Do not download this 0.9t-3; use 0.9t-4 instead !Ok, let's say that a lot of time was wasted on 6 long says of implementing a crucial part of Unattended Playback : visualize what is playing.
You could say that after 2 days already there was no point of return because of otherwise two days wasted. Well ...
- Some graphics were applied around the CoverArt (as a Wallpaper) in order to show data like the Album playing, the Track playing, the running time of the Track, whethers it's a WAV, FLAC, MP3, the bitrate.
Tick the checkbox "CoverArt as Wallpaper" in the Settings Area to let it all work.
- The size of the picture can be set in the Settings Area by means of the Height.
The default is set to 394, which is equal to a 480 height display that includes the Taskbar, and which allows for the data mentioned above to be in borders around the CoverArt.
You may like this border, or you may not. If really not, please let it know ...
- A major technical problem was the scaling of the picture while at the same time the data (mentioned above) should not. Ok, it was done.
Please note that currently this works the other way around as well : when you could work with really large pictures (because you just have a large screen), the data could show larger. It can be a future setting (easy job now, but not sure whether it's really needed).
- Mainly with *larger* original CoverArt pictures needing downscaling because of the smaller size wanted, rendering takes place to keep it looking good.
Just compare with the picture which shows within XXHighEnd itself, and see the difference (it needs pictures which are really large like 1280x1024 and text to make this very obvious).
- Some effort has been put into the fact that the above needs some cpu power that originally implied one or two hickups in playback when the picture was formed. This has been solved, but, with "you" it might still cause problems.
Please let know if this is so.
- A lot of effort has been put in the various states of the player versus the display as you are used to it, hence how you want it when the display would not be used for audio playback. You will see the merits of this at using it all (especially when it does not work out ).
- The most effort was put into the hiding of the Desktop Icons. This by itself already is a task which is very difficult since XP SP2, but not having it as a toggle only (hence absolute directing it to Hide or Show) is another. Ok, it works.
Note that officially it cannot work with Windows2000, but this was not tested. If indeed it does not, an error will follow; please let know if this is so indeed.
- The Main Area (the left part, always visible) now contains a small button with an "I" caption. It toggles the Desktop Icons Off and On.
Use that button to your conveniency, especially when the Icons should show while they do not.
- An advise : The CoverArt will show on a blank screen. However, any set color as a background (instead of a Wallpaper) will be respected. So if you want a color other than black, set that color (Display Settings - Desktop Background).
It seems -since the latest few versions- that XXHighEnd in its current stage is much less prone to variations of Q1 and Invert. Is this your opinion too, BUT were you used otherwise, please let this know.
The explanation of it would come down to the player being itself inheritantly "better", therewith narrowing the borders of variation with e.q. Q1.
Anyway, this 0.9t-3 version seems to sound with all the ease there is, which is the most pronounced at UnAttend Playback the Desktop Icons not showing (read : before UnAttended Playback created kind of the opposite, although it was very dynamically).
If it is your opinion that this ease is already there with Attended Playback ... you are most probably right.
Possible issue : When 0.9t-3 is started the first time, an error message may appear which is related to the checkbox in the Settings Area "CoverArt as Wallpaper". If this is so, quitting XX and restart may already solve it, and otherwise ticking this box - quit - restart (and untick to your likings) will solve it.
Happy listenings !
Now up to some important stuff ...