INTERACT FORUM
Networks and Remotes => Remotes => Topic started by: GrantDG on February 16, 2014, 04:45:36 pm
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I've had a few requests lately for a Win RT (i.e. 'Metro/Modern' style) app to run on Win 8 tablets (including non-Pro editions).
In the version 2 update to nMedium I laid the ground work for this to happen, but this only took care of the server access side of things, and a UI would still need to be built.
I'd like to get an idea of interest in such a project - and as a way of laying down some plans, I'd like to get an idea of what you would like to do in an RT version.
Maybe some votes on the top 3/4 of the items below:
- Control playback on a media server (play, pause, stop, skip, volume...)
- Browse the library (and push tracks to 'playing now' on the server)
- Search files (and push tracks to 'playing now' on the server)
- Start server playback via play doctor
- Re-order items in the playing now list
- Tag (edit) files
- Playback audio locally
- View images
- View videos
- Create / edit saved playlists
Anything else..?
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I have nMedium on my WinPhone and would love to see a version that runs on Windows 8. Browsing and playback of Music, Videos, Pictures and Playlists are a must. Multi-zone support and the ability to play content to the local PC would be next on the list.
Matt
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I have no experience w/ nMedium, but have been using the JRemote app on an iPad for months. I love it. A recent purchase of a Surface 2 has me very interested in the ability to drive my server remotely, and I'd be very interested in an app that provided me that capability.
EDIT: Adding my "votes" on most important items.
I typically play music in one of the following ways.
Select music from one of my Library Views. I have my music separated from my wife's through use of a custom field for Owner. That allows me to browse music either as "Album by Owner" or "Artist by Owner". So being able to see those views through the remote app would be great.
The second major way I select music is through a small number of Smartlists that I've created to randomly select albums.
The third major way I select music is by searching on Artist, Album, etc.
Once I've done that, I usually just use play, pause, skip, etc. Seeing cover art would be great.
I don't really use Play Doctor, and the other items you list such as videos, creating/editing playlists, tagging, and re-ordering items in Playing Now would just be gravy for me.
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I've been considering a Microsoft Surface for a while, and it would be nice to have a touch-screen remote interface for Media Center.
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I am very interested in this type of app. If it could run in Windows 8, I see it as a replacement for theater view on my HTPC.
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With the proliferation of Windows 8.1 devices (especially the 8" form factor), I am very interested in a Windows 8 touch app as a remote control app for JRiver, nMedium on Windows 8.1 would be superb.
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+1
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+1 would be awesome. I have a Surface RT and Pro - both excellent devices. Several folks I know have Dell Venue Pro's http://www.dell.com/us/p/dell-venue-8-pro/pd All of whom say it is an amazing device for the price.
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I'm all for it ! as I wrote earlier this year :
I received a new offer from an Internet provider to switch from FTTLA to FTTH with a 3 month at no charge and a 100 euros coupon purchase thus my post about Windows 8 tablets.
- "Hey kids don't grab my phone ! Take the tablet to watch the movie and go to your room" [ruff talk ;) ]
Sorry top of my head, I not able to recommend future functionality.
Thks
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+1
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+1
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+1
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+1
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Veeery interested in such an RT App.
Please note also that Microsoft is moving forward to unify Windows, Windows RT and Windows Phone:
http://www.wpcentral.com/nadella-reaffirms-microsofts-commitment-unified-operating-system (http://www.wpcentral.com/nadella-reaffirms-microsofts-commitment-unified-operating-system)
Which would mean also that big parts of code can be shared between the devices.
In building an RT App you are risking to get a WP app for free ;D
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I don't know a great deal about Windows RT, but if you were to develop an RT app (i.e. Metro interface) would this also work on full versions of Windows 8.n?
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Afaik yes, but not the other way around.
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+1000
Here's why: JR MC runs great on my 8" Win8.1 tablet but in connected standby mode all legacy apps are paused and so music stops. Using gizmo through Metro IE also pauses music when in connected standby because it doesn't use media playback APIs that put the audio playback into a background process.
So currently you need to disable idle timeout and then dim your screen to maximize playback time. Just to avoid this I use a Subsonic server on my HTPC and its Metro app. I'd love to retire Subsonic and use MC exclusively but without a native Metro Gizmo it just isn't possible yet.
Grant, what about compiling your app to be Universal now that Microsoft has made this possible?
Cheers,
Doug
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I don't know a great deal about Windows RT, but if you were to develop an RT app (i.e. Metro interface) would this also work on full versions of Windows 8.n?
Yes it will.
Apps written for WinRT (e.g. the App store) run on both WintRT and Full windows.
Apps written for full windows (e.g. MS Office, J River Media Center) do not run on WinRT only machines
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So currently you need to disable idle timeout and then dim your screen to maximize playback time. Just to avoid this I use a Subsonic server on my HTPC and its Metro app. I'd love to retire Subsonic and use MC exclusively but without a native Metro Gizmo it just isn't possible yet.
I'm not anticipating playback support in initial release...
Grant, what about compiling your app to be Universal now that Microsoft has made this possible?
The current version of nMedium supports WP7.1 - so I can't 'recompile' to Universal. However, the current version was written in a pre-cursor to Universal (called 'Portable Libraries') - much of the server access code is reusable.
The UI is my BIG sticking point at the moment, none of the existing XAML markup is reusable. Also, XAML is not my strong point, so it's very slow going
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Ah, thanks for the clarifications Grant. Nevertheless, count me in for a vote!
-D
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I would love to have support for RT. I have been struggling to find a solution to playback of my music library onto my Nokia Lumia 2520 which I have mounted in my car and interfaced with the head unit.
I was looking at installing Subsonic and using one of the Apps they have to do this, but have been a loyal follower of Media Center for over a decade.
For me, streaming music from my server to my car (my Lumia 2520 is a 4G LTE AT&T device) is better than using Pandora because of the investment of time I have in Jaikz and MusciBranz tagging.
That said the features I need most are playback of playlists, and smartlists, with streaming choice for bitrate and conversion of unsupported file types (like if flac on server, but RT wants mp3 or something).
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any update ?
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I really love my Surface 2 and JRiver so
Control playback on a media server (play, pause, stop, skip, volume...)-10
Browse the library (and push tracks to 'playing now' on the server)-10
Search files (and push tracks to 'playing now' on the server)-10
Start server playback via play doctor -I dont use that yet
Re-order items in the playing now list - 9
Tag (edit) files -5
Playback audio locally-0
View images-0
View videos-0
Create / edit saved playlists-10
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+1 Very interested.
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Still no Unified App, which will work in Windows 8 / 10 and Windows 10 for Phones in sight?
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I would also like to express interest in a Surface 2 (RT) (ARM compatible) app for JRiver MC! I am not even a customer yet but very impressed to what I am seeing here so far. What would really put it over the top for me is working with Roku as well but that is for another thread.
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Hi all,
An update on this...
I have (finally) started initial development on a Windows 10 Universal app version of nMedium.
FYI: Universal apps (http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/21/windows-10-makes-microsofts-dream-of-universal-apps-come-true/) are written in such a way that they work across Windows 10 form factors: i.e. desktop, xbox and mobile. The really great thing is that once you have purchased a universal app, you can use it on all Win 10 devices which are linked to your Microsoft Account.
The app is a ground-up rewrite from nMedium (http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=70793.0) / nMedium Play (http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=87309.0). This new version will be functionally similar to existing nMedium, but will sport a whole new Windows 10 style UI. The plan is that it will also be able to support control of Media servers other than just JRiver - but the initial implementation will be focused on JRiver.
I would suggest that even a first version will be about 6 months away.
This new app will not work on versions of Windows before 10 - but I assume that most people will have upgraded to Win 10 by the time it makes it out in any case (if they haven't already).
Once I have something more concrete to present - I'll start a new thread.
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Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. I have just upgraded my Surface 3 Pro to Windows 10. A Universal app that can utillize JRiver server is very interesting.
tls62dk.
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Me too!
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I will probably be looking for a Windows 10 Mobile App in the future. Maybe next year sometime.
I'm going to abandon Apple at some stage, and as Windows 10 Mobile is just around the corner, and the phones are starting to look better, next year will probably be the right time.
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[...]
I have (finally) started initial development on a Windows 10 Universal app version of nMedium.
[[....]Once I have something more concrete to present - I'll start a new thread.
Great!! I'm looking forward to it.
Could you please put a pointer here as soon as you start your own tread?
Thanks anyway!
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I've really loved using JRemote on my iPad; however, now that I have a Surface Pro running Win 10, I'm really looking forward to a Win version.
Any more recent word on the development status of a Windows version?
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I've really loved using JRemote on my iPad; however, now that I have a Surface Pro running Win 10, I'm really looking forward to a Win version.
Any more recent word on the development status of a Windows version?
That would be of big interest for me too.
Thanks!
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This would be great!
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I would welcome (and would definitely purchase) a Windows 10 version. My top feature requests would be:
• Control playback on a media server (play, pause, stop, skip, volume...)
• Browse the library (and push tracks to 'playing now' on the server)
• Search files (and push tracks to 'playing now' on the server)
Thanks!
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@GrantDG:
Could you give us a short info about whether you still plan to build such an app?
Disappointingly enough, no one seems to acknowledge the fact that the fully fledged JRiver application doesn't really shine on smaller devices like W10 tablets.
An app able to run on tablets, phones and Xbox with a light, touch friendly and intuitive interface would be welcome. I don't like to install full JRiver on all devices, and so don't my daughters with their rather limited hard drive space on their tablets.
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@GrantDG:
Could you give us a short info about whether you still plan to build such an app?
I am still building this (it's probably about 40% complete at this stage) - but still no idea when it will actually get released...
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I am still building this (it's probably about 40% complete at this stage) - but still no idea when it will actually get released...
Thank you for the information. I'm looking forward :)
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I'm also looking forward to this.