[mythtv-users] Recommendation for a Cheap Frontend.

[Michael Watson]

On 2/02/2013 5:03 AM, Michael T. Dean wrote:
> On 02/01/2013 12:11 PM, Brian J. Murrell wrote:
>> On 13-02-01 12:06 PM, Brian J. Murrell wrote:
>>> I find mythfrontend falls down considerably at everything else 
>>> including
>>> DVD watching, network stream/service (i.e. Youtube and other online
>>> video streaming), etc., and other information services such as weather.
>> I should add to that, that I presume systems like XBMC have a bigger
>> critical mass of developers, so it's only fair that overall, it's comes
>> off as better.
>>
>> But I guess my point all along has always not been so much critical of
>> mythfrontend but rather asking, why not take advantage of that critical
>> mass and make it's myth playing abilities superb so the overall solution
>> is better?
>>
>
> Agreed.  I use my XBox 360 for Netflix and Amazon Instant Prime and 
> DVD playback.  I use a PS3 for Blu-Ray and DVD playback.  I use a real 
> computer (instead of a TV and remote) or a phone to check the weather 
> or other information services.
>
> But then again, I said, "mythfrontend is /the/ best frontend to use 
> *with MythTV*," (emphasis added).  None of the activities you've 
> described are (or, IMHO, should be) MythTV activities. MythTV can't do 
> anything about most online video streaming services (such as Netflix) 
> because of their DRM.  While you could make Amazon Instant Prime 
> "work" in/with MythTV, it would do so using Adobe's proprietary Flash 
> that Adobe doesn't even care to support, anymore, let alone care to 
> support on GNU/Linux, so you /shouldn't/ use it in/with MythTV when 
> there are a plethora of better solutions (such as game consoles, Roku 
> boxes (some of which are sticks that just plug directly into the HDMI 
> port of your TV, so are completely invisible), ...).  And, as for 
> information services, nearly everyone has a phone in their pocket (and 
> wifi in their house) that's easier/more accessible than turning on the 
> TV just to check the weather, or a computer that's better for reading 
> real information (like RSS feeds of articles, etc.).
>
> Anyway, when I say, "with MythTV," I mean with MythTV--not with 
> plugins (most of which are OBE with changes to technology over the 
> years).  About the only one I see as having any real future is music 
> playback--though I see it as being more useful if we were to get it 
> fully integrated as part of MythTV (and not a separate plugin).  
> MythGallery could have that "once in a blue moon" use (but, with the 
> ubiquity of tablets, even that's likely better done some other way).  
> That said, I'm not against anyone using or developing those plugins--I 
> just think there are better solutions to the problems they're trying 
> to solve available in today's world (i.e. it's not 2002, anymore :).
>

For me, the whole idea of MtyhTV, XBMC, and (whatever Microsoft call 
there solution), is that they pull "all" these media services together 
into one interface, so that they can be easily controlled from a *ONE* 
remote whilst sitting on your couch.  I dont want to use an XBOX or PS3 
to play different media, I want a unified system that can do it all 
reliably, something young kids (and Grand Parents) can easily control 
and explore, this includes news feeds and even weather.

Whilst MythVideo does have some powerful abilities, it is very lacking 
in automation to make use of these features.  You cant dump a pile of 
recordings in it, and have it sort them into titles, seasons, movies.   
Whilst you can automate this with use of some scripts, this can get ugly 
with upgrades breaking scripts, and rebuilding/ugprading systems or 
operating systems.
     Most themes seem to struggle to show enough of the title to easily 
navigate a large library.
     XBMC automatically can automatically arrange TV Shows and Movies, 
if the filenames (and directory structure) meet is criteria, but does 
struggle if you dont have enough metadata to create this structure 
correctly.

What (I think) is required is to merge Recorded Programs and MythVideo 
content into one "Moving Pictures" display, with powerful search, simple 
navigation, simple identification of were media was sourced from 
(Recorded, DVD/BluRay, Internet Streaming).  A screen saver (or UI) that 
makes use of photos stored in photo archive (and even background music 
sourced from Music Archive/Play lists)  [My kids (and family and 
friends) love to sit and watch the screensaver that randomly flicks 
through our family photos]