For extenders: Please double-check the "Installation instructions" link (https://connect.microsoft.com/content/content.aspx?ContentID=9006&SiteID=312) since there is now info about Extenders.

Basically you need a device that will pre-enable the gadgets for Media Center Extenders (such as a Vave 100 remote).

cw-kid -- to view a picture slideshow, after entering some photo folder, press the "menu" button and select the slideshow option.

Thanks for all your feedback so far. We read and triage each issue on the Microsoft Connect site and they do really make an impact on the final version. Please keep filing bugs and sending feedback to the MCE gadget team at https://connect.microsoft.com/feedback/default.aspx?SiteID=312 

-Alex [MSFT]

I was able to change the user to the Extender on my Windows Mobile phone but it says "No gadgets are turned on" --- I wonder if SideShow for WM doesn't pre-enable the gadgets (whatever pre-enable means).

Calvrak:

For extenders: Please double-check the "Installation instructions" link (https://connect.microsoft.com/content/content.aspx?ContentID=9006&SiteID=312) since there is now info about Extenders.

Basically you need a device that will pre-enable the gadgets for Media Center Extenders (such as a Vave 100 remote).

Excellent a direct response from Microsoft and two others in my email inbox, I'm impressed!

So I cannot get this working with the SideShow Device Simulator program then. What other devices other than the expensive Vave 100 remote can pre-enable the gadgets for Media Center Extenders?

Someone asked about their Windows Mobile device doing this?

Can the album cover art issue be addressed? Can you use the urltocoverart.dat file like VMC, to get the locations of the art work jpg's ? This would work for both system cached ones and Hi-Res ones we have added our selfs.

Cheers.

 

 

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Stu

aka C-Dub



The Windows Media Center Blog

Tips Tricks & News!

Here's the information on extenders from MS:

Support for extenders:Extenders are now supported if you are using a SideShow device that can pre-enable the gadgets. The Ricavision Vave100 remote control is an example of a device that pre-enables the Media Center gadgets.
Try this with your Xbox 360 or other extender device and provide us with any feedback.

1. Once your extender is connected to your PC, click menu on the home page of your device and choose "Select User"
2. From this list, you will now see the Media Center Extender session in the list of users. Choose this user. Only the Media Center gadgets will be accessible. To view your gadgets, you must Switch user back to your active user.

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Stu

aka C-Dub



The Windows Media Center Blog

Tips Tricks & News!

Calvrak:

cw-kid -- to view a picture slideshow, after entering some photo folder, press the "menu" button and select the slideshow option.

Alex

I did find the photo slideshow option eventually!

Only play a slideshow on TV ? Would you not also want to be able to show a slideshow on the device as well?

And we should be able to view photos by Tags as well as Date and Folder.

 

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Stu

aka C-Dub



The Windows Media Center Blog

Tips Tricks & News!

Looking at the Video's area:

Again I am using the shortcut method to get my Video's to show up in VMC so they don't appear in the SideShow Gadget as I don't have them in the WMP11 library, I do have the recorded TV folder in the WMP11 Library watch folders list however:

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Stu

aka C-Dub



The Windows Media Center Blog

Tips Tricks & News!

Can any one recommend a Bluetooth dongle or adapter?  I bought a Blue Soleil adapter from Radio Shack and con not get the Side Show app to connect to the PC?  I can browse the files on the Windows Mobile device, but no other types of connectivity.  However, Active Sync over Bluetooth is not working.

To use the SideShow app, should I be trying to connect with a Peer/Adhoc Network?

I have a Windows Mobile 5 Motorola Q device.

Thank you.

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VMC: Intel D865PERL, 2.8 Ghz HT, 2 GB, 80 GB, 200 GB, 500 GB, Hauppage 150 MCE, HDHR, GForce 6200, Yamaha HTR-5730

Extenders: Xbox 360 Wired - Sony KDF-42WE655 HDTV; DMA-2100 Wired - Sony KDL-46W3000

JenkTJ27:

Can any one recommend a Bluetooth dongle or adapter?  I bought a Blue Soleil adapter from Radio Shack and con not get the Side Show app to connect to the PC?  I can browse the files on the Windows Mobile device, but no other types of connectivity.  However, Active Sync over Bluetooth is not working.

To use the SideShow app, should I be trying to connect with a Peer/Adhoc Network?

I have a Windows Mobile 5 Motorola Q device.

Thank you.

Never mind.  I got it to work.  Don't use the software that comes with the device.  Let Windows manage the device.  It reminds me of the days of WiFi cards and the contention between the software that came with those cards and Windows XP.  I got the SideShow gadgets to work on my HTPC and now testing it with my extenders.

---

VMC: Intel D865PERL, 2.8 Ghz HT, 2 GB, 80 GB, 200 GB, 500 GB, Hauppage 150 MCE, HDHR, GForce 6200, Yamaha HTR-5730

Extenders: Xbox 360 Wired - Sony KDF-42WE655 HDTV; DMA-2100 Wired - Sony KDL-46W3000

JenkTJ27:

JenkTJ27:

Can any one recommend a Bluetooth dongle or adapter?  I bought a Blue Soleil adapter from Radio Shack and con not get the Side Show app to connect to the PC?  I can browse the files on the Windows Mobile device, but no other types of connectivity.  However, Active Sync over Bluetooth is not working.

To use the SideShow app, should I be trying to connect with a Peer/Adhoc Network?

I have a Windows Mobile 5 Motorola Q device.

Thank you.

Never mind.  I got it to work.  Don't use the software that comes with the device.  Let Windows manage the device.  It reminds me of the days of WiFi cards and the contention between the software that came with those cards and Windows XP.  I got the SideShow gadgets to work on my HTPC and now testing it with my extenders.

From my HTPC, everything works great except for a few small bugs.  From my extenders, though, I can not get the MediaCenter interface to stay running on either one when I connect to my HTPC with SideShow from my mobile device.  The MediaCenter interface freezes and then disconnects.  This happens on both the 360 and the 2100.

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VMC: Intel D865PERL, 2.8 Ghz HT, 2 GB, 80 GB, 200 GB, 500 GB, Hauppage 150 MCE, HDHR, GForce 6200, Yamaha HTR-5730

Extenders: Xbox 360 Wired - Sony KDF-42WE655 HDTV; DMA-2100 Wired - Sony KDL-46W3000

joshbish -- That's correct -- SideShow for WM doesn't pre-enable the gadgets for Extenders.

The core issue is that there isn't a way for a user to log in as the Extender account to enable the gadgets in the Sideshow control panel. The Vave100 remote and other devices are able to set things up so that when they are activated that specific gadgets (e.g. the MCE gadgets) are enabled.

-Alex [MSFT]

Calvrak:

joshbish -- That's correct -- SideShow for WM doesn't pre-enable the gadgets for Extenders.

The core issue is that there isn't a way for a user to log in as the Extender account to enable the gadgets in the Sideshow control panel. The Vave100 remote and other devices are able to set things up so that when they are activated that specific gadgets (e.g. the MCE gadgets) are enabled.

-Alex [MSFT]

Alex that's a real shame as most people would have wanted to use their existing Windows Mobile device with this. Can anything be done to make it work with Windows Mobile??? As I think this is a a show stopper for this gadget. 

Can you give us some more examples or other SideShow devices that do pre-enable the gadget for the extenders? Other than the Vave 100.

Thanks.

 

---

Stu

aka C-Dub



The Windows Media Center Blog

Tips Tricks & News!

cw-kid: For these or other suggestions that you may have, I'd encourage you to open bugs at our Microsoft Connect site. This way suggestions will get stored in our bug database and we can review and track them for the future.

http://connect.microsoft.com/content/content.aspx?ContentID=9006&SiteID=312

Thanks,
Alex [MSFT]

Calvrak:

cw-kid: For these or other suggestions that you may have, I'd encourage you to open bugs at our Microsoft Connect site. This way suggestions will get stored in our bug database and we can review and track them for the future.

http://connect.microsoft.com/content/content.aspx?ContentID=9006&SiteID=312

Thanks,
Alex [MSFT]

Ok I will go to the Connect site later and log some issues when I have more time.

If this gadget cannot control extenders on Windows Mobile devices then I doubt people will use it as much. People are not all going to rush out and buy a Vave 100 not at those prices anyways.

I will use ngRC software instead, I know that doesn't control the TV side of things yet but its great for controlling music playback.

---

Stu

aka C-Dub



The Windows Media Center Blog

Tips Tricks & News!