Canada users... (or anyone who gets listings in MCE)

[zehd]

This is correct. This utility will grab the listings in the background and not through the UI so there should be no need to use the MCE UI.

That's a good question. I'm not sure of the answer just yet. I am just referencing dlls but since I have been developing this on Vista, I'm not sure if the dlls just need to be registered. I will try it out when I get home to see if the code I have so far will work. I doubt it but it's worth a shot.

I hope it works. It's always hit and miss... But I remember a few dlls that were backward compatible. Let's cross our fingers...

[dragonfiregum]

That would be sweet not purchasing MCE. This would be a great solution. If i had MCE id dig thru it and try to help.

[mvallevand]

I'd be worried about doing this without MCE since I don't want see potentially the only means of getting EPG data in Canada shut down because of unofficial/unlicensed use of Microsoft product. It wouldn't just be a dll, there'd have to be scheduling/channel selection/provider selection etc, so the calling program must essentially be a complete EPG app.

Martin

[dragonfiregum]

Does vista have the same feature as MCE or no?
Would be a excuss to try out vista as a 2nd OS, instead of MCE if so.

[whurlston]

Does vista have the same feature as MCE or no?
Would be a excuss to try out vista as a 2nd OS, instead of MCE if so.

Which feature? If you mean the ability to get the guide data, yes. I'm actually developing the app on Vista. You would need Home Premium or Ultimate.

[pBS]

do you have anything thus far we can test for ability to run on MCE 2005?
even if it doesn't work all the way to see if the guide is in same location,etc..

[Smoker]

I'd be worried about doing this without MCE since I don't want see potentially the only means of getting EPG data in Canada shut down because of unofficial/unlicensed use of Microsoft product. It wouldn't just be a dll, there'd have to be scheduling/channel selection/provider selection etc, so the calling program must essentially be a complete EPG app.

Martin

Remember that all of these solutions are not "above board" in the eyes of the source.

[mvallevand]

Remember that all of these solutions are not "above board" in the eyes of the source.

I think with MCE it's different. I paid extra for the service, MCE is downloading the information for its use and I'm just reusing the data locally. There isn't even an extra load on the server if I understand this correctly, it is coming from "my" database.

Martin

[whurlston]

do you have anything thus far we can test for ability to run on MCE 2005?
even if it doesn't work all the way to see if the guide is in same location,etc..

The data is and isn't in the same location. It looks like a different location to the computer user but by using environment variables, the app sees them as the same location.

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.CommonApplicationData) on Vista points to C:\ProgramData, and on MCE05, it points to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Local Settings.

My QAM Mapper for the HDHomeRun uses this method to get the channel information from the XML files so I know the grabber will read the files from the proper location without issue.

What may not work is the ability to download multiple lineups. I'll have a test for that later tonight for you.

[pBS]

just what i was wondering about...my MCE lets me have multiple lineups,[analog/digital] but that's probably cuz i have a dual tuner card..[hvr-1600] and uses both at same time no problem..
i just know how different Vista can be and wanted to make sure there wasn't anything that might prevent it from being used on MCE2k5, before you got too into it..
this will probably be the most reliable, as Vista does use the same data source, and i don't see them changing it for quite some time..
i bet M$ paid for the 'unlimited' use deal...shouldn't be any problems as this will look to them exactly like a regular MCE user..