I think we understand what you're asking for it to do, but what you don't seem to understand is how complex that "seemingly simple thing" is for JRiver to accomplish.
Essentially, they'd have to hand-code the behavior for every single device that you want it to auto-detect. It is irrelevant that the devices are "simpler", because there is no way for it to auto-detect new devices on a serial port. The only thing they could do would be to poll any possible COM ports on the computer, periodically, and then try to detect what device is connected, and then try to enumerate its contents. The first thing is bad enough (it would have to repeatedly poll all of the possible COM ports on the machine), but more importantly, the latter two are a nightmare.
They'd have to add specific code for every single possible consumer electronics device. At least every brand and type of device, but as eapool pointed out, there isn't a standard, and device manufacturers change their mind all the time (Denon devices this year don't necessarily use the same system as ones from 2007).
The long-and-short of it is this: Automation control systems are a mess. There are no standards. Devices still use old (dumb) RS-232 ports, which don't do any of the nice, fancy, auto-detecting stuff that USB does. And every manufacturer and device is different. Often not "slightly" different, but wildly different. That's why Jim said:
That's also why only high-end devices even have these ports... Because, only "professional installers" typically have the tools to make use of them (and even then, it often involves some amount of hand-coding to the specific devices the client is using).
Greetings Glynor:
I do respect your opinions in these thread:
I am not asking MC folks to try to develop ways to control every possible appliances with RS 232.You did refer to USB- Let us get to the definitions of "USB" and RS232.
Starting with RS 232- it is really a name assigned to the ports. The actual RS232 is a pair of chips 16550? or so, chips that could be found on motherboards or on I/O cards either soldered or plug in. I occassionally have purchased some from Radio Shack long time ago, when I used to have buffer over runs on those ports.
The USB is of couse "Universal Serial Bus. OEM wanted ways to reduce costs of PCs, and also for Windows to have plug and play features. There could be other reasons why USB came in to being. The chips that are in the motherboard or I/O cards are called "UART" meaning "Universal Assynchronous Receiver Transmitter, similar to the acronym for USB- correct.
In otherwords, USB in my opnion is the inferior brother of RS-232 , <grin> on this.
Take note that we have now RS-232 to ethernet cable or converter, same is true with RS232-USB, and also USB to ethernet. In layman's language, they are serial devices all of them, but the only difference is the ports 25 or 9 pins, and USB has its own port defined.
I have devices here that look like Ethernet, but really is serial- Moxa Nport 5610-16, WTI-CMS-16.
If a CD/DVD/BD drive or device has USB, MC auto detects it and even asks if you want to browse its contents.
Why not have same features or flexibility with RS 232?
We know RS-232 is legacy device, drivers may not even be needed in some cases.
I am NOT asking MC to program interfaces for AVR or all devices with serial ports. That will be crazy and unthinkable.
All I ask is that any appliance excluding AVR[ which is in a different class by itself] should be detected, scan its contents and let user use ''Browse" menu to look at the contents of BDs CDs,DVD.
Remember too, not too long ago, printers only have either parallel port-centronics and RS-232 ports. We do prints in those days with printers devices - correct?
No reason for MC to get involve with complicated controls.
If we let this RS-232 feature go without implementing it, it is going to surface again, similar to "Theaterview and "Eye Candy". A new or would be customer interested in controls -[BASIC controls of CD,DVD, BD players ] would bring up this topic again.
Thanks to everyone that responded or contributed to this thread.
Ekpen.