Always On Top Plugin Available!

Its good, I just hope Apple implements something similar or better. I still will hold off from making 'the switch' until they better this:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/ajpodnar/1.gif
http://members.optusnet.com.au/ajpodnar/2.gif

I don't see that happening any time soon, which is kind of unfortunate, because I take every oportunity I can to like iTunes, its just isn't doing it for me :P

That's a mighty fine plug-in thar

Although this probably won't apply to the majority of users in these forums I thought I would post a FYI just in case anyone has run into the same problem.

I run off a machine running WinXP which I connect to my Win2k Server using UltraVNC (there are numerous reasons I no longer use TS and have found in most cases VNC server/client connections are much more suitable for my needs).

I have all my music on my server as well as my SB 5.1 card, Logitech 5.1 speakers and my main install of iTunes.
I connect to the server using the VNC viewer to control what is playing at the moment through the speakers; control the syncing of my 'Pods and general F&P purposes.

I installed the iTunes on Top .dll as instructed on the site and rebooted.

iTunes indeed stayed on top as advertised but I noticed that whenever the iTunes window was maximized WInVNC's processor utilization sky rocketed to around 90% and in some cases higher. Once I minimized iTunes CPU usage dropped to around 40% which is standard to where the server resides during usual iTunes use (as well as the numerous other apps/services running in the background).

I tried troubleshooting the VNC client/server by changing display properties etc but nothing seemed to control the rampant CPU utilization. Surprisingly this was not an issue when using TS.

TO resolve I deleted the.dll and rebooted. Performance returned to normal.

Moral of the story is if you use a VNC client (UltraVNC, WinVNC, TightVNC, etc...) it does not seem to play nicely with the iTunes on top .dll

Others may have a different experience but I figured I would give those who have a similar config a heads up in case they have an issue down the line.

Hey Chris. Great to hear from you. I haven't had much luck coming across anyone else with a similar setup so it?s nice to know I have someone to run any weird things I see by you.

As for the ?on top? hack.
It was running slow when my 2K server was running a UltraVNC server session and my XP client was running a viewer session and only when iTunes was "maximized" (Apple's poor excuse for maximized anyway) and not minimized. CPU usage hovered around 100% the whole time grinding the system to a virtual halt.
UltraVNC uses the same VNC Server service as WinVNC and I believe TightVNC uses.
I never had the lag prior to installing that .dll and rebooting and haven't had it since I removed it.

One thing I notice though is that when I used WinVNC it didn't install the video hook driver that comes with the UltraVNC install. So the reason you don't have a lag could have something to do with that driver if TightVNC does not install it either.

Description of the driver:
"- Video Hook Driver (Win2000/XP): Provides both speed and accuracy for server screen changes detection and ensures hundreds of updates per second. Whatever the activity on this screen, the server CPU rarely exceeds 25%. Most of time the WinVNC CPU load is between 0% and 5%... When using a Viewer in FullScreen mode connected to an Ultra Server using the driver, you really feel like you are in front of the real server !"

Possibly there was a conflict with this driver, iTunes and the on top .dll.

But like I said since removing the .dll performance is once again great.

I have another quick question for you since you use a VNC connection to use iTunes. Do you notice that when connecting to your machine running iTunes using VNC if you attempt to create a Smat Playlist when trying to set a variable in the condition window such as Rating that nothing appears in the window? Not sure if I explained this correctly.

Basically connect to iTunes on another machine using VNC, go to File - > New Smart Playlist -> and set My Rating to 3 Stars. DO the stars show up in the value window?

Thanks for all the help.

Originally posted by bighairy
SpideyPod, I've also noticed that the stars don't show up when using a Windows XP Remote Desktop setup with just the vanilla iTunes (no ontop .dll). I just put this down to generally wierdness in the way Apple must have used some of the display calls to do their dynamic star fields.

The Star fields do show up on the main screen, its just in the smart list box that they don't show as far as I can tell. Not a huge problem but not very clever.

Graeme

Same here BigHairy. Its not a huge issue but it does pose a problem for me as the ONLY way I connect to the server running iTunes with my music is via VNC. Makes it difficut to create Smart Playlists where I set values such as ratings when those values do not display in the field via VNC or TS. But you are correct it does show in the library, or playlist view which at least is something.

Originally posted by bighairy
I'm not really relying on remote desktop... just don't want to move my lazy ### to the other room when using my laptop wirelessly in the linving room :-). You could always post it as feedback on the apple site and hope they've got nothing better to fix!

lol, unfortunately for me it is an issue of space. Too much equipment, not enough room for the cabling or sockets to even plug anything else in without being a level 4 fire hazard.

Even a KVM switch would push it over the top.

As for posting to Apple's feedback page I plan on it. But I have posted so many different suggestions to them they are probably sick of seeing my email show up. ;)

Is it just me, or does the on-top dll kill visualations?

With the dll in place, window at full size (and therefore not 'always on top'), activating visualations puts up a flickering dark gray box instead of "pretty colors"

Take out the dll, restart iTunes, and "pretty colors" return.

anyone else?

Originally posted by bukzin
Always on top of what?

Always on top meaning, always on top of whatever window you are currently working in. Being that of explorer, word, etc.

Yes! This one does, but Sidekick doesn't.