I have completed the code for the implementation of the DesignSurface (The DesignSurface class implements what the user perceives as a designer. DesignSurface is the user interface the user manipulates to change design-time features. DesignSurface provides a completely self-contained design surface) and DesignSurfaceManager .Net 2.0 classes for the Mono class library. Currently it consists of 33 classes. I’ve started the testing phase by hosting Micro$oft’s Windows.Forms control’s designers. The final testing/compitability testing phase I have planned is to compile and test a copy of SharpDevelop 2 with my DesignSurface and related classes. I have also implemented the ComponentDesigner class and did a bit of the ControlDesigner class. I will make the source available once I have completed the testing/bugfixing/compitability improvements.
Coding
A huge part of the equalization work is in CVS now. Seems like Aaron Bockover really dove into it after I’ve sent my patch to the list. He also made a redesign of the equalizer dialog and it looks extremly nice and clean.
[[Image:software/banshee-equalizer-final.png|center]]
P.S: I’ve updated my Xine Engine to match the fixed frequencies behaviour in Banshee.
Coding
What is it called when a blonde blows in another blonde’s ear?
… Data transfer.
Coding
Ever wanted to use libxine to play stuff in Banshee? I’ve coded up the Xine Backend for you and here is how to install and activate it. Be aware that Banshee version newer than 0.10.10 is required. If you want to compile from source and you are on SUSE Linux you will have to install the banshee-devel package.
Download XineEngine.dll in the directory reported by
pkg-config --variable=systemplugindir banshee | sed -e 's/Banshee.Plugins/Banshee.MediaEngine/'
Activate the engine with:
gconftool-2 --set /apps/Banshee/PlayerEngine "xine-engine" --type string
Done!
From Source
wget http://files.i-nz.net/projects/banshee/banshee-engine-xine/banshee-engine-xine.tar.gz
tar xfz banshee-engine-xine.tar.gz
cd banshee-engine-xine
./autogen.sh
make
make install
Changing the default engine in Banshee
Setting the default media engine in Banshee can be done by using gconftool:
gconftool-2 --get /apps/Banshee/PlayerEngine
gconftool-2 --set /apps/Banshee/PlayerEngine "engine-name" --type string
Coding
The following patches add the required in order to make the Helix backend in Banshee equalizable. It consists of 2 parts. The first one patches the Helix DBus Server and the second the Helix-Remote Engine itself. The patches:
Helix_IEqualizer.patch
helix-dbus-server_Equalizer.patch
Coding
I’ve redesigned my previous banshee equalizer as a core banshee component and also as a separate window. Screeny:
[[Image:software/banshee-equalizer-3.png|center]]
The initial version of the equalizer was based on the addition of the equalizer-specific virtual members to the PlayerEngine abstract class (You can refer to my previous post). Aaron had the idea to move them out of the PlayerEngine and rather define an IEqualizer interface. Also decision was taken the equalizer to be a separate window and to be a core component. Also I have made the equalizer presetable.
The equalizer implementation consists of:
1) Equalizer.cs - the equalizer widget.
2) EqualizerDialog.cs - the equalizer dialog.
3) EqualizerManager.cs - the widget manager, which implements the
presets functioanllity.
4) Changes to banshee.glade, UIManagerLayout.xml, ActionManager.cs,
PlayerInteface.cs, GConfKeys.cs and makefiles in order to include the
equalizer.
The actual patch for CVS Head - Banshee_Equalizer.patch
Coding
What is the difference between Jurassic Park and Microsoft?
One is an over-rated high tech theme park based on prehistoric information and populated mostly by dinosaurs, the other is a Steven Spielberg movie.
Coding
Erm. I wasn’t exactly planning to do so much Banshee stuff during the past few days (not that it’s really that much), but eh… After the Xine backendI hacked up an Equalizer plugin for Banshee. Bellow is the first public screenshot. It works like a charm here, saves it’s state when you exit banshee (also restores on startup) and the sliders auto-align in the middle (a neat helper).
[[Image:software/banshee-equalizer.png]]
Read more…
Coding
Whoever for whatever reason wants to use LibXine in Banshee rather than Helix/GStreamer can now use my Xine-Engine. Big thanks to Aaron Bockover. More info here.
I can continue my work on System.Design.* now. 
Coding
At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated:
“If General Motors had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving twenty-five dollar cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.”
In response to Bill’s comments, General Motors issued a press release stating (by Mr. Welch himself):
“If General Motors had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:
1) For no reason whatsoever your car would crash twice a day.
2) Every time they painted new lines on the road you would have to buy a new car.
3) Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason, and you would just accept this, restart and drive on.
4) Occasionally, executing a manoeuvre such as a left turn, would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.
5) Only one person at a time could use the car, unless you bought “Car95″ or “CarNT”. But then you would have to buy more seats.
6) Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, reliable, five times as fast, and twice as easy to drive, but would only run on five percent of the roads.
7) The oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would be replaced by a single “general car default” warning light.
New seats would force everyone to have the same size butt.
9) The airbag system would say “Are you sure?” before going off.
10) Occasionally for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key, and grab hold of the radio antenna.
11) GM would also require all car buyers to also purchase a deluxe set of Rand McNally road maps (now a GM subsidiary), even though they neither need them nor want them. Attempting to delete this option would immediately cause the car’s performance to diminish by 50% or more. Moreover, GM would become a target for investigation by the Justice Department.
12) Every time GM introduced a new model car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
13) You’d press the “start” button to shut off the engine.”
Coding
