Why not use a remote terminal client to connect to the HTPC? If necessary, set up the remote session as another zone.WAF. But, to each his/her own.
This definitely looks enticing, especially since I found a refurbished netbook online for about $180. That's the cost of a decent remote. Now make it control my other devices and I'll be happy! ;D
[//thick mode on//]
Why not use a remote terminal client to connect to the HTPC? If necessary, set up the remote session as another zone.
/think mode pause, awaiting input/
I've been doing this for many years now, it will still be faster in response time compared to the solution proposed.
But you can't do anything with the other PC which is what this proposal will supposedly solve ?
If its a windows pc you can also remote desktop an login under a different user. You can still use the pc as normal from a different account. That's how I have set it up.
peter
Would this work on Windows Mobile OS? Could it be made to work on this OS?Don't know. Probably not without modification, but we've been wondering the same thing.
I would like to see a simple hand held device with a touch screen used as a remote - such as the new generation of touch phones. I have just got an HTC Touch Diamond 2 and this would be ideal.Theater View should work now with touch screens. iPhones are of course, the wrong OS.
Scenario:#2 has worked for many years, by running Library Server on the server and using MC's ability to connect to it.
music stored at the server, accessed using cheap client computers:
...
The following functionalities should be combined seemlessly.
1. play the music at the server.
2. play music locally at the client.
3. (Optional) Send the music to another client.I can't think why you would want that since the client can already use #2 above to connect to the server.
This is a difficult change because of multiple users.
The client user should be able to change tags/playlists in the server. (ideally only with additional write privileges)
The client user should be able to change tags/playlists in the server. (ideally only with additional write privileges)
The client user should be able to change tags/playlists in the server. (ideally only with additional write privileges)
There should be some mechanism to resolve change requests of multiple clients, but the first client should not
lock writing ability of other clients while being idle (I found that this was a problem in most MC 13 solutions).
This is a difficult change because of multiple users.This is why a proper client/server structure needs to be employed, possibly running something like SQL for storing information.
SQL is not nearly fast enough. MC's database is tuned for media and for speed.
Asus has a new Eee PC coming that looks like it would work well for this.
Asus has a new Eee PC coming that looks like it would work well for this.
http://www.asus.com/News.aspx?N_ID=Qoky5bTcRplYluPj
[via Engadget.com]
I'd like to know the expected price of this. Can't think that its just a little bit overkill and I bet it will be in excess of £500.
Does anyone know of any cheaper alternatives?
Jim,Bill,
I tried the V14 preview Tremote feature. I think it will be useful to me. Thanks for adding a feature I and many others have requested and will enjoy.
There are some odd omissions in the preview:
- The playing now display on the remote PC doesn't show what's playing and with progress.
- The volume control slider and the Play/Pause and Stop buttons don't work.
- The display on the server PC does not change to fit what's displayed on the remote PC.
I'll be interested to see how the finished versions works.
Thanks again.
Bill
Thanks for the feedback. Volume control should be working in the next build. Maybe a couple other things. It will probably take 4 or 5 builds to get it to the point where it's pretty useable.
Would you (or anyone else) please describe how you expect to use this? It might help us implement it more effectively.
- change from one view scheme to another to select music.
- Look at at the Playing Now list.
- Look at the Recently Ripped and Recently Imported lists...
- See what's playing and how far along I am in the current selection...
- Use the Play/Pause and Stop buttons...
- Change the current zone from...
- Customize the Tremote menus...
...UI actions to be smoother and less clunky ...
--- my advanced wish list
... each one controlling playback on a different zone.
... fix any tag error...
I'm not sure if people have missed my eariler post - but this functionality is all already available in the add-in I have written - even the 'advanced' bits.... (Well - all except for the "commands on the bottom menu")
Check out the following posts for a little history (http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=51906.0).
It's even got a version which is setup for Small devices (iPhone, WinMobile)
Hopefully the remote system will run Theater view almost exactly as it stands now.It's identical. It gets its settings from the server.
The more I think about this, the more I think you need to be able to cope with multiple remote units that are able to control any client - which includes the server.This works already. Multiple PC's can connect to a single server and control it. Any client can also connect to multiple servers.
This works already. Multiple PC's can connect to a single server and control it. Any client can also connect to multiple servers.
This works already. Multiple PC's can connect to a single server and control it. Any client can also connect to multiple servers.
It's pretty neat.
Bill,The volume control works for me (with both the mouse and using the volume buttons on the keyboard), but the Play/Pause do not work either.
Thanks for the feedback. Volume control should be working in the next build. Maybe a couple other things. It will probably take 4 or 5 builds to get it to the point where it's pretty useable.
Would you (or anyone else) please describe how you expect to use this? It might help us implement it more effectively.
Thanks,
Jim
The volume control works for me (with both the mouse and using the volume buttons on the keyboard), but the Play/Pause do not work either.Try 14.0.11. Play and pause should work now.
Is controlling a client possible? My setup is a server in a closet, connecting to this I have a htpc in the living room. The htpc is connected as a client to the server via MC. I'd like to control the htpc with my laptop.You can connect to any PC that is running Library Server. You will learn more by trying it.
I've tried and it doesn't work I'm afraid. Connectiing to serverpc from laptop is ok, htpc to serverpc is ok. Laptop to htpc serving local library ok, but connecting from laptop to htpc when htpc is connected to serverpc results in error.How does the HTPC connect to the Server? Are you using Library Server for that also? You could try a Windows shared directory.
Slashgear reports that the Asus Eee PC T91 will be available in the U.S. this week.
T91 page at Ausus (http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=24&l2=164&l3=0&l4=0&model=2851&modelmenu=1)
Slashgear reports that the Asus Eee PC T91 will be available in the U.S. this week.
T91 page at Ausus (http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=24&l2=164&l3=0&l4=0&model=2851&modelmenu=1)
Bill,
Thanks for the feedback. Volume control should be working in the next build. Maybe a couple other things. It will probably take 4 or 5 builds to get it to the point where it's pretty useable.
Would you (or anyone else) please describe how you expect to use this? It might help us implement it more effectively.
Thanks,
Jim
1. Start playback of music on my HTPC and progress bar and caption as well as playing now is updated on the client.#1 and #2 work now. #3 is more complicated. We'll do it after we have the first part working well.
2. I also hope that this happens for Video as well. Except that I want the Video to go to Fullscreen automaticly on the HTPC/Server (if it's configured that way), or with a double tap or command on the client side. I'd like this to work this way both from standard view or Theater View.
3. I'd also like the zones to be available so you can control all zones on the HTCP/Server from the remote.
#1 and #2 work now. #3 is more complicated. We'll do it after we have the first part working well.
That's interesting. Do you think MC could run on this or would it be a browser-based control?We're not sure how much work it would take to run on WinCE but it is probably possible.
We're not sure how much work it would take to run on WinCE but it is probably possible.Oooh... how close is WinCE to WinMobile? *hint*
Another possibility. Running only Linux at the moment...Of some relevance to the OS on what is a very nice concept... http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=2953
http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/touchbook/
$299 for screen only (Tablet PC), $99 for keyboard.
mintpad -- around $150, running WinCE
There is an interesting spinoff here: At last, a player for WinCe, Pocket PC, WinMobile? At the core, those OSes are the same...Perhaps possible. We don't know yet.
2) more often though, I'd use it for audio. I currently have 6 zones in MC. I'd want to be able to launch the remote piece and be able to select any one of the available zones to send the audio to. Zone selection is easily done from the main server now, or via rivermote on the itouch. I can't use the new feature until zone selection is added. It currently plays on the main desktop speaker output on the main server pc. If I was listening on those speakers, I'd just fire up MC on the main machine and wouldn't be using the remote copy. I need to be able to select the garage or swimming pool zones, which is where I use the rivermote product currently to switch to the zone and kick off a playlist. Rivermote works well for this, but I could envision using a laptop on the pool patio instead, simply to be able to show a larger playing now screen that we could read from the pool to see what's playing. I'd probably roll this out in two more bedrooms after zone selection becomes a reality.
3) I'd also use it from work to listen in the "here" scenario like we can do in v13. In this case, the desired enhancement would be some tag editing capabilities. Rating at a minimum.
Basically the must haves are zone selection and having the now playing info showing the same correct info on both the client and the server copy of MC for the respective zones.
As mentioned before, being able to assign a custom toolbar button for each individual zone would be nice for toggling between them instead of the drop-down list or the toggle keyboard combination.
Just click each button to show the playing now for that zone in the current pane.
Another possibility. Running only Linux at the moment...Now were getting to reasonable money. I think no more than £200 could be dedicated to a device who's main purpose would be a remote. Does Linux have a Flash player? The interface could be designed in Flash and that would open up a world of cross platform - eventually even Windows Mobile......
http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/touchbook/
(http://www.pix01.com/gallery/8D12431D-7EA0-495D-9EA2-775091458CB9/Touchbook_from_alwaysinnovating/13268964_orig0.jpg)
$299 for screen only (Tablet PC), $99 for keyboard.
I've tried and it doesn't work I'm afraid. Connectiing to serverpc from laptop is ok, htpc to serverpc is ok. Laptop to htpc serving local library ok, but connecting from laptop to htpc when htpc is connected to serverpc results in error.
There is one thing I object to in your recent posts in this thread: you both seem to be saying that the current tremote functionality should not be included but to do what you needs instead.
MC14 crashes constantly so I am not using it regularly yet.If you haven't, please start a thread. See the "Stability" link in my signature.
The future Archos 9
The server will keep recording my TV shows, serving my media, and the rest for me and for the rest of the machines on my network.
Glynor - just out of interest, what do use for the TV Shows (MC, MythTV, MediaPortal, other) with what hardware (DVB-T, DVB-S or DVB-C). Does this setup enable ordinary TV watching through the HTPC? Off topic I know, but intrested in you setup as this is almost identical to the way I am going.
I thought I'd mention that I don't want to use the HTPC for my Library Server because the HTPC does a bunch of other stuff that makes it an unreliable server. For example, I actually use mine for gaming (hence the Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 3.6GHz and the Radeon HD4870 1GB), and when I'm running games I don't like to keep a bunch of services running. I reboot it sometimes for other OSes (I actually have a couple of old DOS games that are still fun) and whatnot. Plus, since I use the living room machine for gaming, I keep it heavily overclocked and tweaked all the time, which sometimes requires being shut down for full days of testing when I modify something or decide to tweak it for additional performance.
Part of the POINT of how my HTPC is set up is that it is completely unnecessary for the rest of my network to keep running. It is a client, that I can take down, reboot, and shut services down on without a care in the world. The server will keep recording my TV shows, serving my media, and the rest for me and for the rest of the machines on my network.
I am not a computer guy so perhaps I missed the answer in the thread but does this mean that the netbook would function as a remote in a manner different than simply running library server? And, can this be run with a monitor (say, to display the playing now on a monitor but run the program through the netbook.)?The description is in my first post.
Check this touch screen device out....
http://gizmodo.com/5163636/asus-eee-keyboard-pc-should-arrive-in-may-or-june-for-400+600
Now an MC control interface on tis would be NICE
From the client, I've tried setting ratings, changing a track name, etc, and the changes are never seen by the server. And if I then close the client and re-open it, the changes it made will be reverted back.
Thank you, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I first requested this feature back in 2005 I think it was, but never remembered to come back and lobby for it.
10. An alternative Media Server mode that allows the client to control the server - the client MC basically becomes a remote control, changing what the server is playing.
Much earlier, try 2003 (http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=17025.msg117427#msg117427) :o
Its interesting to go through your list and see what has been realised since then.
Items 3 and and 3c are still missing and I was just thinking about them again yesterday. I think those should be quite easy to add (hint) :)
Similarly, I'd like the ability to import files into the server, from the client. This would be a little more complex, because it would mean that when I choose Import, I should see a File dialogue that is relative to the server, not the client. If that's too complex, then an alternative would be to allow the use of pre-defined Auto Import folders from the client. Meaning that I would first set up these folders on the Server, and then the Client would be able to trigger imports from those folders into the server library
If the above explanation is too long for you, I'll boil it down:
If you want to use the Library Server feature AND the Tremote feature of MC14, but you don't want to use Tremote to control the computer that is serving the library (or want to remote control multiple, different machines) you can't do it. You can only use Tremote to control the Library Server machine, and not any of the clients. You are forced to choose between these two features.
I'm not sure I follow this, but here's what I think you're saying:
A= your Tremote
B= your display across the room
C= your server
You want A to control what is playing on B
but
it is controlling C instead.
What if B is a client of C (B connects to Library Server on C)?
Can you not then run Library Server on B and connect to it with A?
An easier and more limited way to implement this would be to have this work for imports to network shares that were visble both to the client and the server. Imports elsewhere should pop up a warning dialog saying that they won't be reflected persistently in the library.
glynor may i take this convo into a pm with you? so that i purchase the right item for my ideal setup? i promise not to take to much of your time.
Will we ever be able to control a client with tremote? Client to another client that is.
Should I understand the silence around this question as 'It's not decided yet'?Can you describe exactly what you want to do? And why?
It'd be great if it was made possible. :)
I have a server tucked away in a closet. It's on 24/7, but doesn't do any playing. In my living room I have a htpc and a laptop. These connect to the server whenever I want to play music,films or browse my pictures. This, of course, using MC's library server on the server. I also connect to the server from work for music. I like this setup because of noise, the physical size of the htpc and so fort. Tremote has no use in this scenario as it is now, because my server isn't connected to any speakers or monitors. What I would like to do is connect to my htpc from my laptop and using tremote to control it while the htpc is connected via library server to my 'closet' pc.
laptop > htpc > server
client > client > server
htpc >(tremote)>htpc>(library server)>server
This is an issue that I've had with Tremote and the Library Server as well. I have a very similar system to yours. My HTPC doesn't have any local media. It is all served by a server downstairs in the basement. Unless you run the Library Server on the machine that you want to control with your netbook/laptop/touchpad/etc, you have to choose between using the Library Server function and the Tremote function.
I want to make an emphatic +1 vote for TJRobbins posts about making Tremote control more aspects of the server. I especially could use file deletion, but many of the other aspects he mentions are limitations I've specifically felt while using Tremote. Having originally used remote desktop to control the server, it does become apparent what Tremote cannot do. That said, I'm extremely grateful that Tremote exists at all. Currently I use remote desktop to do what Tremote can't, using Tremote for general playback and tagging.
Plus a question: can Library Sync be automated? Ideal would be that the libraries would sync up automatically, anytime there is a change at either the client or server side... or at least just have it run every x minutes.
And while I'm at it, a third easy question: can a Tremote MC client be launched by default with the Zone set to the server (ie. "There: Zone 1").
Cheers,
Shiraz
But it's working now. Client to client is working. It didn't work with the first few builds of tremote, but it does now. Very nice!
The future Archos 9 looks promising for the Tremote! :This is now available for $549.
(http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3007/archos9intro.th.jpg) (http://img339.imageshack.us/i/archos9intro.jpg/)
http://www.archos.com/products/nb/archos_9/index.html?country=us&lang=en
so i bought the eeepc and this my first time using theaterview with tremote.. and loving it!!!!Could you start a new thread for the question about video and Library Server?
big question though, on netbook when connected to server, and on zone 1... meaning that im connected to library server and want to watch movies on the netbook not use it as a remote\there:zone1
all avi's mpgs play but none of my dvdbackups with extension. ifo play? how do i get those files to play? those are the majority of my files and i'd love to be able to bring my laptop anywhere in the house network and be able to watch those files also.
If I buy the MC Remote and connects it to the remote pc, is it then possible to control the volume on the HTPC with the remote?
Frode
If I buy the MC Remote and connects it to the remote pc, is it then possible to control the volume on the HTPC with the remote?Yes. It's possible to do. You use one of the e-mitters included in the Media Center Remote Kit:
If Tremote connects to the HTPC, it should be able to play the library of the MC running on the HTPC. Look under "Playing Now" on the Tremote.
MC on your HTPC could also just import the server's files (using Windows networking) without running Library Server on the server.
i currently use 2 devices as remotes. i use remote server to connect to an archos7 which would work perfectly if i could do more tag data retrieval over your web service.And i use tremote to serve to a dell xt2. this is really the perfect way to control mc. while i understand the cost of a new unit would be ridiculous to put out for a remote, no matter how nice, the xt (previous generation) regularly sells on ebay for 400$. i set up a clients house yesterday with an xt and its a dream with tremote. i really love this feature.
We just released a beta of MC15. It has a DLNA feature called WebRemote. It lets you use a browser on any device to control MC15. Here are a couple of links:
MC15.0.8 download:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=56718.0
New features so far, including WebRemote:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=56688.0
MC15 currently works with an MC14 license.
Wow - you guys really DO listen. I haven't looked in other threads yet but I'm guessing ver 15 can be installed side by side with 14 - just in case!It can.
I am talking about controlling MC clients from another MC. Now we can use Tremote only for controlling the server zone. All my home playback zones are MC clients.Tremote for server not needed in this case. It seems to me that this scheme is more functional than the DLNA device (also as MC as a mobile player (laptop, car, upmc) is more convenient and better quality than the Ipod - but for now we can get statistics only from Ipod). Now we can control DLNA and from DLNA. But we can't use Tremote for control MC client. I'd like to know whether the planned improvements in this direction.Thanks. I understand better (but not perfectly). The answer is that I don't know what we'll do next with Tremote. DLNA is a standard that we will need to follow. DLNA allows one copy of MC to control another or play to it.
Ideally, I see the possibility of unlimited control zones clients and server in one server.