[opensuse] Mplayer and Yahoo conference calls
I use Mplayer (the default player suggested by Suse/KDE for conference calls from http://biz.yahoo.com/cc ) to listen to financial conference calls. In windows, starting any archived call triggers it to start immediately. (using media player). Mplayer launches, Clicks, and then just sits there. One becomes convinced it will not work. 20 minutes later it will start playing the lead-in music. It might do that for another 20 minutes. Then the call will start, and it works fine (other than having no ability to use the position slider to step backward and forward like Media Player). Under Windows Media player, the call starts instantly at the dialog portion. No music lead in. Is there any Linux player that works with these calls? (alledgedly they are ASX format)? -- _____________________________________ John Andersen -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On 7/26/07, John Andersen <jsa@pen.homeip.net> wrote:
I use Mplayer (the default player suggested by Suse/KDE for conference calls from http://biz.yahoo.com/cc ) to listen to financial conference calls.
In windows, starting any archived call triggers it to start immediately. (using media player).
Mplayer launches, Clicks, and then just sits there. One becomes convinced it will not work. 20 minutes later it will start playing the lead-in music. It might do that for another 20 minutes. Then the call will start, and it works fine (other than having no ability to use the position slider to step backward and forward like Media Player).
Under Windows Media player, the call starts instantly at the dialog portion. No music lead in.
Is there any Linux player that works with these calls? (alledgedly they are ASX format)?
Most probably the first delay is because of the buffering. How big the buffer (cache) is, and other options can be set trough a config file: <http://mplayerplug-in.sourceforge.net/config.php> Also, you may try using vlc instead of mplayer. -- Svetoslav Milenov (Sunny) Even the most advanced equipment in the hands of the ignorant is just a pile of scrap. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Thursday 26 July 2007, Sunny wrote:
Most probably the first delay is because of the buffering. How big the buffer (cache) is, and other options can be set trough a config file: <http://mplayerplug-in.sourceforge.net/config.php>
No i don't think its a buffering issue. The recordings usually run an hour and the delay is at least 20 minutes before any sound is heard. Buffering might take 30 seconds, but not 20 minutes. When it finally does start playing it will play 10 minutes of music before the talking starts. Somehow this is all skipped if Windows media player is used, and it instantly jumps to the talking.
Also, you may try using vlc instead of mplayer.
VLC -Same problem. Xmms - Same problem Amarok - Same problem The conference calls are fairly boring (unless you have a couple hundred thousand on the line), but you can try this and listen to the first click followed by 20 minutes of silence. at http://biz.yahoo.com/cc -- _____________________________________ John Andersen -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Saturday 28 July 2007 00:11, John Andersen wrote:
No i don't think its a buffering issue. The recordings usually run an hour and the delay is at least 20 minutes before any sound is heard. Buffering might take 30 seconds, but not 20 minutes. When it finally does start playing it will play 10 minutes of music before the talking starts.
Somehow this is all skipped if Windows media player is used, and it instantly jumps to the talking.
John: From Linux desktop, click VirtualBox, start XP, open IE, url to conference call, click on link. VOILA!!! Instant sound on the desktop under Linux with WMP. I just tested it on my system and it works here. "Never use a flat blade screwdriver to remove a phillips screw" In other words, use the right tool for the job and don't get hung up on the brand name. mplayer is a wonderful program but it does have it's limitations, especially with Yahoo, who is in bed with Billy boy Gates. I got tired of banging my head against the wall and added VirtualBox to my system. It solved most, if not all, of those problems AND the headaches went away. The only problems that I have had with VB is that there are some apps that use direct-x that won't work with the software video card and the USB ports aren't seen as connecting to the virtual machine. I can, however, add them as samba shares on the host and then they are then seen as networked shares. Git'er done, Fred -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Saturday 28 July 2007, Stevens wrote:
The only problems that I have had with VB is that there are some apps that use direct-x that won't work with the software video card and the USB ports aren't seen as connecting to the virtual machine. I
Well I have both Vmware Workstation and Vmware Player available and use that to run windows to listen to these calls now, but it seems a little like swatting flies with a hammer to me... -- _____________________________________ John Andersen -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On 7/28/07, Stevens <fred00sandy@earthlink.net> wrote:
John:
From Linux desktop, click VirtualBox, start XP, open IE, url to conference call, click on link. VOILA!!! Instant sound on the desktop under Linux with WMP. I just tested it on my system and it works here.
"Never use a flat blade screwdriver to remove a phillips screw"
In other words, use the right tool for the job and don't get hung up on the brand name.
Fred, it solves the immediate problem, yes. But such an approach IMO is "half-baked": 1. Yahoo logs will show less hits from linux machines - i.e. they will have no reason even to think to improve the situation. 2. It does not help mplayer to become better - no feedback to the developers, so they do not know that mplayer can not deal properly with some kind of content. Do not forget, that "free" in software is not price-free. The price can be even your involvement in expanding the use, and in providing a feedback, so the things get improved. So, as you have made the first step, make the rest - mail yahoo and complain that their streams are broker (or not working properly under linux), and file a bug report at mplayer-hq.hu, so the guys behind mplayer can investigate the problem. Cheers -- Svetoslav Milenov (Sunny) Even the most advanced equipment in the hands of the ignorant is just a pile of scrap. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Sunday 29 July 2007 09:13, Sunny wrote:
So, as you have made the first step, make the rest - mail yahoo and complain that their streams are broker (or not working properly under linux), and file a bug report at mplayer-hq.hu, so the guys behind mplayer can investigate the problem.
Cheers
-- Svetoslav Milenov (Sunny)
Sunny: I have written to Yahoo and even spoken with several in their "Customer Service" chain and I can assure you and any others reading this that they generally don't give a rat's ass about Linux, as they are firmly in bed with Microsoft. As for filing a bug report with mplayer support, good idea. The reason that I use a VM is that I want to be able to see the content provided on those "proprietary" sites now, not months later after mplayer gets re-coded. Of what use are hits from linux machines if those systems cannot play the content? I appreciate the spirit of dedication of forwarding the Linux cause but in this case I chose a more pragmatic approach. I have the tools; to not use them because they are not Linux is, in my opinion, wrong. Please understand also that I have been using Unix/Linux since the mid 1980's, systems admin and all that. For that matter, I was importing Apple II clones from Taiwan in 1980 and was using CP/M based systems before that. My current business requires that I be fluent in most Windows versions as well as their common software offerings. As you can see, I am well aware of the various facets of the computing game. I am not, repeat not, a wild-eyed idealist about anything, especially computers and I am of the firm opinion that you use the best of what's available to get the job done. If that means a Windows program, then so be it. Now, in order to not piss off the self-proclaimed list police, any replies to my little diatribe should be under a new thread subject, otherwise the thread will have been "Hijacked" and we wouldn't want that. Fred -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
participants (3)
-
John Andersen -
Stevens -
Sunny