V2.0 of the UbuStream web video/audio plugin now available

[ubu]

UbuStream v2.0 is now finally available. It's an almost complete rewrite of the original plugin and adds a host of new features. Take a look at these screen shots so you can see some of the things it can do.

You can find out more and download it from the UbuStream wiki page.

If you haven't used UbuStream before, it's a plugin that lets you play web video and audio streams with GB-PVR. You can either pick them from a list (like the media libraries) or you can select them as channels (like live TV).

If you already use UbuStream, your existing station database will be automatically converted to the new format. In addition to the functionality you're already used to, here's just some of the new capabilities:

• Organize your stations into groups for ease of navigation.
  
• Instant database synchronization with the Worldwide Media Project. Stations and groups can be automatically downloaded from your personal “favourites” lists on the WWMP web site.
  
• Automatically download on-demand video/audio links. New stations and groups from a variety of web sites (CNN, BBC, etc.) are created in real-time so you always have the most recent streams.
  
• Capture your favourite video clips from YouTube and Google Video as UbuStream stations so you can watch them from GB-PVR.
  
• Automatically import podcasts from your podcast receiver so you can play them with UbuStream.
  
• Import/export station playlists using standard M3U or PLS files (or using UbuStream’s “extended PLS” format PLX files).
  
• View a description of the station (or its current media content) before playing it.
  
• View a station’s schedule web page from the UbuStream menu.
  
• Create media playlists on the fly with the Play Group button.
  
• Delete stations from the database without having to exit GB-PVR.
  
• Option to listen to audio streams with the player hidden. You can view your recordings, scan the TV Guide or check the weather while the station is playing. If you prefer watching visualizations, switch the option off.
  
• Add/change stations without having to restart GB-PVR. The station database is continuously refreshed while the UbuStream plugin runs, so any changes you make using the config app show up instantly.
  
• Standalone configuration console so you don't need to run the GB-PVR config app in order to maintain the UbuStream station database.

Much of the new functionality has been created using a new architecture that extends UbuStream via "Dynamic Source" mini-plugin apps. This architecture is intended to open up the UbuStream platform to allow anyone to write a simple (or complex) app to capture content for use with UbuStream. Some of the Dynamic Source apps included in the v2.0 release have been written by UbuStream users who wanted their favourite media streams to be automatically available.

Installation note: The UbuStream setup program should make installation pretty much a no-brainer but make sure you have the very latest versions of the Common GBPVR Utilities Library and the GBPVR User Elements Library installed (see the UbuStream System Requirements section on the wiki). In particular you must have GbpvrUiElements v0.5 which has only recently been released.

The support thread for this release can be found in the UbuStream and EPGExtra support sub-forum.

Enjoy!

[ubu]

Here's an updated version of the UbuStream plugin dll: [ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]. Just copy the dll to your Plugins folder. This patch fixes various bugs, mainly to do with m3u/pls file import, plx file export and the manual AutoSynch process.

I've also included an updated sample plx file (UbuQuickstart.plx). The original version was missing some station descriptions and schedule web site URLs.

For more information, check the support thread or the wiki page.