to show the current position about a quarter of a second later. Not a biggie, but a minor tweak which would polish the interface.

This actually has been one of the BIGGEST annoyances for me. If I go to FF, it only goes a few seconds, since the location marker on the OSD doesn't move with the video.

Oh yeah, still hoping for REW and FF like Tivo, and a web interface

Ditto. Of course, both have been mentioned so many times, it's silly. I would like the 3 step FF/REW(I don't like using the word Tivo for anything regarding this superior program) to be an option, added to the setup, or by a setting in the properties file. The more options for the user, the better.

A web interface would be uber-cool, as one could add, adjust and track all of their recordings while away from the HTPC.

I would like to add the following issues for me:
1. When the recording changes to a new one, OR at the end of a recording, Sage tends to freeze for about half a minute or more. Luckily, it doesn't show any freeze in playback, but it definately ruins the live TV experience. I've also had Sage crash a couple of times, as I tried changing channels/hitting other buttons during the freeze.

2. I also miss the nice little confirmation about changing channels for recording. If this confirmation could be enabled via the setup, or by editing the properties, I feel it would enhance the customizability, and would feel make it more user friendly.

3. A recording buffer would be great for those that do a lot of channel surfing(say 30 minutes, and a way to customize the buffer size, of course.). This way, if one were to get to a cool show about 30 minutes in, they would be able to go back, and watch the whole thing.( Obviously, would only really work good for multiple tuners.) Have a separate folder that would contain all buffered files, and would automatically delete them first.

4. Still holding out hope for folder/jpeg support for cover art images for imported video/music/picture files. With the current way, it's just unappealing. my imported video files titles looked all messed up, due to the multiple folders that I use in organizing them.

5. Also really hoping that Sage will be able to playback lossless wma music files. It can be done VERY easily with other front ends, like myHTPC and XLobby, so it's definately do-able, and can be done without any Microsoft copyright issues. Personally, I just don't like MP3's compression.

Hopefully, the last two will be able to be done with the SageStudio, if not within SageTV itself.

Those are all I can think of now, any others that you think could be implemented to enhance the experience???

[mlbdude]

After deleting a show in Sage Recordings, the list does not update and you can't move the cursor is not present, therefore you can't move to other recordings without going out and coming back in.

This does not happen on my copy . I am sure they will correct this.

[mikejaner]

3. A recording buffer would be great for those that do a lot of channel surfing(say 30 minutes, and a way to customize the buffer size, of course.). This way, if one were to get to a cool show about 30 minutes in, they would be able to go back, and watch the whole thing.( Obviously, would only really work good for multiple tuners.) Have a separate folder that would contain all buffered files, and would automatically delete them first.

This already works with the way Sage does things. It's always recording, and if you were to rewind backwards in livetv, you will notice that it goes back into whatever program you were watching before you changed the channel. Also it stores all of the previously recorded shows from livetv in the Sage Recordings sections

mikejaner

[theMixxMaster]

Originally posted by mlbdude
This does not happen on my copy . I am sure they will correct this.

This didn't happen to me when the menu is organized the default way, but by using the inline way of organizing the recordings, it does have the error.

[mlbdude]

Yeah when I load up .12 I see it. Something must have happened when it left my hands and into theirs . Should be an easy fix for them.

[Opus4]

The problem after deleting a show in the inline categorization style only occurs when there is just 1 show in the category. The category gets removed, but the listing in the right box is not removed. Thus, you are stuck in the right box w/o a show to return to in the left box. It is a problem with the remote, since you can't arrow left. With the mouse, you can simply click on a new category. (As a "for the time being" fix.)

- Andy

[stanger89]

Originally posted by theMixxMaster
5. Also really hoping that Sage will be able to playback lossless wma music files. It can be done VERY easily with other front ends, like myHTPC and XLobby, so it's definately do-able, and can be done without any Microsoft copyright issues. Personally, I just don't like MP3's compression.

myHTPC and XLobby are freeware (at least for now) that is why they can use windows media stuff so easily without copyright issues. Since SageTV is a for-profit program I'm sure there are more liscensing issues to deal with. Also myHTPC (and XLobby probably) don't actually play anything themselves, they launch other apps to play files. This (launching other apps) may be possible when Studio is let loose.

On the flip side, Monkey's Audio, or FLAC should be easier to support from a liscensing standpoint.

[JasonJoel]

Yup, I saw the same thing. I bugged it.

Wife wouldn't let me leave inline view on very long... She likes how the auto-categorized puts unwatched at the top of the list, and watched at the bottom. Inline view does not do this (ony sorts alphabetically), so out it had to go... Other than that it is neat though.

Jason

Originally posted by Opus4
The problem after deleting a show in the inline categorization style only occurs when there is just 1 show in the category. The category gets removed, but the listing in the right box is not removed. Thus, you are stuck in the right box w/o a show to return to in the left box. It is a problem with the remote, since you can't arrow left. With the mouse, you can simply click on a new category. (As a "for the time being" fix.)

- Andy

[Opus4]

Originally posted by JasonJoel
Yup, I saw the same thing. I bugged it.

Good, that makes at least 2 of us to make sure it gets noticed. For further comments I had regarding slight problems with the recording list layouts, check out this thread... I'm interesed in some other ideas there too.

Wife wouldn't let me leave inline view on very long... She likes how the auto-categorized puts unwatched at the top of the list, and watched at the bottom. Inline view does not do this (ony sorts alphabetically), so out it had to go...

That's funny, as I mention in that other thread, my wife likes that layout due to the fact that it _is_ in alphabetical order! One of my requests there is to add sorting options for those listing screens. I don't think I filed a request for this... if I did, I forgot having done so... but that isn't beyond the realm of possibilities.

- Andy

[Crashless]

I'd like to add another request of my own because I got bit by it yesterday and it sucked.

So I'm watching the Nascar race, 2 laps left and sage switches channels to record something else without warning. By the time I get back to the race, it's over. Grrr...

Could I have some sort of warning/request for permission to change the channel on me. This has happened a few times for various sporting events, but none as annoying as missing the last laps of a race completely.

All I'm asking for is a prompt that asks for permission to change, or stay on the same channel. If it times out, it can change. Like 5-10 seconds is all it would need.

This is mainly a problem currently because I only have one tuner. Hopefully by summer I'll have trippled my storage and added a second turner, but there are a lot of sporting events before then and I would like to avoid cussing at such a great program again.

[krutaw]

Originally posted by Crashless
I'd like to add another request of my own because I got bit by it yesterday and it sucked.

So I'm watching the Nascar race, 2 laps left and sage switches channels to record something else without warning. By the time I get back to the race, it's over. Grrr...

Could I have some sort of warning/request for permission to change the channel on me. This has happened a few times for various sporting events, but none as annoying as missing the last laps of a race completely.

All I'm asking for is a prompt that asks for permission to change, or stay on the same channel. If it times out, it can change. Like 5-10 seconds is all it would need.

This is mainly a problem currently because I only have one tuner. Hopefully by summer I'll have trippled my storage and added a second turner, but there are a lot of sporting events before then and I would like to avoid cussing at such a great program again.

WOW, I thought this was already built in. I mean, it was in 1.4.

[theMixxMaster]

same here...I miss that part of 1.4...maybe it couldbe addedas an option?


Also, does anyone else have the annoyance of a slight freeeze between two consecutive recordings in live TV viewing? It will freeze right at the end of one recording. Now, this doesn't show up on the replay, luckily. But, it is an annoyance, and really affects watching live TV(Maybe with multiple tuners this doesn't happen?)...