Media Portal Windows Client? (1 Viewer)

[ggutenberg]

Hi. I'm trying to find a solution to a problem that I'm guessing not many people have. My primary box with MediaPortal is connected to a projector. In the same room I have a laptop (well, it's really in any room, but for arguments sake it's in the same room). If I want to listen to music I don't want to have to turn my projector on. I'd prefer a client application on the laptop that could just interface with MediaPortal on my HTPC and let me control it without turning on the projector and seeing the HTPC display. Does anything like this exist? Or do I have to resort to something like Girder/EventGhost and all kinds of hackery?

Note that I've tried using VNC for this, but MediaPortal doesn't play nice with VNC at all.

 

[cheezey]

MP is a windows client.

Just install MP on your laptop and setup your movie, music etc. folders to point to your shares on your primary box.

 

[ggutenberg]

MP is a windows client.

Just install MP on your laptop and setup your movie, music etc. folders to point to your shares on your primary box.

Heh. I thought I might get this recommendation. I guess I need to be more specific. My laptop is not connected to my surround sound system, nor does it have digital audio out, nor do I want to go through the hassle of connecting/disconnecting it all the time (it's connected to my network via WiFi). In other words, I don't want to PLAY stuff off the laptop, I just want to use it as a glorified remote control for controlling MediaPortal on my HTPC.

Make sense?

 

[scirocco790]

why not using a remote desktop application like ultravnc?
http://www.uvnc.com/

i think i´ve read from a bluetooth remotecontrol plugin on java base, that can run on any cellphone/pocket pc with a java runtime. never tested this...

 

[cheezey]

Ah - I see - I think the closest thing is the bluetooth remote plugin - but you obviously need bluetooth for that.

https://www.team-mediaportal.com/files/Download/Plugins/Input/BluePortal/

 

[ggutenberg]

why not using a remote desktop application like ultravnc?
http://www.uvnc.com/

As mentioned above, I tried VNC but MediaPortal doesn't play nice with it. I believe it's due to the fact that MediaPortal uses DirectX for display, and VNC doesn't like that.

Ah - I see - I think the closest thing is the bluetooth remote plugin - but you obviously need bluetooth for that.

https://www.team-mediaportal.com/files/Download/Plugins/Input/BluePortal/

That looks like it might do the trick, and be even cooler than using my laptop. Unfortunately my bluetooth is currently defunct on my HTPC due to multiple stack changes and trying to get my WiiMote to work with it

Also, I have a Windows Mobile phone and am not sure if the JRE on it has hooks into the Bluetooth stack, but this plugin is definitely worth investigating in the long term.

However it'd still be nice to have an interface on my laptop as well. So if there are any more suggestions I'm all ears.

 

[tourettes]

why not using a remote desktop application like ultravnc?
http://www.uvnc.com/

As mentioned above, I tried VNC but MediaPortal doesn't play nice with it. I believe it's due to the fact that MediaPortal uses DirectX for display, and VNC doesn't like that.

Try UltraVNC, works here without any issues.

http://www.uvnc.com/

 

[jblomb]

I am using UltraVNC to control my HTPC's all the time. Dont use the video hook driver tho.

 

[ggutenberg]

Try UltraVNC, works here without any issues.

http://www.uvnc.com/

Interesting... I am using UltraVNC. Have you modified the default server or client settings somehow? Cuz if I'm connected via VNC and launch MediaPortal it just never displays on the client, and on the console it sorta comes up but then hangs and becomes unresponsive. If I connect via VNC while MediaPortal is already running it doesn't even draw the screen correctly and I can't interact with it at all.

I am using UltraVNC to control my HTPC's all the time. Dont use the video hook driver tho.

What do your server/client settings look like? Can you post a screenshot?

EDIT: Just found the Video Hook Driver checkbox, disabled it, and am now able to see MP via VNC. Slows stuff down a bit, but definitely better than no display. Thanks I'd still be interested in any optimized client/server settings that you could throw my way.