Plugin Related Changes

- NET target has been changed to 4.7.2
The .NET target version is now raised to v4.7.2. This will allow the use of MySQL 8.3 with the latest MySql.Data libray. Already compiled plugins should continue to work.

- Added http caching service
This service can be used to download and cache http content.

- Added image loading service
GUIImage now supports URL as texture source. The service uses http caching service to download/cache the image and when it's done, it will automatically update the GUIImage.

- Added central notification service
Any plugin can create/send messages to the central notification service.
For message management, there is a new GUINotifier plugin. From the plugin you can mark a message as read, delete a message, or you can go to its source. If the message contains a video URL, it's possible to playback video directly.
All messages are stored in a new database.
New GUINotifierControl is now available: it connects to the service and automatically rotates all unread messages.
In the attached file, you can find Titan skin example for new GUINotifier plugin.
To test the service, GUIRSSFeed plugin can be used. URL feed example: MediaPortalFeed
The new action ACTION_SHOW_NEWS = 3013 can be used to assign a key/button press to show the myNotifier plugin.
This service can be used for example to check YT channel/playlist for new videos in selected Categories in the background for Online Videos. OV automatically detects new videos in background and sends the new information with attached video link back to MP. From the myNotifier plugin one can directly play the video without visiting OV.

- Added Webp image format support for textures

- Added OnlinePlayer
Now MP can play a URL directly. It's basically the player from OnlineVideos plugin.
A new player interface has been added. Upon start of the playback, the g_player asks all plugins if it can handle the given playback URL (e.g. OnlineVideos plugin). MP will then use the new OnlinePlayer to playback the returned final URL.

- The GUIRSSFeed plugin has been reworked.
It now supports https, the new MP notification service and background checks for new articles.

- Added new 'centerRelative' attributte to skin visual effect
It's useful for rotating animations. The previously existing 'center' attribute doesn't take into account location of the control. The new attribute works as relative offset from the current control's location, so it isn't necessary to modify rotation animation params when a control's location is changed.

- Fixed GUIImage texture disposal
Under certain condition, the GUI renderer used to fall into an endless texture dispose/recreate loop. It would happen when the image was located outside of the skin folder, was used multiple times on the screen, and one of the images used a tag as texture location. When the tag would change, then the loop would begin.

Skin changes that are relevant for plugin developers also:

Plugin developers should also be aware of skin changes particularly when creating Default Skin files, which are required for all plugins. Please see Skin Related Changes