ppc *update 2.3.1*

now if i actually downloaded a ppc package by accident (from some some super secret location) and try to install and fire it up on a ppc machine... will it go boom? or is it just you don't know and wait for free fools to try, be your guinea pig?

ok. so i decided to try to be a guinea pig. and you know what? that thing even plays music...

• add-ons: some scripts add-ons (well ok, the the npr add-on but i'm sure this is a generic bug) give an error on installation (through the amarok add-on manager) due to missing gnupg (that's what the interface says), but get marked as installed nontheless. they work and there is no error on the uninstallation of those but manually installing gnupg (through fink, for example, it's what i used) - doesn't fix the issue. another add-on (yahoo lyrics) didn't install it all (although it said so), however it doesn't pop up in the add-on list, but i can not say if it's got something to do with the port/installer or whatever. it ceases to appear as 'installed' on amarok relaunch.
• odd kdeglobals preference location: i have a lonely file sitting in //~/Library/Preferences/KDE/share/config/ (yes, that's a "~"-folder in my root, not my home directory). the file is called kdeglobals.
• performance: unlike amarok 1.x performance of 2.x is slow on a g4 ppc (1ghz, osx10.5.5, 728mb) (first) startup (that means no collection, does it?) took a while, more than a minute at least. with a music directory that's 31.6 gb small, import of the collection took over an hour, thumbnail loading is in progress since at least an hour and the progress bar hasn't even reached 50% yet. cancel button does not work (as there is a constant 'rainbow of death' when i try to approach that window, but at least the bar is progressing.). i have yet to see if it's related to the general 'painting a progress bar takes an unbearable amount of cpu power ' issue i have experienced since 10.5.0. should i use a stopwatch if i ever do this again?
• performance (continued): second startup took less than 30 seconds
• misc windows: the qt-windows stuff could still need more polish, there are a couple of display errors which get fixed once a window been on the screen for a couple of seconds (~10-20) - this is most noticible on the preferences window and in the add-on manager. i hope it's not a general problem of qt as the last.fm.app i have behaves alike. (which should have had the chance to become more polished considering how long it's been out)
• "tray"? perhaps a bit too much polish at the moment: 'tray icon' is a less than ideal name for the amarok menu bar icon in os x. furthermore it's functionality could easyly replaced by a dock icon menu. for the menu bar icon "Show Amarok in menu bar" would be the correct term for os x. furthermore i think that option should be 'off' by default as it is with most applications who offer that functionality. (this one is debatable, i agree - but nothing to worry too much about)
• playback: audio playback works, if sloppy (drops out on high cpu load and stuff)
• playback (continued): amarok automatically uses the sound output device as set in the system configuration panel - this is good and safe (unless someone writes a solid output switch for amarok)
• middle panel/animations: there is a tiny graphic error in the middle panel above the lower navigation/management buttons of the middle panel (i can provide screenshot, looks like a tool tip should appear there instead of seemingly random data, i have a feeling this is either ppc-specific or some graphic is missing/corrupted), transition effects would better be 'off' at this machine speed (if possible) (they are on 2 frames per second or so) - if anyone cares.

that's my initial experience so far. which is very smooth for something that's supposed to be not existing at all - there is nothing to it which is outright broke - but to be frank it will hardly replace my current cog in this state (performance and playback dropouts are the issue, but maybe you are right and i should simply get a modern machine. anyone got some spare bucks or a job for me?).

boom!

p.s. the new interface is way better than i expected from the screenshots. people do need to get their hands on it and try it out: i really could settle for it. nice!