INTERACT FORUM

More => Old Versions => Media Center 12 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: bal on January 03, 2007, 03:53:07 pm

Title: New Feature - UPNP Client
Post by: bal on January 03, 2007, 03:53:07 pm

I am new to MC and have recently installed MC 12.0 Beta trial version.  I think this is an excellent product that does most things that I need (and much much more).  However, I would like to see MC act as a UPNP Client, so that it can render/play media stored on a UPNP server elsewhere on my network.  Or, am I missing something?

If this feature can be added to MC 12.0, I'll buy it.

Title: Re: New Feature - UPNP Client
Post by: John Gateley on January 03, 2007, 04:16:43 pm

We don't do that yet.

I'm curious why you want it: Media Center has great organizational tools, why would you want to play content stored elsewhere?
Why wouldn't you import the content into Media Center?

j

Title: Re: New Feature - UPNP Client
Post by: bal on January 04, 2007, 04:33:42 pm

I already have a media server running on a NAS device and want my media files to remain there.  I simply need a upnp client to continually display a slideshow of images/photos.

Yes, I agree this product is an excellent organisational tool and includes some essential features (such as startup options and scheduler) that I need.  However, it lacks the UPNP client functionality.  I've tried doing a 'Search for Media Servers', but this does not detect my existing media server (other UPNP clients that I have tried find it no problem).

Any idea if and when the UPNP client functionality will be added to MC?

Title: Re: New Feature - UPNP Client
Post by: John Gateley on January 04, 2007, 04:41:53 pm

The "Search for Media Servers" only searches for Media Center Library Servers, not UPnP servers or other Media Servers.

Can the computer Media Center runs on access the NAS directly?

j

Title: Re: New Feature - UPNP Client
Post by: bal on January 04, 2007, 05:19:44 pm

No, the client machine does not have access to the folders on the server.

Title: Re: New Feature - UPNP Client
Post by: trott on January 04, 2007, 05:29:03 pm

Quote from: John Gateley on January 03, 2007, 04:16:43 pm

I'm curious why you want it: Media Center has great organizational tools, why would you want to play content stored elsewhere?

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but...
1) Library server cannot currently stream divx/xvid avi's
2) streaming of aac files through library server _sometimes_ works but mostly doesn't
3) mc's handling of files over a 100 Mbit connection often seems to cause hangs in the program so using a local library is not always an option
4) streaming image files using library server is slow at best

All in all, a solution which correctly streams all supported media types would be good.

Title: Re: New Feature - UPNP Client
Post by: JimH on January 04, 2007, 05:57:45 pm

Quote from: trott on January 04, 2007, 05:29:03 pm

3) mc's handling of files over a 100 Mbit connection often seems to cause hangs in the program so using a local library is not always an option
4) streaming image files using library server is slow at best

Both of these problems sound like an overactive virus checker may be at work.

Title: Re: New Feature - UPNP Client
Post by: trott on January 05, 2007, 01:08:57 am

I prefer not to disable virus scanning entirely...Would this be caused by scanning files on the machine serving the files or on the machine accessing them?

Title: Re: New Feature - UPNP Client
Post by: JimH on January 05, 2007, 08:00:35 am

Quote from: trott on January 05, 2007, 01:08:57 am

I prefer not to disable virus scanning entirely...Would this be caused by scanning files on the machine serving the files or on the machine accessing them?

I don't think you could safely eliminate either.  It's just a test.

Title: Re: New Feature - UPNP Client
Post by: bal on January 06, 2007, 09:51:21 am

Anyway, back to my original post!  Are there any plans to add UPNP Client features to MC?