MP Client (1 Viewer)

[jonaskp]

I actuallu think that what Pilehave is suggesting is the best way to go. Thin Clients that are actual PC's are so much more flexible, than a "static" hardware-extender like the PCH would be. The way MediaPortal is moving forward all the time, I think it would be hard to maintain all of the functionality on a secondary platform - and we all know that we don't want a "second-grade" client.
The new eeeBox B204/206 should be able to handle everything video-related you might throw at it. True, it does have a Harddrive and it does have a fan, but it doesn't get that hot (from what I hear) so I don't think the noise would be that great.

I honestly have no idea though, Since I have not yet seen the new eeeBox, so I could be mistaken.

 

[pilehave]

Or the new Nvidia Ion platform:

NVIDIA Ion Reference PC Platform Deep Dive - HotHardware

 

[rusguy]

Thin Clients that are actual PC's are so much more flexible, than a "static" hardware-extender like the PCH would be.

I think it is the best not to write a client for every piece of hardware there is, but at least to have a possibility to register the MP client on network as UPnP server and allow other devices to get streaming content out of it. Then devices like popcorn hour, xbox and others can be used to watch content on tv without actually plugging computer directly to the home theater

 

[emveepee]

From what I've read, the Ion and the newer eeeBoxes still won't handle all the HD video the Popcorn does today and likely will be limited to the LPCM audio problems that plague desktops today. After all it is only very recently that good lower end desktops can handle HD up to BluRay type a/v problem free. On top of that, these devices still will cost twice as much so it isn't even a fair comparison. That isn't to say that the PCH is a perfect device, far from it, but I still think it could make a nice client.

I think in a couple of years when there is a second or third generation of these devices that is when the shift will take place. I am old enough to remember when a good PC couldn't play an mp3 file.

rusguy writing a generic client for various hardware platforms is actually quite easy. I've ported this client to the PCH, MediaMVP and a Roku Photobridge and the client portion of the code was ready in less than a month, and the server doesn't necessarily have to change. The problem is getting buy in from the vendor.

Martin

 

[rusguy]

@rusguy writing a generic client for various hardware platforms is actually quite easy. I've ported this client to the PCH, MediaMVP and a Roku Photobridge and the client portion of the code was ready in less than a month, and the server doesn't necessarily have to change. The problem is getting buy in from the vendor.

That may be true that its not that hard to write a client, but my point is that there doesnt have to be a full blown client written for every device there is. There is far more nicer approach to this problem - make the mediaportal client (not the server) to also be available as a upnp server on the home network, so any other device that can act as a upnp client could connect and get the media streamed directly to it, the same media that one can output to tv that is directly connected to mediaportal client machine. This will enable so many devices that people already use to work flawlessly - popcorn, xbox and others, without writing a special client for each device.

 

[emveepee]

My idea of a client is more more than then standard boring UPnP media player. You might as well just set up a share to your recordings and be done with it. Part of UPnP does include RemoteUI and XRT but I don't think you will find these in many of the standard players.

Martin

 

[rusguy]

You might as well just set up a share to your recordings and be done with it.

Recordings do work even without mediaportal, but live tv and content from bunch of 3rd party plugins for mediaportal do not. And if it there was some kind easy and one for all solution there would be much more people around who use the software.

 

[emveepee]

Recordings do work even without mediaportal, but live tv and content from bunch of 3rd party plugins for mediaportal do not. And if it there was some kind easy and one for all solution there would be much more people around who use the software.

That is in fact what I was proposing, but in any case know MP developers are interested either. I have no doubt there is a demand.

Martin

 

[TommySharp]

I think something like this would be awesome!!!!

 

[MacMini]

About a year ago, I did move on to VMC, largely because of its extender capabilities. I have the Linksys DMA2100, which is cheap, quiet, cool-running and small.

While VMC has come a long way (with the help of plugins like Media Browser and the fantastic menu editor MCE Menu Mender,) I would still consider coming back to MP if it had extender support.

And a better tuner support for NA than what it had a year ago.

I know the developers here have been somewhat resistant to extender support, but frankly, this is where the world is going. If MP is to continue to be a relevant front-end alternative, it needs to support extenders.