PlayerPal

PlayerPal 4.2 Service Release 7 Out Now

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:26:07 GMT

PlayerPal 4.2 Service Release 7 has just been released. You can download it here as usual. Note! The new release only supports Windows Media Player 11+ and iTunes 8+. If you are not running these versions this release will not work for you!

The reason for another service release, was to add support for Vista and to fix a search bug (enter key not working) that was introduced by a change in the .NET framework. You can see the full list of changes here.

This release contains significant changes so please let me know if you have any issues!

PlayerPal 4.2 SR2 Released - Playlists on all skins!

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:16:26 GMT

I have just posted up PlayerPal 4.2 SR2. This release gives you the ability to select and play your playlists from ALL of the skins. This has been a long requested feature and it is finally in. I hope you all enjoy it! You can download it now from the PlayerPal download page.

PDAClassic has always add the playlists page. Now SonyPSP and BigBrowser have it too. Next to the Playlist link in the header of each skin is now a link made up of 3 dots. You can see this in the image below. If you click on this it will show you your playlist list. You can then click on a playlist to play it.

This release also fixes an issue that some Firefox users (such as myself) may have seen. When you select "Open in default browser" from the PlayerPal menu PlayerPal could crash. This was not a PlayerPal bug and many applications have been bitten by this problem.

Please note. My test PSP is dead right now, so I have not been able to confirm that the change works OK on it. However, it is a very isolated change so fingers crossed. Let me know if it causes any issues.

Favourite album today? Attack Decay Sustain Release by Siminan Mobile Disco.

Another update on PlayerPal 4.3

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:59:40 GMT

One of my customers is "absolutely thrilled" with PlayerPal. However, he is also "impatiently waiting for for 4.3" which is the next version. As he accurately observes, I last wrote about the delay to 4.3 seven months ago! Man, how time flies.

So here is the update. I spent too long on 4.3 and I ran out of time. Currently I am working on another project that will last (probably) until the end of July, at which point I can crack on with PlayerPal again.

I'm sorry for any disappointment the delay has caused. Rest assured it is not abandoned. PlayerPal support is still at full strength. I love working on PlayerPal but it's just not a living, so sometimes I have to do other projects.

In hindsight I should have done a smaller release with localised changes. Everyone wants playlist support in all the skins. That would not take long to do.

So what about now? Well, I will try and come up with an elegant way of getting playlist support to you (time permitting). Plus if you want to hack at it yourself you can check the PlayerPal SDK (which is very alpha right now, but fine for you ASP.NET-ers).

Actually, if you want to get playlists in the PSP, this worked for one guy I emailed....

"Just copy the PlaylistsView.ascx file from the PDAClassic skin into the PSP skin folder. When you have done that try http://localhost:9999/default.aspx?view=PlaylistsView (from the PSP skin). You might want to add a link to this from the header of footer panel."

You can do something similar for BigBrowser. Obviously, I would like to do it in a nicer way for you.

BTW - If you are interested, you can see some early shots of the Shape Shifter skin.

User created iPronto skin available for download

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 17:54:34 GMT

The first ever user submitted skin for PlayerPal, is now available for you to download. The skin is called iProntoCE. It is a version of the PSP skin that has been optimised for use on a Phillips iPronto. The CE bit stands for "Community Edition".

Thanks to PlayerPal user Mike for creating it, and sending us some pictures of it in use. If you want to make your own skin too, check out the PlayerPal Skin Development Kit.

Download it using one of the links below:

iProntoCE.exe (270.5 KB) (self extracting version)

iProntoCE.zip (242.65 KB) (regular zipped version)

Skin Installation Instructions

You need to extract the skin into the PlayerPal skins folder. If you installed PlayerPal in the default location, that folder is here:

C:\Program Files\PlayerPal\PlayerPal 4.2\WebSite\Skins

If you download the iPronotCE.exe it will extract to this location by default. If you download the zip, you will need to navigate to this location.

Once you unzip it, it should then appear in the skin selection lists inside PlayerPal. Any probs drop a comment here, or email.

Please note, this skin is not officially supported!

Be a PlayerPal Skin Master!

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 17:26:07 GMT

Itching to make your own PlayerPal skins? Dying to tweak an existing skin? If yes, then your might want to read the PlayerPal Skin Development Kit I have created.

OK, calling it a kit is a bit of an overstatement right now. At the moment if is very basic and it ain't pretty, but it should give you enough to get started customising PlayerPal for your own needs. It will also let me see how many of you really want to get skin in the game.

PlayerPal Skin Development Kit

PlayerPal has a new price of $29.95

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 18:24:03 GMT

The new price for PlayerPal 4.2 is $29.95. Still a bargain so buy a license now!

There has been some confused emails about the change due to the previous post on matter. Originally this increase was going to arrive with version 4.3. However, due to the delay of version 4.3 the price rise has come into effect first.

Sorry if you got caught out by the change, but it had to come sometime.

What's really behind the PlayerPal 4.3 delay?

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 19:36:41 GMT

Uncontrolled changes in the project's scope. That's what it is. Scope creep is causing the delay. Man. I don't even have a client to blame. It's me adding, refining, scrapping, adding, refining... You get the picture.

More specifically it is scope creep in the changes to the Sony PSP skin. I posted a preview of the Sony PSP skin changes coming in 4.3 and then I went mental. Out went the minor changes and all of a sudden a new skin appeared on the scene. One new skin to rule them all.

ShapeShifter Skin <lightning sound>

ShapeShifter is fast and easily changes shape (for different devices). You can make new ShapeShifter take a new form by adding a little magic config. You're gonna see ShapeShifter:iPronto, ShapeShifter:PSP and ShapeShifter:BigBrowser. Oh yes.

It has new features, or at least all available features packaged up nicely. It should be very, very good. I just gotta finish it!

So, give me some abuse or moral support in the comments. Tell me the name sucks. Or just ignore me and enjoy the weekend.

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New PlayerPal price coming. Buy now to save $10!

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 18:51:09 GMT

When PlayerPal 4.3 is released, PlayerPal will get the brand new price of $29.95. This means PlayerPal will be $19.95 for only a couple more weeks. My advice? Buy PlayerPal now. You deserve it and you'll save 10!

A license you buy now will get you the same as a license purchased after the price change so you can't lose.

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Philips iPronto gets in on the action

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 23:04:07 GMT

Jon, a founding member of Remote Central, has sent in some pictures of PlayerPal on his Philips iPronto. As you can see the SonyPSP skin looks fine but the BigBrowser skin is a little funky (to say the least) in the iPronto web browser.

PlayerPal on the Philips iPronto
PSP skin on left, BigBrowser on right

Click pictures for a bigger image

The iPronto is described by Philips as "universal remote control panel". Features include a touchscreen, WiFi web browsing, EPG and IR control. Sounds good, but from what I have read the iPronto reality is not quite the same as the iPronto hype.

At around $1,495 new, the iPronto isn't an impulse buy. However, if you have one kicking around you should give it a new lease of life with PlayerPal. If I get my act together with some skinning tutorials you may even see an iPronto friendly skin appear (Jon is keen to do it!).

iPronto Links
Full Philips Pronto range
Philips iPronto product page
iPronto user reviews on Remote Central
iPronto Linux device profile

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Nintendo DS Lite support championed by the Seattle Times

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:33:54 GMT

Seattle Times journalist Brier Dudley links to PlayerPal as a "cool program" in his blog post Nintendo hacking anyone? Thanks Brier. He also makes a roundabout call for PlayerPal to support the Nintendo DS Lite.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

The Nintendo DS doesn't have a web browser right now but Opera and Nintendo are delivering one. Here are some screen shots of the browser from Japan. Not sure when it gets shipped in the UK/USA. Brier says this summer but I haven't seen any official Nintendo dates elsewhere.

The Nintendo DS has two screens which looks like fun, especially as one of them is a touch screen. It's as cheap as chips too weighing in at $129 on Amazon right now.

I've not seen the Nintendo DS Lite up close and personal but I will be checking it out soon.

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PlayerPal 4.2 service release available for download

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 13:12:00 GMT

A new service release of PlayerPal 4.2 is available now.

This release only contains fixes for the problems listed below. There is no new functionality.

Changes in PlayerPal 4.2 Service Release 1

Fixed: Letter E missing from the SonyPSP A to Z library browser.
Fixed: Get error “Object reference not set to an instance of an object” when your iTunes library is not called Library and you try and add tracks to your playlist. Previous workaround details.
Fixed: Get error “Culture name is not supported…” when using PlayerPal from certain browsers. Previous workaround details.
Fixed: Get error “There is no music in the PlayerPal library. The library exists but there is nothing in it.” When using PlayerPal in country that uses the comma character as a decimal place. Previous workaround details.

Download PlayerPal 4.2 Service Release 1

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PlayerPal has Links2 other PSP browsers!

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 10:15:13 GMT

PlayerPal has been shot in the wild ~~flirting~~ working with a non-official PSP web browser! The browser in question is Links2. Links2 is an open source browser for Linux, that has been ported to the PSP by Raf. Raf ships Links2 as a plugin for his PSP Radio homebrew application.

What does this mean? It means that if you use PSP firmware 1.5 you can now use PlayerPal too! Homebrew and PlayerPal happy together.

PlayerPal browse view on the Links2 PSP browser

The PlayerPal Sony PSP skin looks a little "early 90s" on the Links2 browser. Also, the Links2 PSP browser shrinks images by 40% on the fly, and does not display the iFrame inline (which is used for the now playing details). However, much of that could easily be resolved by adapting the existing SonyPSP skin in a new skin for Links2.

PlayerPal album view on the Links2 PSP browser

Thanks to PlayerPal user Peter for supplying the images. If you have pictures of PlayerPal doing cool stuff in the wild email them to checkthisout@playerpal.com

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Sony PSP skin changes coming in PlayerPal 4.3 - What do you think?

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Mon, 22 May 2006 16:37:45 GMT

The next version of PlayerPal (4.3) will contain changes and additions to the Sony PSP skin. Below are two screen shots illustrating the changes. What do you think? Love it or hate it? Want to change the wording? Leave your feedback in the comments of this post or start a discussion on the PlayerPal forum.

Updated: Album browser page

The changes you can see below are:

Playback controls have been shrunk and consolidated with the volume controls.
Current playlist name is displayed on header (on the right)
Covers have been shrunk and 2 more displayed per page
All settings are in the footer
New Change link has been added, which links off to the new playlist selection page!

New! Playlist selector page

This page lists all of the playlists you have setup in iTunes or Windows Media Player. When you click the playlist name link it will start playing and the name will be put up in the header.

So what do you think? Any comments?

Want to keep up with the latest news? Subscribe to this news blog and join the PlayerPal Google forum.

Apologies to Sweden, Norway, Finland and all other comma countries

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Sun, 21 May 2006 15:38:33 GMT

Update: This issue has been fixed in the latest version of PlayerPal. Download now.

PlayerPal does not read the music library of people living in countries where a comma is used as a decimal point. It only works for us dot countries. Sorry to all of you guys, especially Sweden who have been downloading lots of PlayerPal recently.

This has been fixed in version 4.3 which will ship in the next few weeks. However, if you can't wait then you can resolve this problem now by reading the Solution for: "There is no music in the PlayerPal library. The library exists but there is nothing in it."

Hopefully, those upset about it in Finland will be consoled by Lordi's rocking win at the Eurovision song contest last night.

Triumphant Lordi. Surely PlayerPal users?

If you are a geek, dull or bored you can check out Wikipedia's full list of comma countries.

How to control your iTunes/WMP music from a Nokia 770

bt@playerpal.com (Ben) — Thu, 11 May 2006 20:11:56 GMT

The Nokia 770 is an "elegantly-sized tablet designed for effortless surfing". This is very true, and as a result the Nokia 770 makes a perfect device for browsing, searching and controlling your music with PlayerPal.

I looked hard under the Christmas tree and I've waited patiently by the letterbox, but alas no Nokia 770 devices are to be found here at PlayerPal towers. As a result no official Nokia 770 PlayerPal skin has shipped. However, you can use the 3 official skins from your 770 without much trouble. Obviously, it would be nice to have a skin designed to fit snuggly on the 770...

The good news is that an enterprising PlayerPal customer is working on a Nokia 770 skin! So far minor modifications to a copy of the BigBrowser skin has resulted in this rather fine looking Nokia 770 skin. There are still a few tweaks to be made as you can see, but hopefully we can get it fixed up and make it available online.

PlayerPal on a Nokia 770 - Large image

New PlayerPal skins are easy to create. Tutorials will be posted shortly explaining the easy steps required to make a new skin and use the PlayerPal widgets. If you want to know about them as soon as they are posted subscribe to the PlayerPal blog or join the PlayerPal forum.