Add upgrade/downgrade flash to Downloads Window

[GoogleCodeExporter]

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. New Boxee Beta Menu entry installs flash 10.1Beta2
2. UK content works much better with flash 10.0 final
3.

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?
Good steady reliable playback using UK content (ie iPlayer, iTVPlayer,
DemandFive and 4OD). Playback can be unpredictable, choppy, sometimes won't
start at all. Solution is to downgrade to Flash 10.0 final  

What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?
Launcher 3.2.2 on ATV 3.0.1

Please provide any additional information below.
I have provided an update (downgrade?) script that will remove flash 10.1
beta 2 and re-install Flash 10.0, or will remove 10.0 and re-install 10.1
beta 2 - depending on the dmg you feed it. I have attached two plists - one
for each flash download. This will allow users to quickly and easily
troubleshoot which sources play better with which Flash.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 3:30

Attachments:

• Flash.zip

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Thanks Jim for the ticket and the information.

Would it be possible for Boxee to use 10.0 final?

I think it's best to keep the list of downloads/updates/scripts as small as 
possible (if it gets bigger we probably 
need to redo the whole concept of downloads and probably make it more 
intelligent)

Original comment by stephan.diederich@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 4:06

[GoogleCodeExporter]

the current boxee script installs 10.0

Original comment by vulk...@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 4:10

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Ok guys. Some people in US can't get Hulu playback without Flash 10.1B2. Just 
thought
that it would be better if people could easily upgrade? Or downgrade if they 
have
problems... just a thought! 

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 4:24

[GoogleCodeExporter]

i actually think it is a good idea to have those options in the "downloads" 
section.
note that 10.1 will not run without the ssse3 emulator by turbo (so this has to 
be
installed as well)

Original comment by vulk...@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 4:27

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I'm concerned about the issue of downloads becoming an ever expanding list of 
"special" tweaks for 
functionality. If a download needs some additions (Flash 10.1B2 and turbo's 
sse3 emulator), then it should chain 
the downloads and install them. It's not really Launchers job to provide all 
the possible bits.

Original comment by sdavi...@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 4:59

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Yeah, I'm totally with you there. The script as originally provided did allow 
the
user to install Firefox. Plus it also allowed you to downgrade/upgrade your 
flash
install by feeding it an option. Obviously when this was adapted, firefox was 
dropped
(don't know why?) and also the ability to select the Flash version you wanted 
was
also dropped. Now, firefox is easy to put back in, as is adding Turbo's sse3 
emulator. 

But you're right. If a programme needs x number of programmes to work, then 
they all
need to be installed at the same time so that the process for the end-guy is: I 
want
Boxee, I click Boxee, Boxee Installs, Boxee Runs. I was second to the party 
though
and someone had already modified the script and submitted it to Stephen before I
could get there! I was very happy with people just running Keith's script tbh, 
but
there was a bit of a stink kicked up by people who didn't want to type a couple 
of
lines (or copy and paste them). 

Jim

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 6:54

[GoogleCodeExporter]

i agree to davilla's comment. wasnt suggesting that there will be a specific 
download
option for sse3 emulator.
the issue raised here is simply choosing flash version which has extensive 
impact on
the experience when running boxee.
btw, i do suggest the sse3 emulator will be part of the initial installation. 
it is
required for other use cases.

Original comment by vulk...@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 6:57

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Jim, 
the purpose of the script that is running at the moment when a user chooses 
"boxee
beta" in the downloads section is to install boxee. firefox, for that matter is 
not
relevant and will just make the installation process longer.
A user can (ofc) manually run your (great) script if he is comfortable with 
command
line (many users are not though. and the optimal experience for them requires 
no ssh.
simply load from patch-stick and click "update"). 

Original comment by vulk...@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 7:05

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Vulkanr,

We're in agreement there. Although we're getting further and further from what 
we
need. Flash 10.1beta2 is need for Hulu and other US sources. Perhaps it is not 
needed
for non-US sources. Could we test whether the target machine is a certain 
geographic
location and then have the script install the version of flash appropriate to 
that
location? I admit I have no idea how to do this in a shell script. Do you have 
any
ideas? If we can manage this and also SSE3 and Firefox installs in one script, 
then
we've got the lot: totally easy for the end user and an uncluttered Download 
section
as per Davilla's and Stephen's wishes for the UI of their app....

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 7:09

[GoogleCodeExporter]

[deleted comment]

[GoogleCodeExporter]

[deleted comment]

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Vulkanr - I don't know if you think this is elegant, but this works:

wget --quiet --output-document=- http://api.hostip.info/get_html.php?ip | egrep 
-ic 'US'

Returns 1 if you are in US, O for rest of world. Easily whack it in if 
statement,
something like:

if [[ `wget --quiet --output-document=- http://api.hostip.info/get_html.php?ip |
egrep -ic 'US'` = "1" ]]; then

# grab Flash 10.1b2
# whack appropriate code here...

else 

# grab Flash 10.0 Final
# whack appropriate code here...

fi

what do you think?

Jim

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 8:06

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I am not sure that the only issue is u.s-hulu vs. u.k-iplayer.
I am all for allowing the user to choose and i like your idea of flash choice 
in the
"downloads" section.
sdavilla - what do you think? 

Original comment by vulk...@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 8:20

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Dude,

You could be right, but the only services I've heard of that won't run with 
flash
10.0 are US services. Specifically Hulu. I'm all for the choice, it's why I 
posted
the script and the plists. But if SDavilla doesn't like it - and he's the boss 
- we
have to try an alternative approach! If multiple downloads are not on the cards,
perhaps this is one alternative. Maybe there are better ones? 

We could do with more data as to which services absolutely require 10.1beta2. 
If they
are US-only, then you could implement my idea and hide it from the end user. We 
could
also add extra plists for the two flashes that (more) advanced users can add-in 
with a 

defaults write ...

then we keep the original app according to SDavilla's vision, but provide the 
extra
functionality to users who want to mod it.... Bit of a compromise, so probably 
won't
end up pleasing anyone, lol!

Jim

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 8:42

[GoogleCodeExporter]

side note - i've tested http://api.hostip.info/get_html.php?ip and i sometimes 
get
"unknown coutry (XX)".
i've tested it from several locations (from different servers we have) and 
although
in most cases i get the right results, there are some ip's that constantly get 
the
"unknown country" response.

Original comment by vulk...@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 8:50

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Lol! How about:

wget --quiet --output-document=- http://www.geoiptool.com/en/?IP= | egrep -c 
'US'

Although your error above from your multiple server test may indicate a problem 
with
the approach, rather than a problem with the service. However, maybe this one's 
better? 

I know you're not a fan of the approach, but I think we've got to do something 
before
all the 'my playback's real crappy - Boxee sucks!' type of comments come 
flooding in
from people using Flash Beta 2 dependant sites.... is there a better way? I know
you're not convinced that it's geo-based problem, but can you think of any 
service
that REQUIRES beta 2 to play on Boxee, other than Hulu?

I'm off to cogitate some more - get back to you later if I have a brain-wave!

Jim

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 18 Feb 2010 at 11:00

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Hi Vulkanr,

I was wondering if you could maybe host the plists and 
scripts for Firefox and Flash on one of your servers? The 
whole idea of the array-add function of the newer launcher is 
so that third party downloads can be added. The plists would 
obviously have to be edited to account for the change in 
location of the script, but other than that, I think everything's 
ready to go. We could then give it a good testing on our rigs 
before posting about it over on Boxee, just in case. Let me 
know what you think about it... The only thing is I've tested 
the Firefox script on my own box, but the dmg file contains a 
space which has to be escaped. Now obviously, this is easy 
to do on the commandline, but how does launcher cope with 
a dmg filename with spaces? 

Jim

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 19 Feb 2010 at 6:03

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Jim, 

we can also host it here on atv-xbmc-launcher. You're comfortable with svn?

Original comment by stephan.diederich@gmail.com on 19 Feb 2010 at 6:13

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Comfortable in what sense? If I told you I spent my morning stripping down and 
fixing three industrial 
microwaves... then you can probably tell my technological comfort-zone! Sort of 
old school...

Seriously though, I'm a quick study: point me at an online guide to SVN for 
idiots and I'll figure it out 
(eventually!)

Jim

PS thanks for the offer of hosting the files. Saves me wandering around with a 
begging bowl looking 
pathetic!

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 19 Feb 2010 at 7:39

[GoogleCodeExporter]

hahaha. We'll get that going...
I've sent you a mail about svn and such.

cheers,
stephan

Original comment by stephan.diederich@gmail.com on 19 Feb 2010 at 8:39

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Thanks Stephan! Will check it out.... Am slammed at work 
this weekend, will have to squeeze it in somewhere....

Jim

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 19 Feb 2010 at 9:32

[GoogleCodeExporter]

@stephan: have read the o' reilly tutorial and think I'm almost ready to 
commit. Two things: Firefox 
3.6.dmg has a space in the filename. I've quoted "$DISKIMAGE" in the installer 
script to account for this 
space and have verified it works on a commandline if you feed it the filename 
by hand with the space 
escaped. How does Launcher itself cope with a filename with a space, does it 
automatically escape it or 
replace the space somehow? I will test it out adding the plist locally when I 
get home so that I can test it 
all works.... Second thing:  the download link I've got for Firefox is ftp, do 
I need to find an alternative http 
address, or will Launcher cope?

@VulkanR: on my system I install Flash in ~/Library since space is at a premium 
on / and Boxee already 
takes up about 136MB. My Flash installer removes a previous install and 
re-installs whatever version you 
choose in ~/Library do you think we should alter the Boxee installer script to 
do likewise? Don't want to 
tred on your toes, just thought I'd ask! Also re Flash Beta needing Turbo's 
enabler: I check whether User 
has a turbo enabled rc.local if they are installing Flash Beta and if not, exit 
and tell them to do the whole 
Beta thing. Bit of a stop gap... Do you think the Boxee installer should grab 
Turbo's enabler, and shove it 
in rc.local for them if they don't already have it? Just a thought...

Jim  

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 20 Feb 2010 at 11:59

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I dont see an issue with changing the boxee installer to install into 
~/Library, you
need to think of backward support though.
Meaning - when installing flash - you should take into account that the user 
might
already have flash installed at /Library.
I think that installing turbo's emulator as part of boxee (and possibly also 
xbmc)
installer is the way to go. i think it will also make ffmpeg happy in some 
cases.
Why would you want to break flash-beta installation if the emulator doesn't 
exist?
just install it...

-vulkanr.

Original comment by vulk...@gmail.com on 20 Feb 2010 at 3:39

[GoogleCodeExporter]

@vulkanr

yeah, I figured on something like this in my Flash script - it'll check both 
locations and scrub whatever it 
finds before installing in the home directory. It really is alarming how 
quickly the / fills up once you have 
Boxee and also assorted frameworks, and other cl tools! I still can't work out 
why Boxee can't be 
launched from the home directory in the same way that xbmc can... 

Anyway I removed the Turbo check from the Flash installer as per your 
suggestion. I've created the sub-
directories for the scripts and plists and upload said scripts and plists. Only 
I'm having a hard time adding 
the plists to my Launcher via 'defaults write'. When I issue a 'defaults read' 
the plists have clearly been 
added, but fail to show up in the Dowloads window. Clearly something is wrong! 
But am I using the 
wrong URL, is something wrong with the actual plists themselves syntax-wise? 
They seem fine and I'm 
sure it's something simple or a quirk of SVN that I'm not aware of - Sifu, help 
me!   

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 20 Feb 2010 at 8:42

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Never mind, Stephan found a couple of weird characters where the tab spaces 
should have been in the 
plists... 

Jim

Original comment by Jim.wiley.arc@gmail.com on 20 Feb 2010 at 9:20