SoftwareSpecs

Revision 11 as of 2007-02-27 22:13:35

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Summary

This specification describes the Ubuntu Media Center Software (aka UMC).

This effort, which is supported by the [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuMediaCenterTeam Ubuntu Media Center Team], will try to bring the Ubuntu paradigm (easy to install / use / update, beautiful artwork, feature rich and complete, ...) to this area.

It will only address the software part, that is to say an Ubuntu'ished software installable on any Ubuntu based system. Another [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MediaCenter/DistroSpecs Spec] will address the creation of a distribution, like [http://www.geexbox.org/ GeexBox], but based upon Ubuntu for the system and the present specification for the software.

This specification also supersed the [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuMediaCenter UMC previous attempt] done by Sébastien Gripon. This one is still kept for the comments.

Rationale

One of the crucial stakes of future computing is its ability to bring the convergence for all media available, in a simple yet powerful way for home users.

Ubuntu currently lacks a Media Center in its "offering". Such a software allows to easily use a multimedia PC, generally remote controlled, to display various content, while being sat on a sofa.

The features are:

  • easy to install / use / update,

  • nice graphical effects (through options or autodetection of the hardware capabilities) and artwork. The expected result strangely resemble to [http://youtube.com/watch?v=nryeEYK7jmA&mode=related&search= Apple's Front Row]

  • automatic detection of hardware, and features enabling / disabling (ie if there is no TV tuner, there is no need for a TV entry in the menu),

  • out-of-the-box support for the more possible [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MediaCenter/RemoteSupport remotes],

  • bundled support for numerous A/V codecs (including an option for proprietary and commercials codecs, like [https://shop.fluendo.com/ Fluendo's] ?),

  • TV watching, including time shifting and program scheduling / recording (PVR), and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Program_Guide EPG] support,

  • movies, music and pictures (from HDD, DVD, or network sources) display,
  • Radio, News (RSS...), Weather,
  • Video / Music on Demand,
  • Video conferencing and Instant Messaging,
  • easy burning to CD / DVD of the recorded programs (PVR),
  • localization for the data sources such as EPG, RSS feeds, ...

  • <... to be completed ...>

All of this possibly completed by a "Powered by Ubuntu" [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MediaCenter/RemoteSupport remote control], or even a [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MediaCenter/BoxSpecs complete UMC preloaded box].

This is an essential step for Ubuntu to be present in every house.

Use cases

  • Mark has a laptop with media center features, such as a DVD drive, a TV tuner, a and a remote. He is using this laptop primarily as a desktop system with Ubuntu installed. But he also want to use it as a media center with a remote, when taking a rest from development in the evening.
  • Michael has bought a new PC to replace his old Ubuntu box. Since he doesn't want to trash it, he is thinking about switching it to Ubuntu Media Center, and make it his PVR.

  • Other use cases either belongs to the [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MediaCenter/DistroSpecs Distribution] side (installation on dedicated systems) or to [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MediaCenter/BoxSpecs UMC Box] (pre loaded system including hardware and UMC software).

Scope

Design

UMC will be developed using an existing media center software([http://www.fluendo.com/elisa/index.php elisa] seems to best meet our needs, though not yet complete).

The development will follow these steps:

  • Specification and implementation of the base external dependencies (remote controls and codecs)
  • Specification and sketching of the User Interface,
  • Artwork and ressources (effects plugins, sample media, ...) definition and creation,
  • Missing plugins (for features) creation,
  • Packages creation (meta package for ease of installation and switch) and enhancements (elisa, codecs, ...),

Implementation

The implementation milestones are under definition...

Milestone 1 (possible target: Feisty+1)

  • Get in touch with the various teams (LIRC, Elisa, Debian LIRC Team, Ubuntu Art)
  • Specification and implementation of the base external dependencies:
  • Specification and sketching of the User Interface,
  • Artwork and ressources (effects plugins, sample media, ...) definition and creation,
  • Packages creation (meta package for ease of installation and switch) and enhancements (elisa, codecs, ...),

Milestone 2 (possible target: ?)

  • Missing plugins (for features) creation,

    <...>

Code

Data preservation and migration

Unresolved issues

BoF agenda and discussion

CategorySpec