Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: Organic Jerk on December 15, 2006, 05:38:11 am
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Have any of the more illustrious users here tried adding a browser solution to their cab for end users? If so, what was it?
"Always-Fullscreen" capable DVD player with arcade capable (or mouse-only capable) interface?
I havent had any good luck with finding the DVD player, but I think I have come across a pretty usable solution for Internet browsing...
http://www.sitekiosk.com (http://www.sitekiosk.com).
What I was looking for was a solution that allowed me to have as much of a comfortable browsing experience I could have with an on screen keyboard browser. This seems to be it so far... The demo is full featured for the most part... anything that isnt included isnt something I think we'd use, anyway. To enable the on screen keyboard you have to enable touchscreen capability. I'm guessing touchscreens make your fingers act as the mouse so thats why it works...
Now obvously this is for cabs running a windows based machine/frontend.... I'm guessing XP and 2000 only
Before any of you go asking what the point of this is... I want to crank out as much as I can out of this thing, so it's ultimately more than just a mame cab. I should say that only if I can provide the experience in a non-obstructive, well organized, and user friendly way, am I all for it. If not, then whatever it is, it's off the list. As much as I'd like a multimedia powerhouse, I wouldn't want it to be an unapproachable one...
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I would think GameEx would be a better front end than Mala if you want that kind of functionality...
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Probably, but unfortunately I'm not really comfortable with the limited level of customization for the layouts , at least from what I read about the app...
Plus from what I understand you need a pretty good PC to run it comfortably. Although I do plan on getting a better PC than I have right now for this (current: 1ghz,512mb ram, Geforce2 128mb,) , I'm kind of a performance freak, so just the idea of having a hog for a frontend is something that I'm uncomfortable with. I'm the kind of guy who will kill the clipboard background service if I don't need it...
Although the nice features of GameEx attract me for sure, The bulkiness of the entire package turns me off..
.... GameEx has an internet browser with an on screen keyboard??
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I doubt it does, but GameEx seems more of what you are looking for, with the Media Center stuff and all.
As far as the on screen keyboard, if you have XP, then you already have an on screen keyboard:
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsxp/oskturnonuse.aspx (http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsxp/oskturnonuse.aspx)
In Mala, you could map a button to run:
%SystemRoot%\system32\osk.exe
And poof! You have a keyboard on screen!
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Well as far as the on-screen keyboard bit goes I think SiteKiosk is the better animal, only because it's made as a single package and acts as such. With XP's integrated on screen keyboard and browser, there are two windows to deal with, and the browser as an app can be manipulated and such...resized, etc..
The SiteKiosk app has the kb docked at the bottom of the browser to rise whenever you need it, plus the app is made to be a standalone kiosk application, so you don't see the outside world until you actually exit the app... perfect for a cabinet.
The only problem so far is BECAUSE it expects to be a standalone kiosk application, it asks you everytime you start it if you are starting it one single time or if you want to make it start up with windows all the time... I havent tinkered with it enough to know if I can take off that prompt, but I don't see why not... With all it's shown me so far it would be a shame if with all the things it can do, it can't start up without question like a normal application.
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If you need to automatically answer a prompt, look into AutoIT - you can create a startup script that waits for that windowm and then answers that question as soon as it pops up:
http://www.autoitscript.com/AutoIt/ (http://www.autoitscript.com/AutoIt/)
Version 2 is easier to use, if you have not used this application.
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GameEx is not a resource hog, most of the graphic's can be turned down to run on slower machines. The themes are as customizable as MameWah layouts, so if you think MameWah layouts are custom enough then GameEx themes are aswell.
GameEx has built in browser support, and allows you to use your CP to control the mouse. The keyboard issue is another story, but I am aware that Tom is looking at adding an onscreen keyboard for searching lists, so the keyboard will probably be available for Internet browsing.
Writing a standalone app that uses the IE engine is actually simple to do. I have written a video player that is full screen/ESC for exit etc. using the WMP 10 engine. You can download it from here (http://members.iinet.net.au/~freeaxs/mame/wmpfull.zip). I don't know about a DVD player, but again GameEx has that built in.