Playlist & Cover Art for MC9

[ErnRenner]

I know you've allready heard these Wicked but you wanted us to update this page... I'm curious - am I the only one that has the problems with Smart Playlists and Cover Art? :?:

[QuickCarl]

You are not alone. Cover art is a known issue. Not sure about the smart playlists. -Carl

[Ben S]

I know you've allready heard these Wicked but you wanted us to update this page... I'm curious - am I the only one that has the problems with Smart Playlists and Cover Art? :?:

Thanks ErnRenner. I'm still looking into this one. I'll let you know when it I find a solution.

[ErnRenner]

Hey, just wanted to update you... as you know MC9 has a built in server, and i find no problems with cover art now - it's working great

[QuickCarl]

ErnRenner - are you saying that you have coverart working in NetRemote?

[Mastiff]

I too have it working, the problem is that it slows down browsing through the library to a crawl at the moment. I think there will be something done to it, but right now NetRemote reads the cover when you flick down with the D-pad through a part of the library. 8)

[QuickCarl]

Tor - how do you have it set up. If I turn it on (in configuration) it has always made looking at anyone other title useless, and not changed along with the song currently playing....

Would love to see how you have it set up. Got any tips, screenshots, etc?

[Ben S]

Carl - I've added an option to enable album cover for library navigation (which is what's -real slow-), and for current playing track (which is pretty quick on Win32, but slow with large covers on PPC).

It makes a big difference, and will be available with 0.984.

[Mastiff]

Carl, I have it set up with my PPC on WLAN, exactly the way it's supposed to. No tricks. But I know what you mean, it only works when I start playing something that is added to the playlist when NetRemote is running. Maybe this new version Ben's talking about (promises, promises, Ben... :wink: )will fix that. 8)

[QuickCarl]

Ben - album cover art for the currently playing track is exactly what I wanted. So that will be fantastic.

Wondering if there is a *NEW* LDJ around the corner from Gavin that will utilize the new feeback and support multiple images?

How is USB UIRT coming?

[Ben S]

Just thought you guys would like to know that I've change the way NetRemote communicates with MC.

It now maintains one connection through the life of the communication, unless something goes haywire, in which case it reconnects. This should greatly improve Bluetooth performance (As I'm guessing it's the initial connect that takes time).

I've also made a simple, compact protocol specifically for NetRemote instead of using a mixture of tab delimited data, html, and HTTP requests.

I've also changed the feedback mechanism from MC. Previously every second it would go get the whole state of MC. Now it's more of a subscription model. When you first connect, it will send it's state, and then it will only send changes in the state.

For instance, if a track is 5:00 long, that's 300 "state" changes of only current position, and 1 state change of track name, duration. It may or may not be a state change of artist and album depending on the previously playing track. You can quickly see how performance will be much better.

It also will allow you to specify (via config) if you want to run in "small" mode or not. In small mode, the MC driver will look to see if there is a small version of the album cover and send that instead of the full one.

In my tests, I've converted a 500x500 album cover (90k) to 100x100 (5k), which is just about perfect for the PPC.

Coming soon!

[rossp]

Ben, Any idea of the release of the new version with all the MC9 protocol fixes in it.

Also if you need a PPC2002/wifi tester-debugger let me know.

Ross

[Mastiff]

Ross, it's already out. Go to the new release thread in the first forum on the list (General, I think) and you can download an RC from there. 8)

[rossp]

Thanks Mastiff,

Got it, looks like the new net code is not killing my ppc now. But album civers not displayed and the track time, duration etc not displayed. Is this your result as well...


Ross

[Ben S]

Make sure you're running Media Center 9 build 163 or newer, and that RemoteServer is enabled (via Tools/Options/Startup Settings).

[rossp]

That was not the problem, I had to change all the old codes for MC to the new values. I have copied your example ccf ones and all is working. This version is much better than the old one. PPC 2002 does not hang now, well done.

Is there a complete list of the codes i.e {MP.TrackPosition}
anywhere. This new feedback system looks awesome.

One last question, how can I get netremote when I click on the cover art to go to a listing of the songs for that album.

Again well done with this bete release, keep up the good work.

Ross

[Mastiff]

Yeah, that may very well be it. I have had no problems with any MC9 feedback since the .99 versions began to pour out. Ben is closing in on J.River in the speed of new betas (oh, I'm so sorry, release candidates) these days. Anybody wants to bet on how may RC's we'll get before NR 1.0? Since Ben's so scared of the big one oh, my guess is...7. It's my lucky number as well. :wink:

[Ben S]

Thanks Ross. Please let me know if everything else is working okay for you.

Tor - My guess is ... a lot! A bunch for 0.99, and then I'll post 0.99 on the homepage, and then a -bunch- for 1.0.

Image a stable 1.0 NetRemote! It boggles the mind!