NextPVR & XBMC Web Sites

[Jaggy]

After some recent messages I thought it was passed time I had a look at what XBMC could do that makes it so good it gets such glowing reviews.......

As I have very limited time right at the moment, first off I thought I would have a read about it's features & requirements on the XBMC web site only to find that while it has been around since 2003 the web pages are very lacking in any real description about what it can do, none of the front gallery screenshot (without opening each page fully) really do all that much for me & as for requirement to run & configure it they are completely non existent. I decided that now is not the time for me to start playing with something that could (probably will) take ages to figure out how to setup...... so basically a lost user who may or may not get back to looking at it again at some later date.

I then though it might be worth having another look at the main NextPVR web page with these observations in mind & while the description etc. is a lot better there are also no real requirements stated & the little bit sub puts at the top of the release thread while OK for upgrading is really lacking for new users not knowing where to start.

Also if we are going to include screenshots for plugins who chose what plugins to include & which not to include?? I personally think all the plugins should be included as they all add to the overall project.

[mvallevand]

Rather then the web sites, start with the wiki http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=XBMC Maybe watch the demo. To install it is simple enough Windows program http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW...or_Windows It can have steeper video card requirements than NextPVR

If you don't want to install a full program maybe try the USB linux boot http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW...thumbdrive or the linux livecd http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/XBMCbun...u-11.0.iso

Martin

[Jaggy]

Thanks for that Martin, when (& if I get the incentive again) to have another look at it I will have a look at those links.

But the real reason for my original message was really to point out that the main web needs to have the data that new users are looking for available easily, ie. what it can do, what is needed to run it & how to get started..... neither XBMC or NextPVR even have an easily seen link to the wiki on their main page, this is a real failing if you ask me.

[ga_mueller]

From my very recent experience, xbmc can do everything except record television. As such, it is a perfect match for gbpvr/npvr. Use gbpvr/npvr to record tv, and xbmc for everything else. Run as a plugin.

[steeb]

Hiya Jaggy,

I read this thread with interest.

Firstly a difficult one whether to place in general discussion or on the documentation thread?

I have played with XBMC, though not very recently, and find it an extremely robust AND very pretty and easy to use UI.

I would agree that BOTH websites are not looking as sexy or organized as the Myth TV or now nearly defunct SageTV sites!

But then it was a struggle getting a new website for NextPVR anyway? As I am sure some old hands know? I had to work with others tooth and nail to make it happen. Always of course with the blessing of Mr GB.

But how does Mr GB feel about helping to integrate with the work of others? Quite rightly he works alone devving his stuff that is so solid.

As ga_mueller rightly points out NO TV recording interface with XBMC which in MHO is a massive weakness!

Of course that is the strength of NextPVR. And there the differences begins.....!

I would love to see an XBMC front end with a NextPVR backend TV service. But not with a plugin as ga_mueller seems to have working?

AS to what plugins/screenshots show on the NextPVR website we went with what was available at the time. This will always be the problem trying to keep ANY form of documentation up to date regards the NextPVR project when a sole person is in charge of the whole site. BUT on the flipside the same can be said from what you see on the XBMC web site which is perhaps a case of too many Cooks!

No answers and probably no direction either

steeb

[Jaggy]

All that is really needed for NextPVR is to add a link on the home page to the QuickStart page on the wiki
http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?...QuickStart
I wouldn't think that was a major thing to do (but then I'm not doing it) & then it would cover the missing information that a lot of new users are looking for when looking at new software.

[mvallevand]

There some pretty good example screenshots of XMBC running with PVR addons and plugsin

GB-PVR http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post369681
MediaPortal http://www.scintilla.utwente.nl/~marcelg...r-doc.html
VDR http://www.yavdr.org/
MythTV http://sourceforge.net/projects/xbmcmythtv/

There are more to the unified XBMC PVR project has been underway for a while but it still isn't mainline.

Martin

[ga_mueller]

But not with a plugin as ga_mueller seems to have working?
steeb

Not seems to have working, but really has working (like using tonight). Hit the Movies choice in my gppvr setup and this menu pops up in a flash. Direct access to movies (fanart/descripton/etc), Amazon streaming, ESPN3 sports (and, unlike PlayOn, you can fast forward), and Youtube for mindless entertainment.

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

Hit a programmed remote button, and xbmc exits, back to gbpvr. Even my wife gives 100% WAF.... For me it's the "Holy Grail". Perfect network TV recording, great movie/internet source management. I think I'm done with my tinkering (yeah right... my wife speaking here).

[stustunz]

If you change skins you can have custom buttons (in xbmc)
So I have one for recordings and one for nextpvr to get back to nextpvr
Then nextpvr I have a custom task for xbmc
No need for extra programming of buttons on remote then

[ga_mueller]

I have a programmable remote... no worries on that front! Do you use xbmc to view your npvr recordings? Does Comskip work in xbmc? Can you delete the recorded files and all of the associated "cruft" files from Comskip, within xbmc? I'd move to xbmc as a frontend if all of this were possible. I couldn't get xbmc to identify TV recordings made in gbpvr (ie year/episode etc). Maybe an additional (available?) addon for npvr could get the correct episode info, so xbmc could scrape it.