Python-iView supports new JSON index from iView 327

3 February 2010

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.

Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

MP4 (for real this time) and Akamai support in Python-iView

17 January 2010

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.

Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

MP4 in Python-iView

26 December 2009

G’day Python-iView’ers. As you might know, the ABC has been transitioning to MP4 (with H.264 video) for a lot of their videos.

iview-gtk doesn’t yet support it, but here’s how to do it with iview-cli. First, find an MP4 video:

$ ./iview-cli --programme
[...]
Compass Series 23:
	Compass Series 23 Episode 47	(compass_09_23_47.mp4)
[...]

Then, download it like so:

$ ./iview-cli --download mp4:compass_09_23_47

So, basically, strip the .mp4 off the end, and add mp4: at the beginning.

The pattern seems to be slightly inconsistent, so I haven’t been able to code up something to do it automatically, but once I figure it out, I’ll make it all automagic for you. This is just something to use in the meantime.

Hope this helps.

Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Python-iView updated to iView 316

1 December 2009

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.

Tagged: , , | No Comments »

Python-iView update

23 October 2009

Those of you running Python-iView should do an update to get the latest version, which contains a number of bug and compatibility fixes.

To update an existing Python-iView system, change to the directory where you installed it, and run:

$ bzr pull

Then, to support the new SWF verification ‘feature’, you will need to download and install rtmpdump, and install the resulting rtmpdump_x86 executable into somehere like /usr/local/bin.

(For those of you content with having their videos cut out every 8MB, feel free to continue using FLVStreamer — Python-iView will try both FLVStreamer and rtmpdump.)

If you don’t already have Python-iView, see the original post for instructions on how to get it.

Tagged: , , , | 7 Comments »

Older Entries