[mythtv-users] Second Monitor

[Steven Adeff]

On 2/6/06, Chris Hembrow <chris.hembrow at pixelseventy2.net> wrote:
> I think you're misunderstanding my requirements, I don't want 2
> independent frontends. Let's start again:
>
> I have a front end with 2 monitors attached. I want to be able to use
> either monitor to control THE SAME mythfrontend. One of these monitors
> is being driven by a really old, crappy 8mb pci graphics card, with no
> hardware decoding. Because of this, I don't want tv/video outputting
> to this screen, but I still want to be able to tell myth to play tv. I
> realise this last is slightly redundant, but I have reasons.
>
> basically, i'm planning on trying to turn the second monitor into a
> small touchscreen, on the front of my case, and outputting video to
> this would be pretty pointless. If it is not possible to disable
> video/tv, then I'll have to come up with an alternative solution
>
> On 2/6/06, Steven Adeff <adeffs.mythtv at gmail.com> wrote:
> > On 2/6/06, Chris Hembrow <chris.hembrow at pixelseventy2.net> wrote:
> > > On 2/6/06, Steven Adeff <adeffs.mythtv at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > On 2/6/06, Chris Hembrow <chris.hembrow at pixelseventy2.net> wrote:
> > > > > I don't want it to play video, because it is going to be driven by a
> > > > > very low spec video card, in order to get smooth video playback I
> > > > > would need a card with a hardware decoder. If I didn't have the
> > > > > hardware decoder, then the cpu would be being used to play jerky
> > > > > video.
> > > > >
> > > > > look at this case:
> > > > > http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/pName/silverstone-lascala-sstlc18-wtouchscreen-black
> > > > > this is the effect I am trying to replicate. it's a bit pointless
> > > > > playing video on the front touchscreen, but a nice interface for just
> > > > > setting things quickly.
> > > > >
> > > > > I just want the mythfrontend on the LCD to be a replication of the
> > > > > main myth, so that you can use either easily. If I have a second X
> > > > > session for music/scheduling only mythfrontend, then which session
> > > > > does my remote control? a duplication means there are no issues with
> > > > > confusing the missus when she's trying to work this.
> > > > >
> > > > > quite often I use the myth box to listen to music on headphones while
> > > > > the missus watches soap (shock, horror, through the tv, not myth!!).
> > > > > if i want to change to a different album, I have to get her to change
> > > > > channel while I look for something else to listen to. All I want to do
> > > > > is be able to change this, but not have to worry about which instance
> > > > > of mythfrontend the remote is controlling etc...
> > > > >
> > > > > On 2/6/06, Brad Fuller <bradallenfuller at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > > > Chris Hembrow wrote:
> > > > > > > A second X session would mean a second mythfrontend wouldn't it? I
> > > > > > > don't want a separate instance of the front end, I want two cloned
> > > > > > > monitors showing the same front-end, but only 1 of which will play
> > > > > > > videos.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > This is for a similar idea to the silverstone case with the lcd
> > > > > > > touchscreen on the front, but minus the touchscreen (initially)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > I'm curious why you want them to be identical, but not play videos.
> > > > > > You can play music and schedule on a second X session.
> > > >
> > > > I don't see why your against running a second X session for the LCD
> > > > display with a customized menu system?
> > > >
> > >
> > > maybe i'm not understanding, but this is how i see it.
> > >
> > > if i run a second X session, this will have it's own instance of
> > > mythfrontend. when i use my remote, lirc will send the keypresses to
> > > both of these instances, causing one of them to do unpredictable
> > > things if the menu structures are not identical. also, which instance
> > > of X (and therefore mythfrontend) would the keyboard control?
> > >
> >
> > Thats why I said use a second user, this user could have its own
> > lircrc so that you could have one remote for the LCD and one for the
> > TV. Then you could use the LCD as an independent frontend. The
> > keyboard would control whichever frontend was lodaded from the
> > console, you could have the frontend on the LCD automatically load as
> > an independent session.
> >
> > --
> > Steve

the only way to currently do this is to use something like "TwinView"
with one monitor output going to the LCD, though I don't know if
TwinView in linux lets both screens have different resolutions.

this would let both show the same menu, but since TwinView will only
show video on Xv to one screen the video won't show up on the LCD,
you'll just get a blue screen.

--
Steve