PS3 [ sMAN v1.06n & v1.07 ] - Lots of Improvements & Some new features from deank for this PS3 Plugin

sMAN is progressing into a "Super Hero" type of plugin as fellow PS3 developer Joonie dubs these latest updates the "SuperMAN" plugin due to the evolution and responsiveness as developer deank continues to polish the plugin that combines the original webMAN project with the newly developed sLaunch feature (a new UI for launching games from the XMB) into this single project dubbed sMAN, while not officially standing for "SuperMAN", we have to agree with Rebug developer @Joonie that @deank is creating yet another masterpiece before our eyes as this new UI continues to mature and evolve. Since the last checkup up on this plugin, it was residing at version 1.05 since then deank has made several new updates, making v1.07 the latest release (as of writing this article) for this new ps3 plugin experience .

These updates includes new rewrites of the plugin for a improved and optimized user experience, in comparision to some of the early version & original POC's prior to the formation of sMAN, plus a new layout of game with 10 games or 40 game display options as seen in the included screenshot, to toggle these layouts simply press down on the R3 stick on your Controller.

Latest Updates​

v1.06n v1.07

• 
  sMAN 1.06n ( http://deanbg.com/sman.sprx | http://deanbg.com/sman_1.06.zip )
  
  • Some important parts of the plugin are rewritten and optimized to reduce stack usage
  • Returned another 112KB back to fg vsh (2316KB free - was 1920KB a month ago without ntfs so about 396KB less used)
  • Changed sman.bin to support longer game names/paths/icons - a rescan will be initiated
  • Cleaned some code (about 1000 lines gone after the optimization)
  • Loading games speed improved (at least the perceived speed)
  • sMAN will show the name of the loaded game as popup message (not the filename)
  • sMAN is now properly unloaded when requested (no zombie or dead threads should remain)
    
  • It supports up to 2000 titles (games/bd/dvd) now
  
  ​
  
  Thinks look really stable at the moment.
  
  ​
  
  Dean
  
• 
  sMAN v1.07
  
  • It can be either 10 or 40 games per page. Both layouts can be switched with [R3].
  
  
  
  http://deanbg.com/sman.sprx | http://deanbg.com/sMAN_1.07.zip
  

Download(s):

• http://deanbg.com/sman.sprx
• http://deanbg.com/sMAN_1.07.zip

Source: psx-place.com (v1.06n) / v1.07​

 

Very cool indeed. Best of both worlds

Will it be possible to auto-hide empty categories? (Saves adding more options into setup.ps3)

 

so disable scan at startup was the trick that worked for me, thanks Dean. One thing not a big deal at all but is there a way to change background easily or would that have to be done in compiling

yeah it would be great if it had customizable themes or live waves like multiman

 

@deank you're unstoppable. so so glad you're back on the scene.

 

Very cool indeed. Best of both worlds

Will it be possible to auto-hide empty categories? (Saves adding more options into setup.ps3)

It only displays categories which have at least one title.

 

Pretty sure it overwrites the files again on plugin load? Unless things have changed recently... (Hard to keep up)
Maybe add an "if exist plugins/sman.jpg" or something along those lines for an easy user background swap?

Can play around with files in /dev_hdd0/tmp/wmtmp/res/ and try your luck in the meantime.

yes I was about ask about this let us change background wallpaper of sman would be perfect.

 

Well, IMHO cosmetic changes should be done when sMAN is REALLY stable. If we keep asking stuff like: "Let us change the background" @deank could be overwhelmed. Let sMAN get developed properly.

 

What is the point in using my webMAN over sMAN? If it is the XMB integration (XML) it can be easily added back and will still support 2000 games without any memory constraints. sMAN has 99% of webMAN functions and uses over 512KB less memory which I believe is quite important. It is also really light and doesn't burden the ps3 while working in the background.

There is some big reason to include FTP functions ?

I think FTP could be compiled as a standalone .sprx, this way sMAN would be smaller and the users could decide if using FTP or not (by adding it to boot_plugins.txt or not)

-----------
Also... time ago i was thinking if it was posible to make a webman version without the "network" functions. I mean without FTP and without the WEB interface
Though if you do something like this is not a "webMAN" anymore (because would not have web, actually the name of webftp_server.sprx doesnt matches either)... it would be something like a "localMAN"

With the release of sMAN the idea came to mind again, but i dont really know is it could work fully in "local mode"

 

I added an option in Setup "XMB Integration" for those who prefer the xmb-loading-style. sMAN 1.08 will be available a bit later.

I like the idea but I think sman GUI in there is unnecessary IMO if you going keep button combo unless going to disable it when enable xmb integration since you can load sman gui anywhere on the xmb. just a suggestion.

 

sMAN 1.08n is available:

http://deanbg.com/sman.sprx | 404 KB (414 135 bytes) | http://deanbg.com/sMAN_1.08.zip

* Added [x] XMB Integration option in setup for people who like the older xmb/xml style (off by default)
* Improved scan speed from ntfs/internal hdd when extracting icons/sfo
* sMAN resources in /dev_hdd0/tmp/wmtmp/res will not be overwritten if exist (at least until the next version)
* Supports up to 2000 titles (even in XMB Integration mode)
* Still uses the same amount of memory (~2300KB free while idle)

Dean

 

sMAN 1.08n is available:

http://deanbg.com/sman.sprx | 404 KB (414 135 bytes) | http://deanbg.com/sMAN_1.08.zip

* Added [x] XMB Integration option in setup for people who like the older xmb/xml style (off by default)
* Improved scan speed from ntfs/internal hdd when extracting icons/sfo
* sMAN resources in /dev_hdd0/tmp/wmtmp/res will not be overwritten if exist (at least until the next version)
* Supports up to 2000 titles (even in XMB Integration mode)
* Still uses the same amount of memory (~2300KB free while idle)

Dean

thanks Dean now i just have to find a background that'll actually work

 

You need 1920x1080 JPEG (filesize <128KB).

 

Hello deank this last release of sman looks very impressive with the xmb integration feature it's just perfect, however i think there is a little bug with ps1 bin files not getting detected, i have tested it several times switching from sman back to wmm doing clean installs and removing obsolete files that may be caussing issues and i have found no problems listing ps1 games with wmm, but with sman psx isos doesn't appear under the ps1 category after doing a clean installation and refeshing xml.

 

Looking good. Some issues with games not showing and sorting options however. (in xml, sman is fine)

I noticed in sman.xml the games look to be listed alphabetically, but then further down the keys are added in numerical order throwing out the original alphabetical sorting.

Not sure why about half way down each section, I just get spinning icons and no games listed yet.
Still on my first coffee for the morning.

Edit: Aha, Now I see what's going on!

It's running out of keys. It gets to 255, then repeats. Causing all sorts of weird and wonderful things.
Games jumping up the list, games further down the list not showing etc.

The final table towards the end of each section has full numbers going past 255, but not the actual games themselves.

<Table key="0255"><Pair key="icon"><String>/dev_hdd0/tmp/wmtmp/Street Fighter Alpha 2.jpg</String></Pair><Pair key="title"><String>Street Fighter Alpha 2</String></Pair><Pair key="module_name"><String>idle_plugin</String></Pair><Pair key="module_action"><String>/mount_ps3/dev_hdd0/tmp/wmtmp/Street Fighter Alpha 2.bin.ntfs[PSXISO]</String></Pair><Pair key="bar_action"><String>none</String></Pair></Table>
<Table key="0000"><Pair key="icon"><String>/dev_hdd0/tmp/wmtmp/Street Fighter Alpha 3.jpg</String></Pair><Pair key="title"><String>Street Fighter Alpha 3</String></Pair><Pair key="module_name"><String>idle_plugin</String></Pair><Pair key="module_action"><String>/mount_ps3/dev_hdd0/tmp/wmtmp/Street Fighter Alpha 3.bin.ntfs[PSXISO]</String></Pair><Pair key="bar_action"><String>none</String></Pair></Table>

<Item class="type:x-xmb/module-action" key="0254" attr="0254"/>
<Item class="type:x-xmb/module-action" key="0255" attr="0255"/>
<Item class="type:x-xmb/module-action" key="0256" attr="0256"/>
<Item class="type:x-xmb/module-action" key="0257" attr="0257"/>

 

sMAN 1.08n is available:

http://deanbg.com/sman.sprx | 404 KB (414 135 bytes) | http://deanbg.com/sMAN_1.08.zip

* Added [x] XMB Integration option in setup for people who like the older xmb/xml style (off by default)
* Improved scan speed from ntfs/internal hdd when extracting icons/sfo
* sMAN resources in /dev_hdd0/tmp/wmtmp/res will not be overwritten if exist (at least until the next version)
* Supports up to 2000 titles (even in XMB Integration mode)
* Still uses the same amount of memory (~2300KB free while idle)

Dean

What is the combo to enter sman in this new version?

 

What is the combo to enter sman in this new version?

..still L2+R2....

 

..still L2+R2....

really
I had not rebooted the ps3
thanks

 

Dean, why do you bother whit those GUI and covers for sMAN ? Whats wrong with webMAN XMB integrated menu ? I dont think we need "mmOS" just for "choose and push X" game loading application... PLEASE make sMAN like good old webMAN and for those who want gui with covers make separated sprx plugin...

 

Dean, why do you bother whit those GUI and covers for sMAN ? Whats wrong with webMAN XMB integrated menu ? I dont think we need "mmOS" just for "choose and push X" game loading application... PLEASE make sMAN like good old webMAN and for those who want gui with covers make separated sprx plugin...

He's just started adding back in webman style xmb integration, so those who prefer that style can use it and still benefit from other additions of sman like proper unloading of dynamic fan control for going on psn, extended hdd support etc.. ???

 

thanks Dean now i just have to find a background that'll actually work

it would be nice if you could share your backgrounds as i couldn't find good ones in that teeny size

 

it would be nice if you could share your backgrounds as i couldn't find good ones in that teeny size

If you don't have a decent picture editing program like GIMP or something, try feed em through somewhere like picresize.com (That's how I did all my game covers), just type in what resolution and a maximum file size you want and see how well they turn out.

Obviously some images compress better than others, so you mileage may vary quality wise. Bit of Trial and Error may be required.