Aqua-Soft ForumsI'd like to be able to stream this:
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timess.../tsq_stream.asx
or any other stream/webcam I choose.
who's up to the challenge?
Useing the existing DTOP config might be a good place to start.
[request] Webcam/streaming Video Desklet
I don't know if this is possible, I was thinking is there a way to do a frameless video docklet to avedesk? Like how it is on the mac. If it could use either realplayer/quicktime/wmp any video player. Just a thought. 
If i need to elaborate more i will <_
I took the freedom to merge these 2 threads, because they are the same loaf of bread.
I have large doubts if this can be achieved at all with AveDesk.
To my knowledge, video streams are, for performance issues,
rendered using a hardware bypass mechanism that is not compatible
with the layered windows canvas that is used by AveDesk to render its desklets.
Layered windows are the key feature of AveDesk: They support per pixel
alpha blending where the transparency info is such that each pixel has 24 bits
of color and 8 bits of alpha, giving 32 bits per pixel. Video streams, OCX's,
DirectX and OpenGL handle the 32 bits in a legacy manner and zero the alpha
portion of each pixel so that they would be invisible on a layered window with
per pixel alpha blending.
Of course, one could render to an invisible window and grab the output on
intervals and add the alpha channel for display on the desklet:
This should resort in either a slide show suitable for webcams or
100% CPU usage seeing a badly flickering, ah, flick (archaic for movie).
For this time being, better stick with skinning your favourite media player.
Idea: Someone, please code a desklet that is blank but 'owns' any application window and forwards its size changes to it whilst rendering a label underneath, so that streaming apps can be, at least, 'swallowed' by AveDesk.
Can AveDesk hold HTML pages? If it can use the IE ActiveX control to render the page I could easily put the code together for the web side of things.
Once it is holding the web page, you just need to use some Javascript, possilby some CSS for some control layout (ie switching streams or destinations on the earthcam) and the Media Player Object Setting settings.
Originally posted by Septimus@Aug 3 2004, 11:43 AM... If it can use the IE ActiveX control...
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Nope, the IE ActiveX control is an OCX as said above.
Do you really need to go to the level of difficulty though that you described? Would it not be simpler to code a desklet that did receive OCX files?
I haven't coded in a few years now I admit as my job no longer requires it, but I think I could code this in C++ or .NET still.
I have just knocked up what I described in DesktopX2 very easily and can save it as a widget if anyone is interested. You will need DX2 installed but not running to use it.
/* Edit - Damn didn't have to, _Martin_ at WinCustomize has already done one, see below */
To my knowledge, DesktopX doesn't use layered windows, because
it was made to host ActiveX controls. If we'd be going to drop this
for the sake of that, IMHO, we'd better go recoding AveDesk entirely
from scratch or implement a special case handling with a completely
different SDK - either way doesn't make sense to me by now.
However, last words from my side have the tendency to let me
appear as a complete idiot as soon as Andreas pulls the next rabbit
out of his hat - so let me play safe and say that this ActiveX and
video stream hosting issue needs a full blown feasability checking
which I, for reasons as laid out above, don't really feel comfortable
with.
that sucks to hear 
. but, I hope you're wrong about not being able to code a widget to play video or stream a webcam. It seems feasable as Septimus described in his post, then again I'm not a coder. I hope someone can make it happen 
I might know a way of doing it, need to test it more tho.
Originally posted by AndreasV@Aug 3 2004, 01:58 PMI might know a way of doing it, need to test it more tho.
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i'd be happy to alpha/beta test 
would you guys want a stand alone app to do this, because i can have it out within 30 minutes.
sure, but which one do you mean a webcam or videoplayer? i don't understand the point of having a webcam app on the desktop if you can't use it with msn/yahoo/ichat/aim 
@handsome - Some folks use their webcams to monitor their residence or business etc.
The problem for me is, I like to upload snaps to a website, but also be able to use MSN at times, sure there's a 'splitter' app that will fool windows into thinking the device isn't being used already, but I tend to like things nice and simple, not having a million things running in my taskbar/tray.
The other problem for me is I'd like to be able to put the video layer under other ones in AveDesk/SysStats configs ... like have a shiny gloss over the video so it 'appears' like it's in a tv screen or whatever. But so far, I've not seen an app that will allow that ... perhaps because of the way DirectX pumps out it's overlays?
Originally posted by Manyk@Aug 7 2004, 10:24 AM@handsome - Some folks use their webcams to monitor their residence or business etc.
The problem for me is, I like to upload snaps to a website, but also be able to use MSN at times, sure there's a 'splitter' app that will fool windows into thinking the device isn't being used already, but I tend to like things nice and simple, not having a million things running in my taskbar/tray.
The other problem for me is I'd like to be able to put the video layer under other ones in AveDesk/SysStats configs ... like have a shiny gloss over the video so it 'appears' like it's in a tv screen or whatever. But so far, I've not seen an app that will allow that ... perhaps because of the way DirectX pumps out it's overlays?
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ah, i understand now.
I know the point of having a video applet because i requested it 
, I want a video applet that doesn't have any borders. I think it will be cool if it can be done. :naughty:
Originally posted by handsome@Aug 8 2004, 04:58 PMah, i understand now.
I know the point of having a video applet because i requested it
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Ah ya, no borders ... that CAN be done to a certain extent.
Check THIS out.
scroll down to JEarthCam 1.1
can we port this?
it works fine in my browser, but can it work without the java?
Couldnt judges Desktop Picture for Sysstats be modified to connect up to the webcam periodically? (once every 30secs or summat?) I know it aint ideal but at least its a webcam kinda?
(assuming judge doesnt mind that is!)
Originally posted by Stom@Aug 20 2004, 07:05 PMCouldnt judges Desktop Picture for Sysstats be modified to connect up to the webcam periodically? (once every 30secs or summat?) I know it aint ideal but at least its a webcam kinda?
(assuming judge doesnt mind that is!)
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Don't spank me if I'm wrong here, not being a programmer myself ... But I don't think this is possible without SysStats or AveDesk being rewritten.
One problem, as herd has mentioned is the way the window layers work in AveDesk. They are basically overlays of some type. But webcams utilize, for the most part [i THINK] DirectX calls/instructions, and therefore draw the active stream in a DX Video Overlay. The DX overlay isn't the same as an AveDesk overlay, and in some way or another don't 'work' with one another.
So this is why I THINK either AveDesk or SysStats or both would have to be rewritten ... so they can access the calls at least to the attached webcam, and perhaps draw a DirectX video overlay ontop of, or in between AveDesk overlays.
In the mean time, one can set up their webcam software to capture to the harddrive at intervals, and setup Desktop Picture to read images from the specified directory.
I was wondering if it's not possible to do this, would it be possible to make a widget that controlled a media player? such as....VLC media player kind of what the itunes widget does only for video.