ATI's Multimedia Center 8.8 - The Home Multimedia Server

EazyShare — Client (continued)

On an AIW system, the on-screen information bar (the white/grey information bar on the top of the TV window) is displayed with the current TV program, channel number, channel name, and audio type. On EazyShare clients, Guide Plus+ will not be allowed to install because there is no TV capture source programmed into ATI's provided copy. We have been informed that this was an investigated possibility, but there were synchronization issues that would arise if it was implemented. Therefore, the on-screen information bar for EazyShare clients will only display the channel number and channel name. We would like to see the on-screen information bar pull the TV listing from the server in future versions of MMC.

EazyLook mode for EazyShare clients will still be the same as an AIW system, but will be in TV-On-Demand mode. While TV listings aren't visible in the on-screen information bar (desktop mode), they are in EazyLook. It is important to note that TV listings are provided to clients on the basis of the time set on the client systems. This helps take a load off the server, but it will cause problems if clients have their time set incorrectly.

Certain buttons on the Remote Wonder won't be the same as on an AIW system (i.e. TV-On-Demand). On an AIW system setup as a client, the TV button on the Remote Wonder goes to the TV application, assuming the TV and EazyShare TV applications are both installed. On a Radeon system, the TV button will go to the EazyShare TV application. It is possible to force install TV on a Radeon system, but the TV application will not be able to detect a TV capture source.

There needs to be some work on EazyLook in relation to EazyShare TV. The EazyLook help section for EazyShare TV doesn't list the button that is assigned to request control of the server. This is a very important button because it is the prerequisite for any client to interact with TV content. We hope that it will be outlined in the Help section once MMC 8.8 is publicly released. EazyLook provides a notice once access is granted on the client, which is important for clients that are viewing from afar. We would like to see a notice in EazyLook if the client changes the channel without access. Currently, there is just an invalid EazyLook visual indicator; the same as when a non-programmed button is hit. Additionally, the snapshot button for TV isn't assigned to do the same in the EazyShare TV program. For the purpose of 10-foot viewing, we would like to see EazyShare TV share as many of the same commands as the TV application.