Predator 10 Ball Technical Rant

A

av84fun

Banned
I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth...because I didn't get the gift.

Gotta say I am really surprised that those related to the promotion of this event didn't respond (that I saw...forgive me if I missed something) about the substantial technical problems with the stream and the numerous reports about registration failures.

Clearly, the event was intended to promote goodwill for Predator and I'm sure it did for those seemingly few who received a decent stream but didn't do much good for the many who couldn't register or who quit watching over frustration with the intermitent video.

Testing is fundamental.

Jim
 
Open Windows Media Player, Then go to File, Open URL, and paste "mms://91.121.120.227/live.wmv"

There you go! No logging in necessary.

-J
 
James said:
Open Windows Media Player, Then go to File, Open URL, and paste "mms://91.121.120.227/live.wmv"

There you go! No logging in necessary.

-J
Click to expand...

This works great. I just did it, and there are no problems whatsoever.

Maybe it has something to do with the verson of Windows Media Player you have. Mine is working picture-perfect, and the sound quality is excellent.

I did not have to register for anything either. FREE and perfect.

JAM
 
It is very disappointing to go on the Predator10Ball website and find the brackets are not updated. In fact, they look as if they are one day behind.

The brackets are what I look at to see who is left in the tournament. According to these brackets Alex and Shane are still on the winner's side in the tournament. Yet, on AzBilliards Main Page, they both lost.

I miss the AzBilliards brackets where you can look up a player's name. I guess AzBilliards tournament coverage has spoiled me. :p

Maybe tonight somebody at Predator website will update the tournament brackets. It appears as though they don't read this forum to learn about the multiple problems that a lot of people are experiencing, mistakes and/or difficulties. Yet, they do post upcoming matches and commentaries. Oh, well, it's free, and I guess you can't expect perfection.

JAM
 
JAM said:
This works great. I just did it, and there are no problems whatsoever.

Maybe it has something to do with the verson of Windows Media Player you have. Mine is working picture-perfect, and the sound quality is excellent.

I did not have to register for anything either. FREE and perfect.

JAM
Click to expand...

Glad it worked out for you Jam. Hopefully Jim will get to enjoy it before the tourney is over.
 
The only match I turned off was Johnny slow playing the 16 year old kid to a slow death, Earl is right there needs to be a 20 second shot clock. Johnny and Ralf take fifteen minutes to run three balls laying in the pockets and johnny takes another 5 to pick invisible lent.--Leonard
 
James said:
Glad it worked out for you Jam. Hopefully Jim will get to enjoy it before the tourney is over.
Click to expand...

Thanks James. My issue and RANT #2 is that I have a perfectly valid, Dell-installed version of XP but have AGAIN (on my second computer) been faced with the preposterous Microsoft Validation/Certification mumbo jumbo.

Somewhere, I have the original installation CDs where I can find the authenticity code but I have 3 offices (including one at home) and they could be anywhere. I just haven't had time to look around.

SO, I can't launch WMV which I have used on this puter for 2 years.

Maybe tomorrow.

Regards,
Jim
 
av84fun said:
Thanks James. My issue and RANT #2 is that I have a perfectly valid, Dell-installed version of XP but have AGAIN (on my second computer) been faced with the preposterous Microsoft Validation/Certification mumbo jumbo.

Somewhere, I have the original installation CDs where I can find the authenticity code but I have 3 offices (including one at home) and they could be anywhere. I just haven't had time to look around.

SO, I can't launch WMV which I have used on this puter for 2 years.

Maybe tomorrow.

Regards,
Jim
Click to expand...

Wow, I have Dell verson of XP too, Jim.

I have never encountered that problem before. I have updated my preinstalled Windows Media Player several times.

I must say I like the older version the best, simpler and easier to use. The new one has too many damn buttons and links.

Did you try this: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/mediacenter/getstarted/default.mspx?WT.srch=1

JAM
 
Jim,

Fortunately for you, I have Answer #2 to rant #2. Go to this site, and download Media Player Classic. It's a free, non Microsoft media player. Then follow the same directions. Voila!

http://www.download.com/Media-Player-Classic/3000-2139_4-10518778.html

Any more rants I can help you with? :)

-James
av84fun said:
Thanks James. My issue and RANT #2 is that I have a perfectly valid, Dell-installed version of XP but have AGAIN (on my second computer) been faced with the preposterous Microsoft Validation/Certification mumbo jumbo.

Somewhere, I have the original installation CDs where I can find the authenticity code but I have 3 offices (including one at home) and they could be anywhere. I just haven't had time to look around.

SO, I can't launch WMV which I have used on this puter for 2 years.

Maybe tomorrow.

Regards,
Jim
Click to expand...
 
av84fun said:
Thanks James. My issue and RANT #2 is that I have a perfectly valid, Dell-installed version of XP but have AGAIN (on my second computer) been faced with the preposterous Microsoft Validation/Certification mumbo jumbo.

Somewhere, I have the original installation CDs where I can find the authenticity code but I have 3 offices (including one at home) and they could be anywhere. I just haven't had time to look around.

SO, I can't launch WMV which I have used on this puter for 2 years.

Maybe tomorrow.

Regards,
Jim
Click to expand...


Use VLC: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
Its better, and free.

--
 
Jam,

There are a lot of programs where people prefer the earlier versions, which had much less bloatware attached, for one.

Check out www.oldversion.com for previous versions of all sorts of software. (The site is a little slow to load right now, but usually works just fine. Maybe try it again tomorrow if it doesn't work now.)

I just checked and they have many old versions of Windows Media Player for download. Just go to the Control Panel, add/remove programs and get rid of your current version, and download whatever old version you want!

-J
JAM said:
Wow, I have Dell verson of XP too, Jim.

I have never encountered that problem before. I have updated my preinstalled Windows Media Player several times.

I must say I like the older version the best, simpler and easier to use. The new one has too many damn buttons and links.

JAM
Click to expand...
 
James said:
Jam,

There are a lot of programs where people prefer the earlier versions, which had much less bloatware attached, for one.

Check out www.oldversion.com for previous versions of all sorts of software. (The site is a little slow to load right now, but usually works just fine. Maybe try it again tomorrow if it doesn't work now.)

I just checked and they have many old versions of Windows Media Player for download. Just go to the Control Panel, add/remove programs and get rid of your current version, and download whatever old version you want!

-J
Click to expand...

Thanks. That is a great link. I put it in my Favorites and will check it out tomorrow!

JAM
 
If you need to have 10 technically savy computer posts to watch pool and the internet something is wrong and needs to be changed.
 
BuckinghamGuard said:
Use VLC: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
Its better, and free.

--
Click to expand...

seconded. media player classic is great when you have codecs installed and better than WMP, but VLC will play practically anything, even if it's a half broken 10 percent downloaded file.

Should definitely be something people have installed, it's very useful. If you have any video files you can't play, try VLC. If they don't play in that, they probably wont play in anything. :)
 
RunoutalloverU said:
If you need to have 10 technically savy computer posts to watch pool and the internet something is wrong and needs to be changed.
Click to expand...
Let me try... the user :D

Seriously, first, the live feed was bad. I've watched two matches yesterday and the streaming was very good and also well commented. :)

However, the way the online bracket is made is not my cup of tea. It's not up to date and there is no results !?! :mad:

Concerning the media player, I recommend to download k-lite codec pack full or standard version (free) wich includes Media Player Classic. With this player you will be able to watch all kinds of media format. IMO it is the best free player right now, much more ergonomic than VLC.
 
Last edited:
I use VLC myself although i also downloaded k-lite codec pack and have the MPC installed. I dont know, must be user's preference....
 
Once you've got this URL ...

mms://91.121.120.227/live.wmv

... you can use 'most any modern media player to view the video stream. I was very happy, for example, using WinAmp -- which is my personal choice for audio files, but can also be handy for other multimedia stuff.

GOM player also worked well. I have found it to be even more robust than VLC (recommended previously in this thread) when dealing with corrupt or incomplete files.

As for the posts, above, saying or implying that all the bugs should have been worked out before the streaming video was made "public" ... FOAD. We are the beneficiaries of someone's willingness to try very important new technology, and until or unless we have to pay for it, we have absolutely no standing to complain about the imperfections. Yes, it is frustrating, to have the video freeze or go black in the middle of a tense, high-caliber cueists' confrontation. And if this happens often enough, we will inevitably 'vote with our feet' and find something more reliable to capture our attention.

My own experience, though, with the Predator 10-ball video feed has left me only occasionally frustrated -- and far more often thrilled and grateful. My original sign-in to the website went smoothly, and I got a verification email within seconds of submitting my registration info. On the first day of coverage (Wednesday), I got a lot of glitches in the video stream; but over-all I found the feed worth watching -- even when I couldn't be sure who the players were or what the match score was. On Thursday, the video was much smoother, and there was live commentary (some of it truly excellent) to shore up the information deficit.

I'd like to say thank you to the event managers who had enough cajones to make the video happen, and who obviously did significant work to make improvements from Wednesday to Thursday. Please don't let a few spoiled complainers deter you from taking this to even higher levels in future tournaments.
 
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