Ideas for New features

[Kevl]

Now that GBPVR is very stable it is perhaps time to consider adding more features :-)

The below list is a few things I miss not having in GBPVR.


1. Support for DVB radio channels.
2. Indication when scanning for channels as to whether the channl is TV or radio. An Icon might do it next to channel name in scan list.
3. Indication in scanned channel list if channel is encrypted or free to air. Another icon in list ought to do the job.

The next bit might be controversial (or might sound like madness) so I will explain.

There is currently no legal way to watch lots of TV channels in the Uk from pc TV cards. Sky for example do not make a cam for thier sky channels so even if ultimately GBPVR supports encrypted channels via legal pay cards etc then there will still be no way to watch sky. Similarly top-up-TV on DVB-T in UK also has no cam support (as far as I know).

There will thus always be a need to have external boxes to decrypt such channels and then GBPVR is then required to do viewing and recording via (e.g. composite inputs on MPEG PVR cards).

This produces and integration problem for an HTPC in that there is no easy way of getting the EPG for the external boxes into GBPVR. The holy grail of the HTPC is to have a single UI and single remote providing access to all channels and media sources.

Direct download of channel EPG is by far the easiest way of getting EPG data into any app. xmltv works but not all channels are supported and it is hard work setting it all up.

Given a DVB-S and DVB-T card in a pc then it ought to be possible to grab EPG data and have this data mapped to channels on the compoiste input PVR card. I presume (though dont know for certain) that EPG data is available for encrypted channels - so that you can know what you are missing :-) )

The existing arrangements for sending messages to girder to change channels on external boxes would then allow seamless channel changing and then the single GBVR EPG browsing window would be useful to control even the essential external boxes.

So

4. Allow EPG data from one source to be mapped to another source.

5. Allow the config app window to be resized (to allow channel data to be more esily viewed etc.)

6. Add an extra column in channel list to show card id (to give a clue as to which card the channel is mapped to). In the .mdb file I think this is called Capture device oid.



Kev

[sub]

Now that GBPVR is very stable it is perhaps time to consider adding more features :-)

ah, now its time to consider adding new features :p Ya know, I thought I'd been doing that as fast as I can.

It may not be so obvious because I'm spreading the features amongst many users that have different interests... each release the dvb guys get a couple more features, the MVP guys get a couple more features, the developers that want more APIs get a few more features, the skinners that want new skinning features get them, the people that want changes to scheduling logic get them etc... So everyone seems to get a small fraction of what they ultimately want. This is probably the best I can do in the limited time I have available.

If I was just writing solely a DVB TV app I could write a great one. Likewise I could write a great MVP app if this was all it needed to do. You get the idea.

[sub]

5. Allow the config app window to be resized (to allow channel data to be more esily viewed etc.)

Dont worry, I know I'm running out of room, and need to get more space in there somehow. I wont make it resizable, but I will think of something.

Its current size is based on many users running their widescreen HTPCs at 850x480.

6. Add an extra column in channel list to show card id (to give a clue as to which card the channel is mapped to). In the .mdb file I think this is called Capture device oid.

Where are you talking about? If you're talking about the TV Guide screen, this is not a good idea. People may have a channel associated with many capture sources (cards).

[Kevl]

Where are you talking about? If you're talking about the TV Guide screen, this is not a good idea. People may have a channel associated with many capture sources (cards).

In the config app tab channels window.

Currently this has channel name/channel no/favorite.

Propose that the field is shown in this window - not the EPG browsing window.

Though while I have your attention :-) how about

7. Allow channel to be watched by clicking on channel icon/channel name in EPG viewing window - even when no epg data exists. So that clicking on name of channel pops up a watch dialog (with the record options missing as without start end end time from epg- record cant be scheduled.)


Kev.

[Kevl]

ah, now its time to consider adding new features :p Ya know, I thought I'd been doing that as fast as I can.

It may not be so obvious because I'm spreading the features amongst many users that have different interests... each release the dvb guys get a couple more features, the MVP guys get a couple more features, the developers that want more APIs get a few more features, the skinners that want new skinning features get them, the people that want changes to scheduling logic get them etc... So everyone seems to get a small fraction of what they ultimately want. This is probably the best I can do in the limited time I have available.

If I was just writing solely a DVB TV app I could write a great one. Likewise I could write a great MVP app if this was all it needed to do. You get the idea.

Yes I know this is a huge challenge you have undertaken.

I have played with many HTPC apps and none can match your app overall. Trying to tie many different apps together using girder very rapidly becomes too clunky (I have tried).

Hopefully it is beneficial for wishlist feedback. The point I make about need to use external boxes is certainly true for UK use (and probably elsewhere) and a single app which could do this would become the standard HTPC app.

Kev

[sub]

In the config app tab channels window.
Currently this has channel name/channel no/favorite.
Propose that the field is shown in this window - not the EPG browsing window.

Same problem though, many people have the same channel listed in muliple capture sources. One guy has three analog tuners, and four digital tuners. Many of the channels are available on all those devices.

This channel list was intended to be a single view of the combined list of channels available from all capture sources. If you need to see the channels for the individual capture sources, then you need edit the capture source to see the list channels it has.

7. Allow channel to be watched by clicking on channel icon/channel name in EPG viewing window - even when no epg data exists. So that clicking on name of channel pops up a watch dialog (with the record options missing as without start end end time from epg- record cant be scheduled.)

Ok, I'll put this on the to-do list for a future release.

[Kevl]

Same problem though, many people have the same channel listed in muliple capture sources. One guy has three analog tuners, and four digital tuners. Many of the channels are available on all those devices.

This channel list was intended to be a single view of the combined list of channels available from all capture sources. If you need to see the channels for the individual capture sources, then you need edit the capture source to see the list channels it has.

I see. I had not understood this part correctly. I thought it was a list of all channels. Hadn't realised it was cleverer than that.

Regards


Kev

[Pioneer4x4]

....Likewise I could write a great MVP app if this was all it needed to do.....

You already have! That is what got me to try it in the first place, and like McDonalds, "I'm, Lovin' it!"

[sub]

Maybe I should have said 'I could have written a much better MVP app if that was all it needed to do'...

[Pioneer4x4]

Maybe I should have said 'I could have written a much better MVP app if that was all it needed to do'...

Hmm, how much better? Are you holding out? What else could it do? Other than full remote desktop, there can't be much left.