I just got SideShow working on my old Windows Mobile 5 device, and i would like to use it as a normal remote control for navigating in VMC as well, using the bluetooth connection.
Is there any software that makes it possible?

hi dvd monster,  yes you can via 4 beta sideshow gadgets from MS.  I downloaded these and installed them a few weeks ago and have got it working via bluetooth. 

I should warn you that these gadgets are definately beta and are more than a little bit rough round the edges,  For example I can't get the "Now Playing Gadget" to work at all (can anyone else confirm of they have this working?).  Visually they aren't particularly great either.  The other gadgets do allow remote control of VMC,  for example you can view tv listings, set a program to record or not record, pause, fast forward, rewind live tv and videos,  control playback of your music collection and view your photos etc etc,  I have had all of these working on my Mobile 5 device.

To get hold of the gadgets you need to join the Microsoft Connect program, you can do so here https://connect.microsoft.com/default.aspx (you'll need a windows live id/passport to sign in), 

Then you'll need to find the Windows Sideshow program, try this link. https://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=312.

Thanks for your reply.

Will this be able to emulate a 'real' remote or is this like an extension of parts of the VMC interface?
I mean, can I press the arrow keys on the phone and make it emulate keyboard arrows?
If not, it's not really usable with 3rd part plugins like MyMovies.

Yes its like an extension of the vmc interface,  it only works with the core functionality of VMC. 

When these gadgets were first released i thought great i can now use my phone instead of the 'normal' remote,  the reality is that the gadgets are currently a little bit clumsy and any normal sane person  when sitting in front of their media centre would/should choose to use the normal remote control. 

Currently the best use for the gadgets on the phone would be for when you are away from your media centre and you can't use the remote but you are still within bluetooth range (doesn't happen very often for me as my BT dongle and Windows Mobile devices are both BT V1).

With that in mind it would be far better if the MS folks working on this could get sideshow on windows mobile working via wifi.

There is a bluetooth device (anycom usb-250) that is advertised as having a 400 foot range.  I haven't tried it out, but I will try it out if sideshow will ever allow us to control the extenders as well.

Thanks for the info Nate, i have looked at BT v2 dongles to increase the range but I was under the impression that you needed both devices to be running BT v2?  Is this not the case?

I didn't think about that because I have v2 bluetooth on my wm6 device.  I would think it would.  Just like my draft n router gives me more distance even when I'm using a G adapter.  You might not get as much, but it should increase.  You can check the user reviews on amazon, I think people there said they were getting increased distance.

Why couldn't you get this to work over Wi-Fi?

This brings up another question I've had for a very long time....

Where the heck are the sideshow gadgets??  I guess they're hiding with all the Ultimate Extras!!  Remember before Vista came out and they were touting Sideshow remotes that would allow you to see the MC UI right there on the remote?  I do.  I remember seeing well written articles talking about using your Windows Mobile phone as a remote to Media Center...  or even, playing video from Media Center through your Windows Mobile phone... Yes, we have Web Guide, but that's not built-in... that's 3rd party... 

I remember before Vista came out.... having this dream of being able to sit outside, by my pool, controlling media center from my phone over wi-fi... editing my playlists out by the pool....  all while the music streamed from my VMC PC to my xbox 360 in the living room and into my reciever which has dual zone (speakers outside on the deck)....  How cool would that be?

Somebody says, "Hey, I wanna hear [this song]".  So you pickup your  Windows Mobile phone...  bam..  add it to your playlist.... without ever going inside.  That would be amazing.

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all possible right now with a little program called mirage from autonomic.  Works over tcp/ip with a flash plug in or a browser that supports flash.  We share the same dream probably like a lot of people here (My other dream is the pool).  Only problem is it's $200.  $200 makes me hesitate, especially after I got burned by one voice (same thing except it's voice command and takes an insane amount of memory if you have a big library).  I would buy it for $100.  I'm waiting to see how sideshow compares to it, before I buy that and a nokia tablet.  Right now the beta for windows mobile is not very encouraging.  Hang in there though the vave100 is supposed to come out this month (that's the sideshow remote).  I hope it supports wifi, but it's probably only bluetooth, but you can get a bluetooth dongle from anycom with a 400 ft range, so it might make it to the pool.