Feature request: automatic aspect ratio detection?

[acidfiend2003]

There's a clear opportunity here to make users lives easier - why on earth should they have to install and configure something *seperate* to make Live TV work properly, like a TV should work?

There are those who want software to be reliable, easy to use, simple to configure etc., and there are those who want the software to be little more than a host for a bunch of seperate plugins that you can tweak the hell out of. Either way, I would have thought that both groups of users would appreciate it if the *basics* are covered well. You make it sound like I'm asking for something completely esoteric and impractical...

[dottore]

this was discussed in the past and it's not that long ago, that sub added aspect ratios. i'm sure, one day we will have automatic aspect ratio-correction and it's a good point for the wishlist. for now, you'll have to use f7 to switch through the aspect ratios (which can be configured in config.xml - not very handy, but possible) or ffdshow.

using ffdshow you will experience the following:
- automatic aspect ratio correction
- deblocking
- every movie will be played back in gbpvr without any codec-problems.

you talk of codec-installation...if you use ffdshow you don't need no more codecs. you just need mpeg2-codecs and ffdshow to playback every file.

using ffdshow gives you the best results, not only with gbpvr and even if there was an aspect ratio-correction in gbpvr.

[reboot]

Then someone needs to write a guide to using ffdshow with gbpvr.
I'm sure not everyone knows what ffdshow really does (or can do), nor do they know how to enable/configure aspect ratio detection/display, or any of the other multitude of things that ffdshow can do.

[sub]

I will add automatic aspect ratio detection some time in the future. Its been on my to do list for a long time, but just hasnt had a high enough priority to displace other tasks which are more important.

There are those who want software to be reliable, easy to use, simple to configure etc., and there are those who want the software to be little more than a host for a bunch of seperate plugins that you can tweak the hell out of. Either way, I would have thought that both groups of users would appreciate it if the *basics* are covered well. You make it sound like I'm asking for something completely esoteric and impractical...

I'm doing the best I can, but this is a huge project I'm taking on, and I've only got so much time. Even without any plugins, GB-PVR is still a great piece of software.

[reboot]

I'm doing the best I can, but this is a huge project I'm taking on, and I've only got so much time. Even without any plugins, GB-PVR is still a great piece of software.

Absolutely!
Believe me when I say, "There are far more happy users of gbpvr, than otherwise". We appreciate everything you've put into this, and continue to put into it, even if we don't say so very often

[reven]

next he will want gbpvr to handle all divx,xvid, mpeg2 files without any codecs installed at all. why should we have to install a mpeg2 decoder, gbpvr should do this it self. and why should we get a soundcard, gbpvr is for tv it should do the sound, and yeah why do we need a tv card, gbpvr should magically do this aswell.

just install ffdshow its not a big deal, why the hell are you making it into one.

[acidfiend2003]

No objections to installing codecs to watch divx, xvid etc. - that has to be done for other software too so no problem there from me. But get this - when I watch one of those XVid movies in *any* other media player they are displayed in the correct aspect ratio without me having to do a thing.

If I use Showshifter, WinTV etc. to watch TV, guess what? the aspect ratio doesn't need to be manually set either. Heck, I even tried Nero Home and just before finding out that that is an execrable piece of utter rubbish that can barely hold a candle to GBPVR, guess what? that's right, it still auto-corrects the aspect ratio.

It seems very, very odd to me that you are constantly arguing about this and making this thread way longer than it needs to be. I haven't heard a single reason from you why GBVPR *shouldn't* automatically correct the aspect ratio without the aid of 3rd party software. Seems to me that the only reason why it doesn't, by the way, is that Sub hasn't gotten around to it yet and I can live with that. I have to wonder if when he does get around to it then it'll give you some kind of problem or something? I could understand your reasoning if it would cause you hassle if it was implemented - but for me, I don't want FFDshow thank you very much, I'd just like to watch some bloody telly and not have to keep configuring half a dozen seperate bits of software to do so.

Furthermore, this forum here is an open invitiation for all users to express their wishes for the software. Might as well close it if even the simplest most obvious suggestions are going to get shouted down.

A thought to take away - have you ever heard the expressions "wife acceptance factor" or "Aunt Tilly test"? my wife doesn't understant aspect ratios - it isn't because she's stupid or anything, but because she's never had to care about them because they are usually handled automatically. I've mapped a dedicated key on the remote for F7 now, but the fact I have to keep hitting that key four or five times every time I change the channel has her pleading "can't we just watch normal TV?".

If you want GB-PVR to remain in the realm of the "l33t" here's a tip - don't publish it to the world, publicise it or give it away for free. Keep it within a closed circle of you and your mates and for gods sake don't ask anyone for their feedback.

Have a nice day!
Dave

[reven]

i was just pointing out that its already possible, and you dont need to wait. and since its already possible, its probably much lower on subs to do list.

you just seemed very anti ffdshow, and i was arguing that its a good thing, and pretty much everyone should use it.

[acidfiend2003]

I'm not anti-FFDshow - but there is precious little documentation on it out there and it appears to completely take over your codec choices in other media players which is unacceptable to me. For example, I use AC3 Filter and I've got all the volume balances how I want them, Dolby surround downmixing etc. all ready to go - if I install FFDshow then its hard work to persuade other media players NOT to use it. If you can stop it from piling in there I have no idea how you can do that.

I also have deblocking/deringing etc. built into Xvid, and a not particularly fast CPU (2.2ghz) - so I've no pressing need of or spare bandwidth for FFDshow's post processing options, even if I could find an understandable guide anywhere to configuring them and had the time to play with all those options and filters.

I'm sure there are only a few people out there who know FFDshow intimately, have a powerful enough machine for it and have the time to tweak it to get the effect. Personally I don't have the knowledge, the time or a fast enough computer so its about as much use to me as an anchor on a hanglider.

If it is low on Sub's list of priorities I'm cool with that. But he could reduce his support burden (which probably takes up a lot of his time when he's not coding) by making the software easier to install, configure and use.

Dave

[reboot]

if I install FFDshow then its hard work to persuade other media players NOT to use it. If you can stop it from piling in there I have no idea how you can do that.

I also have deblocking/deringing etc. built into Xvid, and a not particularly fast CPU (2.2ghz) - so I've no pressing need of or spare bandwidth for FFDshow's post processing options, even if I could find an understandable guide anywhere to configuring them and had the time to play with all those options and filters.

I'm sure there are only a few people out there who know FFDshow intimately, have a powerful enough machine for it and have the time to tweak it to get the effect. Personally I don't have the knowledge, the time or a fast enough computer so its about as much use to me as an anchor on a hanglider.

AGREED! 100%
I won't go off on a rant, but I have no need for ffdshow, and I'll keep hitting F7 until Sub get's around to "fixing" this.
OK, so it's not got 100% WAF (yet) but it's damn close, and I'll live with what I have...the absolute best PVR software there is.

Sub has openly admitted, he hates writing documentation. If you're so inclined, how about a comprehensive guide to configuring even ONE of the major plugins (VideoArchive?), instead of flying off the handle about a rather insignificant issue?