[17 Jul 2008] Media centre written with Hollywood

[Metalheart]

Note: This is an archived post that was originally sent to the Hollywood mailing list on 17 Jul 2008 04:42:59 +0200

Hi all.....

I already mentioned this on Amigaworld.net but I wanted to mention it overhere aswel.

Many moons ago I started a project to write a frontend using hollywood trying to construct a mediacenter.

It was supposed to be a menu like structure to start and control a video player, a music player, an Internet browser and mailer and also an option to start and play some games using native games (OS4) and several emulators like MAME, E-UAE and a Playstation Emulator and so on....

I wanted to use already existing applications for named functions, and just write a nice frontend for them. Controlling them using for instance DOS and AREXX functions. All working seamlessly without having to fiddle with the underlying OS and without even seeing it. It had to be very simple to use, even for kids and people who hate computers And ofcourse controllable from a remote control or joy pad or whatever from your lazy chair

I lost interest in this, because of my not so magnificent programming skills, and problems controlling the other application a ran into.

I would like to take it up again, because I think this could be a very welcome prgram fro many of us. It might even grow to be a killer app (very optimistic here...) But I was thinking that I might not be able to do this alone, if anyone is interested I could use some help. Maybe we can turn this into a team effort. Someone could do the graphics/icons, someone could do subroutines for music playing, for the menu system and so on.... Also tips and tricks would help.

So, anyone ??

Let me know your ideas and comments about this program and about my team effort idea !

Thanks,

Martin

[Allanon]

Note: This is an archived post that was originally sent to the Hollywood mailing list on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:50:36 -0000

Hello Martin, In 1 or 2 weeks I will release a new version of ScuiLib, it's a library for Hollywood 3.1 to build GUIs, maybe this can help your project and if you need help using it you have my support. If you don't know what ScuiLib is take a look here: http://sdb.freeforums.org/

P.S.: your project is very interesting

Regards, Fabio

[PEB]

Note: This is an archived post that was originally sent to the Hollywood mailing list on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:06:12 -0700 (PDT)

Hi Martin,

Well, Hollywood is certainly able to do what you are talking about; the question is: Are the other programs (which will actually be doing the grunt work) up to the task?

While it is a piece of cake to start any of those programs with a particular song, video, game, etc. using a simple DOS command, actually *controling* a launched program (with commands like "pause," "previous," "next") is much harder if it does not have an ARexx port suppporting a variety of helpful commands. The audio player with the most options through its ARexx port is AMPlifier (though AmigaAMP is not bad); TuneNet (my preferred audio player) doesn't even have an ARexx port. Neither does DVPlayer, MPlayer, or the other programs that you mentioned (AFAIK).

So anyway, you've got a great idea there---and I'd certainly be willing to help with any Hollywood coding questions---but the real "hang up" is going to come from the other programs that you want to be able to control. It might be a good idea for you to ask the authors of those specific programs to add good ARexx support (though I've asked Bean a number of times in the past to add ARexx support to TuneNet with no results to date).

[Metalheart]

Note: This is an archived post that was originally sent to the Hollywood mailing list on 17 Jul 2008 17:24:09 +0200

Hi Paul...

Thanks !

I believe there is a program out there that lets you mimic keystrokes and mouseclics by sending AREXX commands, I forgot what it was called, I might have it laing around somewhere.

I already have Amplifier running though

Thanks, and I will certainly be coming to you with questions about Hollywood

I hope this can take of massively, I will be trying anyway (I just ordered Hollywood 3)

An If anyone else comes up with a mediacenter... Well, GREAT !!

Thanks,

Martin