If you’re using the Python-iView PPA, then you should have the update available already. If you’re using Bzr, as always, type the following to get the latest update:

$ bzr pull

Changes in this release include:

• Supports iView version 359. The changes were trivial, but broke compatibility.
• Remove dependence on PyGTK for iview-cli, meaning you don’t need GTK+ installed to use it. This also means warnings aren’t thrown if you run it on a headless system.
• As a free bonus, for you hackers out there, I have thrown in a script called iview.cgi. To use it, read the (simplistic) installation instructions (for what is a simplistic script) in the actual file, but basically the lowdown is this: when the CGI script is active, you can retrieve iView videos over HTTP via a URL like http://localhost/cgi-bin/iview.cgi/730report_10_01_01.flv. As you can see, that would be very handy for integrating into your home media centre and the like. Obviously you need to adjust your web server ACLs to only allow localhost and RFC 1918 addresses to access the script. The script is not designed to be user-friendly — it’s meant to be versatile.
• Just a minor change, but some extra metadata is parsed out of the programme. The frontends don’t make use of it (…yet), but it’s there.
• Another minor change is that set_local_only(False) is set on the iview-gtk save dialog. This lets you save to GVFS locations (e.g. sftp:// or ftp://). Why that is not default in GTK+ I am really not sure.

On a side note, Whirlpool purged all material related to alternative iView access on their wiki and forums this week because they are of the opinion that alternative iView access constitutes bypassing copy protection and is thus illegal.

While I am not a lawyer, and I doubt Whirlpool consulted lawyers to reach that conclusion — and it’s better ask for forgiveness than permission — the fact remains that Python-iView is a project solely for interoperability purposes, not copyright infringement.

I pour my heart and soul into Python-iView not because I enjoy writing software, enjoy reverse engineering copy protection, or anything like that. I write Python-iView because it fulfills a need I have, and I released the software because I know there are fellow power users like me who are in the same situation and would benefit from the software in the same way.

Enjoy the new release, and viva la non mainstream!

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.

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.

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.

$ 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.