I noticed while using showtime anytime and other native aTV apps when I fast forward at any speed (x1/x2/x3) I can still see where the episode/movie is currently at on my display not just the progress bar. When using PlexConnect when I fast forward at x2 and x3 the screen goes blank and I can’t tell where the episode/movie is at on the display. Is there anyway this could be implemented so PlexConnect could display the content while fast forwarding? It would be a great feature if desired. I wish I knew how to implement this but unfortunately I have no idea how it could be coded assuming PMS has the ability to do so to begin with.
No, display of fast forwarded video is only possible with formats that the aTV natively supports ie MP4 container, H.264 video and aac/ac3 audio. This is one of the reasons why I remux every thing from mkv to mp4/m4v before adding it to my library.
I just tested PHT and I can fast forward with realtime display so it looks like PMS has the support. Almost all of my content is in .mp4 x264 (h264) format actually. I just tested a 480p movie file that was .mp4 h264 acc stereo and it still goes blank on x1,x2 & x3 while fast forwarding. Let me test with the original iBaa github to confirm.
Edit - Tested with iBaa github and it works but only up to the buffer point. What is confusing here is that using showtime anytime it doesn't require the same kind of buffer from what I can tell that PlexConnect uses so can it be setup the same way? Seems like it would be a better way to jump right to the point in time you desire and PMS and the aTV have the capability from what I can tell using PHT and also the native showtime app as shown in the video below:
Terrible demo one sec upload a better video so you can see what I mean.
I just tested PHT and I can fast forward with realtime display so it looks like PMS has the support
And I never said that PMS doesn't have the support.... but unfortunately the aTV doesn't. It will only display fast forward previews with native formats.
Almost all of my content is in .mp4 x264 (h264) format actually
Then there's no reason you shouldn't get a fast forward preview. Is the audio aTV compatible? Do your mp4 files play if the "Transcoder Action" is set to "Direct Play"?
100% of my media is aTV native and I get previews fine. Remember you'll only ever get a preview for the section of the file that is already buffered, once you leave the buffered section you'll get no preview, even on native files.
And I never said that PMS doesn't have the support.... but unfortunately the aTV doesn't. It will only display fast forward previews with native formats.
I know you didn't say that :P Well look at this video the other one was terrible quality, my apologies. It seems like the aTV does have the support even on my lower iOS revision 6.2 (7.1.2) so I would assume it would work on higher revisions also.
Then there's no reason you shouldn't get a fast forward preview. Is the audio aTV compatible? Do your mp4 files play if the "Transcoder Action" is set to "Direct Play"?
100% of my media is aTV native and I get previews fine. Remember you'll only ever get a preview for the section of the file that is already buffered, once you leave the buffered section you'll get no preview, even on native files.
The files play fine without any issues. Same (black screen no preview) issue using auto or direct play for transcoder action.
Thats the thing using Showtime anytime it doesn't seem to use the same buffer code that PlexConnect uses, here is a better video of what I meant. I can fast forward up to the buffer point using plexconnect using x1-x3 FF but using showtime anytime I can fast forward x1-x3 and still have the video preview the entire time without the same buffer code that PlexConnect uses it seems like. Since that native app has the capability of doing this why couldn't PlexConnect do the same or use the same preview buffer code that showtime anytime and other native apps use to have a better preview while fast forwarding? This would make PlexConnect have better previews just like any DVR would ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQsZWMl7XBk
Did you check the showtime aTV player XMLs/JS code to find any differences?
What is the filetype/container they use for streaming?
I haven't been able to decode it but here is a direct link to it:
https://secure.showtimeanytime.com/atv/js/application.js
Edit HBOGo does it also:
Thats the thing using Showtime anytime it doesn't seem to use the same buffer code that PlexConnect uses, here is a better video of what I meant.
Umm... interesting, not sure how showtime are doing that... but I want to know :)
What's also interesting is that purchased content played from the Movies/TV Shows apps on the aTV uses a different method as well. The file shows a fast forward preview like normal until the buffer runs out then you get a smaller preview in the centre of the screen.
Any chance to grab a video to analyse?
I am just thinking loud here, but I could image the following:
They ship a couple of pictures early in their broadcast, like starting with the transfer of one P-Frame for every 5 sec of media (maybe even with limited resolution). This might get buffered and used by aTV/other players during fast forward/rewind.
The advantage would be some sort of "live video during FF", the downside a prolonged initial file load.
Anyone with media/streaming background around to shed some light onto such a process?
Anyone with media/streaming background around to shed some light onto such a process?
No - i'm just a noob :-)
But i wanna ask if there are any news in the meantime.
I can fast forward with preview too, but only within the (small) buffering.
Just a dumb additional question: Enable media index files won't do anything with ATV/Plexconnect, right?
