Hey all,

I bought the SE-80 about 8 months ago and currently have about 7,000 on the hard-drive. Since this doesn't have TCP/IP I've been waiting for the FP-1 that I received today and hooked into the system. Just wanted to let you know all is well with everything communicating and working as it should except for some of the quirks that have been previously mentioned. I did notice that when playing a "playlist" the cover-art is the playlist icon instead of actual cover-art of the album playing. When I go to the onscreen via video out, the cover-art is the album and not the playlist icon. Hopefully this can get worked out along with DVD-M and iRadio support but it seems to be off to a good start.

The FP-1 sees the music off the SE-80 and brings it into its guide, it has a static IP address but I just set the host name in the TSU9600 and it connected immediately. I'm not yet running My-PC or have an iPod but I could now always get one.

The Cover art not displaying is a bug in the unit that is providing IP control. For example, my DVDM-100 pulling Music from the Fireball PC provides a URL for the cover art that is similar to the following:

http://mytheaterpc_ip address/7.0.5/database/music/covers

The problem here is that the web server on Fireball PC is actually using port 7445 and therefore, the TSU9600 is attempting to connect to port 80. The workaround I put in place was to install Internet Information Server (IIS) on the same pc as Fireball PC and share the 7.0.5 folder as a virtual folder. This way, the TSU9600 can retrieve the same jacket pic from port 80 (standard HTTP port) instead of Port 7445.

I specifically inquired with Escient again earlier this week on the status of a fix as they are providing new software updates. I've yet to receive a response as to whether this is fixed. However, if you are having problems that you need fixed, I HIGHLY suggest calling them now so maybe they could slip something in and you don't have to wait 8 months for the next update.

ahhh, so this is an Escient issue and not a ProntoTeam issue. I'll call them tomorrow...I know they are going to ship the ZP-1 starting next week, maybe they were planning on doing the update then as they just have the beta version update on their website now

Yes, most likely it is an Escient issue.

Don't hold your breath. I called them on Tuesday and have not gotten a reply either via email or phone.

Update: I just talked to them again and it is not in the next BETA update.

I talked to them today as well and they explained it like this is how it is supposed to be and not a bug but would pass along my change request. They said that under TCP/IP the "playlist" cover was supposed to show, not the album since we are listening to a playlist. Now if I were to get out of the playlist the album art would show. It doesn't seem right and I think it is a bug since the video-out interface shows the album cover when you listen to a playlist. He also said it really didn't have to do with port routing.

Anyway, Escient says there end of the DVD and iRadio interface is in place and it is now in the hands of the ProntoTeam to implement it.

I missed the point about the Playlist. Yes, that's is correct as they manage the jacket pic at the album level although the jacket pic is available in each MP3. The way Fireball PC manages it is that they copy the first jacket they find when processing an "album" of MP3 files and then use this jacket for the album. That presumes that each MP3 file in an "album" will have the same jacket pic.

I thought I would see the album cover art for the artist under player mode in a playlist like one does when viewing the Escient via the TV interface (when listening to a playlist). Instead the blueish playlist icon is shown for cover art in the player mode of the TSU9600 and not the currently playing album cover.

I ran across this Pronto TSU9600 INTERGRATION document the other day. Had not seen this before. Those setting up an Escient device for the first time in PEP might find this helpful.

Yeah, Escient basically plagiarized Philips' documentation without citing credit. I thought that was funny but otherwise, the document is pretty good for a starting programmer.

Hello!
Do you always need some kind of extender to use the TSU9600 with an Escient Server?
Or does the Pronto communicate on its own with the Escient?
thanks,
fru

An extender is not needed. The TSU9600 can communicate with an Escient Server directly.

Here's a good thread with plenty of Escient info.

[Link: remotecentral.com]