Streaming Media, TV/EPG, and TVTonic

[Jibril]

Hi,

I just wanted to share some of the things I have been able to do with Xlobby. I had been using Myhtpc, but got tired of waiting for their new version, so I took the time to learn how to use Xlobby. The more proficient I became with Xlobby the more I realized what a great program it is and how quickly it becomes even better as demonstrated with the addition of the resource editor. So, I felt compelled to share what I picked up (mostly from Myhtpc forums) and added Xlobby that goes beyond the functions of the basic skin. Some of it is obvious, but has not been discussed here so I am going to list it.

So here is what I added:

Streaming Media

1. Added a screen for Yahoo Launch which is referenced here:

http://myhtpc.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t ... hoo+launch

2. A screen for Shoutcast. SHOUTcast PLS Downloader can create a folder with all the .pls that are on Shoutcast. However, Shoutcast limits how many .pls you can download a day. I do have a zip that is complete, but it's dated and I could not find a link to it.

Here is the link for SHOUTcast PLS Downloader:
http://mp3imagetagextr.sourceforge.net/ ... index.html

3. Created a screen for Nullsoft TV. This was simply done by creating a playlist with Winamp5 using their links on the internet TV page in the media library.

4. Created a screen for RealPlayer streams. I export realplayer links as .rpm files that I can browse and execute.

5. A screen for steaming WMP content. Set up the same way Yahoo launch is. A folder with .asx files that can be browsed and executed.

6. A button for Live 365. This link: http://www.live365.com/mediacenter/ launched in IE with the -k switch for full screen.

In addition you can add buttons for these sites which are for MCE, but they work for us too.

Movielink: http://www.movielink.com/ehome/home/Home

Napster: http://sms.napster.com/ehome/home.html

MSN News: http://beta.msntvtoday.msn.com/pages/Home/Home.aspx


TV and EPG

As for Tv, I launch Gottvpvr from within Xlobby with this switch -start= tv to go straight to the TV module. I also in the .xml for that screen changed back button to a close button. Also managed change the background color to help it blend with the Xlobby skin I am using. I don't really know anything about .xml. I suppose someone who does could make it look seamless. However, I do not know if Tony would object to this.

I also created a screen to browse recorded TV so I don't have to start Gottvpvr to view what it recorded.


TvTonic

The latest thing I added is TvTonic. I really like it. It delivers movie trailers, music videos, news (AP), and cartoons straight to your hard drive. The content picture quality is really good and most of it is free. It has two interfaces. One is for a web browser and the other is for MCE. They are both rendered in IE. The directions are for MyHTPC, but roughly the same for Xlobby. Make sure you use the parameter that’s given to start the app and not the shortcut it puts on your desktop. The shortcut is for the web interface and is not remote friendly.

TVTonic: http://www.tvtonic.com/
Directions are here: http://myhtpc.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t ... ht=tvtonic

Thanks Steven. Xlobby is a fantastic front end.

[kolemieux]

I am in the same boat as you and the tips are awesome here. Can you tell me what you've done to work with a seamless media player - switches and all that give you good OSD. I need both standard media playback and support for .iso via daemon mount.

I own Theatertek, but am hearing zoom can do much of this now as well but am interested in OSD skins and command switches.

Thx a lot for this

[Jibril]

I use Zoomplayer with the ultra minimalist skin. This makes Zoomplayer look like a black rectangle with a small gray border. Then I created a graphic that looks just like it and put it on each screen that I need the player for. The fake zoomplayer graphic also doubles as the background for the plot. I use the save position on exit option in Zoomplayer and position it so it spawns over the fake zoomplayer graphic and I close zoomplayer with the escape so it closes in the same position. You have to hit escape twice if you are in fullscreen.

I do this with other players I use, but none look as seemless because I can't start them as a plain black block.

I also played around with sendfocus.exe so I could keep zoomplayer playing media on top with focus on Xlobby. This would allow me browse categories and control Zoomplayer with Xlobby. When Zoomplayer is in fullscreen and focused, I would use girder to exit fullscreen and send focus back to Xlobby. However, I could never make this work reliably so I don't have it setup like this.

Info on sendfocus.exe: http://www.girder.nl/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... =sendfocus

[kolemieux]

I am trying to get all of the "Spotlight apps" as well to work in Xlobby - but running into an issue with screen overflow - could you please let me know how you handled the sizing/playback - especially with Live365 and MSN news....

Thx for any help at all......? Is there any "size to portal" command for the browser window in Xlobby?

I am close on all of these - get them to launch - but see some overlap unlike in MCE/BTV's browser front-end.