GoCubs;165672 Wrote: > I pretty must tabled any further work until I had proof that it's even > possible. The big thing I'm worried about is some sort of DRM > protection that would prohibit a foreign plugin without some possibly > illegal hacking. I did a quick google search a few weeks ago and > didn't find any new information on how Launchcast works under the > covers. I'm also not familiar with the Jukebox player vs the web one > and am surprised it offers a better bitrate. The broadband I pay for > at my office includes LauchCast Plus @128 via the web, I'm not sure if > it also includes the Jukebox player. > > I really like LaunchCast's selection/quality and rating system and > would love to develop a plugin, it's just I need some sort of guidance > as to how it works. Otherwise I'll have to crawl through tons of > javascript (hopefully they dont have any activeX/Java components) > and/or run a packet sniffer. Not fun. I contemplated doing this, but > I don't want to put forth all that effort just to find out the stuff is > protected by some DRM. > > Yeah! I was waiting on you :) > > If someone wants to do this research I'll work on the plugin, until > then I guess I'll stick with Sirius for my streaming needs! > > -Greg
Hi Greg, here is some added information that I gathered about the bitrates: Yahoo stores the streams at 190K, and downsamples them on the fly to various levels depending on how you are listening to them. They also do dynamic range normalization. For instance, the web interface is at around 128K -- you can also listen through Yahoo Messenger at some possibly other bitrate(sounds worse to me, but may be my imagination). Only LaunchCast Plus subscribers can hear the 190K native bitrates through the Jukebox. The Jukebox(in its basic and adequate version) is free. You should download it and try it. The quality difference between this service at 190K and the Web based is significant and easy to appreciate even through PC Speakers. Plus you can play non-normalized dynamic range -- very important. I have used the Linksys Wireless Music Bridge to connect to my home stereo(very poor product compared to Slim), and appreciated the superior quality of the Jukebox stream through to my end system. You can get the Jukebox here: http://music.yahoo.com/jukebox/ Now they try and get you to upgrade to Jukebox Plus edition(not free), which gives you high-speed burning, equalizer etc....All tools I do not need. I find that the riping and library functionality of Yahoo Jukebox is below grade, and quite buggy. Its closed XML Tag library contributing to its uselessness. However, the music listening part including quality/music content -- and rating engine is unmatched and excellent. As far as how it works, I have found that the Yahoo Music Developers are kinda open to chatting to the public. They hang out on IRC. I have exchanged some feedback to them in the past. You can talk to them directly at:irc.landoleet.org, channel is "yme". They advertised this on thier public Blog(http://ymusicblog.com/blog/) Why they use IRC and not Yahoo Messenger is both ironic and funny. Frankly I cannot stand messenger or any Chat marketware for that matter ;) Best Regards Jim -- jt25741 SB3->AR Masters Coax -> PS Audio DLIII -> Cardas Golden Cross -> Sim Audio P5 -> Cardas Golden Reference -> Sim Audio W5 -> PS Audio Xtreme Plus(Low) AQCV4(mid/hi)-> Magnepan 3.6R ------------------------------------------------------------------------ jt25741's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=8645 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26676 _______________________________________________ plugins mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/plugins
