New FrontView v3 Beta....

OffBeatMammal · **15th July 2005, 01:07 PM**

FrontView Version 3.0 - Beta 1 is ready for download!

Here is a list of new and improved features available in version 3.0:

1) Added support for several new displays and improved reliability of existing displays including:

a. CrystalFontz 631, 632, 633, 634 and 635 LCDs

b. iMon VFDs

c. Hitachi 44780 two and four line VFDs

d. Matrix Orbital VFDs

2) Improved the display configuration process with a new ‘Test’ feature that helps configure most display types.

3) The FrontView display engine now runs as a service so it is available to drive the display even when Media Center is not running. It also allows FrontView to work with user accounts that don’t have admin privileges.

4) Added support for display plug-ins that make it easy for third-party programmers to support their custom LCDs. An SDK will be available to document this plug-in architecture. Links to display plug-ins will be provided as they become available.

5) Added support for third-party application plug-ins which can run completely independent of Media Center. The priorities and macros for these sessions can be modified directly from within the configuration app. An SDK will be available to document this plug-in architecture.

6) New ‘global’ macros can be used from any session and can also be provided by third-party plug-ins.

7) Created a new configuration app that gives access to several new features:

a. All available macros are now accessible and several new ones have been added

b. Sessions can be configured to be hidden if they are inactive for a specified amount of time

c. Sessions can be configured to only be displayed if they are in specific states

Version 3.0 will be released in standard and professional versions. All new installations of FrontView will function in the ‘pro’ mode for 30 days before reverting to the functionality of the standard version. Our goal is to provide a fully functional application that is still free and doesn’t include any ‘nag’ features – while providing even more functionality and customization in the ‘pro’ version. All users who have made any contributions or donations to previous versions of FrontView will receive a free pro version as thanks. These pro license keys will be sent out when the beta is complete.

A new website is being created at http://www.MediaCenterMagic.com which will be the new home for FrontView and other Media Center utilities coming in the future. During the beta, this website will not be online except to host the new version that is linked below. Once the website is ready, the beta will end.

You can download the new beta here

impact · **15th July 2005, 02:53 PM**

Looks like we were both cut and pasting this one at the same time.... hehehe - so report back how well it works!!!

OffBeatMammal · **15th July 2005, 02:59 PM**

great minds think alike !
I'm @ work at the moment, and the machine is shutdown so I can't even do a remote install (how frustrating !)
Even if I could, I don't have a webcam set up pointing at it's navel (or at least the VFD) to see how it goes...

impact · **15th July 2005, 03:27 PM**

Same here... and when I get home - most likely the machine will be in house production mode... meaning hands of it - or destroy the WAF or ABAF (I love that Ankle Bitters Approval Factor !!)

So it may be very late tonight before I can try - but if I can get rid of imon I will be very happy !!!!! Finally a possible alternative solution for my LC10M - hope that means I dont go thru the S3 issues again....

frenzz · **15th July 2005, 03:40 PM**

Hey.... just in time for my new MCE box... great stuff!! So - a virgin 10M with the new FrontView and NO imon pains - sweeeeet!

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together...

Impact - you gotta love the ABAF... the fact is - the level of WAF is generally directly proportional to the level of ABAF... unless of course it is impacted by 'other' factors...

Anyway - as a Dad... ABAF is a great thing!

frenzz.

impact · **15th July 2005, 04:15 PM**

Good luck with your install frenzz - you should have fun !!!

Just got thinking... Now that this util has been opened up to write your own drivers... I wonder if someone will write a widget so it can display things on the Uneed x15e LCD panels.... NOW that would be interesting !!! Having Weather widget, or whatever, along with the MCE status....

hmmm... I'd be tempted to update my case then !!!

imelda · **15th July 2005, 06:48 PM**

Just installed it, no problems at all on the LC10M, just tell it that it's got an imon device attached and away it goes. Very simple setup.

Good to have on screen times etc, but I did like using the imon CPU% and network traffic monitors when testing a few things out.

One of the things I wish both of them offered was centering of text, not a major gripe, but a small cosmetic one.

I'll keep this for a while, undecided yet which one I prefer. This one is definitely more HTPC oriented than the imon, but I did like some of the other functionality.

i.

OffBeatMammal · **15th July 2005, 08:46 PM**

news here isn't so good... halfway through the install the configuration panel appears and then CPU goes to 100% and ... nothing.
Have emailed the developer. Fingers crossed !

imelda · **15th July 2005, 08:56 PM**

Not sure if this will help, but I did the uninstall of imon, chose to uninstall the in use files on next reboot, and then rebooted before installing FrontView.

Good luck in sorting it out.

i.

OffBeatMammal · **15th July 2005, 10:38 PM**

thanks Imelda. I was using jaLCDs before. Did the uninstall on that before kicking off FrontView. No in-use files, but dod a reboot first just to be safe.
Still getting the monster CPU load issue

imelda · **16th July 2005, 09:38 AM**

Hmmm, it's locked on the default screen, all is not as rosy as it initially appeared...

i.

OffBeatMammal · **16th July 2005, 10:48 AM**

Seems my issue may have been related to single (not HT) processor on my setup.

Woke up this morning, and there was a fix already to go !

The version at the link from earlier has been modified and now works fine with single processor / non-HyperThreaded setups....

Looks great on my LC03V-S

SpiffBB · **18th July 2005, 12:49 AM**

Hello

I have the imon vfd with the built in ir-eye. I would like to use frontview and microsofts mce remote. Is it possible to use the internal ir-eye on the imon with microsofts remote? (it works with uneed:s vfd)
I have tried to:
install the imon usb driver and frontview - mce and imon remote not working, vfd ok.
install imon software and driver - imon remote working but not microsofts remote, vfd not working as it should (imon mess upp frontview).
install the driver for the uneed vfd - the system refuses to install these driver.
Does someone have any idee of what to install and how?!
I realy would like the internal imon ir-eye because of both to get rid of the ugly microsoft ir-eye (witch could be done by a mod instead) AND to try if the remote works better (with the ir-eye of the uneed vfd there is a deley betwin each keypress even if you hold a button witch makes it possible to fast forward mpeg files etc with just press and hold the skip button(microsofts ir-eye makes the video to jump to the end direct)).

Regards Oscar

OffBeatMammal · **2nd August 2005, 08:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpiffBB

Hello

I have the imon vfd with the built in ir-eye. I would like to use frontview and microsofts mce remote. Is it possible to use the internal ir-eye on the imon with microsofts remote? (it works with uneed:s vfd)
I have tried to:
install the imon usb driver and frontview - mce and imon remote not working, vfd ok.
install imon software and driver - imon remote working but not microsofts remote, vfd not working as it should (imon mess upp frontview).
install the driver for the uneed vfd - the system refuses to install these driver.
Does someone have any idee of what to install and how?!
I realy would like the internal imon ir-eye because of both to get rid of the ugly microsoft ir-eye (witch could be done by a mod instead) AND to try if the remote works better (with the ir-eye of the uneed vfd there is a deley betwin each keypress even if you hold a button witch makes it possible to fast forward mpeg files etc with just press and hold the skip button(microsofts ir-eye makes the video to jump to the end direct)).

Regards Oscar

Hi Oscar, best bet would be wander over to the new site and ask. FrontView 3 has just come out of beta and it's really good