Beyond Media Discontinued - Snapstream is PVR-Only Now

[Taddeusz]

How about instead of extracting them and cluttering up your SageTV tree they get run directly from the zip file. Kind of like a JAR file? The configuration could be saved in the SageTV folder though.

This is one place where I really like Apple's solution to configuration information and such. Most applications in MacOS (.app) are actually directory structures (they might be something like compressed files, I'm kind of fuzzy on that) that the OS treats as an executable. The .app file actually contains not only the executable code but all sorts of resources and configuration information. All stuff that would go in DLL's, INI files and in the registry in Windows. Granted, not every application is written like that but I believe most are. It's quite a stark contrast from the Windows philosophy. IMHO, much neater.

[jgourd]

The whole JAR file thing is an awsome idea. JAR files are native to Java so it should be a no brainer unless JAR files are only for classes but I do not think so.

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by Brent

That's actually a really good idea. To make the Plugin (STVi) and UI Addon (STV) update as easy as possible, I think something like this in the default "detailed settings" would be nice:

Move STV and STVi install items out of "advanced" and make their own menu item - call it "Add-Ons" or something like that.

Change the menu item titled "SageTV Application Package (.STV or .XML file)" to "Load Replacement UI (STV)"

Change the menu item titled "Manage STVI Plugins" to "Plugin Management (STVi)"

Allow for loading of zipped files so that SageTV simply extracts and loads the zipped contents and puts the contents where they need to go. You could take this further by using some unique file extension for those zipped files and call them .spi .sui or something like that so that they wouldn't be confused with non-compantible files
For example
All STV's zipped as ".sui"
All default STVi's (plugins) zipped as ".spi"
All SageMC STVi's (plugins only for the SageMC UI) zipped as ".smc"

This would ensure someone didn't accidentally try to import the wrong thing into the wrong place. You could even build in a warning message to tell the user what they did wrong if they try to import a default plugin into SageMC etc.

Yeah, that would be pretty nice to have. Just tell SageTV, for example to open Sagemc639.tar and it puts the theme in the list of themes.

[Clift]

The easiest way would be to package the SageMC interface into an executable file that extracts the files to the proper location, kills the sage/sage client (and sage service) and updates the sage.properties file so that the next time sage is launched, SageMC is the default skin. There would be some things to consider too like giving the user to option to locate the sage installation directory if it isn't found in the default c:\program files\sagetv folder. And, also, the ability to preview the most popular themes and preselect/download those skins and configure Sage to use that.

Come to think of it, I would LOVE to build an add-on like that. Anyone want to help me? Brent?

[stanger89]

My "dream" solution would be for Sage to offer an online download/update for custom STVs like they do for the sock. Maybe with some sort of forum voting system to keep it limited to only those that are really "ready" to be supported at such a level (is pseudo-officially).

[mickp]

Originally Posted by Taddeusz

How about instead of extracting them and cluttering up your SageTV tree they get run directly from the zip file. Kind of like a JAR file? The configuration could be saved in the SageTV folder though.

This is one place where I really like Apple's solution to configuration information and such. Most applications in MacOS (.app) are actually directory structures (they might be something like compressed files, I'm kind of fuzzy on that) that the OS treats as an executable. The .app file actually contains not only the executable code but all sorts of resources and configuration information. All stuff that would go in DLL's, INI files and in the registry in Windows. Granted, not every application is written like that but I believe most are. It's quite a stark contrast from the Windows philosophy. IMHO, much neater.

Aye. Much neater. As far as I know (not being a mac afficionado) osx is using BSD's union file system to overlay the dependencies for applicatons. A very nice way of avoiding lib hell but not something that's available on the Windows platform atm. I think we're stuck with unzipping files into the Sage directory for the moment

Mick.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by stanger89

My "dream" solution would be for Sage to offer an online download/update for custom STVs like they do for the sock. Maybe with some sort of forum voting system to keep it limited to only those that are really "ready" to be supported at such a level (is pseudo-officially).

What do you mean by "like they do for the sock?"

I like the idea of the online download/update though. Somewhere in the past I suggested SageTV might want to do something like A "Media Plugin Store or warehouse" (similar to apple app store) that you could browse from the 10-foot interface. Browse, download and install all with your remote. The "Store Installer" would identify a STV versus a STVi and install each appropriately.

[MeInMaui]

Originally Posted by Brent

What do you mean by "like they do for the sock?"

I think he meant to say 'stock'.

[mickp]

Originally Posted by stanger89

My "dream" solution would be for Sage to offer an online download/update for custom STVs like they do for the sock. Maybe with some sort of forum voting system to keep it limited to only those that are really "ready" to be supported at such a level (is pseudo-officially).

Yes. That would be awesome. The social networking aspect could be huge with the potential to expose new users to all of the cool things that we love about Sage without the learning curve.

I've said many times that the biggest hurdle to users in getting into SageMC is discovering that it exists at all. I'm always seeing comments about the place to the effect of "Sage is for tinkerers" aka "you are not worthy". It would be nice to think that my Mum (Australian for Mom ) could see a new stv and give it a go.

There would need to be an easy reset option to allow people to back out to a working base Sage install if something goes awry. A community run service would allow Sage to distance itself support wise from any of the addins while making them visible to the public. Some kind of dependency checking would be good to have. Nothing ott mind.

Mick.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by Brent

What do you mean by "like they do for the sock?"

Originally Posted by MeInMaui

I think he meant to say 'stock'.

OMG, I was serious when I posted that question - thought it was some technical thing I didn't know about. Too funny... I must need more rest or something. Thanks for the clarification Mike.

[Opus4]

I would start referring to the "sock STV" in my posts now... but that might be too confusing to new forum members.

- Andy

[stanger89]

sock: "Standard Ordinary Configuration Kettle"



Yeah, I meant "stock"

[Brent]

Since we've strayed this far due to my total misinterpretation of a simple misspelling, I thought I'd share with everyone the SageTV Sock that I found in my HTPC after some digging around. It's actually quite integral to the proper running of SageTV...



Okay, back to the original topic. Wasn't it something about Beyond Media?

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Brent

Since we've strayed this far due to my total misinterpretation of a simple misspelling...

You obviously need to spend more time here, you have no idea how far off topic we can go. How's that peripheral treating you Andy

OK, back to our regularly scheduled threading....

[MeInMaui]

Originally Posted by Brent

Since we've strayed this far due to my total misinterpretation of a simple misspelling, I thought I'd share with everyone the SageTV Sock that I found in my HTPC after some digging around. It's actually quite integral to the proper running of SageTV...



Okay, back to the original topic. Wasn't it something about Beyond Media?

I really want one of those! But I went to the online store and unfortunately they were out of....

Oh nevermind. I just can't bring myself to say it.

[mickp]

Originally Posted by Opus4

I would start referring to the "sock STV" in my posts now... but that might be too confusing to new forum members.

- Andy

Particularly with the way the market's been

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by stanger89

You obviously need to spend more time here, you have no idea how far off topic we can go. How's that peripheral treating you Andy

The peripheral is still going strong & its output looks great as a slideshow on my large TV.

Originally Posted by MeInMaui

I really want one of those! But I went to the online store and unfortunately they were out of....

Oh nevermind. I just can't bring myself to say it.

What? What were you going to say? Oh, you were going to ask when they would be back in sock, right? Do you really think you could foot the bill for those even if they were available? Ouch. Yeah, you're right... I should have just toed the line not made any of those comments.

- Andy

[MeInMaui]

Originally Posted by Opus4

What? What were you going to say? Oh, you were going to ask when they would be back in sock, right? Do you really think you could foot the bill for those even if they were available? Ouch. Yeah, you're right... I should have just toed the line not made any of those comments.

Ouch Andy. You really socked it to me.

[mistergq]

any ideas when the HD100 will be back in sock???

[PAF]

Still out of sock. That socks.