Using ngRC? We need your feedback!

If you are using ngRC we need your input and feedback.

On the last two versions of ngRC, I have seen issues with the Now Playing and the Queue not updating and showing the currently playing track correctly.

They seem to get stuck on a previously played track and do not move on to show the new track that is now playing, even if you refresh the pages.

If you have also seen this happen? Then please head over to this forum and click on the thread that's entitled "RC1 Feedback" and describe what you are seeing?

So hopefully the developer can resolve any issues in this area, the more people that chip in the better the final release will be.

You can also check out the older thread entitled "ngRC queue not updating" which I posted in regard to the last beta version and similar issues.

You will need to sign up to the forum to post, but don't let that put you off submitting your feedback as we need it, even if your feed back is that you are not seeing this same issue and it is working OK for you?

Many Thanks.

Stuart

How to set your default album cover art images in ngRC

One of the things I was looking forward to with the release of ngRC RC1 was the ability to set my default cover art images. As I am using the "URL to Cover Art" program to make Media Center use my downloaded hi-res album covers and not the default low-res 200 x 200 ones that WMP11 creates.

ngRC by default just looks for and displays whatever is the largest image file in the albums folder.

So in ngRC using the previous beta version, it was showing some front covers but also back covers, inlay's and inside images, if they happened to be the largest image in that folder.

Now in ngRC RC1 you can edit the settings.jsp file in notepad to specify what your front covers are called? In my case all my high-res 600 x 600 album cover images are called Folder.jpg

Here is an extract of the original code from the settings.jsp file located in the C:\Program Files\ngrc\tomcat\webapps\ngrc\skins\pspiphone directory,

highlighted in bold is the section we are interested in.


*/
%>
<%@ page import="agorum.mce.ngrc.*"%>

<% //set the name of the default Image to look for (uncomment, if you want to change the default name)
//can be for example: f*.jpg
NgRCCommHelper.coverArtName=null;
//NgRCCommHelper.coverArtName="folder.jpg";

//default settings for filters
//defaultMaxItems (values are: -1 means all, 20, 50, 100)
request.setAttribute("defaultMaxItems", "50");
%>

Simply remove the comment // and specify the file name of your album cover images. So after I edited the file that section for me looks like the below.

//set the name of the default Image to look for (uncomment, if you want to change the default name)
//can be for example: f*.jpg
NgRCCommHelper.coverArtName=null;
NgRCCommHelper.coverArtName="Folder.jpg";

I could not initially save the settings.jsp file in notepad, due to not having the correct permissions on the folder.

So I closed notepad re-opened it with the run as administrator option on the right click menu and then I was able to save the changes to the file without problem.

I also stopped the ngrc.tomcat service at the same time, so that might have helped as well, after restarting that service I was then able to open ngRC in Internet Explorer using the address shown below. Also you need Media Center up and running at this point as well.

http://IP Address of your computer:8080/ngrc/skins/pspiphone/index.jsp

I am very happy to report that all my album's front covers are now being shown correctly in ngRC!

The next thing I need to look at is the defaulMaxItems in the settings.jsp file, as the Sony PSP has problems displaying long lists on one page, if you have a large music library like me, you end up getting memory errors.

Album Details View with Cover Art



Song Details View with Cover Art

next generation Remote Control RC1 now out!

next generation Remote Control (ngRC) Release Candidate 1 is now available for download.

The following is from the Developers site:

"It’s done, the new Version of ngRC 2.0 is available now… Here is a list of improvements towards the beta Version of 2.0:

• fixed play all Problem (double added)
• fixed settings page display error
• implemented amount reduction of lists (let choose amount to display)
• implemented prefered coverArt Image Filter (e.g. folder.jpg)
• implemented default setting for maxAmount for lists
• removed auto-refresh in actual playing, now refresh button instead
• fixed ch+, ch-, vol-up, vol-down and mute button on extenders
• made keyboards bit larger for better handling
• Enhanced XML-Api for better using
• Implemented Volume Feedback Display on Keyboard
• Fixed actual playing List problems
• some clean up and other small things

The new version can be downloaded on Sourceforge: https://sourceforge.net/projects/ngrc

Have a look at the settings.jsp in the folder InstallDir/tomcat/webapps/ngrc/skins/pspiphone. There you can set the coverArtName-Filter and the defaulMaxItems, have a look in the file for a detailed description.

Have fun using ngRC, looking forward for feedback!"

ngRC Release Candidate 1

It looks like my favourite MCE application next generation Remote Control (ngRC) is getting some more love from the developer, it sounds like an RC1 version is due out soon and here's a list of some of the issues that have been addressed:

"Made some more changes to ngRC, at the moment the development version contains following fixes:

* fixed play all Problem (double added)
* fixed settings page display error
* implemented amount reduction of lists (let choose amount to display)
* implemented prefered coverArt Image Filter (e.g. folder.jpg)
* implemented default setting for maxAmount for lists
* removed auto-refresh in actual playing, now refresh button instead
* fixed ch+, ch-, vol-up, vol-down and mute button
* made keyboards bit larger for better handling
* clean up

a bit more to do:

now I just have to look after the playlist behaviour and some smaller changes in the XML-API, and then I think, I will release a first Release Candidate…"

ngRC Version 2 Beta 1 out now!

ngRC-next generation Remote Control

turn your iPhone/iPod touch or your PSP into a cool WiFi remote control. ngRC gives you the abability to control your VMC/MCE (Vista Media Center or XP Media Center) and all your connected extenders with only one remote control.



But controlling your media center remotely is not the only thing, ngRC is able to do. Do you want to play music from your library, without switching on your television? No problem: ngRC enables you to browse through your complete music library, play music, add to playlist, etc… So you can stay in your kitchen and choose another song, that should be played, without the need to walk to your TV in the living room. Even if you want to play another music on your extender in another room, just switch ngRC to that extender and choose the wished music there…
And the best: ngRC is completey free of charge.

Here is a list of features of ngRC:
Full feature remote control (replacement for IR, let you control your media center over WiFi)
Useable on all iPhones, iPod Touch, PSP, PC, Tablet PC (everything that is Browser-Capable)
Extender Support (control every extender from every room, with only one remote control)
Music-Library-Search (Browse your media center music library by Album, Artist, Playlist, Genre, Title, view Album Details, Title-Details, etc…), filter music by keyword.
Play selected music
Add selected music to playlists
Show actual playing title
Show actual playing playlist
Nice Covert-Art display (mirror-effect)
Direct Jump from Home-Screen to TV Guide, Recordings, Pictures, Videos
You can download the Windows XP and Vista-Setup of ngRC from here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/ngrc
On Sourceforge there is also the Source-Code available of ngRC.

ngRC Version 2 new screen shots

The beta release is expected within days or so we have been told, in the mean time here are some screen shots to keep you going until then.

The developer Oliver Schulze is not asking for donations, but if you like his software and find it useful perhaps you could send a small donation to Oliver and buy him a beer for all his hard work! You can find his Paypal address on this page.

Autonomic Controls release Mirage Version 2.0

MCS Version 2.0 Now Available
Integrate iTunes and Media CenterAutonomic Controls Media Control Server allows custom installers to integrate iTunes, Media Player, and Windows Media Center with AMX, Crestron, HAI, NuVo and RTI systems.
Introducing PolyTune™MCS 2.0 is available with Autonomic Controls' exclusive PolyTune™ technology which enables a standard Media PC to serve multiple independent streams of audio. Each 5.1 or 7.1 sound card yields three or four independent streams of music. Add additional sound cards for more.
Solves Purchased Media ProblemsMedia Control Server automatically combines ripped and purchased Windows Media and iTunes libraries into a single controllable collection putting an end to the hassles associated with DRM content protection. Your customers can simply enjoy their music without regard for where or how they purchased it.

Evaluation Download

Cheap touch screen for MCE

I've been think about this for a while now, about purchasing a cheap Nokia 770 Internet Tablet and running a remote control program for MCE called MCEGuru.
It looks pretty good and the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet has a touch screen!
I'm currently using ngRC on my Sony PSP which is a fantastic remote control application for Media Center but I'm not sure if further development is planned for it? I wrote about ngRC previously on my blog
MCEGuru Videos
You Tube Video
MCEGuru Screen shots