Version 3.12 new features

10 May 2005: Third maintenance release

• Fixed a reported error in our frequency database for UK Midlands - Tacoleston.
• Fixed ShowGuide vs. Windows Task Scheduler problems: lost recordings should be a thing of the past!
• Fixed a few navigation problems in the ShowGuide single channel listing (not being able to navigate of an empty listing, wrapping to the left, moving up or down on empty listings).
• Better warning message when Jukebox fails to play DRM music.
• Registry writing check at startup.
• Fixed automatic recompression with DVB/MPEG2 cards, was only working with analogue cards.
• AC3 channels messing up on DEC2000/2540/3000 devices: Those devices can't capture AC3 but ShowShifter was telling them to try to. Now it will use the MPEG2 audio track instead. If there isn't an MPEG2 audio track well you won't be able to watch the channel with a DEC device, sorry.

17 March 2005: Second maintenance release

27 January 2005: First maintenance release

• DEC2000/3000 and AC3 audio: Showshifter no longer tries to use the AC3 audio track (not working due to hardware limitation), but switches to the MPEG2 audio track instead on these devices.
• Fixed setting recordings from shortcut (Alt+R) in the grid view in ShowGuide.
• Fixed race condition during startup (symptom: setting crossbar failed and tv not starting) when ShowGuide had pending timer events.
• Channel sorting re-enabled for digital tv.
• DeleteAll button greys out properly on the channel editor page.
• Updated the links to hmnxmltv from the help files to point at the new download data instructions.
• Fixed problem where Showshifter wouldn't exit when the task scheduler credentials were incorrect.
• Fixed crashes in ShowGuide and fixed the search popup not disappearing when more than 200 matches have been found.
• Minimum number of tracks to make an album is now configurable in the Jukebox.
• IRMan support is working again. You'll have to reconfigure the comport though, and point it at the correct mapping file.
• Cosmetic: text on additional module menu entries positioned better.
• Holding down the Ctrl key while sizing snaps the aspect ratio of the window. The ratio it snaps it to is configurable: design size, 4/3, 14/9, 1.66, 16/9, 1.85, and 2.35. Holding down the Shift key will show size and ratio in the status bar.
• Changing the ShowGuide download settings will download data at the earliest available opportunity. It used to wait until at least the days interval time since the last download had lapsed. Now it just does it asap.
• Double entries in ShowGuide fixed. It will now merge channels from various sources better.

Download it from here: http://www.showshifter.com/files/download/3.10/ShowShifter-Setup-3.10.2824-RC-1.exe
Older versions might no longer be available

What's New

• Added support for Hauppauge WinTV PVR USB2
• Fixed bug causing AC3 audio streams to be corrupted under certain conditions (this primarily affected Australian users)
• Fixed the bug which had broken the Video File List's folders mode, now directory entries will display correctly again.
• DEC2000/2540/3000 radio decoding fixed
• DEC2000/2540/3000 remote control mappings improved (no documentation just press the buttons to see)
• Fixed bug causing transcoding of digital TV SSF files to DivX to playback at half speed (top tip, make sure you have the LAME ACM to get the transcoder to use MP3 audio)
• Fixed crash when doing 2 pass DivX transcoding with DivX 5.2.x codecs
• Renabled selection of automatic transcoding for Digital TV devices
• Fixed crash in TechnoTrend Premium DVB-c card plugin... it won't crash when you change channels now
• Relaxed rules on DVB SDT table syntax, if you weren't getting all your channels named correctly this may have been the cause
• Fixed bug which caused ShowShifter to hangup if you had a TechnoTrend device with CI interface but no CAM inserted
• Fixed a crash caused by a bug in the way we decoded the DVB EPG (EIT table ExtendedEventDescriptor)
• Fixed bug causing timeshift to fail with some BDA devices
• Fixed bug causing recording MPG files with the PVR150/250/350/500 & USB2 to create audio less files
• Fixed bug causing loss of audio in MPG files when the audio stream breaks up due to interference
• Fixed AspectRatio corrector problem causing incorrect rendering areas to be computed randomly
• Had a couple of pints of Guinness
• The volume control (and mute) is now easily accessible through a new button at the top: the volume slider picks up the left and right buttons and mute the up and down buttons.
• You can't miss this one: Showshifters brand new look.
• ShowGuide program information page will disappear when a record or remind selection has been made.
• Listening to the radio will activate the screensaver now.
• You can configure the format of the date/time string in the status bar. It follows the format as described by GetDateFormat and GetTimeFormat.
• FLAC and ogg metadata parsing support. This means that they should show up in albums as well. You will still need to download and install the DirectShow filter to play them.
• You can now configure the visibility of the manage recordings, timer recordings, and convertor page button in expert mode
• Added expert option to display a question whether to delete the video recording once finished watching. Default is no question and not to delete.
• CD ripping fixed.

Download it from here: http://www.showshifter.com/files/download/3.10/ShowShifter-Setup-3.10.2791-Beta-2a.exe
Older versions might no longer be available

What's New

• Fixed recording using BDA drivers.
• Fixed demux to eliminate problems changing channels
• Sorting channel list is now case insensitive (you need to resort it to see it)
• JukeBox does now support immediate playback of selected item, while either adding the selection to the playlist or replacing the playlist with the selection.

Download it from here: http://www.showshifter.com/files/download/3.10/ShowShifter-Setup-3.10.2788-Beta-2.exe
Older versions might no longer be available

What's New

• BDA cards - Now using the new ShowShifter DVB Demultiplexer for improved channel changing speed, EPG gathering efficiency and general stability.
• DVB - The UK transmitter frequency database has been updated to reflect the frequency offsetting used by most transmitters.
• DVBt - Additionally during all DVBt scans if a signal can't be located it will automatically search +/- 167Khz for it.
• DVBc - You can now specificy Spectral Inversion in frequency database files.
• Analog cards - Fixed error causing default MJPEG profiles to be created with invalid audio settings.
• PVR150 cards - The Hauppauge PVR capture plugin will now work with this card.
• DivX - DivX 5.2.1 is now supported, however we do not recommend using the earlier buggy DivX 5.2 codec.
• Double subtitles on DVDs should not happen again: subpictures are preferred over closed caption.
• Sporadic location of Data directory in Windows\System32 should be a thing of the past. If it happened to you, read this.
• Automatic downloads of ShowGuide data should work again.
• Configurable time span before next timer event before Showshifter will exit and come back up.
• New Task Scheduler settings in expert level: specify username and password to be used when setting up Windows Task Scheduler timer events.
• ShowGuide: search didn't find all programs in languages that use characters above 127.

Download it from here: http://www.showshifter.com/files/download/3.10/ShowShifter-Setup-3.10.2767-Beta-1.exe
Older versions might no longer be available

What's New

• You can now set the split file size for MPG recordings in the expert settings page.
• DVB autotune will not delete the existing channel list, but merge new found channels in the existing list. To delete all channels use the new delete all button.
• DVB autotune can now generate a html report which will help us resolve autotune problems you might experience.
• Added an autotune settings page. Hit the settings button when on the autotune page to see it.
• DVB: Beginning a record on a channel that's about to start broadcasting (or about to go from encrypted to unencrypted) will not fail but enter a pending mode until the channel becomes recordable.
• DVB: recording MPG files will not record SSF files instead.
• CI support working for Nova CI cards.
• Fixed parsing bug in ShowGuide where programs would be flagged as repeats although they weren't.
• Fixed GDI handle leak in the ShowGuide grid page.
• Fixed fuzzy time string in ShowGuide for data between last midnight and day change.
• Coming back onto the grid page should keep the focus on the correct programme now.
• You can now change channel to programs which are on soon instead of setting a reminder (default 5 minutes or less before program start).
• ShowGuide will reset its data to current time when you come back after a configurable amount of time has lapsed (default 10 minutes).
• The ShowGuide Todo list should be able to delete scheduled recordings again.
• You can now specify to leave new data files in their original location instead of being moved to Data\ShowGuide\Incoming before parsing and to Data\ShowGuide\Parsed after parsing.
• Expert settings should now be saved in all modules.
• Thumbnails in pictureviewer now have the correct aspect ratio.

Download it from here: http://www.showshifter.com/files/download/3.10/ShowShifter-Setup-3.10.2743-Alpha-5.exe
Older versions might no longer be available

What's New

• Upgraded TechnoTrend SDKs to v2.17, if you are using a TechnoTrend/Hauppauge DVB device you must upgrade your drivers to V2.17g
• CAM/CI support for TechnoTrend devices is now enabled, you must be using v2.17g drivers for this to work properly
• Fixed issue causing seeking in analog TV SSF files to lockup (this also fixes timeshifting with analog TV cards)
• Bug causing AC3 audio to corrupt when recording is fixed
• Upgraded nVidia decoders, fixes random lockup when switching between channels which include an AC3 audio channel
• Resource extraction fixed (for language translators)

Download it from here: http://www.showshifter.com/files/download/3.10/ShowShifter-Setup-3.10.2692-Alpha-4.exe
Older versions might no longer be available

What's New

• Fixed nVidia problems on XP SP2
• Improved EPG populator
• Improved demux filter
• Added Mpeg decoder settings page (expert level)
• Moving left or right on the auto actions page scrolls the list
• Fixed runtime library linking in maister (caused crashes)
• Added character translation tables for EIT data
• Fixed bug in xml parser where special characters (e.g. '&') would be parsed out with additional white space around them

Download it from here: http://www.showshifter.com/files/download/3.10/ShowShifter-Setup-3.10.2645-Alpha-3.exe
Older versions might no longer be available

What's New

• Updated TechnoTrend/Hauppauge Budget/Nova PCI driver
• Updated TechnoTrend/Hauppauge Budget/Nova PCI driver
• Updated TechnoTrend/Hauppauge USB driver
• Updated TechnoTrend/Hauppauge Premium/DVB PCI driver
• Updated TechnoTrend/Hauppauge STB/DEC2000,2540,3000 driver
• Updated Nebula DigiTV driver
• New TwinHan VisionPlus DVB PCI driver (Known issue: TwinHan device can be listed without being present)
• CI/CAM support for TechnoTrend/Budget devices
• Fix for lockup when skipping in MPEG2 files and the aspect ratio immediately changes
• Reduced memory usage by xml parser
• Fixed registry read binary data bug
• Fixed bug where special characters in the text bits in the channels.xml file weren't re-encoded as html ('&' -> '&')
• Fixed epg last update time display in local time
• Improved xml parsing: better error reporting and error recovery
• Improved and consolidated logging
• EITParser now doesn't start if ShowGuide doesn't want any data (optimisation)
• Fixed UI update and automatic selection issues with file dialog
• Added facility to OK a filedialog on a valid folder or a valid file (for ShowGuide download settings)
• Forced the wizard to come up again for upgrades (one off to force new pages seen)
• Added experience level wizard page
• Fixed bug in wizard where selecting no capture device would end the wizard without showing the pages at the end
• Fixed crash in tvsoundsettings page with analog cards
• Fixed testing the download command line to also take the new data location into account
• Allowed empty command line and only new data location filled in (to import pre-existing xml files)

Download it from here: http://www.showshifter.com/files/download/3.10/ShowShifter-Setup-3.10.2643-Alpha-2.exe
Older versions might no longer be available

What's New

• Skip increments non-whole minutes display properly
• Added keyboard shortcuts for settings (Ctrl+S), DVD/Root menu (Ctrl+Q), DVD/Title menu (CTRL+W), and DVD/Subtitles (Ctrl+E)
• Made zoom step configurable from 1-10 default 4 (video + DVD)
• Added support for external menu images for external programs:
  HKLM\Software\Home Media Networks\ShowShifter\Configuration\External Programs\<your program>\
  The following REG_SZ values are recognized:
  Image
  ImageFocussed
  ImagePressed
  ImagePressedFocussed
  ImageDisabled
  ImagePressedDisabled
  Each value should have the full path of the image file to use. At the moment you would only need to specify the non-disabled ones, as the main menu never disables any of its entries.
• Added zoom functionality to dvd player, including new slider on picture settings page
• Entering TV/Video/Radio page will start the TV
• External programs can now deactivate whatever is running in ShowShifter through the registry:
  HKLM\Software\Home Media Networks\ShowShifter\Configuration\External Programs\<your program>\
  DeactivateShowShifter REG_DWORD (0 = ShowShifter module keeps running (default), 1 = ShowShifter module deactivates)
• Fixed bug with reading REG_DWORD values for external programs
• Fixed problems with ValueList which resulted in Module Order now working
• Fixed various resource strings
• Removed 'specify directories' question from picture viewer (now done by wizard)
• Fixed xml parsing errors with audio/video grandchildren
• Synced channel number display in epg with video setting
• Focus should stay on selected cell in epg grid when you come back from details page
• Fixed problem with date display in epg details page
• Video module now activates as soon as you go to one of its pages

Download it from here: http://www.showshifter.com/files/download/3.10/ShowShifter-Setup-3.10.2636-Alpha-1.exe
Older versions might no longer be available

What's New

• ShowShifter MPEG Demux has replaced the Microsoft component which has been causing PVR250/350 viewing issues and several DVB issues (particularly in Australia) although BDA drivers still use the MS Demux
• Improved MPEG2 PSI table retrieval (faster channel changing, no more channel change crashes)
• DVB EPG information retrieval (EIT Parsing)
• Channel list options (view channel numbers, sort by number or alphabet)
• BDA DVB-c support
• BDA DVB-s support
• Improved MPEG2 writer (now creates a more DVD compliant stream).
• Transcoding from mp2-in-ssf to *.mp2 files (needs Lame codec).
• Completely new and much improved ShowGuide module. Uses a new and faster back end, faster searching, adds a todo list.
• Unified and extended much of the configuration screens (accessible through spanner at the top).
• Simplified the user interface.
• Extended the initial configuration wizard to ask the user for the various media locations on their computer, after which no further configuration is necessary.
• Added user experience levels (accessible through spanner at the top).
• Added settopbox mode: Start with Windows and always go full screen and immediately into viewing mode
• Added facility to restart the last active module automatically
• Added facility to adjust the priority level of ShowShifter
• Channel synchronisation between ShowGuide and the television module
• Transcoding from mp2 to divx

Known Issues

• It will crash
• Demux will lock up or cause the audio and video to stutter
• Post autotuning on PVR250/350 may upset the demux and cause it to stall
• EIT parsing occassionally locks application
• Whilst playing back if you skip forward or backward in the video and the apsect ratio dynamically changes playback may freeze
• Some of the UI needs beautifying after buttons have been removed
• Not all of the strings are context relevant yet
• Use of Technotrend based cards (usb/pci) other than the budget card, might run into problems
• Installation failure on XP SP2

Still to come/work in progess

• DVB CI/CAM support
• Improved TechnoTrend drivers
• TwinHan/VisionPlus drivers
• Updated help text
• Support for 8-day EPG information scraping from EIT tables

Documentation

ShowGuide

Getting data into ShowGuide

User Experience Level

The new User Experience Level is intended to simplify the user interface and to prevent casual misconfiguration. On ShowShifter's main page, click the spanner and select 'Switch experience level'. The following levels are available:

Normal

No configuration after initial wizard

Advanced

similar to level of available features and configuration in pre version 3.10 releases of ShowShifter

Expert

additional configuration through the UI which previously would have been done through sending out patches and registry files, and new low level configuration options

Problem solving

access to settings for various debugging options to aid support staff in pinpointing a problem experienced by end users

Where have my screens gone?

The latest version of ShowShifter is a significant step towards a simpler and more unified user interface. The aim is to allow easy access to everyday functions and to gather all less used options and configuration screens under the spanner at the top. Some screens are now only available if you select a higher experience level.

Version 3.02 has been replaced with 3.10, which includes all functionality of version 3.02 and much, much more.

Data directory in C:\Windows\System32

1. Start Showshifter and go into the settings page (spanner at the top - Settings).
2. Select 'Program Folders'. If you can't see this item in the list of options then you'll have to change the experience level to 'Problem solving' on the previous page and restart Showshifter.
3. Select the Data Directory entry and modify it to point at 'C:\Program Files\Home Media Networks Limited\Showshifter\Data\' (adjust for your situation, this is the default install location).
4. Click the tick to store your changes. Optionally: reset the experience level to what it was before.
5. Do not restart Showshifter, just exit it.
6. Using windows explorer, move the Data directory from 'C:\Windows\System32\' to 'C:\Program Files\Home Media Networks Limited\Showshifter\', overwriting any files which might have been created by Showshifter just before it closed down the last time.
7. Now start Showshifter and enjoy the show.