Video player with audio switching (GTVBox/ViMu Player)

[jplaney]

I was having a problem with external SRT files. The player would display the subtitles perfectly for about the first minute of the program and then the subs disappear all of a sudden and never show up again. Oddly enough I noticed this mostly with subs in Spanish while English subs tended to play all the way through. After looking at the actual SRT files I found the reason.

If a blank line follows a time code before the first line of actual text appears, GTVBox will drop the subtitle display completely, even though it still acknowledges the presence of the SRT file.

Example of Incorrect Entry:
202
00:08:42,628 --> 00:08:44,729

Oh, sí puedo.


Example of corrected entry:
202
00:08:42,628 --> 00:08:44,729
Oh, sí puedo.

After correcting the issue, the subs played perfectly for the entire duration of the video. Apparently, many machine translations place these blank lines automatically. This is why I noticed the issue more in foreign subs as opposed to subs in English. I just wanted to share my findings in hopes that this may help others who are having issues.

[mcd2000]

I was having a problem with external SRT files. The player would display the subtitles perfectly for about the first minute of the program and then the subs disappear all of a sudden and never show up again. Oddly enough I noticed this mostly with subs in Spanish while English subs tended to play all the way through. After looking at the actual SRT files I found the reason.

If a blank line follows a time code before the first line of actual text appears, GTVBox will drop the subtitle display completely, even though it still acknowledges the presence of the SRT file.

Example of Incorrect Entry:
202
00:08:42,628 --> 00:08:44,729

Oh, sí puedo.


Example of corrected entry:
202
00:08:42,628 --> 00:08:44,729
Oh, sí puedo.

After correcting the issue, the subs played perfectly for the entire duration of the video. Apparently, many machine translations place these blank lines automatically. This is why I noticed the issue more in foreign subs as opposed to subs in English. I just wanted to share my findings in hopes that this may help others who are having issues.

The parser assumes every empty line is followed by a new timecode. I think, it is possible to fix for the first empty line after timecode.

[mcd2000]

First, thanks mcd2000 for the great work on the player and dedicated support. It's so sad to see the number 1000-5000 installs on the market, I hope this number gets much higher rather quick. Have you thought of porting it to ARM, you might get more sales and it would be nice to have such an easy SMB player on the phone or tablet.

As of 0.27 version I can't ask for much more, it's great simple player. Please keep it that way. I'm using MPC on my desktop for almost 10 years just because it plays everything under the sun and it's simple as it can be. Adding fancy icons or covers and sheets looks nice but doesn't improve the movie watching experience at all, get concentrated more on media type support, less FC's, high bit rate optimization (I have a lot of pauses playing mkv) etc. That is what's going to keep people loyal to your software. Most of them asking for highly decorated interface will turn their back to you on a glimpse of a product with more bells and whistles.

At the end I would ask you to check IceStream.apk software in dropbox, looks like there is a lot of streaming content but I can't play any of that on any player - Sony NSX.

Keep up the great work!

Thanks very much for your words!

I think 1000-1500 (actually it is over 1700 now) installs are because of three reasons: GTVBox is not "featured" yet, so people only know about it from forums; it has a free sideload version; there are not much activated Google TV's at all (look at Plex's installs for ex.). I agree with you that playback engine is much more important then covers, but many people asked about that.
I am definitely going to optimize proxy performance (which is not easy in Java). Just after initial covers version.
As for porting to ARM: if you read the latest news, the upcoming Google TV devices will use ARM, but GTVBox was intended to work only on Google TV's. GTV units have a very different Media Player engine comparing to other Android devices (phones/tablets). So, It will work on ARM-based GTV's (i hope), but not on tablets.
I've already tested IceStream. It uses progressive download which is not directly supported by Google TV. But I already know some way to test... but not sure it will work. Please, wait couple of weeks for the answer.

[amm42]

Using GTVbox for a week now on my Logitech Revue. Couldn't use mkv through the native Logitech app.

Playing MKVs successfully through GTVbox across smb connection from my Windows 7 HTPC.

Things I like:
Browsing for files much nicer than in Logitech Media Player.
File support better than Logitech Media Player- MKVs would not play through LMP, I have had no file fail in GTVbox.

Things that need work:
Playing works great when playing and pausing files, does not allow me to start at say 5 min into file, or fast forward more than 30 seconds without hanging for a long time.
By the 3rd file I watch, the program hangs on the loading screen and I need to end the playback, exit the application and restart the program, then the same file will load and play with ease, only to have to exit once I play another file.

I have tried buffers at the 3 possible choices, and have played with the other setup choices. If these 2 items are fixed, this is a program that will make my revue replace my HTPC for video playback.

[nelson1979]

This is the BEST video app for GTV!! thanks for the effort! a simple question can be added suppor for streamming content? for sites like this!
http://ntmc.novotempo.org.br/tvnuevotiempo-vivo.asx

I bought a TV with internet and want to watch internet channels!! Thanks!!

The support for rmbv files can be added too? I know can be a codec license issue or something like that... I'm just asking! Thanks!

[danny29dec]

I am developing a simple video player for my Logitech Revue, cauze I don't like default Logitech Media Player (and especially DLNA protocol).

Today, It can only browse local, external and smb filesystems and play video files (natively supported by Revue). It supports audio track switching, external SRT subtitles and MKV subtitles. Also limited support of Apple Airplay exists.

For the updated feature list and list of supported media formats visit GTVBox Video Player site.

Avaliable from Android Market.
You can also download and test GTVBoxPlayer.apk from GTVHacker Dropbox account.

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL SUPPORT THREAD.
Please ask your questions here and do not create new threads.

Hi

I saw this apps is able to play WMV video file and a lots more. After I bought, this apps provide only sound, NO picture. And sometimes video is not playing... Please advise and get this apps has advance function to play many video formats such as VOB, WMV, and a lots more than the default apps.

I'm look forward to your support!

Regards,
Na

[mcd2000]

I saw this apps is able to play WMV video file and a lots more. After I bought, this apps provide only sound, NO picture. And sometimes video is not playing... Please advise and get this apps has advance function to play many video formats such as VOB, WMV, and a lots more than the default apps.

I'm look forward to your support!

Regards,
Na

Hi!
The number of supported formats greatly depends on your GTV device. Logitech Revue in general supports WMV, but there are different versions of windows media codecs. So, I suppose not all of them are supported.
As for MPEG2- based formats like VOB, Revue do not support them due to licensing reasons.

[Dface]

What about AirPlay Mirroring?

[mcd2000]

What about AirPlay Mirroring?

I think it is impossible now. No one knows how it works.

[danny29dec]

I saw this apps is able to play WMV video file and a lots more. After I bought, this apps provide only sound, NO picture. And sometimes video is not playing... Please advise and get this apps has advance function to play many video formats such as VOB, WMV, and a lots more than the default apps.

I'm look forward to your support!

Regards,
Na

Hi!
The number of supported formats greatly depends on your GTV device. Logitech Revue in general supports WMV, but there are different versions of windows media codecs. So, I suppose not all of them are supported.
As for MPEG2- based formats like VOB, Revue do not support them due to licensing reasons.

My Logitech Revue now not playing movies on GTVBox Video Player which I bought from Android Market! Is it related to license? Buying this apps on Android Market license is not support?