My Device Forums

Last time I tried implementing a driver for XBMC it was so slow that it just couldn't work.  I am happy to say that's no longer the case - not sure if it was the latest build of XBMC or the new XP8 firmware that did the trick.  Either way, i've got basic control working, just need to add some feedback before alpha testing can begin.

Matt.

Got coverart feedback working today.  I got to say, it looks pretty neat on the K4 - album art appearing for each CD.

Is it controlled via the xbmc web interface?

Sure is.  Currently uses the HTTP api.  Once JSON is moved to the public release we'll switch over as well.

PS. Love the avatar.

Had some time over Easter... updated the XBMC code to use the JSON interface.  So far i've just got play/pause working.

Should be fairly easy to add heaps more 1-way commands.  The feedback will take a bit more effort...

Hey Matt, do you need beta testers for this?

I will once it's at a usable stage.  Heading off to Cedia tomorrow, so can't even think about looking at this until next week.

Any news on the driver?
I have one XBMC script for my Pronto. I have now switched over to RTI, so I would be very nice to get a driver for XBMC. :D

I'd be interested even just in an XBMC driver with one-way commands (although the two way would certainly be awesome). We build a lot of XBMC boxes for our clients and removing the need for IR receivers would be amazing. Do you have any update on your progress with the XBMC RTI driver?

I spent a few hours on this last night.  I'm coding against the Dharma (10.1) release... and it has some quirks.

For some reason they haven't implemented the navigation control code via JSON which means I need to implement both the JSON and HTTP protocols.  I assume at some point in the future they'll move everything over to JSON, but for now it's just a PITA!

Still, i'll push on.

Well on a whim i tried installing the bleeding edge release from last night... paydirt!  Turns out they've added support for navigation via the JSON interface :)

So i now have all the basic 1-way commands done.  Naviagation, volume control etc.

Currently working on getting it to tell me the current song that's playing...  stay tuned.

I now have 2-way feedback for volume and the current track playing.  So far it's only the "label" which usually looks something like "03.Artist - Track" which isn't optimal.

Looking for a way to extract artist/album/title/coverart...

It may simply be it hasn't been implemented yet in JSON.

Very Cool Matt! I'm excited to give your stuff a try and I'm even more excited about a future where I don't have to use USB IR receivers for the XBMC boxes we build.

-Will

Hi Matt
         
I also am interested in testing etc when you have something going ?

Got a 2-way scrolling list to display the playlist today.  This thing is almost usable... for music at least.

Found a bug in XBMC in the way track notification is reported via JSON.

Logged the bug and it was fixed an hour later.  Those XBMC guys really are amazing!

For those that care:
http://trac.xbmc.org/ticket/11698 (http://trac.xbmc.org/ticket/11698)

Hi Matt,

Is there any word on the approx time frame for this driver as I have a few customers that might benefit from this driver and would love to know if it would be practical to think it might be available for these jobs, they are not happening till early next year ?

Cheers
Dave

Heh, well i'd be pretty disappointed in myself if i couldn't have it finished before xmas !

Good to hear !!! Have you got further than just the music ?? Any luck with the movie side of things cover art, fanart etc ?

Hi Matt

Any more progress on the plugin yet ?

Any update on this?

Here is i am, if you want to ask more.....

Hey Cameron
What was meant by your post ?

Still waiting in anticipation for plugin ?

I suspect he's a spammer... one more random post and he will be deleted :)

I'm still torn on this driver.  There are a bunch of variants out there (like boxee, plex etc for example) that use the old web interface for control.  I had been implementing the new JSON interface for the real XBMC.  I'm concerned if I continue, the moment i release it there's going to be the usual crowd complaining it doesn't work with Boxee etc.

Good point Matt. I use cf and rti with xbmc for simple control with use of event ghost to listen for ip commands.

Just started to use a boxed box and pretty impressed with the playback of files in full 1080. Be pretty interested in being able to control it with rti...

Hey Matt

I understand also but I am an integrator and because of the ever dropping profit margins on systems these days we are looking at more cheaper ways to provide solutions that can still be somewhat customized. Xbmc has always interested me and as i have always been open to all media solutions that i have tried and tested and I always seem to come back to it. Most of all the solutions still either use xbmc or like interface I believe the interest in Boxee is just not there as it is a plug and play type solution that anybody can buy and connect. I have been looking into and testing openelec www.openelec.com (http://www.openelec.com) and even the newer Xtreamer has xbmc on flash etc.
In all discussions I have had I think you would have a lot bigger following with xbmc users than the boxee group.

Sorry wrong link to openelec it's www.openelec.tv (http://www.openelec.tv)

This is exactly my problem.  The link you gave uses Dharma.  The driver i'm writing requires Eden.

Boxee and Plex etc are all based on Dharma.  Dharma is almost useless for feedback.  All the good stuff is only available in Eden (pre-11.0).

Sorry Matt,

It is probably my limited understanding it as I am a controls systems programmer but I do not understand the behind the scenes as well as you gurus that actually write the plugins we use.

So as I understand it the new xbmc 11 (Eden) which is not out yet is quite different to the current xbmc is that right, and if you write it for Eden it will not work for current xbmc, boxee and Plex etc ?

As I already use apps such as Xbmc Commander www.xbmc-commander.com (http://www.xbmc-commander.com) and Xbmc Constellation http://fss.cc/constellation (http://fss.cc/constellation) and Xbmc constellation says it supports both xbmc and the the Eden 11 so that is why I was confused.

I'm not writing an XBMC plugin, i'm writing a driver for RTI that talks directly to XBMC.  Unless I have access to the features in Eden, it's just not worth doing against Dharma.  Dharma basically only gives you 1-way control.

Hi Matt I know you're on the WMC charge at the moment.

Is XBMC a non integratable solution now Eden is 11?

Not sure I follow?  Eden (Version 11.x) is what's required for my XBMC driver to work.  Dharma (10.1) only really supports 1-way control, no feedback.

Eden is still in Beta.

Excellent. So it's a matter of waiting, the impression I got was that XBMC wasn't viable anymore because they had released a less 'free' API.

XBMC works with more file formats out of the box, but WMC is going to be interesting, especially if someone comes out with a 3rd party 'Kinect'.

Hey Matt,

Not sure if it helps but I came across this when I was playing around with Command Fusion, I loaded it on my iPad and seems to work well. I know you were looking into developing a driver to allow Command Fusion to talk to XP8 processors.

Anyway here is the link let me know if it is of any help to develop this xbmc driver.

https://github.com/CommandFusion/XBMC/blob/master/README.markdown (https://github.com/CommandFusion/XBMC/blob/master/README.markdown)

Cheers
Dave

Direct Link to files.

https://github.com/CommandFusion/XBMC (https://github.com/CommandFusion/XBMC)

We already wrote a CF driver about 12 months ago.  Lets iViewer talk directly to the XP processors.

I'll be releasing the basic control part of the XBMC driver soon.  Most of the 1-way functionality is done, along with feedback for currently playing etc.

I've written some of the 2-way browsing functionality, but it needs some more time spent on it before it's ready.

Great if you need any testers let me know ?

Need something to test while you are trying to get the Media Center driver up and running?

Eden Beta 3 came out today... very exciting.  It's finally stable enough to do a serious driver.  I've got all the 2-way audio library browsing working.

I'll probably be ready for alpha testing next week.  Please form an orderly queue...

this shoud be interesting....

Forming a queue !!!! I'm first ??? haha

Looking forward to testing ??

Matt
With you investigations into this driver would it be at all possible to show fanart and synopsis etc ?

Absolutely.  Most of the time, if it's available in XBMC then it's possible (with some coding of course!) in the driver.

Now I'm excited !! Are you still on track for a beta test next week ?

Matt - any update?

Lots.  The audio side is working flawlessly.  Video playback and browsing works.  Just adding the finishing touches to support multiple playlists.

Fanart etc ?

Yep fanart, coverart, band description etc is all done.

I be more than happy to test beta  ;D

Appreciate it.  I'm just trying to fix as many of the small bugs as I can before unleashing it.  RC1 came out a few days ago but has problems and should be replaced by RC2 soon.

awesome  :)

Free for testing also as I currently have 3 machines running Xbmc eden.

nice.. cant wait to test this..

Hi Matt

Any beta yet we are waiting in anticipation ?

Slowly but surely getting there.  Hey, at least at this rate Eden will be final by the time i'm done :)

Awesome just as I hoped it would look !! Is it possible to have a page of all the movie or music cover art rather than just a scrolling list ?

I'm not really sure how that would be possible?

this looks sick Matt, seeing that backdrop is awesome. I can't wait to put my hands on this driver.

I only asked as some customers have asked for a way to be able to search movies by coverart they are not worried with music bit movies has been a request and was also trying to find a way of doing with RTI ?

There's no way to pass a list of images to a scrolling list from a driver, at least not that i'm aware of.

Matt

I thought as much its you one thing that would be great to find a workaround as most browse movies by cover art.

Are you waiting for the final release of xbmc eden to release the beta or can we expect something sooner ?

Its not a function of the driver that would have to be added..  Its a RTI limit and we cant get this function yet from a driver.. 

Not waiting for Eden, just adding the finishing touches to support tv series browsing.

Hey Matt

Come on give us all something to play with we are all waiting for this one ???

Final Eden released ??

Busy man Matt !

Any chance it might be ready to demo at Cedia as I am heading up this year also ?

The XBMC driver has officially reached the Beta stage!

If anyone wants to play with it/help test it (no that does not mean you can use it at a customer site!) send me a PM/email with an email address of where I can send the beta.

Cheers,
Matt.

This is a sweet driver, works well so far.
Need a couple of features though:
Need subtitle button for movies, some of my rips have subtitles as default.
Also I had to add a stop button on browse page to be able to select a different movie.
There is no way to select chapters and start some dvd's that have menu's.

Subtitles: doh, not sure how I missed that one.  Will be in beta2.
Will look into the browse movies issue.
Will test with a real dvd... I must admit i've only been using my NAS drive which has rips.

Thanks for the great feedback.

For some reason I cant get rowmote to work when i exit XBMC on my ATV2.   Should i be able to play and stop movies from netflix, etc.

I'll have to look into that.  I wrote it so when your ATV2 boots up you have a way of launching XBMC without reaching for the original remote.  It wasn't meant to be a way to control the ATV2 after you've finished with XBMC.

Beta 2 has just been posted.

Matt is it possible to search the music lib. and also when browsing the music lib. to have a button with lets "J" that would take us to the artist that start with "J" ?

Is this planned later, or its not possible due to xbmc ?

Searching should be possible, although displaying a keypad to enter the search string won't exactly be easy.

Scrolling to a position should also be possible.

However, I want to get the driver out to the public before I start adding features like that.

ok.   Anyone have slow load times on the movies\music list?  I'm using a XP8, anyone with a large collection using a XP6\3 have this issue?

Matt - Would plex be supported in this driver?  Dont they use the same code? 

Its take little bit on my XP8 too, strange thing is that for some reasons its loading bunch of empty positions on the top of the list with all of my movies.

It will be slow loading a large collection the first time, but it caches the data in the XP8 after that and should be MUCH faster the second time you browse.

As I state in the help file, Plex, Boxee etc are all based on Dharma.  Until they upgrade to Eden this driver won't help you.

Empty items... i'll have to get some debug logs off you.  Do you perhaps have movie titles with foreign characters in the name?

I do, but they are not added to XBMC library.

I've emailed you some instructions on how to gather debug logs for me.

I can´t bring the "Track lenghts" to show.

And when i make a jump (for example 10s forward) the bar graph and the current playing position doesn´t refresh.

Hi Matt,

Beta running quite well I will try and send through a few problems I have found soon but just a question if we can control XBMC with RTI would it be at all possible to send commands from XBMC to trigger commands in RTI, not sure what I would exactly use it for yet but just a brain dump ?

What type of audio file are you playing?
I'll look into the jump issue.

Hmmm, natively I suspect the answer would be no.  You could however write an XBMC plugin that could talk back to RTI.  I can't see us doing this though as I doubt the number of people interested in it would be quite small.

I suspected as much I just thought it could be handy if easy but I love xbmc but I would not know the first thing of writing an xbmc plugin !! Thanks anyway as I agree the market would be small.

All kind of Video mkv´s.

Hello Everybody,
I am new to the forum and appreciate all the tips/advice given here. I just got a copy of the driver myself and am going to get it up and running over the next week or so...
Matt had posted two sample pics of the iPad screen. Would anybody else be able to post some screen pics of their RTI devices?
I have a T3-V which is much smaller, so I am just wondering what kind of 2-Way data would work with the small screen.

Anybody have any screen pics of their T3-V so I could get some ideas? - for both movie data and song data...

Shane

Would love to give this a try
any chance??

Hi Matt

Any new beta's to test yet as you said you had been working on it ?

XBMC driver has been released!

App works awesome however, when trying to load music and movie metadata, ipad just says caching and nothing every populates
trying small dbs so it shouldnt take long to read

ideas?

Most likely you haven't enabled library mode in XBMC.  You can see how to do this in the driver info tab in ID.

I am having an issue with the library not showing background nor thumbnails on the ipad.  I am using an apple tv 2.  Because of the extensive movie library and continuous crashing, I had to create an advancesettings.xml file to move the thumbnails to the synology NAS.  The thumbnails and background load onto the apple TV when browsing but don't translate over to the iPad anymore.  Is there a setting that I am not enabling?  Please advise.

Hard to say without seeing some debug logs.  Please contact me with your email address so I can send you some further instructions.

Hi I want to create a button to open specific playlist. I usually do this with a flirc or some other usb ir and modify keymaps but im a bit stuck with how to do this with this driver.

The command i use in the keymap is;

ActivateWindow(10025,"special://profile/playlists/video/in progress tv.xsp")

I tried using this in send string, but no joy. Do I have to send a full JSON string or something?

Alternatively can I map it to a key and use "send character" to open? Does the send character act as a keyboard press?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Andrew,

Short answer is the driver doesn't currently support this.  I've just added a new function that should fix this for you.  I've emailed a copy, if you could confirm it works before I make it publicly available.

Cheers,
Matt.

Replied by email a while ago. Posting here just to confirm that yes, activate windows works as expected. Very helpful. Thank you

Hi Matt

Does this work with XBMC Gotham release as I had a quick try and no luck and have used the driver before so just wanted to confirm as it does say Frodo ?

The Frodo version works with both Frodo and Gotham.

The Eden version will only work with Eden.

Is this option in the current release of the driver?  I can't figure out how to do it.

No, its in a beta that hasn't been made public yet.
Send me a PM with your email address and i'll share it with you.