0.99rc6 update available

[Ben S]

Howdy folks.

There are a few fixes available for each platform (Win32 and PPC2k2), but they're both small so I put them in one zipfile available here (http://www.netremote.org/dl/NetRemote-0.99rc6-updates.zip).

Note that this zipfile contains the changes to RC5. RC5 is available as a complete install and can be downloaded from the links in this thread (http://www.netremote.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=225). If you have not installed RC5, you must do so before downloading the patches for RC6.

There is also a slight change to both the MJB8 and MC9 plugin for Media Center. This is for automatic refresh of Playing Now when Zone switching, A default zone being called "Master Zone", better stability, and better compatibility with any of the Flash based controllers (MusicLobby or Glissando). It's available here (http://www.netremote.org/dl/MJB8-MC9.zip).

----------------------------------------------
Bugs provisionally resolved
* Girder freaking out when trying to connect (repeated NRCLIENT.REGISTER messages)
* Communication freaking out with hard key (xuniman and other's problems)
* Lockup of client on startup and sometimes afterwards.

Enhancements
* MC will now instruct NetRemote to refresh it's playing now on zone switch.
* NetRemote now supports a single panel Media Center interface (with zone and host switching) Some slight bugs made this impossible before. I have uploaded a single panel MC control page meant for Win32.

And of course, overall stability as I rework some less than optimal older code.

Please let me know if this locks up on you in any way, and please send me any details you can (including ccf, which panel, button, etc.) so that I can attempt to resolve.

[dkan24]

the about still says rc5.

[Ben S]

Thanks. In my fervor to get it out I didn't update the version tag. RC7 will be labelled as such, I promise.

[dkan24]

BTW- I had updated to RC6 and was having terrible problems. It would hang up all the time, and activesync wasn't even working. I ended up reinstalling my network card (netgear) and all was fixed. I don't think it was a problem with NR, just bad timing.

RC6 had been working real well for me. Thanks again!

[Promixis]

Ben, I must be doing something dumb :roll:

I updated remoteserver (in the main MC directory).

Updated my win32 version by copying over existing files.

NR will connect and allow me to browse the library put when I play an item nothing happens :( ie no song loaded no cover art ...

Mike

EDIT: Ya, I was doing something dumb... Media Center was loading an old library that was dead. Somehow it changed from my network library files... not sure why but working great now!

[noahmparsons]

I'm new here, and this project looks really exciting. I'm especially interested in the MC only ccf stuff that is going on.

I'm trying to get everything setup for the first time and I'm running into a problem that I hope I can get some help with.

When I load netremote with the new 800x600 ccf, the "playing now" "media library" and "playlists" items will only show a "loading" option as a sub-item.

If i connect directly to MC through http://localhost:8080, the html interface seems to work just fine. Any ideas why netremote seems to not be able to interface with MC while a direct connection works fine? I've checked netremote's configuration and everything looks fine (correct port, ip address, etc.)

FYI, i'm setting everything up on single machine while I get everything set up and will migrate the NetRemote installation to my laptop and PDA once I have everything running smoothly. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Mastiff]

Welcome to the club! Did you download the latest RemoteServer for MC? Every time you install MC you'll need to copy that into the main directory (usually c:\Program Files\J.River\Media Center) because the one MC installs isn't compatible with the later versions of NetRemote. 8)

[noahmparsons]

that was it. easy fix and all is working now.

now... got to learn how to edit these ccf files.

[Ben S]

So what do you think, guys? Should I post NetRemote 0.99 to the main downloads page?

There are a few outstanding issues (button repeat on Toshiba unit, for one), but if it's at least as stable as 0.982 was, I'd like to get it out so people see there is movement being made.

[Mastiff]

I haven't had any showstopping problems since RC6 came. The only thing I can remember now (and it's a pure cosmetics) is the covers not updating on the PPCwhen there's a new file without a cover. But that has been there for a long time and really isn't a big problem.

[Ben S]

The only thing I can remember now (and it's a pure cosmetics) is the covers not updating on the PPC when there's a new file without a cover. But that has been there for a long time and really isn't a big problem.

And it's fixed in the version I'm running (which will be RC7 shortly)!

[Promixis]

Ben,

So far RC6 has been great.

Mike

[Mastiff]

And it's fixed in the version I'm running (which will be RC7 shortly)!

Good! How about the Win32, have you fixed the one thing I just remembered, that the MC logo takes up much more system ressources than a cover? 8)

[Promixis]

Ben,

One request, a button to reshuffle the playing now list?

Mike

[Promixis]

Ben,

There does seem to be a problem with losing the connection to girder. I am using a volume control slider from NR to girder. After I resume my PPC from a power off, the NR slider works and will send new commands to girder but it does reposition itself if girder tells it to. This is fixed by exiting and restarting NR.

Mike

[Wizard Sleeve]

yea im getting a similar thing on panel feedback on rc6 after shutdown it sends commands but wront recieve the jump to the new panel. its not always just when you least expect it.

Wizard Sleeve

[Wizard Sleeve]

Ive played with it a bit more and it seems to only happen to me when i do anything on the server side on girder. ie. restart my server or make changes to girder and save them. it was only happening a lot because im in the middle of developing my gml netremote combo so i was constantly changing it. but ive left it for a while and it seems to be ok.

Wizard Sleeve

[Ben S]

So I should be able to reproduce this by stopping and starting Girder, as well as powering off the PocketPC and powering it back on?

It sounds like it's not reregistering correctly with feedback.

I will take a look.

Thanks guys!

[Promixis]

Ben,

One other small bug. If you open the configuiration screen and then go back to the control screen, the artist/album/song data is lost. Cover art still there.

[Mastiff]

I recently found another bug (on my Ipaq 5450, I haven't seen this on my PocketLoox): Sometimes when I try to load a library I end up adding everything to Playing now. I got a feeling that this is a so called "HIB" or Human Interface Bug, related to the blockhead using the unit. The D-pad on the Ipaq is terrible compared to the Loox, and it's so damn easy to do two things at the same time, like going down and right, or even using the action button without really wanting to do that. Is it possible to have an option that says that a click of the action button in the Panel does not automatically add all tracks to Playing now, but instad pops up the same menu as a click and hold with the stylus does? This would be a godsent for use in the car as well, since it's kind of difficult to use the stylus when driving... 8)

[Ben S]

Mastiff - Good suggestion. I like that better than having it add automatically. I have implemented it, and it will be available in RC7.

Mike - I can't get it to do this. Is this with one,two, or more MJB drivers? After changing something specific, or just opening it and hitting save? Is this on Win32 or PPC.

Also, regarding shuffle, I have fixed this bug, and now turning shuffle off and back on will reshuffle the playing now. Does that sound okay?

[Mastiff]

Thanks! I actually asked about this in April or May, but I think we both forgot it. So when will we see this RC7? 8)

[Promixis]

Shuffle sounds great.

MJ problem with config screen was with the ppc version.. I will give it another try later and see if I can reproduce it. Only 1 MJ driver active.

Mike

[Ben S]

You should see RC7 in the next few days.

What I -do- have available is the server installer for NetRemote, which will download and install Girder, Media Center, NRIRServ, Tonto, and all the plugins/files required. It will add registry entries to enable MC control automatically, as well as enable all neccessary plugins in Girder.


The link has now been removed


This should make it -much- easier for people to use NetRemote out of the box, as combined with the NetRemote first time run prompt for default host will make talking to MC and Girder as easy as possible.

[Mastiff]

So that's why you've been so quiet for a few weeks! Congratulations, that has to be big for the newbies! :D I'm afraid I don't have any "clean" computers to try it on, but I'm sure you'll get testers on this stuff!

[maxtrash]

just some quick notes:
- it tries to download and install the applications (girder, tonto) more than once;
- it says the file 'tonto-1.43.exe' is in use by another process;
- it installs nrirserv but after starting it it complains about missing MFC70.DLL;
- it doesn't install netremote itself, or does it?

BTW. it's an absolute fantastic effort of you to try and make this possible (for starting users that is)

[Ben S]

Thanks for the attempt, maxtrash.

I should put a little readme before the install, as it is a little funky the way it works.

When you click next it tries to download and run each application. However next is still available as a button, so if you click it again it will start to download and run each application again. However some of the installers (Tonto, specifically) take a long time to start, so at one point you're sitting staring at the screen and it looks like it's halted.

If you click next at this point it will start the download and install again, and because the tonto installer is starting to run, you'll get an error message.

For the NRIRServ install, did you check the box for the mfc files required for NRIRServ? I left this unchecked as the mfc files are pretty large (a meg just for the two dlls), and are shared by NRIRServ and NetRemote. It sounds like I should leave it checked and if you specifically know you don't need it you can uncheck it.

It doesn't install NetRemote. Do you think it should install NetRemote from here, or should the Win32 NetRemote install ask if you want to install the server components?

Thanks -very- much for taking a look at this. As you said, this will make it much -much- easier for the starting user, but only if it's ultra-simple.

[Mastiff]

You're up bright and early today! :D I don't know if I've got the right to vote, but I would say that normally choice is good. In all respects. So installing NR should be an option.

[Ben S]

I try to be up bright and early every day. I get about 5-10 minutes to read email and the forum in the morning. I don't always have time to post, though.

Okay, I'll add an option to install NetRemote from the HTPC install. Sounds good!

[maxtrash]

don't know if it's technically possible, but it would be nice if the installer can install netremote on a networked pc (win32 version) or network connected pda.

and something else: how do you store the locations of the files it downloads? Just curious, wouldn't want you to have to update the installer twice a month for just that!

[Ben S]

I'm unsure how I can get it to install on a networked PC. It would have to put registry keys in the remote machine.

Right now the file locations are hard coded in the installer. I'm going to look into how I can have it get file locations via the web, but for now I'm going to release it as is.

I should be able to release the newest version(s) of everything tonight or tomorrow, and I've fixed the problem with it allowing you to download and install twice.

Thanks guys.

[Cocophone]

will this version have the "word wrap" of the media center fields?


==Cocophone==

[Ben S]

You bet!

[Ben S]

The 0.99rc7 release thread is here (http://www.netremote.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=272)