installed XBMC on my PC tonight

[QueBert]

I tossed it on and put up the Aeon skin with the Photeon backgrounds and it looks pretty damn sweet. I am not Googling good tonight (i tried lol) I want to find out what I can do to get a remote control working with my PC for this. My bed is close enough to my PC where I could watch a movie and control whatever from it while in bed. I'm assuming if I get a PC IR Reciever I'll be golden, but I started to think about possibly using a Bluetooth remote control.

What would be my best bet here? I don't have a huge budget as this isn't that serious, just something I'd like to have. I would spend around $50'ish on a remote. Controlling it with the PC seems a bit weird - RTFM might help but a remote would make it very easy

 

[AmpedSilence]

they make an XBMC for the PC?

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: AmpedSilence
they make an XBMC for the PC?

Linux, Windows, and Mac

All are still beta, but progressing niicely

 

[QueBert]

as Slick5150 said - yes they do. I love the interface, still trying to learn how to use it. in the youtube video I watched when they selected a movie it showed the box art (think I figured that out) and popped up a text box description of the movie. VERY COOL. I can't figure out the 2nd part.

Ir's a beta, well I think the version I'm running is an Alpha but it seems to be pretty stable. A remote would rock, maybe a Media Center remote would work?

 

[O2Deprived]

I've just installed this the other day on my xbox and this is a great piece of software. I'm still learning how to use it to it's full potential too.

Have you gone to their page on controller options, they have a section on universal remotes

Linky

 

[QueBert]

actually I did look at the section on universal remotes, it just says Xbox, it would make sense if it works on an Xbox I could just buy an URB IR adapter and use one on the PC, but I don't know 100%. I feel you on learning it. I got it to play a video but have no idea how to make it go back to the main menu. I also want to figure out how to add descriptions to my videos. Seems like this program can do a damn lot if you know XML

 

[Kaido]

Get the Media Stream interface, blows Aeon away.

I use a Wiimote with my XBMC (Plex for OS X). I also have a 360 wireless adapter, but haven't configured it yet.

 

[QueBert]

Media Stream looks interesting, but the web site say it doesn't have 4:3 support right now I wonder how it'll look on my CRT. Anyone here who's good with this program, when I watch the youtube videos and it's poping up text boxes when they select a DVD, is it reading this info from a web site somewhere? I would love all my movies to have descriptions, would be great if I could write my own corny ass ones, but if it pulled it off IMDB or something that would be good too

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: QueBert
Media Stream looks interesting, but the web site say it doesn't have 4:3 support right now I wonder how it'll look on my CRT. Anyone here who's good with this program, when I watch the youtube videos and it's poping up text boxes when they select a DVD, is it reading this info from a web site somewhere? I would love all my movies to have descriptions, would be great if I could write my own corny ass ones, but if it pulled it off IMDB or something that would be good too

Just tested it on my comp, it supports 4:3!

XBMC has scrapers built-in, including an IMDB scraper. It basically scans your filenames and downloads associated information. It works pretty dang well, but yeah I prefer to DIY. For thumbnails, just go on Google Images and find a high-res DVD cover for your movie and rename it to .tbn (ex. image.jpg to Terminator 1.tbn). If you have an ISO or other format file, just drop it in the same folder, if you have a Video_TS folder within the movie folder, drop it into the movie folder directory. You can also create your own NFOs (data) so you can write funny descriptions

I keep all of my media on my NAS (file server), so I prefer to keep the thumbnails and whatnot on the server, which is why I do it manually. If you have an XBMC on every TV, the scraper is only going to download info/pics locally and not to your computer or file server, so you'd have to run the scraper on each one or set it to automatic. That's why I like DIY for artwork - it shows up the same on all systems.

 

[Slick5150]

Is there a Live CD or some other precompiled version of Linux XBMC yet? I've been using the Windows version, but would rather get Windows off my HTPC if possible, but my Linux knowledge is weak at best, so having a precompiled LiveCD would be great.

 

[AmpedSilence]

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: AmpedSilence
they make an XBMC for the PC?

Linux, Windows, and Mac

All are still beta, but progressing niicely

Holy Crap! I have the XBMC 1.1 running on my XBOX, man, has it progressed since then!

Though, I don't know if i want to change it over to using the XBOX again, since I have a PS3 and the uPnP on that is pretty fantastic.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: QueBert
Media Stream looks interesting, but the web site say it doesn't have 4:3 support right now I wonder how it'll look on my CRT. Anyone here who's good with this program, when I watch the youtube videos and it's poping up text boxes when they select a DVD, is it reading this info from a web site somewhere? I would love all my movies to have descriptions, would be great if I could write my own corny ass ones, but if it pulled it off IMDB or something that would be good too

Just tested it on my comp, it supports 4:3!

XBMC has scrapers built-in, including an IMDB scraper. It basically scans your filenames and downloads associated information. It works pretty dang well, but yeah I prefer to DIY. For thumbnails, just go on Google Images and find a high-res DVD cover for your movie and rename it to .tbn (ex. image.jpg to Terminator 1.tbn). If you have an ISO or other format file, just drop it in the same folder, if you have a Video_TS folder within the movie folder, drop it into the movie folder directory. You can also create your own NFOs (data) so you can write funny descriptions

I keep all of my media on my NAS (file server), so I prefer to keep the thumbnails and whatnot on the server, which is why I do it manually. If you have an XBMC on every TV, the scraper is only going to download info/pics locally and not to your computer or file server, so you'd have to run the scraper on each one or set it to automatic. That's why I like DIY for artwork - it shows up the same on all systems.

sounds sweet, I haven't even fully figured out how to add media yet lol, I went to video and told it to add to library but when I select a folder the ok button is grayed out. I read up on the custom thumbnails on the homepage for it FAQ, they didn't mention the custom NFO's but I will figure that out, gotta have good descriptions for the bit of pr0n I have. and I don't think IMDB will have info on adult movies.

THANKS for mentioning scrapers, I had been Googling what I needed to do, but had no fricking idea the word to look for was scraper. So my search wasn't going well. Looks pretty easy.

*EDIT* ok, so I've been messing with the NFO feature for about 4 hours now with no luck. I copied the XML code from the FAQ and changed the relevant info. This is how it is

\media\moviename\moviename.avi is my movie
\media\moviename\moviename.nfo is the description

I've tried the Aeon and the MediaStream skins, when I go to movie/video and choose the info view nothing. This seems like it should be very straightforward. I tried it on 2 movies and 2 music videos with no luck for any. And I made sure all the tags were right in the NFO files.

suggestions? lol

 

[QueBert]

after spending a few solid days playing with XBMC, the program ROCKS! The MediaStream skin is awesome, and outside of lacking a few features I'd like I can't really find any faults with it. If they added custom chapter support, ot auto play next video file it would be almost perfect. I have a lot of UFC dvd's I've ripped and right now the best I can do is 1 long video with no ability to select a fight, or breaking it up into an avi for each fight with no way to play the entire PPV seamlessly.

I recommend everyone check this program out who hasn't, the Scraper is killer, I ripped all 6 season's of Sanford & Son and the Scraper imported dvd box art + episode guides + cast info.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: QueBert
after spending a few solid days playing with XBMC, the program ROCKS! The MediaStream skin is awesome, and outside of lacking a few features I'd like I can't really find any faults with it. If they added custom chapter support, ot auto play next video file it would be almost perfect. I have a lot of UFC dvd's I've ripped and right now the best I can do is 1 long video with no ability to select a fight, or breaking it up into an avi for each fight with no way to play the entire PPV seamlessly.

I recommend everyone check this program out who hasn't, the Scraper is killer, I ripped all 6 season's of Sanford & Son and the Scraper imported dvd box art + episode guides + cast info.

Wow giving it a try right now.

By the way Sanford & Son is an awesome show use to watch it all the time when it came on tv!

 

[dwell]

Holy shit I didn't know they ported it fully to the PC. Installing on my HTPC tonight. Had it on my Xbox for years. Love it.

What's a good IR solution for PCs? I have a Harmony 1000, I just need the receiver.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Chris
Holy shit I didn't know they ported it fully to the PC. Installing on my HTPC tonight. Had it on my Xbox for years. Love it.

What's a good IR solution for PCs? I have a Harmony 1000, I just need the receiver.

Go on eBay and search for the Dell IR receiver, same as the Microsoft one but cheaper.

 

[dwell]

Just have to pimp XBMC. Been using tonight for the PC and it's amazing. Forget the beta tag, this thing is as stable as it ever was on the Xbox. Amazing work.

Kaido -- I just grabbed a cheap $20 MCE remote off of New Egg. Thanks.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Chris
Just have to pimp XBMC. Been using tonight for the PC and it's amazing. Forget the beta tag, this thing is as stable as it ever was on the Xbox. Amazing work.

Kaido -- I just grabbed a cheap $20 MCE remote off of New Egg. Thanks.

IMO a DVR + XBMC-PC is definitely the way to go. Plex (XBMC-Mac) is the only thing I've ever used that has reliably streamed 1080p MKV files across my network without problems and with an excellent interface. Love it! So, so very happy they've ported it

 

[QueBert]

I'm looking for a remote for this, Newegg has a NICE looking black one for 20 bucks but it's not backlit. I don't need a $250 Harmony, but I would like something backlit that comes with an IR receiver.

 

[Slick5150]

Been playing aroudn with XBMC Live (Linux) version now for the past couple days. VERY impressive. I've found a few quirks, but nothing major. Its strange that it only lets you install it on a USB drive rather than a hard drive, but whatever.

Now they just need to get GPU acceleration working in the Linux version. Currently you need a fairly powerful CPU to do 1080p MKV stuff and whatnot.

 

[dwell]

Originally posted by: QueBert
I'm looking for a remote for this, Newegg has a NICE looking black one for 20 bucks but it's not backlit. I don't need a $250 Harmony, but I would like something backlit that comes with an IR receiver.

It's a real pain getting a remote working for this. You'll probably not find a backlit remote with a IR receiver for 20 bucks. I found out the hard way that stand-alone IR receivers are not cheap and none of the cheap MCE remotes I have seen have backlights. Plus, I don't know if you're on Vista or XP, but XP remotes are an endangered species. You can hack some of the Vista-certified V2 remotes to work on XP but it's a pain.

Once you get the remote going you need an IR server like IR Server Suit, Event Ghost, or Intelliremote to feed commands to XBMC. I'm working on a plugin for EventGhost for XBMC but it's a pain because the XBMC developer's documentation is basically "look at the source code".

 

[XBoxLPU]

May have to check this out

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Chris

Originally posted by: QueBert
I'm looking for a remote for this, Newegg has a NICE looking black one for 20 bucks but it's not backlit. I don't need a $250 Harmony, but I would like something backlit that comes with an IR receiver.

It's a real pain getting a remote working for this. You'll probably not find a backlit remote with a IR receiver for 20 bucks. I found out the hard way that stand-alone IR receivers are not cheap and none of the cheap MCE remotes I have seen have backlights. Plus, I don't know if you're on Vista or XP, but XP remotes are an endangered species. You can hack some of the Vista-certified V2 remotes to work on XP but it's a pain.

Once you get the remote going you need an IR server like IR Server Suit, Event Ghost, or Intelliremote to feed commands to XBMC. I'm working on a plugin for EventGhost for XBMC but it's a pain because the XBMC developer's documentation is basically "look at the source code".

Hummm, my plan was to buy a cheapy MCE remote that comes with the IR receiver and just buy a stand alone regular remote. The crap MCE remotes are around 20 bucks, and I'm sure I can find a semi decent remote for the $50-60 range. I was at Frys and saw a Imon VFD remote for 48 bucks, and it comes with the drive bay screen. Looks pretty sweet, no backlit but the remote felt nice.

I looked into IR Server Suit, seems like I can just buy whatever IR remote and map the keys. I'll be honest though I don't even know XBMC's keys, I can't find that part in the docs lol. So far I've just been pressing random keys until i find one that does something and remembering it.

I'm not on Vista yet, but I plan to upgrade soon,.

 

[QueBert]

anyone here used the Snapstream Firefly remote? not too expensive and RF so no line of sight needed. Seems like a solid remote for the price, it'll work with XBMC with a plugin. Here is my question that Google didn't turn up (I sux at t3h s3arches) XBMC doesn't control volume directly, I'm running XP, not XP MCE or Vista, will I be able to control my XMBC fine with this? I understand the plugin makes it compatible but it doesn't really get into if you can actually use all the features. Might be a silly question, but I don't want to assume a plugin on regular XP will = 100% usage

I found it for $30 bucks in a white box and am thinking this might be my best bet for a remote. I really REALLY am not enjoying using XBMC with my keyboard lol.

 

[dwell]

XBMC absolutely does volume directly (keyboard plus and minus) and it can be mapped to a remote. Do you mean your setup won't use the computer's volume directly?