HowTo - Turn Puppy into a Home Media Center with Boxee

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stu90

HowTo - Turn Puppy into a Home Media Center with Boxee

#1 Post by stu90 »

Boxee is a Media Center and extender (that can be hooked up to your TV) which allows you to organize and watch local, networked and streaming media.

Step 1.
Head over to Portable Linux Apps and download Boxee
http://portablelinuxapps.org/

Step 2.
Right click on the downloaded Boxee file go to File>Properties and tick the 3 boxes under Exce.

Step 3. Register an account on Boxee
http://www.boxee.tv/

Step 4. Thats it click on the Boxee file and enjoy your media.

A picture paints a thousand words so here is a video of Boxee running on my Lucid 5.1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqDgnxuNmQs


Running Lucid 5.1 with Xorg-High driver.

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edoc
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#2 Post by edoc »

I don't have a lot of time for, or interest in, most commonly-popular media so I may be missing some of the value-added of Boxee vs some alternative interfaces.

Can you describe what Boxee does that http://yippy.com or http://hulu.com or http://crackle.com do not, please?

I am guessing, other than running the app on the local PC, rather than a crackle/hulu/yippy "cloud" of sorts Boxee may have more options than the others?
[b]Thanks! David[/b]
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[i]Don't google[/i] [b]Search![/b] [url]http://duckduckgo.com[/url]
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stu90

#3 Post by stu90 »

I have not used those other sites - Boxee is a media center you run on your computer not a website.
It allows you to organize and play media that you have on your computer as well as media on the Internet in one environment.

For instance on the video i posted - in the Movie and TV sections those files are on my hard drive, Boxee connected to the net and downloaded all the film and TV shows information, show descriptions and covers.

Boxee's interface is all so set up for easy navigation when connected to a TV , so instead of seeing a PC interface or website you see a nice media center with all the relevant information about your media in a nice clean layout plus the option to watch online media as well.

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edoc
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#4 Post by edoc »

Ah, OK, then it is more robust!

It looked real good on your Youtube demo.

BTW: What did you use to create that?
[b]Thanks! David[/b]
[i]Home page: [/i][url]http://nevils-station.com[/url]
[i]Don't google[/i] [b]Search![/b] [url]http://duckduckgo.com[/url]
TahrPup64 & Lighthouse64-b602 & JL64-603

stu90

#5 Post by stu90 »

For the screen recording i used Xvidcap-1.1.7 .pet

The scrolling text at the start is with ROXTerm terminal and Lobsters Autocue script.

For editing the video and music i used the portable versions of Avidemux and Audacity from portable linux apps - i have openshot video editor installed but as my laptop is not the best spec it takes an age to transcode a HD file - Avidemux allows you to edit / cut /join and add music etc with out transcoding.

Jasper

#6 Post by Jasper »

Hi,

stu90, thanks to your most helpful instructions I was able to register and try boxee, but I shall be pleased if you, or someone, could help me with two queries:

Everything was really slow, cursor movements and typing my chosen name and password, however my question is - how does one get to log out?

and

I had to install Xorg High before clicking on the icon worked, but my question is Quickpet says Xorg High is 14 MB though my save space reduced by 46 MB - was that expected?

My regards

Added:
I should have explained that boxee itself was not in my save space.
Last edited by Jasper on Tue 24 Aug 2010, 20:44, edited 1 time in total.

Sylvander
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#7 Post by Sylvander »

I have:
1. [Within Lupu-510 loaded from "live" CD-RW, with 1GB pupsave on its own 1.3GB partition on a Flash Drive]...
Downloaded the Boxee executable file [to /00].

2. [In Xfe] Right-clicked on it and chose "Properties", clicked the "Permissions" tab, and ticked the "Execute" boxes for "User", "Group", and "Others".

3. Registered at the Boxee website.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEM
1. Unable to run the Boxee executable file. :(
How would I do that? In Xfe?
I can open a terminal in the folder, but it doesn't see the file [command not found].

2. My TV is a new Sony...
Includes a USB wireless dongle [Network Interface] already set up to [successfully] connect to the web direct [not yet networked to the PC] via a D-Link wireless router connected to a Webstar cable modem, and via the co-axial cable to the ISP and the web.
The PC is successfully connected to the router by wire.
Here's the history:
LCD TV Sony Bravia KDL-32EX503: wireless connection.

stu90

#8 Post by stu90 »

Sir Jasper wrote:Hi,

stu90, thanks to your most helpful instructions I was able to register and try boxee, but I shall be pleased if you, or someone, could help me with two queries:

Everything was really slow, cursor movements and typing my chosen name and password, however my question is - how does one get to log out?

and

I had to install Xorg High before clicking on the icon worked, but my question is Quickpet says Xorg High is 14 MB though my save space reduced by 46 MB - was that expected?

My regards

Added:
I should have explained that boxee itself was not in my save space.
To log out use back space or Esc and go to the top left item in the menu - or from the home screen to little circle icon in the top left of the screen next you your log in name and Boxee logo.

As for slow speed i'm not sure maybe a graphics issue or lack of ram? I have a radeon xpress 200m shared graphics and 850mb ram works ok here.

Can't recall how much space the Xorg High driver takes up but Boxee puts a directory in /root containing user setting, apps, cache, temp files etc so that probably accounts for some of the space used , just looked at mine and it is 20mb.

Jasper

#9 Post by Jasper »

Hi stu90,

Thank you for your comprehensive responses to my questions and comments.

Cheers

Added:
Subsequently, it worked quite well using the arrow keys (rather than the mouse). Thanks again - there is almost no chance I would have tried it except for this thread (and even less chance I would have had it working).
Last edited by Jasper on Wed 25 Aug 2010, 10:43, edited 1 time in total.

stu90

#10 Post by stu90 »

Sylvander wrote:I have:
1. [Within Lupu-510 loaded from "live" CD-RW, with 1GB pupsave on its own 1.3GB partition on a Flash Drive]...
Downloaded the Boxee executable file [to /00].

2. [In Xfe] Right-clicked on it and chose "Properties", clicked the "Permissions" tab, and ticked the "Execute" boxes for "User", "Group", and "Others".

3. Registered at the Boxee website.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEM
1. Unable to run the Boxee executable file. :(
How would I do that? In Xfe?
I can open a terminal in the folder, but it doesn't see the file [command not found].

2. My TV is a new Sony...
Includes a USB wireless dongle [Network Interface] already set up to [successfully] connect to the web direct [not yet networked to the PC] via a D-Link wireless router connected to a Webstar cable modem, and via the co-axial cable to the ISP and the web.
The PC is successfully connected to the router by wire.
Here's the history:
LCD TV Sony Bravia KDL-32EX503: wireless connection.
I never used Xfe i use pekwm right now and it works ok, maybe try switching back to to default icewm or jwm to test.

Sounds like you made the file executable all you need to do for it to run is click on it, no terminal.

I just uninstantiated the Xorg - high driver and Boxee wouldn't run so it needs extra driver.

There is a graphics card test in the driver tab of Quickpet, try installing what that recommends and see if Boxee will run.

pistoi0
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#11 Post by pistoi0 »

I am getting an error message to the effect that Boxee is missing libmms.so.0, and thus cannot open shared library files: No such file or directory.

Where to get this lib and where to install it ?

Thanks.[/code]

Sylvander
Posts: 4416
Joined: Mon 15 Dec 2008, 11:06
Location: West Lothian, Scotland, UK

#12 Post by Sylvander »

1. My video card:
nVidia NV5M64 [RIVA TNT2 model 64/model 64 pro] (rev 15)

2. Tried "Quickpet->Drivers->Click here to test...", and all 3 nVidia drivers one after the other.
They resulted in all [icons, menus, windows] but the screen wallpaper becoming very tiny.
Boxee file wouldn't run whilst any of these drivers were installed.
Rebooted, and chose to "not save the session", and each was gone in turn.
Now back as things began.

3.
(a) Tried using Rox-filer to run the file, but that failed [nothing happens][just like with Xfe].

(b) Then used Rox-filer to display "Properties" for the file.
It shows:
Contents indicate...
ISO 9660 CD-ROM filesystem data
UDF filesystem data
(unknown version, id "NSRO....

stu90

#13 Post by stu90 »

pistoi0 wrote:I am getting an error message to the effect that Boxee is missing libmms.so.0, and thus cannot open shared library files: No such file or directory.

Where to get this lib and where to install it ?

Thanks.[/code]
This is a portable application it shouldn't need any extra dependencies. What puppy are you using is it Lucid 5.1, i have only tested on Lucid 5.1.

There is a libmms in the ubuntu repository in puppy package manager, maybe try that.

stu90

#14 Post by stu90 »

Sylvander wrote:1. My video card:
nVidia NV5M64 [RIVA TNT2 model 64/model 64 pro] (rev 15)

2. Tried "Quickpet->Drivers->Click here to test...", and all 3 nVidia drivers one after the other.
They resulted in all [icons, menus, windows] but the screen wallpaper becoming very tiny.
Boxee file wouldn't run whilst any of these drivers were installed.
Rebooted, and chose to "not save the session", and each was gone in turn.
Now back as things began.

3.
(a) Tried using Rox-filer to run the file, but that failed [nothing happens][just like with Xfe].

(b) Then used Rox-filer to display "Properties" for the file.
It shows:
Contents indicate...
ISO 9660 CD-ROM filesystem data
UDF filesystem data
(unknown version, id "NSRO....
To be honest i have no idea why it is not working for you - i can only guess it is something graphics driver related.
Did you try all your tests in the default IceWM and JWM windows managers?

With the extra drivers installed -
Do you have high performance DRI show in HardInfo>Display:
Image

Does GLXgears run in terminal .

pistoi0
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Joined: Tue 25 Oct 2005, 16:27
Location: Hartford, CT

#15 Post by pistoi0 »

Thank you, Stu. Now all is well. I had mistakenly download the Debian version and unpacked that. I have since gone back and followed instructions more closely (':oops:')

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edoc
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Re: HowTo - Turn Puppy into a Home Media Center with Boxee

#16 Post by edoc »

stu90 wrote:Boxee is a Media Center and extender (that can be hooked up to your TV) which allows you to organize and watch local, networked and streaming media.

Step 3. Register an account on Boxee
http://www.boxee.tv/
QUESTIONS:

1. Does Boxee track your viewing?

2. Does Boxee have access to anything on your local PC?

3. Is a Boxee cookie necessary?
[b]Thanks! David[/b]
[i]Home page: [/i][url]http://nevils-station.com[/url]
[i]Don't google[/i] [b]Search![/b] [url]http://duckduckgo.com[/url]
TahrPup64 & Lighthouse64-b602 & JL64-603

Sylvander
Posts: 4416
Joined: Mon 15 Dec 2008, 11:06
Location: West Lothian, Scotland, UK

#17 Post by Sylvander »

1. I've restored a pupsave file copied/saved 10 days ago.
Hence now back at the start with a fresh setup.

2. "Does GLXgears run in terminal"
No.
The terminal shows no GLXgears program existing [not listed].
I type g, then tab twice to list all programs beginning with g.

3. "Do you have high performance DRI show in HardInfo>Display: "
No.
"Renderer" is shown as "Unknown".

4. "Did you try all your tests in the default IceWM and JWM windows managers?"
I don't understand how to switch window managers.
I've never done this.
How is it done?
Use "Menu->Desktop->Desktop Settings->WM switcher"?

5. I've downloaded the the 32-bit Ubuntu DEB file for Boxee.
Might I install deb2pet and attempt to convert the deb to a pet?
Last time I tried that, Lupu warned I'd run out of memory, and needed to reboot, but that didn't go well, hence the restore of the pupsave.

stu90

Re: HowTo - Turn Puppy into a Home Media Center with Boxee

#18 Post by stu90 »

edoc wrote:
stu90 wrote:Boxee is a Media Center and extender (that can be hooked up to your TV) which allows you to organize and watch local, networked and streaming media.

Step 3. Register an account on Boxee
http://www.boxee.tv/
QUESTIONS:

1. Does Boxee track your viewing?

2. Does Boxee have access to anything on your local PC?

3. Is a Boxee cookie necessary?
Question 1. & 3. are probably best asked on the Boxee forum / website.

Question 2. Like VLC or Mplayer it has access to your media files to play them.

If you are concerned about safety or don't like/need/want the social network side of things with Boxee - i have both the portable and nightly build of XBMC (http://xbmc.org/about/) working on Lucid 5.1 but not made into .pet files yet.

stu90

#19 Post by stu90 »

Sylvander wrote:1. I've restored a pupsave file copied/saved 10 days ago.
Hence now back at the start with a fresh setup.

2. "Does GLXgears run in terminal"
No.
The terminal shows no GLXgears program existing [not listed].
I type g, then tab twice to list all programs beginning with g.

3. "Do you have high performance DRI show in HardInfo>Display: "
No.
"Renderer" is shown as "Unknown".

4. "Did you try all your tests in the default IceWM and JWM windows managers?"
I don't understand how to switch window managers.
I've never done this.
How is it done?
Use "Menu->Desktop->Desktop Settings->WM switcher"?

5. I've downloaded the the 32-bit Ubuntu DEB file for Boxee.
Might I install deb2pet and attempt to convert the deb to a pet?
Last time I tried that, Lupu warned I'd run out of memory, and needed to reboot, but that didn't go well, hence the restore of the pupsave.
2. & 3. is probably why Boxee is not working, it needs extra driver from quick pet - Run the 'Test your graphics' in quickpet install which ever driver it recommends.
If GLXgears then works (shoud see an animation of spinning cogs) and you get the extra information in Hardinfo>Display Boxee should work.

4. Yes use the WM switcher, try switiching to IceWM.

5. To use the ubuntu boxee.deb file you will need to download all the dependencies puppy is missing for boxee as well.

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#20 Post by edoc »

XBMC looks interesting ... if you do create a PET I would be interested.

Thanks!
[b]Thanks! David[/b]
[i]Home page: [/i][url]http://nevils-station.com[/url]
[i]Don't google[/i] [b]Search![/b] [url]http://duckduckgo.com[/url]
TahrPup64 & Lighthouse64-b602 & JL64-603

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