linux projector

Forum: Multimedia
Topic: linux projector
started by: dan28

Posted by dan28 on July 30 2006,21:06

Hi everyone

Ok, check this out.

Ive got a server, which is running debian install, LAMPP (Linux, Apache 2, MYSQL 5 php5 , Python)

I have 3 Thin-Clients (DSL on USB Pend Drive)

I would like each thin client to have a screen saver which plays MPEG2 or .swf (or both) when each thin client is not in use.

Can you suggest an App that will let me do this from server side.
Would the app need to have web interface or file sharing capabilities.

What do I need to start doing this? Any ideas

- Cheers

Dan

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Aug. 02 2006,03:15

See xscreensaver.

Posted by dan28 on Aug. 11 2006,17:31

Hi sorry about the delay in responding to this message, ive been experimenting with xscreensaver.

Xscreensaver works fin, but what I need to do is run a number of different screen savers on various thin clients at once.

Here is an example.

I have thisfile.mpeg and thisfile1.mpeg I want to run thisfile.mpeg for 30 seconds then when the screen is activated, I want to run thisfile1.mpeg for the next screen saver.

The other problem is that these screens savers when running will beable to take you to a website.
So, each screen saver will have a “more info” button on them, when clicked (touched, as im using touch screens) they will take user to another page. If the user does not touch on “more info” they will be taken back into the current program they were using.

Sorry if this sounds complicated, but im finding it difficult top explain, hope you understand.

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Aug. 11 2006,17:39

I suppose you could use some sort of playlist for the videos - you could always end up using a script wrapper for it.

I'm not sure if xscreensaver is capable of some sort of "more info" button by default, I suggest for you to search xscreensaver resources.

Posted by dan28 on Aug. 11 2006,21:22

im thinking xscreensaver isn't going to work, guess it back to the drawing board.
i'll let you know when i solve the problem.

Posted by brianw on Aug. 13 2006,02:23

I know there is a utility that will run a program if there has been no input for a preset amount of time. I am not sure if I seen it as a dsl or using synaptic. I will have a look on synaptic when I am using it and let you know if I find it. You should check the dsl repository first then synaptic if you don't find anything.

Posted by dan28 on Aug. 13 2006,17:36

I'll take a look and let you know. thanks for the help. interesting thread though

Posted by brianw on Aug. 14 2006,02:03

xautolock is a tool that can be used. I tested it using a script that calls feh to display images. feh was called and when I pressed the esc key to exit feh the desktop came up. I then checked to see if xautolock was still running and it was so it worked a second time. I think that the big thing might be how the program you invokes exits (more specifically can it be killed with any key press or does it take a special key like esc for feh).

Posted by dare2dreamer on Aug. 15 2006,05:41

feh is a wonderfully light program for static images. For animation, you might have a look at mplayer. As I recall, it is fully controllable from the command line.

It would be trivial to script either one to do what you needed. A simple series of "playsomething;sleep xseconds;playsomethingelse" commands in a loop would do it.