Xlobby ZoneSkin4
ZoneSkin4 has now been released. This is because my music system, yet again, has expanded. This version alows for the synchronization of multiple zones to multiple sources...meaning, any zone can switch into any source at any time. It continues to use PervTalk to interface with the KX drivers for direct control of mixing and volume right at the soundcard level. See pic below to get an idea. View more screen shots here.
Download the latest version of the skin here (updated 22/07/08)
Check out the forum post on the Xlobby site for more details here
ZoneSkin4: Zone Select Screen
Xlobby ZoneSkin3 - Discontinued
ZoneSkin3 has been retired in my setup and has been replaced with ZoneSkin4. It is a direct replacement of ZoneSkin2, and allowed for more zones, more capabilities, and better flow. It was my first skin to incorporate PervTalk to interface with the KX drivers for direct control of mixing and volume right at the soundcard level. See pic below to get an idea.
Download the last version of the skin here
Check out the forum post on the Xlobby site for more details here. Since this skin is no longer used in my system, I am no longer supporting it.
ZoneSkin 3 main page
XLobby skin for HTPC
In setting up my eventual home theater PC, I've considered using one of two skins. One is the Redeux 2 skin created by Buddabing. The other is the MediaX skin created by Qtip. Both are excellent skins, and up until recently I was going with the Redeux skin. I had already done many changes to the skin to suit my needs and it's been running really good. I then started to play with the MediaX skin and have taken a real liking to that one now, and depending on how difficult it is to setup for my system, this may be one I will go with. I'll let you know more as development goes on.
Mirage - the HTPC sega continues, with its SECOND COMING...
Well to continue on with the HTPC skin. I decided to create my own which is highly influenced by both Redeux II and MediaX. I call it Mirage. Basically, as nice as the skins above are, I still wanted to create something all my own, for my own use. The background image and graphic icons are from http://www.freeiconsweb.com/ and http://www.iconaholic.com/. All buttons (rectangular/round/triangular) are created by myself using GIMP. All menu type buttons are organized into database/catagories (like MediaX). This skin will be widescreen (1920x1080) only, and very remote/mouse/keyboard freindly.
28/1/08 - Mirage...coming of age.
It's been a while, but since I started designing the Mirage skin...it has taken on a different look and flow. The screen shots below will show how Mirage is looking today:
New Mirage Splash
Main Menu BEFORE...
Main Menu NOW...
(New and Improved)
Video Sub-menu (before)
Video Menu (NOW)
New Album Select screen
New Karaoke screen
New DVD movie select screen
New Movie Description screen
New Movie Rating Screen
New Weather screen
More 3D menu views (music selections)
Even more 3D menu views (game selection)
Below is a partial list of plugins required to get the full effect of using Mirage:
CDEX, XAnt, XEvent, XGetPhotos, XLDVDImportPlugin, XLToolkitPlugin, XMoveWindow, Xoapweather, XScriptNG, XTransistion, XRemote, Xusbuirt , XWOL, XReceive, XUTube
The latest version can be downloaded here.
Check out the forum post on the Xlobby site for more details here
GAM for HTPC (an Alternate to Xlobby)
Since Xlobby is going comercial and there may be a possiblility that the cost will be too high for myself to afford, I have also decided to look at alternatives for HTPC use, should the day come and I have to drop Xlobby (hopefully not). I thought about using MediaPortal, but it looks to be a resource hog. Not to mention that the hardware requirements are pretty extensive. I then found Got All Media (GAM or GallM). It was for a while known as GoTVPVR and was commercial, but the developer has since released it as freeware. I've tried it out on a test computer...being a simple PIII 733, and it runs pretty good. The interface/configuration is easy. I was able to import my music, and pictures quickly. It works well with my PVR-150 (and can use the remote no problems) and I've been able to record tv shows with no problems. For the record, I am using this program in my MediaPVR project.
Pros with the software:
1) The existing skins look nice...not elaborate graphically, but very clear and functional for remote use
2) Easily configurable using the configuration menus system
3) Recognizes the PVR-150 and its remote and works with changing the remote.ini file (forum post as to how to do it).
4) Does limited multi-zoning (though I would not use this to replace Xlobby on my music server).
5) Server/Client support for streaming video to multiple locations but... (look at cons)
6) Not a resource/hardware hog...works relatively well on my PIII 733 w/396M of RAM very nicely. It should be quick and responive on a 3+ Gig machine once I get the HTPC up and running.
Cons with the software:
1) Not easily skinnable
2) Server/Client crashes my PPC and GAM when trying to control music
3) Lack of weather module
4) Only supports DVD Profiler XML files (I use ANT and would have to convert over to Profiler)
5) Not sure about plugin support
6) Forum is reletively quite, sometimes I wonder if the software is still supported (and it is)
7) Haven't been able to register on the forum
8) New learning curve on using the software over Xlobby
9) Can't find Media-On-Demand to take advantage to streaming video to multiple locations.
10) Not too sure how much support for widescreen resolutions.
