[RELEASE] PseudoTV Addon: Virtual EPG and TV Channel Surfing Script

If I make a playlist and then create a channel for it, will the videos be in random order? I am going to make a music video channel and random would be great.

Wanilton Wrote:Zepfan,

Great script, I use XBMC nightlies 11th April built - windows version, however, I get the "No valid channel data" error when starting PseudoTV. In my other computer running with version XBMC 10.1 the script work great, if I copy the addon data version 10.1 for xbmc 11, it´s run ok too, but I try force update in XBMC 11, and appears the error again.

Thanks for your fantastic job.

Sorry, but its not my script Jason made it, I've just made skins. However if you can post a debug log I'm sure Jason and the rest of us can help.

I just downloaded the newest nightly build and see an issue as well. For some reason my JSON calls are being rejected. No need to get logs on this one, I have the info I need. Now to do some research...

As far as music videos, as long as you set the order in the smart playlist that you create to "Random" then the order should be random.

Also, I realized that I forgot to add Steveb's Night modification adding a skin to the channel config utility to the official release...sorry about that. It'll be in there whenever the next update goes out.

Jason, I know there have been some Json changes,
Not sure if you've seen this thread or the others in the dev section. http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=98551. Hope that helps.

Thx for this great addon, this greatly increases the waf of xbmc

Could you include this version for aeon nox instead of the one that is now included? Or should I include it in the skin?

http://www.mediafire.com/?kc8tvj9qnpnlaid

You should include it with the skin itself. At that point, the next release of PseudoTV will no longer come with an aeon nox skin. The user will still be able to add their own and override the skin's version, if they choose, but as the skin's creator you will have control over when it is updated.

The code to use a version of the skin built into the skin itself is in place, but I haven't actually tested it. Before releasing a version with the PseudoTV stuff in there, I suggest adding it to your skin, deleting the skin directory inside of PseudoTV, and making sure that things show up as expected.

Another new user to the script posting to offer thanks. It's a fun idea, and great for those of us who pay silly prices for our cable TV just to moan that 'nothings ever on' !

I like the idea someone posted a few pages back, but possibly got skipped over... using the clearart to do a 'Coming Up Next...' tag in the top right. It's little touches like that that always go a long way in things like this.

In fact, it could even be taken another step further and have network promos between episodes, using random clips (with generic music over the top so not to spoil, as well as meaning you wouldn't need precise cuts) from the next 3 upcoming episodes along with text on the screen. I'm a big fan of realism in things like this, and can't see why it's not possible (the Movie Quiz game does something similar).

Just a few queries... I've grabbed the version from the XBMC repo and am using the default channel set, CBS, NBC, ABC etc. I'm thinking of building up the smart playlists, but the rules outlined on the Wiki page seem a bit limited... are there any others people can use?

Also, could people give some examples of the kind of channel settings they're using as inspiration? I'm thinking of amending it so the NBC, ABC, FOX etc channels are 'syndicated' and only play re-runs of shows that I've flagged as watched, while setting up 'New Airing' channels to show fresh stuff that's been added to my collection. I'm hoping it's smart (or the playlists are smart enough) to realise that if I haven't watched 3x04 then I'm not going to want to see 3x05. Also, I'm not sure if there's a way of the system to distinguish shows I have in archive that are unwatched with brand new episodes that have recently been added.

Maybe in the future customisable time slots might be added to reflect the real life counterparts... ie network TV tends to air family stuff before 8pm or so, then dramas / comedy for an hour or two, then talk shows after those with alternatives on the weekends. Channels like HBO ignore the ratings flags and show films in between original programming etc.

Also while I'm at it: is there a good break down as to who/what PseudoTV and TVTime would be best for and what they can do? I understand they're similar in function but approached with different mindsets. A table breakdown of checkboxes would be great so people know which is best for them.

With a script like this that's essentially in it's 'ground floor' status, there's so much in the way of opportunity. Congratulations and good luck

Jason102 Wrote:The OSD is enabled in the update that's going out today or tomorrow.

hi jason,

thank for the update. I tested around a little bit, but I'm still unable to display season and episode number in video overlay. xbmc label parsings will be ignored. is there a special string to use for showing up episode information?

will;

Will_S. Wrote:I'm still unable to display season and episode number in video overlay

The OSD was added to the newest version, but the display of the season / episode number is not there. That requires several changes that I have yet to incorporate. It is very high on the to-do list, though, and I hope it will be out with the next update.

pHo Wrote:I like the idea someone posted a few pages back, but possibly got skipped over... using the clearart to do a 'Coming Up Next...' tag in the top right.

I like the idea of this too, but implementing it properly is surprisingly difficult. It's another feature on the to-do list, just not very high up.

You also mention several other features that, while they would be great to have, are extremely difficult to put in. Personally, I've always liked the idea of being able to schedule certain shows to have on at a certain time of day (my wife loves watching Jeopardy every night at 7), but I have yet to figure out a reliable way to do this. Every new feature depends on me figuring out how best to actually put it in so that it adds something to the system and doesn't hinder it.

pHo Wrote:is there a good break down as to who/what PseudoTV and TVTime would be best for and what they can do?

TVTime uses PseudoTV as its code base, so it has all of the features that PseudoTV has. jtucker1972 has put in additional channel customization options to the original system. I feel like it is a bit overwhelming and unnecessary for the average user (or at least for my personal use of the system) but it certainly has use for those people that require some added control over their generated channels.

Jason,

I haven't tried what I am going to ask you, rather this would be an inquiry into the possibility. Can PseudoTV/TVTime use music smart playlist the same way that it uses video playlist? If not, is there any chance of that being incorporated?

Thanks,
Mark