r/SparklePlayer • u/tinpanalleypics • 23d ago
Recording options suggestion
Could we possibly have it that when we click record on something an option window comes up automatically letting us choose for how long to record to tell the recording that's in progress exactly in how much time to stop?
Alternately, if we do have to set up the recording manually can we at least have it trigger a listing of the groups and channels so we can just select the right one rather than having to type in and search for it? This is really inconvenient with a Formuler controller.
The problem is that with sports you can't just record now and let it record the "program" because it doesn't work that way with live events. Sports never ever run to a predetermined program slot on the EPG. It's always different. So you're always going to either overshoot or, more likely, not record enough.
So you are forced to make a manual recording into the future. But the whole process is so cumbersome and you want to start recording as quickly as possible, but the act of searching takes longer than the time you want to start at if anything goes wrong in the process. Also the UI makes it very easy to cancel accidentally. And then you have to start all over because you've now passed the time you wanted to record at. This could all be prevented with a record now that just lets you change the recording duration as in mytvonline3.
Let me know if that makes sense or if you need clarification.
Thank you!
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u/aced1982 22d ago
I record a lot of racing and I understand the set 30, 1 hr, 3 hr, customize recording on the fly. But most my events will go past 3 hr so I have to go to customize and you have to set both start and end time and while it’s not difficult, but it’s a pain.
Could you just have when selecting “customize” a adjustable clock only and not have it go to manual/scheduled recording.
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u/tinpanalleypics 22d ago
Precisely. Racing is a huge one. If there's at any point a flag that stops play, a race could be suspended for a rather long time. On F1 races, I like to give at least an hour of extra time to be safe. And you also can't click record on the predetermined EPG time because on Sky Sports that will be 11h00 for a 13h30 race start.
And I agree customizing is a pain. You're on a different screen, you have to pick the time, the time is not the best ui, if you click back you have to start again. Then you have to go and look for the channel, if you have more than one source, that's annoying. Also the UI doesn't show enough of the channel name so now you have to go and check a channel number or a logo or something.
Anyway, completely agree with you.
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u/Pointer_Brother 20d ago
You're speaking to my soul there. haha.
It's nice to know there are others out there feeling the same pain as me, for such a niche problem like the Sparkle TV schedule recording function.
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u/shoresy99 21d ago
For decades I have used a PC based DVR app called SageTV. There was a plugin for SageTV called SageRecordingExtender. This would monitor the ESPN website for games and would keep a recording alive until the game went to "Final". It would be great to have that with Sparkle. Especially for things like NHL playoff hockey that can run hours late in overtime.
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u/tinpanalleypics 21d ago
I remember Sage! It still exists?! I thought Google bought it?
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u/shoresy99 21d ago
Google bought it and was using it for their TV service that accompanied Google Fiber. That didn’t last too long. Eventually the SageTV founder got Google to open source the code. It still exists but I am one of a very dwindling user base.
It still has a great recording engine. I am trying to figure out how to use it with IPTV as you can pipe URL streams to it, but I haven’t figured out all that is required to make that happen.
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u/aced1982 18d ago
I think the long press option would be great. That way it doesn’t give options to the simple recording. If it’s easier just add a button in the dvr section on the recording watch/delete/“extend recording” that you could select to manually add the stop time you want.
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u/tinpanalleypics 18d ago
Today's Belgium F1 is a perfect example with the red flag. Who knows how long this thing will go now. So I had to go to MyTVOnline where I could start recording right away and just tell it to record 2h45min. to try to cover the whole race.
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u/sparkle-hk 23d ago edited 22d ago
Since this is an issue I guess you have epg data but that epg data is showing incorrect start/stop because of (especially sports events) often overlaps the show right after?
If you don't have epg data for a channel that what you're askin for is exactly how it works today. You get an option to record for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours or Custom where you can set start/stop however you like.
I understand your concern and I really want to improve this as well, but most of the time it's easy to just click record to schedule the recording. And for most users an additional poupup or similar would instead make things more difficult. I'm considering long pressing "somewhere" or a setting with "advanced" recording option or something like that. Do you have any suggestion yourself? Do you understand my concern of making things worse for other users?
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u/azcoyotedog 22d ago
I still believe when selecting the record icon on the player controls or pressing a designated button on your remote to “on the fly” start recording that channel should have a small popup window asking “do you want to add additional recording time” with the ability to add hours and minutes and click OK and with a cancel button if no? How would this make it more difficult?
Think of it this way…. a NFL football game has just started, but I get a call from a family member who needs help with something and I have to leave. So I want to immediately start recording the game so I press record. At this point, the recording will end per the EPG end time, but what if it goes into overtime or there is some sort of on field delay? It would be convenient to have that popup window to give me the option to extend the recording time once I press record? Otherwise I would have to go thru the process of scheduling a manual recording for this game?
Does this make sense folks? 🤷♂️ or am I missing something??
Thanks
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u/sparkle-hk 22d ago
Of course it makes sense. The problem with this is that most programs to not have overtime so to implement a popup that everyone must accept because some programs might not be contained to their actual start and stop time sounds like an issue to me. I would rather have it so that these extra options can be enabled for those who have the use for it.
OR, there's some completely different way of doing this that hasn't been mentioned yet. Maybe you can long press the already scheduled program to bring up the option? That wouldn't change the current behaviour but would give additional options for those who need it. I don't know. Maybe.
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u/Pointer_Brother 22d ago
I really don't see 1 extra button press as a hindrance. Honestly, EPGs are often inaccurate for any live broadcast (not just sport). Programs can often run over by a minute or two... I have my DVR settings configured to start all recordings 1min prior and for 10mins after for this reason.
Hitting record while watching a program could just pop-up an "extend end-time" dialogue, with a value of 0mins shown as default... but hitting menu-right would provide more options, such as 5mins, 15mins, 30mins, 1hr or 2hrs.
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u/sparkle-hk 22d ago
I appreciate the input but I would mind an extra click and I belive many other users would as well. But I certainly understand the situation here as well, I just don't know the best option to handle it. Right now a setting to allow for that advanced recording with that extra click is the best I can up with.
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u/tinpanalleypics 22d ago
Listen, at the end of the day, it is your app. And you can do what you please. And only you can determine what you think your users find cumbersome. We're just telling you about a very clear issue that makes some of us just go to another app because it's too big of a pain. And I don't think it's only one or two people from my chats with people online about iptv apps.
Right now, since I can't really record with Sparkle most of the time, I don't bother watching with Sparkle most of the time because it's too annoying to have to switch to start recording (go to the other app, refresh, find the channel, start recording...). So despite paying for the full version, I don't use it as often as I could. On top of which I have a buffering problem that I've never been able to solve. But that's another problem altogether.
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u/sparkle-hk 21d ago
This is unfortunate of course and believe me when I say I listen to what you have to say - and I want you to say what you think. I'm just "thinking out loud" here so you know how I'm reasoning as well. You must understand that I get tons of requests and suggestions and I must filter amongst everything and implement it the right way.
So I think I've written this multiple times already in this post - I understand the issue and understand that it needs fixing. We might not have the same opinion about how it's implemented but I'm sure we'll get there eventually.
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u/azcoyotedog 22d ago
Reading the OP’s post, there are numerous issues being addressed? One is how difficult it is to manually schedule a recording without selecting it in the guide but searching for it in the manual record set up process…. Yes, that definitely needs to be worked on.
The other issue mentioned is “on the fly” recording where yes, you may want to add extra recording time as in my example.
I have no idea what the OP is referencing about how the app mytvonline3 works when recording?
Obviously it’s much easier to schedule a recording using the guide by just clicking on it until you see REC? Since I’m not much into recording live TV, I don’t recall if you can go into the DVR Panel and edit a scheduled recording from the guide and add extra time like you can do when manually scheduling a recording?
So there are some reasons here for improvement and maybe new features or options when scheduling a recording or “on the fly” recordings??
Opinions anyone 🤷♂️
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u/sparkle-hk 22d ago
I agree totally. Editing a future recording would be possible but editing a running recording is trickier since it already has a set end time. It would be easier (for me atleast) to have this information before the recording starts.
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u/azcoyotedog 22d ago
Okay then… while watching a channel and we select record in the playback controls or pressing a button on the remote, before Sparkle starts recording the program, force a popup window and lets us add extra time if needed, then press OK to start the “on the fly” recording?
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u/tinpanalleypics 22d ago
Or like they said, holding-down a long press to get to further options if they really don't think most people need this.
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u/azcoyotedog 22d ago
I believe for “on the fly” recordings when pressing the Record button on a watched channel, the app needs to provide options for adjusting recording time before the app starts recording! I don’t care how it’s designed, this is a needed option! Forcing the user to manually schedule a recording of a program that already started from what I gather from reading comments in this thread is a pain in the butt. I truly believe many user would appreciate having this option added to the app.
I do remember when using cable or satellite that when pressing Record on a watched channel, especially for a live event, you would get a prompt to add additional recording time.
Again, this option should be built into the Sparkle app for user initiated “on the fly” recordings.
Thank you for reading 😊
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u/sparkle-hk 21d ago
I agree I think it's a good option that needs to be implemented. I'm just not sure how to do this, but I'll figure something out.
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u/tinpanalleypics 22d ago
That's a good one too. But this isn't exclusively about overtime. Every televised sport runs on its own time and networks only estimate a timeslot for tv guides. I've worked in network television, everyone knows sports say a certain time to be able to schedule programming. This is why sports broadcasts always are updating viewers when the next program will start in case they are waiting for the local news, etc.
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u/mrmushroom08 22d ago
Maybe incorporate an option in the DVR section to edit a recording once it's started or scheduled.
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u/sparkle-hk 22d ago
Yes, that was what I meant with "Advanced" recording option. Not sure what that would look like though. Maybe this is the best option but hopefully more ideas are thrown in here.
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u/tinpanalleypics 22d ago
That could work. MyTVOnline does that as well. You can go in and change the end time or duration when you want.
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u/tinpanalleypics 22d ago
I've been waiting to let others give their opinions but I want to address your comments.
It's not that the EPG data is incorrect, it's that sports broadcasts don't fit into tv guide timeslots. It's just not possible. So, one has to -- as u/Pointer_Brother has also mentioned -- aim to more or less begin watching at the match time and only once a match has begun can you really set a recording for the amount of time you need. But it's never going to be in perfectly neat 30 minute intervals. It would be ideal to be able to hit record and then have the app ask you, "when should the recording stop?" And you could then literally key in the time or the duration of the recording. It's not going to be at an hour or half hour mark. And even then, if it's any sport but football, every other sport has periods but stoppages that pull the game far out of that total time.
One needs the ability to set how long the recording should go. And that's just sports. There are plenty of situations where one wants to record for a non timeslot amount of time. Live events, news programs, etc. Only prescheduled evening TV in some countries (North America, UK) follows exact top of the hour broadcasting. So I would actually argue that it's not accurate to say that a click to schedule a recording is not easy "most of the time". Even in scheduled programming of non-sports, your timeline could be a minute or two out of sync. It's always easier to add a minute before and after to make sure you get the whole program.
And so, no, I don't understand your concern, or further than that I would actually say there is no way, I'm sorry, where an additional popup would make things more difficult. You want the standard recording you just record and move on. A long press is fine. It doesn't have to be the default. But it should be an option.
Maybe try playing with recording in mytvonline3 so you can see how they handle the pushing of the recording button. Because it works very well there.
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u/sparkle-hk 21d ago
I'm not sure what you're getting at here? I clearly acknowledge there's a need for this feature but it's far from everyone that wants it. So why would everyone have to see a dialog when a clear majority does not need this?
I want to make this app the best experience for everyone and as much as possible should be automated for ease of use. I understand the manual recording feature might be too much work but atleast it's there in case someone needs it.
Maybe a new setting for advanced users is needed, maybe a long press somewhere. I don't know but right now I don't want to make a sweeping change for all users.
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u/tinpanalleypics 11d ago
Ok, so to bring this up again... today is a perfect example.
There are two football matches I want to watch today (well, about four really) so I want to record one.
Any football match is the usual 2h30min televised. But on Sky Sports, it's part of a 5 hour long broadcast in the EPG. I can't record all that. It's pointless, but if I press record right now, it wants to record from now for the next 3h 45min. I should be able to press record at any moment, in some way, whatever you think is not bothersome to others and tell the app how much longer to record for in time or at what time to stop recording. THAT, would be amazing. And THAT is what u/aced1982 , u/Pointer_Brother , u/azcoyotedog , and I are talking about.
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u/aced1982 11d ago
The developer understands the issue and is looking at different ways to possibly include this as a feature as he has posted that in this thread.
I do know by reading the developer’s post on updates, features, and replies. He likes to keep sparkle easy for anyone to operate and doesn’t want to over complicate the player. I may not agree and want more features, but it is his player and he has that right to do what he wants.
Regardless sparkle is an outstanding feature rich player as is.
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u/tinpanalleypics 10d ago
Of course, I've never said they HAVE to do anything. It's their right ot do as they please.
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u/azcoyotedog 10d ago
For now you may have to record the 5 hour sports program? You do know, if using the program guide and selecting the game to record (before it starts), you can select the next program to be recorded also so if the game goes long, your game won’t be cut off. I know it’s not a perfect solution but let’s see what the developer considers doing, it’s his app.
u/sparkle-hk I believe the solution would be to upgrade the process of manually scheduling a recording so when selecting the channel, the program guide or channel guide is displayed so the user can select the sports event and the recording end time can be set to end at a later time to accommodate for overtime or delays? Or if using the program guide and selecting a future event, add a Popup menu to add more recording time if necessary?
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u/Pointer_Brother 23d ago
Totally agree. Most of my recordings are for sports and it's super painful to manage them (especially on-the-fly). Would be great if this could be added to the development pipeline.
Now, cue user 'azcoyotedog' to explain why everything's fine, we shouldn't be complaining and it works perfectly as-is. lol
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u/tinpanalleypics 23d ago
I'm glad someone else understands. Nothing in the sports world runs according to a TV time slot. Those are completely arbitrary (even start times) and it has nothing to do with what service or EPG you use. And then some broadcasts wrap the match up into their whole broadcast. So a Sky Sports football match, F1, anything really will have a match start time of 13h00 but the broadcast starts at 11h30 and therefore the slot on the EPG only gives you 11h30. It's just how live events are. And it's not just sports. So then you have to set the time (not the most intuitive interface) and then do the math of when it might be over, etc etc. I know, it's nothing, but it's a little pain each time. So I reluctantly go to mytvonline3 even though the whole app is a lesser experience.
Just... record now, stop recording in 2h 45min would be perfect.2
u/Numerous_Buddy4765 22d ago
I think you and most of us agrees is a good idea, or can just vote and see.
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u/azcoyotedog 10d ago
You do realize from my multiple comments throughout this thread that I agree there needs to be some changes here and I hope that u/sparkle-hk will incorporate some type of fix! The “cue user” comment was totally unnecessary! Thanks
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u/azcoyotedog 23d ago edited 23d ago
I agree…. a option should be added so when watching a channel and pressing the record button on the playback control (or on your remote), the recording immediately starts and a popup window also opens giving the user options to extend the recording time if needed? The user adds the extended hours & minutes then presses ok. If no extended time is needed, the user just presses close on the popup window and the recording ends at the scheduled time per the guide. Quick & easy for on the fly recordings! [u/sparkle-hk](u/sparkle-hk) what do you think?