MPExtended 0.5, aMPdroid 1.1 and WifiRemote 0.7

It's been a bit quiet since the last remotes release (almost too quiet), little did you know - a lot has been going on in the background. Today, we're announcing new versions of all MediaPortal remote software: MPExtended and WebMediaPortal 0.5, aMPdroid 1.1 and WifiRemote 0.7.

MPExtended

Things have progressed a lot since we started developing a remote interface for MediaPortal. Since we released the first version (0.4) a year ago, we've added a lot of new features. Unfortunately, this proved difficult without breaking compatibility with the old version, so we decided to break compatibility and create the a new API, which we've stabilized right ahead. This means that as of MPExtended 0.5, we will not break compatiblity between versions without giving due notice. Clients compatible with MPExtended 0.5 will thus be compatible with at least a few future version of MPExtended too.

There are too much new things in MPExtended 0.5 to cover them all here, but we can offer a few highlights:

  • Translations into Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish.
  • Search function.
  • Improved stability and responsivity.
  • MyFilms and mvCentral support, along with improvements for Moving Pictures, MP-TVSeries and stock MediaPortal support.
  • Improved streaming framework, with better stability, seeking, network drive and HTTP Live Streaming (iOS) support.
  • PowerScheduler plugin to keep the TV Server awake as long as there are active streams.
  • Much improved and more easy-to-use setup system.
  • For developers: Improved API with extensive filtering support.

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You can download the new version HERE, or find more information in this forum post.

WebMediaPortal

Bringing MPExtended up to 0.5 allowed for new features and improvements to the HTTP client, WebMediaPortal. Much like MPExtended, WebMediaPortal is almost a complete rework. The new MPExtended API has allowed for WebMediaPortal to jump lightyears ahead.

Here are some examples of the WebMediaPortal changes and enhancements:

  • Much improved default skin
  • Extended support for custom third-party skin and plugins.
  • Improved TV server support, with extended scheduler options, TV guide and status information.
  • Share authentication database with the service and configuration interface.
  • HTTPS, IIS Express 7.5 and working multiseat support.

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You can find out how to install WebMediaPortal with the installation guide, or find more information in this forum post.

aMPdroid

Since there very so many changes in MPExtended, aMPdroid would only work with the developer version of MpExtended so we decided to combine our next release. aMPdroid 1.1 will ONLY work with MPExtended 0.5 or later. This and other factors lead to a major rewrite of the aMPdroid codebase which is part of the reason why it took so long for an update. It was worth it though, the codebase got slimmed down quite a bit and is now much more extendable and maintainable. Stuff like that isn't really interesting for users though, so what changed in aMPdroid that you can actually see?

Layout changes

The tabbed layout proofed to be a major headache. Without going too much into the details, the Android framework just didn't support this kind of layout, and dealing with all the hacks and ways around it got too time-consuming. Also, having tabs meant a restriction on the number of views that could be added.

So now instead of tabs you get a dropdown menu where you can select your view. And with the filtering framework of MPExtended in place, adding views is much easier now (e.g recently added, by year, grouped by letter, ...). There was also quite the performance improvment with this layout change.

Even more important: in the future it will be much easier to add additional views, maybe even allow users to define their own views/filters.


What's new

That's something you can now always see at first glance. The homescreen now features the latest items for movies, episodes, recordings or albums. You can even configure which items should be shown. If you don't care which new albums you have on your server, you can simply hide the latest albums.

Having this kind of "What's new" view was planned since the very first version of aMPdroid, so I'm glad that it finally got implemented.

Streaming

The internal media player has been completely redesigned and much of the codebase has been written from scratch. It has also been updated for the later versions of Android, for example it now hides the soft buttons when video is played back.

And since aMPdroid 1.1 uses the awesome MPExtended 0.5 for streaming, you get a few awesome new profiles (e.g. direct and HTTP live streaming).

Oh, and did I mention you can now stream music?

 

What else you might ask?

  • Actionbar actions (turn on/off in settings)
  • Improved actionbar
  • Further improved tablet layout
  • Support for MPExtended user access requests
  • Support for ZeroConf
  • Support for NetBios names instead of IP addresses
  • Support for mvCentra (music videos)
  • New and updated languages (new: Finnish, Swedish)
  • Better support of ICS and JellyBean devices
  • And many many bug fixes all over the place

 

What didn't make it in

aMPdroid has become quite huge and thus it's not that easy to maintain it and add new features. I know everyone knows what "killer feature" has to be implemented for the world not to end in 2012, but it's simply not possible for me to implement everything. As to what I would like to implement in the future for aMPdroid, here are a few of my top items:

  • Widgets: Homescreen widgets to e.g. start aMPdroid with a specific client / show recent items.
  • Video playlist playback: Play multiple videos in a row (e.g. music videos).
  • Settings redesign: the settings page hasn't changed much since the beginnings of aMPdroid, so a rework is in order.
  • Better navigation for non-touchscreen devices: In the long run, a version optimised for google tv and similar devices.
  • Searching: Add search functionality to quickly find media items.

 

Okay folks.... that about wraps it up. I encourage each of you to take your MediaPortal setup beyond your front door!!! Dont forget to leave your 3D glasses in the buckets on your way out the door. Please dont steal our glasses.

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About The Project

The vision of the MediaPortal project is to create a free open source media centre application, which supports all advanced media centre functions, and is accessible to all Windows users.

In reaching this goal we are working every day to make sure our software is one of the best.

         

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