Description: Make your Kicker (the KDE main panel) rock with your music.
It is a Kicker applet that displays what you listen to in Amarok. A full-screen display can also be used independently of the applet.
With this panel applet, you always know what you are listening to, and can watch its cover and star rating: it is always visible. It allows you to rate your music with one click: you can quickly change the number of stars of your musics from anywhere on your desktop. Finally, it let you remotely control Amarok with one click from anywhere on your desktop: play next or previous track, pause, play, and seek to another position in the current track.
You also have the possibility to show your currently playing music in a beautiful full-screen display. Ideal for parties or to listen to music while doing something else away from the computer. The full-screen display can be triggered independently of the panel applet. You can start it from the KMenu or from Amarok itself.
To install: - You need to have automake 1.9 installed for the compilation to work. It should be Ok on modern Linux distributions. You also need Python for the Amarok script to work (optional). This should also be Ok. - Extract the archive - Open a konsole in the extracted folder (in Konqueror, go to the extracted folder and press F4) - Run this set of command: ./configure --prefix=$(kde-config --prefix) && make && sudo make install - It will asks your root password to install the applet on your system - Right click the Kicker, choose "Add an Applet to the Panel..." (once the panel is unlocked) - Double-click "Kirocker Music Display" - Start playing a music. The applet is empty when Amarok is stopped or paused, to not annoy you with useless information when you are working - If you do not want the panel applet, the full-screen display can be trigerred from the KMenu or from Amarok itself (restart Amarok, enable the "Kirocker Music Display" script, and then right-click the playlist to see the action to show full-screen)
Note: After an upgrade from a previous version, press Alt+F2 and type the command "kicker default restart" to restart the Panel with the new installed version.
How to make the Kicker translucent: The Kicker translucent white vertical background is also included in the package. - Your screen resolution need to be 1280*800. If not, you will need some artistic skills and a Gimp experience to modify the given background - Extract the image "Kicker Right Translucent Background.png" located in the Kirocker Music Display archive - Open your desktop background image with The Gimp - Drag and drop "Kicker Right Translucent Background.png" to the Gimp window of your background image - Save the image and set it as your desktop background image - Right click the Kicker and choose "Configure the Panel..." (once the panel is unlocked) - Place the panel on the right (click the button on the right) - Set the size to "Personalized" and enter "96 pixels" - In the "Appearance" tab, check "Enable transparency" - Click "Ok" and you're done: ENJOY!Last changelog:
4.0: - Theme support with wonderful ones provided by default and a graphical editor that is both powerful and surprisingly easy to use - Have fun karaokees with automatically-scrolling lyrics - Added a better no-cover image, from Oxygen (sorry guys, but it's the only beautiful and scalable image I found) - Now using the "Track, Artist, Album" order (instead of "Artist, Album, Track") to be more complient with other displays, such as iPod, Last.fm, and even Amarok. - Changed the application icon to a better one, using an Oxygen composition. Also show the icon back in the panel big tooltip, as it cannot be confused with an empty cover image anymore - Removed a lot of bugs - Enhanced performances
This is the End: I think I will now return back to Windows, so i'm done with KDE development. I will perhapse help the KDE Windows project in the future, tough. This project is now abandonned. I'm afraid it will not be ported to KDE 4, unless new developers pop up.
Hi,
I use Kubuntu 8.04.1 recently updated to kde 3.5.10 (via hardy-backports repository).
I hoped that continuous crashes with kicker would terminate with this "Canonical unsupported" udpate, because of I read on the release notes of the last kde3 that a lot of kicker bugs have been resolved. Unluckily, this applet, that personally I LOVE, seems to be a bit unstable... :(
I'm getting an error when trying to configure this, I'm using Ubuntu, with KDE.
I get this:
configure:7057: error: C++ preprocessor "/lib/cpp" fails sanity check
See `config.log' for more details.
any help would be great
Ok, I figured it out, I finally found the libs that I needed and then started getting a X error. Anyway, I just went into the Ubuntu repositories and install the entire KDE Dev package. It works great now.
I'm getting an error when trying to configure this, I'm using Ubuntu, with KDE.
I get this:
configure:7057: error: C++ preprocessor "/lib/cpp" fails sanity check
See `config.log' for more details.
any help would be great
You can Alt+Scroll to change volume (scroll while maintaining the Alt key) or use the horizontal scroll if your mouse is equiped of it or your trackpad emulate this.
Thanks for your answer Sebien. Can I change that behaviour? Can I assign Alt+Scroll to scroll the song and just Scroll to the volume? I'd like to control kirocker without keyboard.
Yes, by modifying the source code and rebuilding the program :-D
In src/coverdisplay.cpp, line 384:
if (event->orientation() == Qt::Vertical) {
Replace it by :
if (event->orientation() == Qt::Horizontal) {
Recompile/Reinstall, and you're done!
Sorry, I've quitted Linux and will not release any new corrected version anymore.
Thanks Sebien for these instructions. It's a pity it's not configurable. And it's such a shame you won't continue working on kirocker (or any other linux application, I also do enjoy using basket). I really hope someone with your skills and ideas will adopt kirocker and port it to KDE4.
Hey, thanks for the quick support...
I already read about your decision to quit Linux and found it sad at the time (we're losing one developper of the coolest KDE apps !), I just hope you give Linux a fresh try sometime, there are so many distros around, you can't just let go on an OS just because of one.
I just discovered kirocker and now have to read it's without maintainer :(. That's so sad... But thanks for this great piece of software and I hope you get well with Windows (I know you don't want to hear that, but I think you definitely had chosen the wrong distribution).
I hope someone out there has the skills and guts to port this great app to KDE4!
Hi,
this is indeed a great app. However I'm not able to arrange the application icons like it is shown in the first picture. I've got my panel on the right side as well but I can't figure out how to arrange the Icons next to each other. In my case they just line up under each other and are huge.
Thanks
Thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately a reboot did not help. Here is a screenshot of my desktop:
http://img505.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshotoy0.jpg
Thanks
Ah, I misunderstood the problem and tought it was a bug in Kirocker Music Display.
I get it, now: you are talking about the top icons, the application launcher icons (as you said it in your first post).
On KDE, you have to add the "Application Launcher" applet, and then move all the icons in that new applet.
This applet will layout all the icons in how many columns you want.
To add the Applet, right-click the panel, click "Unlock" if needed, then click "Add Applet..." and double-click the applet named "Application Launcher".
Now, you have to drag and drop the icons (if I remember well) to the launcher and remove the bigs ones. Or right click the launcher applet and choose "Add Icon", if the first method didn't worked.
Hi I read the page that you are going to Windows again. It's sad that you are going away from Linux. You have taste the power of the Linux desktop. But I have to agree on some points you make, out of the box hardware support on Windows sucks big time but all manufacturers make nice drivers for Vista and XP and most of the time forget the Linux users. The Linux community works 24/7 to make all hardware works right but... you say it already it's still not perfect but getting better.
It's sad to see that the MS vendor Locking still works even on people that knows that.
I still use Windows for some programs like games and for example the Gom encoder to convert movies to SVI files so my Samsung P2 player can play them, there are Linux programs but all are not that easy to use. I have a dual boot on my home machine and most of the time I'm behind KDE 3.5 and love this desktop, but sometimes I like XP too, it's not "MS Windows" that i like but after some tweaking and downloading the right drivers and a lot of other -Open Source/Close Source- "killer apps" Windows works fine.
You are going back to Windows thats your decision.... good luck with Windows, I hope you install a good virus/spyware/ad-ware scanner :P
I hope you can find your way again on Windows if not KDE 4 is still out there waiting for you ;)
I wouldn't suggest using kubuntu.
I had similar bugs, a lot of minor ones. And there were also some grave ones.
Then when a new version of Kubuntu was available I rather switched to Mandriva 2008.0 and I must say, I'm happy. Nothing ever worked as good as Mandriva is now. I used Mandriva before and it didn't work as good. Only problem in Linux I have (and is probably going to stay) is ALSA and closed audion chip specs :( I only have front 2 and surround 2 speakers working, no center and subwoofer :(
Btw, will anyone continue this project. It's still missing some features (the most important: when it's hidden it shouldn't waste kicker space).
Ratings & Comments
324 Comments
Here you can find a KDE4 version of kirocker: http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php/Waheela+%28Amarok+Fullscreen+Player%29?content=108863
Hi, I use Kubuntu 8.04.1 recently updated to kde 3.5.10 (via hardy-backports repository). I hoped that continuous crashes with kicker would terminate with this "Canonical unsupported" udpate, because of I read on the release notes of the last kde3 that a lot of kicker bugs have been resolved. Unluckily, this applet, that personally I LOVE, seems to be a bit unstable... :(
I'm getting an error when trying to configure this, I'm using Ubuntu, with KDE. I get this: configure:7057: error: C++ preprocessor "/lib/cpp" fails sanity check See `config.log' for more details. any help would be great
Ok, I figured it out, I finally found the libs that I needed and then started getting a X error. Anyway, I just went into the Ubuntu repositories and install the entire KDE Dev package. It works great now.
I'm getting an error when trying to configure this, I'm using Ubuntu, with KDE. I get this: configure:7057: error: C++ preprocessor "/lib/cpp" fails sanity check See `config.log' for more details. any help would be great
Is there a way to configure kirocker to adjust the sound volume by using the mouse wheel in fullscreen mode? Instead of scolling in the song?
Wow, awesome app ! I agree with you janet, the Volume control on the wheel would make it perfect !!!
You can Alt+Scroll to change volume (scroll while maintaining the Alt key) or use the horizontal scroll if your mouse is equiped of it or your trackpad emulate this.
Thanks for your answer Sebien. Can I change that behaviour? Can I assign Alt+Scroll to scroll the song and just Scroll to the volume? I'd like to control kirocker without keyboard.
Yes, by modifying the source code and rebuilding the program :-D In src/coverdisplay.cpp, line 384: if (event->orientation() == Qt::Vertical) { Replace it by : if (event->orientation() == Qt::Horizontal) { Recompile/Reinstall, and you're done! Sorry, I've quitted Linux and will not release any new corrected version anymore.
Thanks Sebien for these instructions. It's a pity it's not configurable. And it's such a shame you won't continue working on kirocker (or any other linux application, I also do enjoy using basket). I really hope someone with your skills and ideas will adopt kirocker and port it to KDE4.
Hey, thanks for the quick support... I already read about your decision to quit Linux and found it sad at the time (we're losing one developper of the coolest KDE apps !), I just hope you give Linux a fresh try sometime, there are so many distros around, you can't just let go on an OS just because of one.
here is a PKGBUILD corresponding to this mousewheel/volume patch for Archlinux users: http://repie.the.despe.free.fr/dev/kirocker/PKGBUILD
I just discovered kirocker and now have to read it's without maintainer :(. That's so sad... But thanks for this great piece of software and I hope you get well with Windows (I know you don't want to hear that, but I think you definitely had chosen the wrong distribution). I hope someone out there has the skills and guts to port this great app to KDE4!
Make a kirocker as a screensaver :)
Hi, this is indeed a great app. However I'm not able to arrange the application icons like it is shown in the first picture. I've got my panel on the right side as well but I can't figure out how to arrange the Icons next to each other. In my case they just line up under each other and are huge. Thanks
That seems to be a strange bug. Could you restart Kicker, or KDE and tell me if icons are still aligned? If yes, could you send me a screenshot?
Thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately a reboot did not help. Here is a screenshot of my desktop: http://img505.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshotoy0.jpg Thanks
Ah, I misunderstood the problem and tought it was a bug in Kirocker Music Display. I get it, now: you are talking about the top icons, the application launcher icons (as you said it in your first post). On KDE, you have to add the "Application Launcher" applet, and then move all the icons in that new applet. This applet will layout all the icons in how many columns you want. To add the Applet, right-click the panel, click "Unlock" if needed, then click "Add Applet..." and double-click the applet named "Application Launcher". Now, you have to drag and drop the icons (if I remember well) to the launcher and remove the bigs ones. Or right click the launcher applet and choose "Add Icon", if the first method didn't worked.
That did the trick! Thanks again for your help and this great app!
I have made a new theme to match the new KDE 4 look. Download: http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=74861 Have fun with it. Dum :D
Ps. a compliment the way you implanted the theming option, it's easy to use.
Hi I read the page that you are going to Windows again. It's sad that you are going away from Linux. You have taste the power of the Linux desktop. But I have to agree on some points you make, out of the box hardware support on Windows sucks big time but all manufacturers make nice drivers for Vista and XP and most of the time forget the Linux users. The Linux community works 24/7 to make all hardware works right but... you say it already it's still not perfect but getting better. It's sad to see that the MS vendor Locking still works even on people that knows that. I still use Windows for some programs like games and for example the Gom encoder to convert movies to SVI files so my Samsung P2 player can play them, there are Linux programs but all are not that easy to use. I have a dual boot on my home machine and most of the time I'm behind KDE 3.5 and love this desktop, but sometimes I like XP too, it's not "MS Windows" that i like but after some tweaking and downloading the right drivers and a lot of other -Open Source/Close Source- "killer apps" Windows works fine. You are going back to Windows thats your decision.... good luck with Windows, I hope you install a good virus/spyware/ad-ware scanner :P I hope you can find your way again on Windows if not KDE 4 is still out there waiting for you ;)
thank you for this two amazing apps! /basket and kirocker i use both all the time!! I hope you'll return to KDE ;D
I wouldn't suggest using kubuntu. I had similar bugs, a lot of minor ones. And there were also some grave ones. Then when a new version of Kubuntu was available I rather switched to Mandriva 2008.0 and I must say, I'm happy. Nothing ever worked as good as Mandriva is now. I used Mandriva before and it didn't work as good. Only problem in Linux I have (and is probably going to stay) is ALSA and closed audion chip specs :( I only have front 2 and surround 2 speakers working, no center and subwoofer :( Btw, will anyone continue this project. It's still missing some features (the most important: when it's hidden it shouldn't waste kicker space).