[Symphonic-developers] JSymphonic version 0.3.0 pre-alpha

[Nicolas C. <nic...@us...>]

Hello everybody !

This e-mail is to warn you about the non-official release of JSymphonic
version 0.3.0 PRE-ALPHA !

Non-official because this pre-alpha is not available in SourceForge download
page. However, it can be found in the SVN sources at the following address:
http://symphonic.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/symphonic/trunk/jsymphonic/dist/

You'll find:
- JSymphonic_0.3.0pre-alpha_build20081215.jar  -> the program
- ffmpeg-win32.zip                                             -> FFMPEG
compiled for Windows
- jSymphonic.xml                                              -> the new
configuration file, in it's default form. It should be useless since
JSymphonic automaticly create it if it's absent.



########### First: Why this PRE-ALPHA release ??

####### You are a translator ?
Version 0.3.0 offers a brand new GUI which needs to be translated.The
PRE-ALPHA lets you use the program even if it is not in the alpha stage. You
can run it to see how the different labels are used and how to translate
them. You'll find in the SVN the language files corresponding to your
language at the address:
http://symphonic.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/symphonic/trunk/jsymphonic/src/localization/

Please, download the file corresponding to your language (or update your SVN
local copy) and replace the English words with their translations in your
native language.(You should change the words AFTER the "="). Then, commit
your changes or send me back the language file and I will add it the the
SVN. The alpha release is schedule for Christmas. I will not wait for one of
you !!

Moreover, the GUI should be changed to display the name of your language in
your language, in the configuration properties. (For example, for the french
language, the combo box displaying the list of language doesn't display
"French" but "Français"). Please, give me the name of your language in your
language.

Last thing, can you please check if I didn't make a mistake with the code of
your language. For example, language code for french is FR.


So, translators are :
hpeat -> "Czech" ("cs", "CS")
Henning -> "German" ("de", "DE")
Mephx -> "Portuguese" ("pt", "PT")
mayday85 -> "Russian" ("ru", "RU")
herchu -> "Spanish" ("es", "ES")
hpeat -> "Slovak" ("sk", "SK")
danizmax -> "Slovensko" ("sl", "SI")
lenborje -> "Swedish" ("sv", "SV")
haiiit53 -> "Turkish" ("tr", "TR")

Note that French language has already been translated.


####### You want to help to write the wiki or the documentation
This PRE-ALPHA will let know about what you are writing in the documentation


####### For all the others:
This PRE-ALPHA allows you to discover the new release before everyone (i.e.
to have the bug-problems before everyone ;-) ).

Since it is not an alpha version, it is not yet a testable version. The
reason why I give it to you is that I want to be sure that it runs fine on
everybody's computer, that you are able to transfer files, to use FFMPEG and
so on.

BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT IT'S A PRE-ALPHA VERSION. Things are missing,
otherwise it would be an alpha or even stable version !!!


Concerning but reports, you can start to report bug (I'm going to open a
dedicated topic in the SourceForge forum for version 0.3.0a, you can send me
e-mail waiting for that topic), but before reporting a bug, please have a
look on the following ROADMAP and please don't report a bug for something
writen in this roadmap. (two alpha releases are planned, but the second
alpha may be a beta and maybe a third alpha would be necessary...)

ROADMAP:
# Todo for v0.3.0a1
- use the logo
- implement file progress bar for copies (exportation and importation)
- translations
- when the content of the player is scanned, user thinks JSymphonic is
freezing since nothing happens. We should have a progress bar. (and use
methods: Send transfering file progress, Loading progress changed)
- write the new READ ME
- write credits

# Todo for v0.3.0a2
- add a path to be configured to give the path to FFMPEG for windows users
- FFMPEG under MacOS !?
- transcode feature: determine for each generation the format natively
supported (m4a?acc?...) and add support for a maximum of formats available
in FFMPEG.
- tag read ability for new supported formats (FLAC, OGG, MPC, WMA,... ...)
- Menu buttons and local folders should be disabled while a transfer is
occuring.
- fix up OMA support for old generations
- complete "About version" (and enable "JSymphonic -version" command to
print the version !?)
- when logger is occupied scanning the content of the walkman, it doesn't
display that a key has been found on protected players
- correct the excpetions when building a databe on an empty player
- add a "Abord" button to prematurly stop a tranfer (and display a warning
stated that the device may not be left in a usuable state !)

# Todo for v0.3.0b
Unbug the program (any bug)

# Todo for v0.3.0
Unbug the program (any bug)



########### Then: how to use this PRE-ALPHA release ??
Well, basicly, it works as 0.2.x versions. Three major changes have to be
noticed:

1) There is a new GUI. So button are differents and things may not be placed
in the same way... I let you discover that by your own. If you have big
problems with this new GUI, just ask me ;-)

2) You can now gives us the log files when a bug occurs !! It will be so
easy now to debug !!! ;-)

3) It is now possible for Linux and Windows users to add OGG and FLAC files
into your walkman (for aingoppa: I would like to see with you a way to make
it available for Mac users as well, do you have an idea about how to get
FFMPEG for Mac ?). JSymphonic is going to transcode these files to MP3
before sending them to your walkman. This means that JSymphonic needs to
know where is FFMPEG.

    a) You are running on Linux: you need to have installed FFMPEG with MP3
support. You may compile FFMPEG from the sources (google to find the
sources) but your distribution may offer you a package.
For Ubuntu users (<= 8.04), Hardy release and earlier can have a package for
FFMPEG in Medibuntu.
For Ubuntu users (>= 8.10), Intrepid release offers a package of FFMPEG but
it is compiled WITHOUT MP3 support. You have to install this version first,
and to enable MP3 support, you need to enable Multiverse repository and
install the following packages:
libavcodec-unstripped-51
libavdevice-unstripped-52
libavformat-unstripped-52
libavutil-unstripped-49
libpostproc-unstripped-51
libswscale-unstripped-0

    b) You are running on Windows: in the SVN where you found the PRE-ALPHA
of JSymphonic, you'll find a ".zip" file called  "ffmpeg-win32.zip". It's
FFMPEG which needs to be unzipped and placed in one of the following folders
on your walkman (called hereafter "walkman"):
walkman\ffmpeg.exe
walkman\JSymphonic\ffmpeg.exe
walkman\ffmpeg-win32\ffmpeg.exe
walkman\JSymphonic\\ffmpeg-win32\ffmpeg.exe


One more point, for the first time, the program may launch itself, tell you
that the Device Path is incorrect and nothing is displayed then, but you can
feel that your computer is going an important task in your hard drive...
Well, this means that the configuration file is incorrect and since
JSymphonic is scanning the local music folder before the program showed up,
the whole disk is considered as the local music folder and is currently
scan... Just stop the program, and change by hand the "jSymphonic.xml" file
by editing it with your favorite text editor.






Well, I think it's enough for now...
Just download and have fun !!!!!!!!!!!!



Cheers !!
Nicolas