Jeremy Visser

Python-iView users are invited to update their setups to support the latest JSON–based index the ABC pushed yesterday. The index is in a more compact format, which means that loading the GTK+ interface should be faster for you.

Not only that, but the ABC have cleaned up all their blank programmes from the index, which should make picking and choosing something to watch.

Without further ado, here is the usual to get you to the latest version:

$ bzr pull

This latest update requires the use of the json module, which is only available for Python 2.6 users. I fall back to the user of simplejson if json is not available, so you may need to install the module manually (either from the simplejson website, or from your distribution’s package manager, e.g. python-simplejson for Debian or Ubuntu) if you use Python 2.5.

You may have seen the workaround I presented to Python-iView users who wanted MP4 support, and wanted it now.

Also, (this has probably got to be the biggest duh moment for me in a year) I discovered Python-iView actually didn’t support those of you who use Akamai-based servers with iView. This includes all users who don’t have iView unmetered, as well as iiNet users. Sorry about that!

Well, now, if you type bzr pull, both MP4 and Akamai support work beautifully.

One thing to keep in mind is that the iview-cli programme has been changed to print out .flv and .mp4 extensions, which you mustn’t strip off when you paste it on to iview-cli --download. This is so it knows which version to ask for. No, they are not interchangeable — keep it what it prints out. (iview-gtk users don’t have to worry about any of this.)

Now all I need is Save dialog support for iview-gtk, and to package it up in .deb and .rpm formats, and it’ll take over the world! Oh, category support would be nice too.

I’ve updated Python-iView to support the latest iView version, 316. To get the latest update, change to your python-iview directory, and type:

$ bzr pull

In this update:

• New programme API supported, which permits faster loading times.
• The entire programme is no longer loaded. Instead, the individual series are loaded when you select them in the GTK+ interface, making for faster startup times.
• SWF verification keys updated.
• RC4–encrypted programmes supported (was required in version 306, though subsequently disabled by the ABC again and made unnecessary).

Here is a roadmap for what I would like to achieve in the next couple of releases:

• GIO–based saving (e.g. so you can save into an SFTP share).
• Ability to run from read-only system directory (the previous point is a prerequisite for this), and packaged into .deb or .rpm format for easy installation.
• Category browsing, thumbnail display, and metadata such as ratings, duration, size, etc.