*****OFFICIAL SageTV/SageClient FEATURE REQUEST/UPDATE THREAD*****

[Mark Lamutt]

This thread will be used to pull together all of the feature requests for the SageTV and SageClient products. I'll be the official "keeper" of the thread. If you have a feature request for SageTV or SageClient, please post it here, and I'll add it to the list. Please DO NOT ask support questions in this thread.

From time to time, Jeff and Dan will post updates in this thread discussing the progress made on the requested features, along with other things as well.

Edit: If you find a post that you left in this thread missing, it's because I have deleted or moved it. I am deleting or moving posts that do not include feature requests from this thread.

[Mark Lamutt]

I'm going to be updating this thread to reflect things that have been completed. I'll just edit the posts directly like this:

[NARFLEX: In Beta V1.4.6]
(for things that are available in the specified beta release, they may have been added earlier)

or

[NARFLEX: Already exists V1.3]
(It was added in V1.3 or earlier. That means read the manual, check our support section on our site, and browse the forums, or make a separate post, the answer is out there how to do it)

or

[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]
(this means the SageTV Studio will allow this to be done; and it will more than likely come with it as a prebuilt interface, and essentially everything in the UI is customizable with the SageTV Studio)

or

[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio - Advanced]
(this means the SageTV Studio will allow this to be done; and it will most likely not come with it as a prebuilt interface; however you will be able to create this interface using the studio with some effort on your part - or download it from someone else who would have built it and shared it)

IMPORTANT:
Just because I don't say it's in there, doesn't mean its not. So don't go making assumptions about anything based on lack of comment on my part.

[fasttech]

Here are a few:
1.) SageGuide: Instead of the wierd Info button to show the program details in the guide, can we have a portion of the screen dedicated to the program details like Tivo does, either at the top or bottom of the screen?
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

2.) OSD: While watching TV, can we have the option to show the program details of the current show onscreen with the video instead of having to go to the separate Program Info screen which also mutes the sound?
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

3.) Categorization of recorded shows: Let us have a way to somehow categorize shows that we have recorded so we don't have to always view the programs SageTV thinks we like Maybe use folders for the intelligent recordings and for others as well? Just a suggestion.
[NARFLEX: Already exists]

[JJarmoc]

HD.. can't forget about HD, though that's already on the radar it seems.

[dervari]

1) "Always On Top" option
[NARFLEX: In Beta V1.4.6]
2) Option to turn off OSD so you can have Sage on top of other apps (See #1) and not have to worry about where you move the mouse cursor.
[NARFLEX: In Beta V1.4.6]
3) Email in case of a conflict
4) "Control-Only" client for free, or a minimum charge. Will only allow controlling scheduling. No view capability.
5) Show actual filename of the recorded show in Detail. I record multiple episodes of the same show and would love this feature for archiving.
[NARFLEX: In Beta V1.4.6]

[sennbj]

1) The ability to define a naming convention for the files; Like “Title+FirstAirDate+Catagory” or something like that.

2) Button press sounds.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

3) Navigation tree editing; Like defining how movement from one screen to the next is performed and what comes up. This would lead right into the ability to customize the interface and “skin” the entire GUI. I would like to simplify the “Main” menu with just Live TV, Sage Guide and Advanced. Then I could move down a level to get more of the screens and so on. You have heard it all before… It must be easy to navigate or the spouse will not use it…
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio - Advanced]

[mlbdude]

1. More use of the category/folder view. It would be nice if all shows with the same name (not title) where grouped together and stayed under all circumstances.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio - Advanced]

2. Ability to have a min/max count for the number of episodes for each favorite. Example, never keep more than 10 - always keep 5 if space permits (delete from elsewhere if possible).

3. Folder use in Video Library. I have an extensive video library and it would be nice if Sage imported it and grouped it based on my folder structure - same could also apply to Music Library where I don't want it to categorize based on ID3 information.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio - Advanced]

4. Mini TV guide as an OSD with the video playing. It could simply pop up over the bottom half of the screen.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

5. OSD for detailed show information without having to leave the program.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

6. More options to fine tune intelligent recording...

a. Never record this show
b. Only choose from categories xyz.
c. Never choose shows from channels xyz.
d. Separate bitrate selection for intelligent show. I watch live TV with a high bitrate, but would like the intelligent shows recorded at a lower bitrate so I can record more.

7. Prettier, more context menu driven interface. This is not a priority for me but I can tell by hearing complaints from Sage users and from users of Sage's competitors that this will be an issue for Sage to compete at some time.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

8. Ability to refresh a Library without having to exit Sage. I have a CD drive added a Library folder - would be nice to be able to have its contents rescanned with a command.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

I would have put the "shows that I watch are added to SageRecordings" issue as I have mentioned it as well in the past. However, after using it for awhile with Intelligent Recording it kind of makes sense now. Plus there is the LiveTV Guide.

That is all for now Thanks for a great product.

[fasttech]

Thought of a couple more:
1.) REAL fast forwarding and rewinding like Tivo does it. Not skipping like it is currently. Actually see what is going on with the video as you FFW/REW. And multiple levels of FFW/REW so 1 click goes 2X, second click is 4x, etc.

2.) Ability to go back to the beginning or end of a show with a single click or maybe a couple of clicks.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

[sub]

- OSD on the tvout of the PVR 350.

- Cooler graphics. Sorry guys, but they're currently a bit lame.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

- Some OSD program information rather than separate screens.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

[mlbdude]

Just rememberd another one as well, it would be great to be able to "browse" through the guide as well as search. For example, list all Movies\Comedy, or just all Movies that will be airing.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio - Advanced]

[Drewbot]

I'd love to see a save to Tape / Disk function that works with the common utilities like Roxio / Nero / Etc. for archiving shows through the SageTV interface.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio - Advanced]

[sennbj]

Originally posted by Drewbot
I'd love to see a save to Tape / Disk function that works with the common utilities like Roxio / Nero / Etc. for archiving shows through the SageTV interface.

Oh, that reminds me, a "playlist".. The ability to que several shows at once to play back in sequence.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

[pawn]

Not that anybody owes me anything, but since everyone else asks, I'll add a couple of my own:

1. Favourite by keyword. Since I didn't get a response about having Sage record only an individual sports team's games, I'll assume it currently can't be done.

But perhaps it could be if, for instance, the user could enter a key word, or key words to be searched for in the guide titles and/or program desciptions.

Example: I could enter "Toronto Maple Leafs" as a favourite, or even as an intelligent recording helper, and Sage would record all Leaf games for me.

2. A video export utility. I don't do any video editing, but about the only thing I would do, is save a clip from a show.

It would be best if this utility could be accurate down to a second (i.e., save the portion of show "X" from 2 minutes and 45 seconds to 3 minutes and 30 seconds), unlike ATI's predictably useless solution which is only accurate to the minute.


Thanks for the podium.

[edmc]

Check out recent ZoomPlayer versions. There is a button to export a .gml file which standardizes/eases the programming of Girder commands to control ZP.

[edmc]

While many enjoy crafting personal Pronto screens, it would be great to have SageTV also ship a standard one. The IR commands sent could be either interpretted directly by SageTV (not my preference) or used to cause Girder (see above) to send the appropriate SendMessage to SageTV (far more desireable imho).

[m1j]

Be able to move around in program guide by channel number. Option to start Sagetv in Live TV mode or any other mode or menu you wish.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]
Cut down number of keystrokes to get info.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]
Give me options to make Sagetv the way I want it not set in stone the way someone else believes it should be.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio - Advanced]
One option I like is recording everything but some people don’t. Give them the option to turn it off. Options, options, options give me the power. Option to launch other programs from Sagetv menu.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio - Advanced]
Make setting options easy like check and unchecked not modifying properties file.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]
Easy is the key not a work around or you can do it this way, I want to do it my way.

Just my opinion
Thanks

[Lester Jacobs]

I've mentioned this to Jeff already but...

I'd like support for "regular" tuner cards i.e. cards that do not have a hardware MPEG encoder onboard.

How should that work? Well SageTV should support those cards in Live TV only mode i.e. Sage will just show the output directly from the card withouttrying to record anything

What's the use of that you ask? Well consider my scenario, I have two WinTV PVR 250s and an ATI All-In-Wonder 8500. Right now my ATI AIW is sitting idle since SageTV can't make use of it. However there are quite a few occasions where both of my PVR 250s are tied up doing recordings (especially during prime time) and I would still like to surf other TV channels. Since I'm only surfing and not recording then if SageTV could make use of the AIW then Ithat would help me greatly. Of course, I suppose I could buy another PVR 250 but;
a) I'm out of PCI slots
b) I already have an AIW, why not make use of it?
c) Even if I didn't have an AIW I could pick up a regular tuner card for $50 as opposed to a PVR 250 for $130. Makes a difference.


Cheers
Lester

[Lester Jacobs]

Not to contradict my previous point but....

I'd like Sage to support the new ATI software encoder. Assuming this works well, I would get an extra tuner in my system since I already have an ATI AIW. I know software encoders use more CPU but my 2.4Ghz P4 should be able to handle it. I can currently run ATI's TV software in PVR mode (where it is both encoding and decoding an mpeg-2 stream at the same time, all in software) and use only about 27 - 40% of my CPU.


Cheers
Lester

[justme]

1) The ability to customize the iconbar. I mean remove features/icons I don't use and add any feature that SageTV supports. Example: I don't use the volume or mute icons, but I'd love to have both FF1,FF2 and the last channel commands on the iconbar.
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio]

2) Official Girder support. By this I mean some one at Sage should release and maintain an up to date GML with all of Sage's features.

3) Event reporting to Girder. Such as what screen Sage is on etc.
(This is salsbst's idea. I just wanted to see it on the list)
[NARFLEX: SageTV Studio - Advanced]

PS:Good luck in maintaining this list Mark. I didn't know you would be the sacrificial lamb when I suggested it.

[Lester Jacobs]

Here's another one...

I think this is already in the works but I'd like the sagetv.exe -awake command to launch SageTV if it isn't already running. Currently, -awake only works if Sage is already running but sleeping. I'd like to have one command that awakes SageTV if it is asleep or launches it if it isn't running.
[NARFLEX: In Beta V1.4.6, maybe earlier]

Lester