I have an idea I've been mulling over for the past few days. It would solve a number of problems for me, and would actually provide some pretty interesting and exciting possibilities for using MC.
My idea is this:
Have a "remote control" system that connects to another instance of MC13 running on the network and loads its library, similar to the current Library Client/Server system,
however have all playback stay on the "server" machine. In other words, I'd be able to browse the server's library on a laptop/netbook as though it were the local library (using Theater View if I want, or Standard View, or whatever), but when I double click on a file, change zones, create a playlist, and/or whatever else,
it would actually play the files on the remote machine, rather than locally.
I'm thinking this could be implemented under the existing File --> Library system. Just provide a way to enable "remote control mode" for remote servers (or something like that).
This would enable all kinds of coolness. In particular, I'm thinking about this...
1. I have an ASUS EeePC 1000H. I could install MC on it and use it as a super-duper wireless remote control for my HTPC. When I'm outside, in another room, sitting at the kitchen table, or whatever, I'd still be able to have full control over my MC system even when I can't physically see the TV monitor (and see where my "mouse clicks" are taking me). This would work seamlessly for anyone who has a HTPC or home media server and a laptop of any kind.
2. I have at work a fancy-pants video wall (which is finally being fixed and upgraded next week). MC handles playback of all of the content on the wall. The problem is that the server box is in a server closet a long way away from the wall itself. I have a wireless keyboard and mouse for it, but changing the playback of any zone (each "screen" is a separate zone in MC with a detached display) requires me to bring the MC UI to the foreground which disturbs the overall look and feel of the wall. It doesn't allow me to change what is playing seamlessly without "seeing" the MC UI on the big display. This system would allow me to get a little touchscreen Windows XP Netbook (like the recently announced
ASUS Eee PC T91 or T101H netbooks), throw MC on it, and control the video wall via Theater View wirelessly using the slick Touchscreen display. This would be insanely sweet. Just hand the T91 to one of our tour guides (after setting the appropriate zone and opening Theater View for her), and say "when you want to play back one of your virtual tour videos on the wall, just pick it from this list and it'll play up there."
Obviously not everyone has a fancy pants video wall, but many people probably have projectors and other "big screen" displays. It'd be awesome to be able to seamlessly control these via a little wireless copy of MC running on a cheap netbook. It'd be the ultimate remote control!
Then, once the remote control network infrastructure was in place, you could even port the system over to Android (and I'd pray for the iPhone/iPod Touch too). Even if you didn't want to do this part of it yourselves, it'd make it easier for people to implement systems like the great remote control
RiverMote system (he wouldn't need a separate app on the system to connect to).