Archive for February, 2009

New build available in Mantis or your My xLobby area.

 

Build: 3.0.9059.21

+enable or disable ir device, allows IR devices to be enabled or disabled in the skin editor under (IR)
+windows message trigger upgraded, wm_input,wm_user,wm_appcommand,wm_command
+speech recognition trigger added, more details to follow on setting this up
+built in remote control codes converted to windows message triggers
+alt+f2 closes setup if open fix
+enable/disable speech recognition in setup under options
+adding a new screen the backgrounds is not set correctly fix
+copy/paste ordering fixed
+paste more than once added
+options page (Menu) now has xlobby remote trigger configurations

This news post will be updated several times over the next few days.

Wes Black

xLobby V3 Speech Demo Menus

The next beta release of V3 will include some menus to show how speech can offer some cool possibilities, select different voices, control speech volume, TTS speed, etc.. Your system must have SAPI installed on yor machine. Here is a few links to posts I made about speech in xLobby. This NEWS post will be updated from time to time to include new features or videos.

Link 1:

http://www.xlobby.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=6552

Link2:

http://xlobby.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=6620&p=47116&hilit=speech&sid=f3f83bba7eec208aa3fa264446475f61#p47116

Demo Video 2-23-09:

xlobby-speech-demo-menu

Wes Black

Well I was messing around with some ideas to have panels slide in and out and found a few tricks we can use with the current xLobby tools until we officially build-in these types of screen effects. On the next build there will be several examples on how to do this. You can build panels that come from left, right, up or down. Add sound effects, load buttons at once or in a segmented fashion 1 at a time. Here are a few videos.

xlobby-panel-slide-main-menu

xlobby-slide-panel

Wes Black

Next V3 Release

Update on the next xLobby V3 release:

Fixes:

-mediatypes.xml, music.xml templates are not overwritten on partial/full install
-“clear playlist all zones” add to clear the playlist on all audio zones
-“up down move” category bug fixed
-when you select a new unselected item, sometimes image doesnt switch
to selected
-thumbnail creation area on splash screen moved over to the right with thumbnail total displayed
-create thumbs button added for thumbnail cache setting
-selecting a display setting for a category
(unselected,seletected..etc) is now visible
-installer exe keyboard tab order fixed, Full Install, Partial Install, Etc.
-fix bug for element properties, URL

Features:

-search screens textbox added to skin editor
-right click context menu “properties” shortcut added
-right click context menu “event editor” shortcut added
-timer “countdown clock” added, a new command to create a countdown
clock
that runs independent of the thread
-trigger “enable” “disable” “enable disable toggle” functions added
-“xlobby””simulate keyboard activity” command added
-timer wait format added hh:mm:ss
-inactivity format added hh:mm:ss
-client now receives server import status when refreshing from a client
-slider “scrollbar” made more responsive
-(Skin Editor) refresh button for screen properties menu, refresh
-ability to add a local event to individual buttons without creating a group and event, for example add a new button, right mouse click and select edit event this will allow you to create a local event.
-text color resources has a new tab called colors by name to directly select a color.
-fix web based spiders, add google image search spider based on image type and size.
-under setup, options tab delete and recreate thumbnails button.
-auto discovery of any services running on a network thats available to any xLobby system
-new shoutcast ip radio interface that has 24 genres with 24 presets per genre.

Video of new Timer countdown command:

xlobby-timers

Screenshot:

xLobby can now show status of timer events.`There will be several varations of the variable (%timer>clock>countdown%) with additional features.

 

Wes Black

Preview video of the next integration of Shoutcast internet radio menus, 24 genres with 24 preset stations.

6.2Mb SWF file, be patient.

xlobby-shoutcast-radio

 

Wes Black

New xLobby Skin Hal 9000

Thanks to Andy Grooby for the new xLobby Hal 9000 Skin.

See this forum post:

http://xlobby.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=48098#48098

Videos of the Skin:

4.7Mb SWF file, be patient.

xlobby-hal9000-video-1

5.5Mb SWF file, be patient.

xlobby-hal-9000-video-2

Wes Black

xLobby V3 Features Under Setup

This news post explains the basic menu options under Alt + F2, xlobbys setup menu. This news post will be updated when necessary to reflect any changes in these menus. Also I will be posting more in depth details on how each feature or setting works so users get a better idea of how to setup and use all the xLobby items in these menus. Click on any of the menu images to enlarge. Any questions or comments should be directed to the xLobby forum under support.

Link to forum support:

http://www.xlobby.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=44&sid=af250a25f369f363ae90a19583b10719

 

About Screen Tab:

The About Screen Tab provides information on 1. License Information, 2. Misc Information like memory usage and Hardware rendering details, 3. The current build of xLobby that your using. The xLobby Unique ID license number is generated from the hardware in your xLobby system and is unique. The Activate button is used to activate a valid license from the xLobby servers and will only validate a registered license. Copy ID to clipboard is used to copy the unique ID number for personal reference or for use by Calrad technical staff to register a machine when logged in thru Log-MeIn.

Audio Screen Tab:

The Audio Screen Tab is used to configure xLobbys sound settings for audio playback, this includes multizone audio. In this menu you can create internal audio zones and assign them to a audio output devices.

Auto Play Tab:

The Auto Play Screen Tab is used to trigger a specific event based off the file extensions found on newly found media, such as a pop up box when a DVD is inserted.

Databases Screen Tab:

The Database Screen Tab is where xLobby manages all of the media content that is shown and displayed in the interface GUI.

Display Screen Tab:

The Display Screen Tab is used to confiure xLobby between primary and secondary displays.

Downloads Screen Tab:

The Display Screen Tab will be used to download updates, plugins, skins. This feature for xLobby V3 will be available soon.

File Types Screen Tab:

The File Types Screen Tab menu is used for launching external media players for different file types like winamp, zoom player, etc.

Info Set Screen Tab:

The Info Set Screen Tab menu is used for creating static information that can be used within the skin as a variable. Example: %variable>static>telephone%.

Local Screen Tab:

The Local Screen Tab is used to setup the location information that is used by xLobbys calendar based trigger system for home automation control. Selection of a RS232 port to control xLobby from external devices.

Lockout Screen Tab:

The Lockout Screen Tab Enables users to lockout acsess to the Setup+Skin editor menus. A user created password is required to gain access.

Main Menu Screen Tab:

The Main Menu Screen Tab provides users the ability to show or hide main menu items in the default skin or any new menu that is created and follows the database rules under the database editor.

Media Player Screen Tab:

The Media Player Screen Tab is for setting up all the options for the playback of Movies.

Options Screen Tab:

The Options Screen Tab provides users access to several settings that can be enabled or disabled.

Notes Screen Tab:

The Notes Screen Tab is a text field where you can store information that is related to the current installation of xLobby.

Plugins Screen Tab:

The Plugins Screen Tab shows what plugins are installed and provides access to the settings for them.

Services Screen Tab:

The Services Screen Tab is used to setup and view any service that is connected to xLobby, for example Russound, UPB, Insteon, Lutron, Aprilaire HVAC, GE, ELK, WACI.

Skin Screen Tab:

The Skin Screen Tab provides users access to preview or use different xLoby skins and sound schemes.

Web Server Screen Tab:

The Web Server Tab allows users to enable or disable the built in xLobby web server, this will allow you to control the current instance of xLobby through any device that has a web browser.

xNET Screen Tab:

XNET Screen Tab allows users to setup a communications system that is used by xLobby clients to communicate with other xLobby hardware running in server mode. Clients will get their databases from the server and can control the local audio zones on the server machine.

 

 

This news post may be updated on a regular bassis to reflect any changes in these menus.
Wes Black