INTERACT FORUM

Devices => Androids and other portables => Topic started by: jeroen020 on July 30, 2008, 06:23:23 am

Title: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: jeroen020 on July 30, 2008, 06:23:23 am
Last night I upgraded my jailbroken 16GB v1 Iphone to v2.0. Of course I toyed around with some of the downloads from the App Store and tried the 'Remote' app to control Itunes from the Iphone. It is a fantastic app and a great way to bi-directionally control your PC from your phone with full access to library, playlists and over art. It is pretty similar to how you can control MC from Netremote, but for Netremote I need dedicated devices, while my Iphone is always in my pocket.

It would be great if functionality as offered by the 'Remote' app by Apple for Itunes could also be developed by J River or a 3rd party (Netremote?) so we Iphone users can control our playlist without having to walk over to the PC screen. I would be more than willing to pay $20 to be able to control MC from my Iphone and it's pretty simple to put an app in Itunes so people can pay for it.

This is a separate request to having sync support for Iphone v2.0 / 3G, which already has a thread of its own.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: glynor on July 30, 2008, 08:32:34 am
There's been a few other requests for this elsewhere on the forums.  Jim said that perhaps they can emulate the iTunes/iPhone interaction and then you'd just be able to use the Apple Remote app and use it with MC instead.  I imagine that getting it working with 3G/2.0 is top priority, and then this would be looked at afterwards.

A second, and perhaps more useful, option would be for them to build a brand new web UI for MC that provides many of the same features in a slick, "web 2.0" way that feels like an application.  (Note to developers: if so, consider using SproutCore which doesn't require proprietary Flash to do it's magic and is free and open.)  Then, a special "skin" for this web UI could be developed specifically for the iPhone.

Now, that wouldn't be quite as slick as a MC iPhone native app, but it could accomplish most of what you'd need/want and would work for people who have other web devices/laptops/umpc/netbooks/etc as well.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: jeroen020 on July 30, 2008, 08:38:57 am
Hi Glynor, thanks for your comments. I've seen some other mentions, I just thought this topic deserved its own thread, so we can have a separate discussion on how to use the Iphone/Ipod Touch v2.0 to control MC on this side and how to sync our Iphones/Ipods v2.0 with MC for music, pictures etc in the other topic(s).

A web control interface is cool to, but I do hope to get full two-way control & features like cover art, playlist selection and multi-zone which is what Apple's software (and Netremote) already offer.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: glynor on July 30, 2008, 10:43:21 am
A web control interface is cool to, but I do hope to get full two-way control & features like cover art, playlist selection and multi-zone which is what Apple's software (and Netremote) already offer.

I agree completely (I started one of those other threads).  However... I think that a well-built web control UI could provide all of those features.  Keep in mind, SproutCore or Ruby or AJAX can do a lot of cool things and can make web apps feel like full-featured desktop applications.  If this road is taken, the reason I suggest SproutCore is that it doesn't rely on the end user having a working Flash implementation or any specific web browser.  Since SproutCore does all of its magic in Javascript, it is fully open and standards compliant, and will work "out of the box" on any browser (including Mobile Safari on the iPhone).

Plus the developer's tools are free and open source.  All you need is a working Ruby installation (it uses Ruby for the developer's environment but doesn't require it for the final "product" which is pure Javascript) and you can easily install it.

Not to say a native iPhone app wouldn't be completely awesome.  Unfortunately, that might require more resources than JRiver has to spend on such a limited market segment.  If not and they want to give us a full featured iPhone App, then I'll just say hallelujah.  However, a good web UI could fulfill this goal and be useful to lots of other people too!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: madmax14304 on August 08, 2008, 07:16:37 am
I just tried the "Remote" app for the iPhone and iTunes and... wow.  What a fantastic application.  It's fast, simple and looks great.  It really has be considering using iTunes more (even though it's a horrible application).  Hope a JRiver remote app pops up.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Ripper on August 11, 2008, 10:04:48 pm
I, too, think that providing an iPod Touch/iPhone Application to control Media Center would be wonderful.  It would add considerable functionality to Media Center.  In fact, it is hard to imagine any other feature that would do more to faciliate the control of a computer running Media Center.  Right now, I have a laptop that uses Microsoft's Remote Connect to connect to my desktop, which runs Media Center.  Half the time, however, the computers won't connect, and it is cumbersome to use the laptop as a remote.  The compact, touchscreen iPod Touch/iPhone, in contrast, seems practially designed to function as a remote to control a Media Center-based system.  And I would be willing to pay extra for it.

I just tried the "Remote" app for the iPhone and iTunes and... wow.  What a fantastic application.  It's fast, simple and looks great.  It really has be considering using iTunes more (even though it's a horrible application).  Hope a JRiver remote app pops up.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Fred1 on August 20, 2008, 02:04:16 am
Hi,
i second this request.
For me it would be the most interesting new feature.

In my house, it would be great, but on my CarPC, it would be terrific.
I use JR MediaCenter as music source in my car and controlling it via an iPod Touch/iPhone sitting in my steering wheel would be so cool 8)

Fred
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: gummbah on August 20, 2008, 05:23:48 am
Hi,
i second this request.
For me it would be the most interesting new feature.

In my house, it would be great, but on my CarPC, it would be terrific.
I use JR MediaCenter as music source in my car and controlling it via an iPod Touch/iPhone sitting in my steering wheel would be so cool 8)

Fred


You have a pc in your car running MC?
Wow.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: chippyhawkeye on August 20, 2008, 07:18:42 am
Check out intelliremote.  I have used it and love it with a USB UIRT to control my pc and TV, etc.  It is very intuitive.  The author just released an Iphone App to the App Store.  It basically lets you assign keypresses on the iphone remote to any command on the pc.  I'm pretty sure there is already a MC profile so all the buttons should be mapped for you.  Apple hasn't released the App from Review, but if it is anything like Intelliremote it should be awesome...

Chip
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Fred1 on August 21, 2008, 04:43:39 am
You have a pc in your car running MC?

Yes, since a couple of years :)

Fred
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 08, 2008, 02:47:57 pm
If you guys are interested i could write this application that would be a Native iPhone/iPod touch application to control JRiver MC.   I have already written 4 iPhone applications including my first one released here Intelliphone (http://www.melloware.com/products/intelliphone).


I would show you the cover art and navigation controls like Play Pause Stop Next etc and also allow you to scroll the playlist and select from it from your iPhone/iPod touch.

My question is....if I took the time to write it would you guys be willing to purchase it from the AppStore?  Is 4.99 unreasonable?


Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: jeroen020 on September 08, 2008, 03:15:00 pm
> would you guys be willing to purchase it from the AppStore?  Is 4.99 unreasonable?

That price sounds totally reasonable. It would make it a no-brainer for me.

If you take this on, I hope you can keep us posted on your progress!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 08, 2008, 08:16:35 pm
I would be interested in this.
Would there be coverflow-like browsing of the library?
I'd pay $5 for this, no problem.

Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 08, 2008, 09:54:56 pm
Would there be coverflow-like browsing of the library?

No coverflow browsing.  At least not in Version 1.0.  But the beauty of these apps is I can grow them with features over time and you will always get the updates on your iPhone.  I like to take a "keep it simple stupid" approach to applications and get them really tight first before I add tons of bells and whistles.  The plan is for the Now Playing window which will allow PLAY, PAUSE, SHUFFLE, REPEAT, STOP.  And the Playlist browser will allow you to look through the playlist and select a song for immediate playback etc.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 08, 2008, 10:17:16 pm
Would this require intelliremote to be installed on the pc?
I'm hoping you would instead interface with MC via it's internal web browser or windows messaging commands.
I tried demo of intelliremote but it doesn't work with my infrared transmitter/receiver (Home Electronics Tira2).
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 08, 2008, 10:26:18 pm
Would this require intelliremote to be installed on the pc?

NO. This application has nothing to do with Intelliremote.  It will be a direct connection to the MC application itself through a small server side piece I have to write which will manage the MC Automation Object and send the events and data to the iPhone native application.   Basically on song change events and any other MC notification i will then send data to the iPhone app to update the Now Playing and playlist etc.  And vice versa when you press play on your iPhone App it will call the native MC.Play() api command. 

Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: )p( on September 09, 2008, 12:56:40 am
I think it would need at least the ability to browse your view schemes.

peter
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 09, 2008, 01:10:57 am
I think it would need at least the ability to browse your view schemes.

Can you explain exactly what this means?

Also does anyone have any name sugestions?

RiverPhone
iRiver
iJRiver
??
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: )p( on September 09, 2008, 03:03:17 am
Can you explain exactly what this means?

Also does anyone have any name sugestions?

RiverPhone
iRiver
iJRiver
??

It's the hierarchy setup to browse your libray contents. The power and flexibility in the way you can do this is one of the features of mc in which its way ahead of the competition...

JRiverMControl

peter
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: jeroen020 on September 09, 2008, 03:07:09 am
Would these screenshots be ok?

Yes, but perhaps a bit crowded.

I think for the control options, only Previous / Play-Pause / Next are frequently used. The other buttons (repeat, random, stop etc) won't be used much by me, but as they are kind of small in this design may be accidentally pressed.

Also I'd prefer the volume to be a slider - that will give you both instant visual confirmation on the current volume level as well as a way to quickly slide it to the preffered level (as well as mute by sliding it all the way to the left).

I'm not sure how you'd incorporate playlists, but 90% of my MC listening is playlist-based - I spent a lot of times making playlist suitable for every mood so if I'm able to browse & pick a playlist quickly using this app that would be perfect. I don't care much about coverflow, my library's too big for that. I can however imagine to want to browse for a specific artist or album now and then, so if that would be supported (as on the Apple remote app) that would be a cool feature too.

In the list view, I like it if I could see both the artist and track name as in your overview. Bitrate is nice, but not essential, if I could see the genre of the song instead that would be more meaningful to me.

I'm not sure what the 'info' icon would do, maybe get background info? I was thinking and it would be awesome if you could press this button (or just the cover art when playing a track) and it would pull the artist/track info from last.fm or another source.

Anyway, I'm very excited about this!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 09, 2008, 08:52:04 am
before we go crazy with requirements.  Remember i am constrained by the API that is provided by JRiver.  So every bell and whistle is not available.

For a first pass I was not going to allow browsing of artists and albums etc...only the current playlist and probbaly loading of other playlists.   The thing that Apple remote does where it allows you to search your catalog is quite impressive.  For example i have 6500 full albums and over 75000 total songs.  You do NOT want to be sending that massive amount of data back and forth to the iPhone.  You have to be diligent about how much data and how much memory is used on the device....so Apple has a very clever backend search engine.  I would have to write something similar for JRiver that is just as fast.

So for the first pass I am thinking more of a controller of your JRiver music and playlist and not a catalog search or adding songs dynamically to playlists etc.

Does that make sense to everybody?  Or is that functionality so critical it's not worth my time to create this if no one thinks it will be worth it??

Also I would love feedback on a name for it!!!!  Please advise.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: jeroen020 on September 09, 2008, 09:06:55 am
before we go crazy with requirements.  Remember i am constrained by the API that is provided by JRiver.  So every bell and whistle is not available.

Point taken... consider them suggestions for your roadmap ;-)

Quote
For a first pass I was not going to allow browsing of artists and albums etc...only the current playlist and probbaly loading of other playlists.

Well I would really hope I can view and change playlists from the remote. If I'd still have to walk over to my PC for that that makes the app less useful. Album/Artist browsing is nice to have for me but not a requirement.

Quote
Also I would love feedback on a name for it!!!!  Please advise.

How about RiverMote? JRMote? JRMControl?
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 09, 2008, 09:25:57 am
OK so changing playlists is a MUST.  Gotcha...but i am glad you understand about the rest.

I think I am feeling RiverMote.  I think I will go with that unless anyone truly objects!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 09, 2008, 10:12:51 am
Well,  let me explain the two scenarios where I would use this app and specifics on how I think it should fit into those scenarios.

1) Listening to audio tracks in swimming pool or garage.
I have 4 zones configured in MC.  1: desktop speakers, 2:stereo receiver in living room, 3: outdoor speakers by pool, 4:speakers in garage.

When swimming in the pool, we have a couple of playlists that we generally select depending on who's there.
I have a case for the touch where the belt clips also acts as a stand, much like a picture frame that sits on a table.  This allows the touch to be positioned on a table in landscape mode for movie watching.  We would place it on a patio table.  This would allow someone to skip the current track and also to see the playing now screen.  With the random playlist, I quite often am asked who's playing and it's critical to have that info viewable without having to go inside.  Having the artist and song title in large font here would be great, even if that meant smaller cover art image.
We would only use playlists and never search for or select specific artists.  Launch a playlist, jump in the pool, only touch the device to skip a track.

So, for this scenario, the features required would be the playing now display, controls such as pause and next track, ability to browse the list of playlists in MC and launch one, and ability to select zone 3 so that the output is sent to the proper set of speakers.


Listening in garage.  Similar to pool, except need to select zone 4 so output is sent to correct speakers.
Set the zone, select a playlist, start playback.  Hands would be dirty soon, so probably wouldn't touch device except in rare cases to skip a track.  Would want playing now visible in landscape mode sitting on top of toolbox.

So, to get the best use out of this, the ability to select a zone is important.  I know there are others here that use multiple zones as well.
I know zones can be switched with a keyboard combination as well as a command line switch.  Not sure how it works with their API since I don't write code, I've never looked.


Other enhancements?
Button to toggle view mode between normal and theater view.

I could also see the benefit of using this for watching videos, though that wouldn't work in your version 1.0 since it would require browsing the list of videos and selecting one.  That's not something you do with a playlist.


Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 09, 2008, 11:42:03 am
Now that is some detailed requirements!!!   I will do my best to make it happen.  I think i will be able to implement a lot of what you guys are asking for.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 09, 2008, 12:50:39 pm
This is my software development motto....

Our Code: "The most successful method of programming is to begin a program as simply as possible, test it, and then add to the program until it performs the required job." - PDP8 handbook, Pg9-64
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: jeroen020 on September 09, 2008, 03:15:29 pm
In that case perhaps you should make a PDP8 version first and then port it to Iphone/Ipod ;-)

But I do agree on the multizone comments, although I'm not using it extensively today I am planning on expanding this (I bought an Airport Express for this purpose). If you would be able to add multizone this would make actually using the multizone capabilities of MC much more attractive, just like how zxsix is using it.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: DV8 on September 09, 2008, 03:44:08 pm
Mellow guy

You may want to look at Netremote and see the functionality they have implemented in their Windows Mobile application for J River. They get a lot of very useful functionality into a standard PDA touch screen that I use every day. I would love to drop the Dell Axim I use to run this and go with my iPhone 3G. For me, library browsing is essential thru my home WiFi network. I have large library so it does take a few seconds to load library intially in Netremote but once it is in there it is pretty fast. Good search, controls, playing now, etc .... just doen's run on an iPhone.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 09, 2008, 05:40:20 pm
OK so multizone is a must.  I will warn you however you can only get Now Playing Data etc from the ACTIVE zone.  You will be able to switch zones but only get data from which one is Active.  It is a limitation of the JRiver API and is well documented.  It makes sense to me though, why would you want anything other than the Active Zone's now playing and control?

As for the Netremote. I checked it out and definitely know with JRiver it is possible.  I am more concerned about getting a working first version out there and getting feedback rather than code for 6 months trying to catch up to NetREmote's every bell and whistle.  ALSO, and this is a big also.  They wrote NetRemote for the .NET Compact Framework which is a lot more robust that what you get out of the box with Cocoa and Objective C.  Now with that power you get slow crappy Windows though.   Just thought I should mention that. :)

GREAT FEEDBACK GUYS!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 09, 2008, 06:51:52 pm
OK so multizone is a must.  I will warn you however you can only get Now Playing Data etc from the ACTIVE zone.  You will be able to switch zones but only get data from which one is Active.  It is a limitation of the JRiver API and is well documented.  It makes sense to me though, why would you want anything other than the Active Zone's now playing and control?


Yes, already aware of this and it's not a problem for me.  Being able to turn on the touch, start your app, and specify a zone to make active is enough for me.  There wouldn't be other zones playing at the same time in my scenario.

Can your app launch MC if it's not already running?
Perhaps I get out in the garage and realize I never went to the server and started MC beforehand.
1) Tap button to launch MC.
2) Tap button or drop-down list box to select desired zone.
3) Select a playlist from choices.
4) Tracks start playing.

Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 09, 2008, 07:04:15 pm
OK great.  Can the iPhone launch the app on the PC?  Not without some resident program running the PC to signal the start but my application will be a resident program.  I can make it a tray application that you just always leave running?  It can start or shutdown MC for you when the Iphone communicates to it. Sound good?
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 09, 2008, 07:11:42 pm
OK great.  Can the iPhone launch the app on the PC?  Not without some resident program running the PC to signal the start but my application will be a resident program.  I can make it a tray application that you just always leave running?  It can start or shutdown MC for you when the Iphone communicates to it. Sound good?


Yes,  I usually prefer running as a service instead of tray apps, but I realize that MC wouldn't be able to start without a console session being logged in, so that doesn't matter in this case.   Lately I leave the console session logged in but locked.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 09, 2008, 07:51:43 pm
Yes,  I usually prefer running as a service instead of tray apps, but I realize that MC wouldn't be able to start without a console session being logged in, so that doesn't matter in this case.   Lately I leave the console session logged in but locked.


zxsix, I really look forward to working together on this.   Your statement above makes me realize you are a power user who understand Windows and how it works.  Hopefully we can build something beautiful and functional!  I am confident we can.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 11, 2008, 10:37:51 pm
zxsix, I really look forward to working together on this.   Your statement above makes me realize you are a power user who understand Windows and how it works.  Hopefully we can build something beautiful and functional!  I am confident we can.

Apple seems to be a bit slow in putting updated builds in their app store.
How do you propose we do the beta testing?
I have another IT professional also willing to help test this once you have a working alpha or beta available.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 12, 2008, 06:50:36 am
How do you propose we do the beta testing?
I have another IT professional also willing to help test this once you have a working alpha or beta available.

We will do what is called an Ad Hoc distribution which Apple allows.  What basically happens is you and the other tester when we are ready will send me your 40 digit unique deviceId for your iPhone or iPod touch.  I add those two devices to my digital certificate and do a build.  I then email you the build and you have to drag and drop it into Itunes along with a provisioning certificate I send you.  It then just syncs to your phone!!!  Pretty cool huh?

And since the deviceId's are hard wired into the certificate you couldn't give out the BETA to another user even if you wanted to. :)  Sound good?
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: JONCAT on September 12, 2008, 08:06:02 am
This sounds really promising. I am an Intelliremote user (Gyration remote), and it's a solid app.

I have a very similar setup to ZXSIX and I may be purchasing an iPhone (especially if I move overseas). I was looking at an Archos 5 but Netremote doesn't run on it; I thought there was a web-based project going in the 3rd party forum so that may be an option too.

When thing I have configured on my Gryation is the ability to add a rating. I only use ratings for one thing: a 5 star is applied so when listening in the backyard or pool, I can "capture" a record of some amazing song I just heard. On shuffle, songs like this pop up and your're just not sure who it was by as ...you've never even heard it before. Later check your 5-star playlist and figure it out.

Keep up the great work.

DC

Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 12, 2008, 12:38:48 pm
Sound good?

Ok.  I found serial number in the about screen on the touch, but nothing 40-digits long.
I guess that's probably only shown in itunes then.
We'll figure that out when it's time.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 12, 2008, 12:40:44 pm
Ok.  I found serial number in the about screen on the touch, but nothing 40-digits long.
I guess that's probably only shown in itunes then.
We'll figure that out when it's time.


OK try and CTRL+CLICK that serial number.  It will change to DeviceId and be 40 digits.  Secrets from apple.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 13, 2008, 01:33:58 pm
Ok.  I found serial number in the about screen on the touch, but nothing 40-digits long.
I guess that's probably only shown in itunes then.

Someone else just gave me a great tip for getting your DeviceId.  There is an App you can download for free called Ad Hoc Helper.  All it does it generate an email with your deviceID in it so you can email it to me from your phone!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: neFAST on September 14, 2008, 06:25:32 am
Hey what's the status on your piece of App melloware?
And a dumb question : what don't you reverse Apple Remote app and build a MC plugin that serves this app instead of building a new app?
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 14, 2008, 06:46:59 am
Hey what's the status on your piece of App melloware?
And a dumb question : what don't you reverse Apple Remote app and build a MC plugin that serves this app instead of building a new app?

That not a dumb question, but would be WAY more difficult.  Apple controls both the iPhone Client and the Itunes "server" server the data.  I only would be able to control the MC server and have to try and figure out exactly what to send.

Controlling both the client and the server allows for max flexibility.  Besides how would you change MC zones since that is not in the Apple interface?  Changing Zones will be a HIGH requirement for MC users according to the experts here.

Does that answer your question?

I hopefully will have Alpha 1 for zxsix to test by the end of this week!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: neFAST on September 14, 2008, 07:14:47 am
Does that answer your question?
Sure!

If you need some iPod Touch beta tester, tell me.
Did you knew MC before?
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 14, 2008, 07:17:59 am
Sure!

If you need some iPod Touch beta tester, tell me.
Did you knew MC before?

I got interested in MC when one of my Intelliremote users suggested I take a look at it and it looked awesome.  Then I saw how robust the API is and I thought "I could write an iPhone controller for this!"

If you would like to see some of my other iPhone work so far...not all are on the AppStore yet...check out my site

http://www.melloware.com (http://www.melloware.com)

As for BETA testing I may just take you up on that!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 14, 2008, 09:52:13 pm
Info about my device has been sent to your email.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 14, 2008, 10:02:30 pm
Info about my device has been sent to your email.


Got it...will have a real raw beta for you to try later this week! 
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: heywood on September 15, 2008, 04:13:14 pm
a little off topic, but please clarify active zone. I think you mean the zone currently being controlled. Will the API allow for the app to switch control between zones so that you can still play different music in different zones via the itouch app and control the zones or set the zones in motion one at a time.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 15, 2008, 04:16:43 pm
a little off topic, but please clarify active zone. I think you mean the zone currently being controlled. Will the API allow for the app to switch control between zones so that you can still play different music in different zones via the itouch app and control the zones or set the zones in motion one at a time.

Heywood,

I am new to JRiver but here is what the API allows and here is what the iPhone app will do.  It allows you to see your Zones like Zone1, Zone2 etc or whatever you have them named.  You will be able to click on a zone to set it to the Active Zone.  The Active Zone is the zone that the iPhone is displaying and controlling.  So if you swithc to Zone2 and you have something different playing there you will see that in the Now Playing Window of the iPhone.  Basically you can switch zones but of course the iPhone can only show data and control 1 zone at a time and that is the Active Zone.  Does that make sense?

Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Fred1 on September 16, 2008, 04:17:33 am
I highly appreciate the development of an iPhone/iPod controller application for MC!

A suggestion, if not for now, then for later:
Please include song-rating and a "timeline" for fast selection of the song position as it is in the Apple REMOTE app.
But place it on the "main" screen, so it is usable without switching to another window.

Can't wait to buy this app!

Thanks
Fred
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 16, 2008, 05:49:10 am
I highly appreciate the development of an iPhone/iPod controller application for MC!

A suggestion, if not for now, then for later:
Please include song-rating and a "timeline" for fast selection of the song position as it is in the Apple REMOTE app.
But place it on the "main" screen, so it is usable without switching to another window.

Can't wait to buy this app!

Thanks
Fred

Hey Fred,

Thanks for the feedback.  I am going to work on timeline if I can but the song rating i am putting at a low priority.  Timeline might slip to version 1.1 if I can't figure it out easy enough or if the API doesn't have anything to support it.  Once I get up and running I will create a forum over on my site to take in all comments bugs suggestions etc!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: skeeterfood on September 16, 2008, 02:35:58 pm
If you get this working on the IPod Touch, I just might have to buy one :)

One other note, I assume you are currently working on this with MC12?  Make sure you test it out with MC13 beta and report any issues to the JRiver team.

-John
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 16, 2008, 02:44:59 pm
If you get this working on the IPod Touch, I just might have to buy one :)

One other note, I assume you are currently working on this with MC12?  Make sure you test it out with MC13 beta and report any issues to the JRiver team.

I will personally guarantee it will work with the iPod Touch as I test on both an iPhone and iPod Touch.  I have been writing my code against 12 but ZXSIX also recommended getting on the BETA13 list but I have no idea what that entails??? I am new to JRiver but I love what I am seeing so far from both the application and API.  I will have screenshots for you guys by Friday....

Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: jeroen020 on September 16, 2008, 04:41:12 pm
It seems the XBMC camp now also has a remote app for Iphone/Ipod Touch, maybe good to get some inspiration from...
http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/2008/09/16/xbmc-remote-for-iphone-ipod-touch/

Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 16, 2008, 04:57:19 pm
It seems the XBMC camp now also has a remote app for Iphone/Ipod Touch, maybe good to get some inspiration from...
http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/2008/09/16/xbmc-remote-for-iphone-ipod-touch/



Don't worry mine will look very similar but completely tailored to the features of JRiver MC.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 17, 2008, 12:34:09 am
I will personally guarantee it will work with the iPod Touch as I test on both an iPhone and iPod Touch.  I have been writing my code against 12 but ZXSIX also recommended getting on the BETA13 list but I have no idea what that entails??? I am new to JRiver but I love what I am seeing so far from both the application and API.  I will have screenshots for you guys by Friday....



At that time, version 13 was closed beta and hush hush.
Now it's available for you under the new MC13 forum.  You're logged in and not a guest so you should be able to see it.  It's a post near the top that has the download link.
I'm running version 13 exclusively now and no longer use version 12 on my main computer.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 17, 2008, 11:28:21 pm
Looking good to me.  Waiting for email from you for beta copy.  I have 2.1 firmware running on device now.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 18, 2008, 05:55:14 am
Looking good to me.  Waiting for email from you for beta copy.  I have 2.1 firmware running on device now.


I will email you or PM you a BETA tonight!!! I just wanted to make sure it was pretty stable for BETA1 so it wouldn't waste your time crashing.  But I will definitely send you your first build tonight.  Also I have you as the only tester for now...just because i think early on its easier to get feedback from one power user than it is to get flooded from 5 or 10 people all wanting different things or seeing different bugs etc. 
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 18, 2008, 09:28:57 am
Cool.  I'm not going in to work tomorrow and will have time to play.  Good timing!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Fred1 on September 18, 2008, 11:39:18 am
Very  8)!

Can't wait to have it on my iPod.

Fred
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: jeroen020 on September 20, 2008, 03:42:46 am
Wow, those screenshots sure are promising!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: neFAST on September 20, 2008, 06:46:46 am
Can't wait to be beta tester #2 :)
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 20, 2008, 07:13:06 am
zxsix and I are working through the bugs right now.  So far we have made GREAT progress and I will give an update on Monday on how things are going.  Or zxsix will post his review if he wants since he has been beta testing it.  I think you guys will be happy with the 1.0 product.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 24, 2008, 11:53:44 am
Just thought you guys would like an update and more screenshots...

http://melloware.com/products/rivermote/
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: neFAST on September 24, 2008, 12:06:30 pm
Sounds cool. It would be awesome if could price it just like iMonkey. Was just my 2 cents.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Lasse_Lus on September 24, 2008, 12:16:00 pm
can't find it in appstore...or how do i try it ?
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 24, 2008, 12:18:20 pm
can't find it in appstore...or how do i try it ?

This hasn't been posted to the AppStore yet.  Hopefully tonight or tomorrow but then it takes Apple at least 7 days to review an approve any applications before they appear in the AppStore.  I just wantedto keep everyone updated on progress....
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Lasse_Lus on September 24, 2008, 12:21:11 pm
ok i see  ;D

Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Fred1 on September 24, 2008, 02:05:10 pm
Very, very cool!

Only the colorful buttons don't match the nice design.
It should not be impossible to find some fine photoshopped equivalents.

Fred
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 24, 2008, 02:07:37 pm
Very, very cool!

Only the colorful buttons don't match the nice design.
It should not be impossible to find some fine photoshopped equivalents.

I knew someone would complain about the buttons!  Personally I like them because they are rounded and give you visual cue that Green means Play, Yellow means Pause, and Red means Stop.   If someone has nicer ones I would be more than happy to replace them!  I would need 32x32 and 64x64 PNG files....
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: neFAST on September 24, 2008, 02:51:26 pm
Do you have a psd version of your buttons?
Removing the colored bacground (and maybe the circle too) should be enough.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: JimH on September 24, 2008, 02:53:27 pm
Thanks for your work on this.  Looks great.

Could you make sure you use the correct name of the product?

JRiver Media Center

  ^ space
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 24, 2008, 02:56:38 pm
Thanks for your work on this.  Looks great.

Could you make sure you use the correct name of the product?

JRiver Media Center

  ^ space

JimH,

I will immediately correct this everywhere.  also I give credit in my readme.txt encouraging people to purchase MC and in the Info page of the iPhone app  I say "JRiver Media Center is Copyright 2008  2008, JRiver, Inc".  Is that OK with you?

Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 24, 2008, 02:57:15 pm
Do you have a psd version of your buttons?
Removing the colored bacground (and maybe the circle too) should be enough.

I actually use this icon collection and it comes with tons of variations as you can see....

http://www.icons-land.com/vista-play-stop-pause-icons.php

Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: JimH on September 24, 2008, 03:07:52 pm
JimH,

I will immediately correct this everywhere.  also I give credit in my readme.txt encouraging people to purchase MC and in the Info page of the iPhone app  I say "JRiver Media Center is Copyright 2008  2008, JRiver, Inc".  Is that OK with you?
Thanks.  I don't think you should put our copyright there.  It's your software.  If you wanted to, you could say "Requires JRiver Media Center", but as long as your instructions and your web page say that, you probably don't need to say it on the screen.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 24, 2008, 03:13:00 pm
Thanks.  I don't think you should put our copyright there. 

OK I will pull it then.  I just didn't want to piss you guys off.  It's always tricky when writing code that controls someone else's software.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: neFAST on September 24, 2008, 03:14:04 pm
(http://www.icons-land.com/images/products/VistaPlayStopPauseIconsPreview3.jpg)
Those gray icons would fit lovely on a black background? What do you think Fred1?
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: melkiades on September 24, 2008, 08:24:49 pm
Hi Mello,

I just read this whole thread after you emailed me the link and I must say I'm very impressed!
I will certainly purchase the app as soon as it's ready.

Guys, do you define a multi-zone system like this: the ability to play different music simultaneously in different rooms?
If yes, I don't want to troll this great thread but if you could point me towards threads or solutions to build this I'd really appreciate. 

I'm assuming that you are:

- adding one soundcard in your PC for each room
- connecting that soundcard to your amp
- wiring from your amp to each room

That must require an advanced amp with a lot of RCA inputs and a lot of Speaker outputs, mustn't it?

Another solution I was looking at is Cambridge Audio's multiroom system but it's really expensive.  Would Mello's app in conjunction with MC help reduce the overall cost of setting up an independent multiroom system by some other method?

Cheers,
Melkiades (Alain)
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: zxsix on September 24, 2008, 09:38:47 pm
I don't play the same music in each room.  With pc soundcards it's near impossible to play each stream in sync with each other.  There will undoubtedly be some milliseconds of lag between each channel of speakers.
I use it to route music to different locations.
Zone 1 is desktop speakers
Zone 2 is SPDIF output to stereo in living room
Zone 3 drives an external amplifier feeding speakers by the pool
Zone 4 is soon to be added and will drive and external amplifier feeding speakers in the garage

I use a 7 channel sound card.
When you add a zone in MC, you define for each zone which set of outputs on the soundcard belong to that zone.
Player > Playback Options > Zone Manager is where you set them up.
Front L&R output goes to zone 1.
Rear L&R output goes to zone 3.
etc.
You can use multiple sound cards, either internal or USB.
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Lasse_Lus on September 30, 2008, 02:26:47 pm
RiverMote in store now  :)
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 30, 2008, 02:29:38 pm
RiverMote in store now  :)

AWESOME!!!!   I will stand by my code and if there are any bugs I promise you I will work them out and once you buy an iPhone app once you get all future updates for free.  we can make this thing something special together as a community!

Special thanks to ZXSIX for testing efforts!
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: doubleonad on September 30, 2008, 04:01:21 pm
Melloware:
Thanks for making the app. It looks nice from the screenshots and the description.
Is there any chance you might release a demo version?
Title: Re: Iphone Remote-style app for MC control
Post by: Melloware on September 30, 2008, 04:24:33 pm
Melloware:
Thanks for making the app. It looks nice from the screenshots and the description.
Is there any chance you might release a demo version?

I didn't make a "Lite" version for RiverMote as it is a huge pain in the butt to manage both on the AppStore.  All I can say is ZXSIX tested it and he is as power JRiver user as their comes and he gave it his seal of approval.