Program guide highlighting idea!

[rs25com]

Here's an idea that I think would be cool, and I don't know how hard this would be to implement, but...

In the online guide, it would be so awesome to have the columsn highlighted in a different color if something was already being recorded, and the item itself also highlighted to stand out even more.

Something like this screen shot I threw together, what do you think? I'd LOVE that so I could tell what was already being recorded.

[RobertH]

the problem with that is the online guide doesnt know what is being recorded by a perticular machine, that information is only stored on your local computer

[James]

...though there's been some initial (read very very initial) talks about how to create a communication and storage mechanism between SnapStream.Net and PVS that allows our servers to know what recordings you have and when.

The biggest gain would then be our ability to provide users with a way to remotely manage their recordings, remote recordings, conflicts, etc. without the end user having to have knowledge on how to open up their network ports, etc. etc. Things in the way include how to store data, how to best handle the communication, and how to handle the storage of this data in a way so that privacy concerns are properly accomodated...

[rs25com]

Sounds like a great idea.

I'm sure there are a ton of ways to make that work, because the first thing that comes to mind for me is "How does the MS Windows Update site work?" It seems to know what you need installed. Obviously they install a plug-in, which probably sends an XML data file to the server so it can compare what you have with you you need.

Something like that.

-James

[James]

we've tons of ideas--the hard part, from experience with this now, won't even be the technical details--it'll be presenting the capabilities in a way so that users intuitively know how to use it, so users can easily enable/disable it, and so that they feel comfortable using it w/o fear of various privacy issues and such (i.e. big brother syndrome)

[rs25com]

Personally, I'm over the Big Brother BS when it comes to watching TV. I WANT you to know, so you can report back to the stations, so Fox gets a clue and DOESN'T cancel my favorite show...

Futurama.

It's #1 on my list. Sniff. Must... record... now!

------------------------

Anyway, here's a thought:

Instead of going online to get the show guide, why not integrate it into your local web-admin. Something like...

1. Web admin goes to SnapStream.net and requests info
2. Web admin compares what is being recorded to what is on the guide
3. Web admin puts together HTML guide
4. Use as usual

Basically, instead of the browser requesting the data, PVS does first, then "works it," then outputs it to the localhost web sever/interface. No more privacy concerns!

[James]

rs25,

while that would be great, it would ruin the scenario of the business traveller who's hundreds of miles away from his pc, realizes he wants to record an upcoming episode of Family Guy, but can't, because at the same time his machine at home already wants to record Martha Stewart's Living for his wife. Currently, he can't because he'll attempt to set up a remote recording job, only to be greeted with an message saying basically "sorry, you lose" because right now PVS errs on the cautious and gives first crack at shows that were set up locally, not remotely.

[berg]

James,

While you guys are looking at this, it would also be great if you would allow the user to select some of the choice available from the internal web pages, such as folder, quality, etc. over the .Net service.

I find it a bit of a shame that I can schedule all kinds of stuff over the .Net site but loose all the control over the recordings themselves - that they must be default.

I would also welcome the ability to schedule a program manually through .Net that would use an input other than the default one.

My system uses the .Net guide for DirecTV but I also have another input setup from the local cable broadcast which you don't have available, not to mention you don't support two guides.

So if you guys are moving in that directions, those would be great enhancements !

[rs25com]

Originally posted by James
... his machine at home already wants to record Martha Stewart's Living for his wife.

Hm. Yes, a favorite quote of mine comes to mind...

"Happy wife, happy life."

Don't want to upset the wife from watching how to become a stock market cheat.

Bottom line - here's another reason for dual-tuner support!

[James]

...baby steps...baby steps.. ;P

The general thinking right now in house is that if there's a big bang for the development buck right now (i.e. low difficulty, low risk integration, high end user benefit) then we push forward with it for a point release.

Larger scale projects / riskier, more indepth tasks are getting categorized and ranked for the next full release of the software (still early in its planning stages), code named Granite.

By risk I mean that it is a feature that's involved enough that a good deal of code has to be touched--the more code that is touched, the greater the risk of human error and introducing bugs.

In the meantime, we have a couple surprises up our sleeves, just keep your eyes out.

[comptechltd]

James,

I really like that kind of thinking and I agree. There are other features that would be great and I really would like a little more control remotely (e.g. the scheduling idea). You are right on the money about touching code that is working. I have been involved i programming in the past and it can be a daunting task. I am very new to the PVR scene and for the most part am pleased with the setup that I have but am always looking for improvement. I hope one of the features you are concentrating on is the ability to stream MPEG and more PVR 250 or 350 support.

Keep up the good work.

Steve

[jptaz]

I am a developer as well and I believe in small incremental improvements as opposed to drastic changes.

While I would love to see .NET sync with local Recording schedules I would like to just see the Remote Recording Tab
on the Snapstream.NET web site to be improved.

Currently the Old Remote Record Jobs only displays the following
info:
Show Title
Station
Station Number
Job Status
Recording Type

What is missing is the following:

Date
Time
Duration

If this information was available I could at the very least take
a look at this tab before scheduling another recording and see
if there is a conflict myself without any major programming changes.

The next step after that would to be able to delete a job after
it has been downloaded to PVS. I think this would be a simple task as it would be just adding another downloadable schedule,
the only difference is that instead of being an insertion it would
be a deletion.

These options would be great for those of us who only use Snapstream.net to schedule shows and never schedule locally.

And off subject but as an PVR 250 owner I would love to see multiple Card support. Currently I have one PVR 250 setup with
SnapStream for web scheduling and three PVR 250s setup with
SageTV for most of my recordings. It would be nice to use just
one product, but as SageTV does not have a web scheduling option and Snapstream doesn't support multiple capture cards
I will have to live with my current setup.

John

[cgwaters]

Originally posted by jptaz
...Currently the Old Remote Record Jobs only displays the following info...What is missing is the following:

Date
Time
Duration

If this information was available I could at the very least take
a look at this tab before scheduling another recording and see
if there is a conflict myself without any major programming changes.

I was just thinking the same thing as I used .net to remotely schedule some recordings.

Newbie questions: What happens when shows overlap? Does PVS change the channel before the first show has completed? How do buffers affect things? i.e., if I have a one-minute buffer that "eats into" a recording that begins right after that program, will the second program be missing the first minute? Also, how are recordings that are scheduled to start at the same time handled?

[James]

adding these fields...

Date
Time
Duration

shouldn't be too bad..

If I get some spare time this weekend (mighty big if), I'll see what I can do to help ya guys out.

[jptaz]

Thanks James,

That would be a big help.

John