[linux-dvb] Re: OSD (was: Re: Maximum number of PES filters - 8?)

[Klaus Schmidinger <Klaus.Schmidinger@cadsoft.de>]

Carsten Koch wrote:
> 
> Ralph Metzler wrote:
> ....
> > People want OSD during playback, I warn them that it might cause
> > problems, they forget about that and then complain about the problems ...
> 
> that's not fair, Ralph!
> 
> If an API exists, I find it reasonable if people use it.
> If that API has parameter limits that change from driver
> release to driver release, I find it reasonable if people
> complain when code that use to work suddenly does not.

Be careful what you say, Carsten. Ralph made it very clear
from the very start that replay and OSD was NOT designed to be
used at the same time, but I "harassed" him long enough until
he agreed to enable this to be done, noting that there might
be picture distortions! I'd hate to see him disable this
possibility again, just to get rid of comments like this
(no offense, though).

> I also find it reasonable to expect that the API gives me
> an error code when I, for example, try to create an OSD
> window that is too large. Can you create a full-screen
> OSD window with the current driver? If not, does the ioctl
> return an error code or dies it simply not work? Or does
> it work sometimes and crashes the firmware after prolonged use?
> 
> I think we all agree that the user needs some kind of
> on-screen feedback.
> 
> I believe that my idea to (mis-)use teletext if we cannot
> get OSD fast/large/reliable enough was a bad idea.
> I apologize for pushing it. Of course, I was only searching
> for alternatives that cause no more problems.
> 
> What are the alternatives? Is there a chance to get the
> existing OSD fast/large/reliable enough soon?
> If not: should we dismiss it altogether and look for other ways?
> 
> Would people prefer an OSD that is fast/large/reliable, but
> replaces (rather than overlays) the entire video picture while
> it is active? Does the driver provide a suitable API that
> allows us to display one still video frame from a bitmap
> (symmetrical to VIDIOCMCAPTURE)?
> 
> Would it be a good idea to handle the OSD like the Sky digibox?
> The Sky digibox provides two kinds of OSD:
> 
> 1.  a small, non-transparent overlay window that displays
>     the current and next program title, a little bit of
>     on-screen help, the current channel name, the time, etc.
>     It is similar in size and location to the window vdr
>     displays when you press OK during playback. Outside
>     this window, the normal video continues to be shown.
> 
> 2.  a full-screen, non-transparent, non-overlay window that
>     displays things that need more room, like the EPG,
>     the channel lists, the setup,lists of favorite channels, etc.
>     Normal video is not shown and audio is muted when this
>     window is visible.
> 
> I personally like the digibox OSD very much. It's EPG is
> much easier to use than vdr's EPG, as it simply has more
> room available, so it can show you a clear table with time
> on the X axis and channels on the Y axis.
> 
> What do people think? Would that be useful?
> 
> Ralph, what do you say: If the OSD is limited to a small,
> fixed, guaranteed size, would that make it fast and
> 100% stable? Also, would it be easy (unless it's already
> there) to provide the ioctl that is symmetrical to VIDIOCMCAPTURE?
> 
> Klaus, would you find that attractive?

Just a quick answer to your last question: I find an OSD that can only
be used when I STOP replay unacceptable. I'd rather have it the way it
currently is (with some picture distortions) than having to completely
stop replay when bringing up the OSD.

Klaus
-- 
_______________________________________________________________

Klaus Schmidinger                       Phone: +49-8635-6989-10
CadSoft Computer GmbH                   Fax:   +49-8635-6989-40
Hofmark 2                               Email:   kls@cadsoft.de
D-84568 Pleiskirchen, Germany           URL:     www.cadsoft.de
_______________________________________________________________


--- 
Info:
To unsubscribe send a mail to listar@linuxtv.org with "unsubscribe linux-dvb" as subject.