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Launch media in external player from web client


Scott750

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Scott750

I prefer to use the Web Client over MBC to search for a movie to watch. Just seems easier and quicker. When I finally decide the movie I want to watch, I prefer to watch my movies using MPC-HC. In order to do this I have to launch WMC, then MBC, then search for my movie which to load MPC-HC.

 

So my suggestion: Is there a way in the Web Client when I click PLAY that it would give me an option to launch a movie in MPC-HC instead of the web client video player? I have all the Lav filters and settings setup so my movies look great in MPC. The web clients video player works great on my cell phone, not on my 65" Plasma. 

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Beardyname

This has been discussed many times, with different outcomes :) I would suggest you try the remote play to MBT instead, since you can configure an external player there.

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You can remote play to MBC too and, if MPC-HC is configured as an external that is how it will play.  So all you have to do is launch MBC, not search for the movie again.

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Scott750

I've already got MBC configured to launch MPC-HC. So I just need to know how to remote play to MBClassic. Are there any tutorials?

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unfortunately web client to mpc is not possible because the browser can't launch programs. sure it could launch on the server machine, but not everyone uses their server that way.

 

however, i am adding support for the next release the ability to launch external players on devices that support url schemes. this can be done without any special software. i don't think windows supports this though, but if you're using the web client on say android or iOS, and if you have vlc installed on that device, it can launch vlc.

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EBR, that would work perfectly. How do I add MBC to the Remote play list? Only "My Browser" shows up. I tried searching the tutorials but can't find anything.

 

You don't.  I said you could remote play it to MBClassic and have that configured to launch MPC-HC.

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Scott750

EBR, that would work perfectly. How do I add MBC to the Remote play list? Only "My Browser" shows up. I tried searching the tutorials but can't find anything.

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Logos302

the button that you may be looking for is in the top right looks like a box with a wireless symbol going to it.  This will allow you to select MBC as the play receiver when you hit play in the web client. 

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Scott750

Darn, I didn't think a web page could launch a local app. Playing movies on my android phone works great using just the built in player from the web client. The convenience of having the web client launch MPC would have been cool tho.

 

At this point am I stuck with searching and playing movies how I described in the first post? Or are there better ways that others have found?

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Scott750

Vidman thank you! I just didn't have MBC running in the background when I checked remote control.  Stupid me. It works perfectly now!

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  • 3 weeks later...
griffen247

This has been discussed many times, with different outcomes :) I would suggest you try the remote play to MBT instead, since you can configure an external player there.

 

Many times is an understatement.... In this thread we have 2 Administrators contradicting each other over an issue which is pretty fundamental to what MediaBrowser as a product should be able to do. It's now a year since it was launched and it's clear that many users want one very basic feature - the ability to browse their library from any pc on their network and send a play command to the HTPC that is connected to their TV.

 

Instead threads are all over the place due the focus on mobile devices/ipads etc when perhaps it is being overlooked that many MB users have HTPC setups connected to a TV in a lounge.  I personally chose MB2 back in the day as it was HTPC focused (perhaps the best available), but now it seems to be all about streaming to devices, which in my opinion is a total loss in quality when compared to a well built HTPC connected to a HDTV.

 

No doubt I'll be told off for getting off topic myself in this thread, but I'm getting fairly fed up with this basic problem not being addressed either fully or clearly......

 

Come on guys (Admin/Developers) please sort this out.... And for the record I too have Media Player Classic-HC setup as my external player in MediaBrowser Theatre and I don't see where this can be launched from another PC on my network.....

Edited by griffen247
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Sort what out?  

 

We have several ways to remotely play content on an HTPC.  It simply isn't possible to have a web page launch a program on another PC.

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griffen247

Zappiti are a Media Center provider who seem to have figured out launching their player on a PC from an iOS app, so it's not impossible.  You can browse a library from an iPad and have it play from your PC attached to TV. Unfortunately the rest of their Media Center is rubbish, but that's just one example. 

 

It is possible, but just not a feature MB3 has developed yet.

 

You seem very defensive to constructive criticism, a feature like the ability to use an iPad to browse a library and push a play command to the server is worth developing.

 

I work for a company that supplies music catalogues to bars/cafes in exactly that way, but I'm not a programmer, so can't offer expertise. But I'm sorry it can be done, and hopefully rather than dismissing the feedback, it can be looked into (Many people are asking for this)

Edited by griffen247
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Not defensive, it's just that as Ebr said, web pages cannot launch programs on desktop computers. 

 

We could add to our api the ability to launch a program on the server machine, like a video player. Problem is it only benefits users who use their server as a playback machine. So that has an impact on cost/benefit ratio of effort vs. the number of users that will utilize it. So we just need to see demand first.

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Good day,

 

If that going to happens as on a server, i hope it never happens then.

 

My best

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griffen247

Hang on a minute, there will be many users who have their server as a playback machine.  People who don't own second computers, but have HTPC builds, or in my case setting up an Intel NUC with MB3 for a friend.

 

"We could add to our api the ability to launch a program on the server machine, like a video player" - Yep that's exactly what it needs, partner up with one.  If you don't see the cost/benefit of being first in the market with an iPad/Touch controlled player running on the server then I'm bit shocked.  It's a feature people will pay for.... trust me.  Develop and own that app, sell on iTunes, Zappiti have done it, but their GUI is shit, and the metadata control even worse.

 

I realise you guys give your time for free, and MB3 is free to the users, and I think you've done well.  I work in I.T tho, so I know in the long term, I expect to have to pay for MB3 and I'll be more than happy to do so, if it kicks the shit out of any other similar product.

 

Let me say this, it's just feedback coming from someone who has tried very media content management app known to man, and so many branded media player devices I've lost count.  You guys are so close to taking the lead I think maybe you don't even realise it.

Edited by griffen247
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Right but many of them are remote playing to MBC, MBT, Media Portal, or XBMB3C on the server machine. Or an app on the server machine that supports dlna - media monkey, windows media player, (vlc?) or any other dlna software player. so really what we're referring to is the number of people who can't find anything they like amongst all of those available options.

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griffen247

All of those things are fine, computer minded people like ourselves can navigate thru that.  The example I'm trying to make, obviously badly is this type of person:

 

1 PC household

6TB NAS Box for video storage

Wants to use his iPad to view library, choose what to watch, and plays on his TV

Knows nothing about computers past turning one on (lot's of people like that in the world)

 

He's the only one on earth it seems, so I'll tell him it can't be done..... Sweet as.....

 

Guys I was just asking the question, so I'll keep my eye on updates for any development.

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Thanks, we will consider it. It is great to hear your feedback and needs because that's what we use to shape future development.

 

In the meantime you do have options. Keeping in mind the theme of knowing nothing about computers, you can always:

 

- Play to your tv directly, if the tv supports dlna (it will show up in the remote control list, very easy)

- Chromecast. $30, no computer needed.

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As a point of clarification I stated that "a web page cannot launch a program on another  pc" and I stand by that - assuming all we're talking about is a web page and a base pc.

 

As Luke said, we could have our server start a program on the same pc but there are already options to do what you are asking without doing that (but that could still be possible).

 

In addition, it would also be possible to write a small program you install on remote PCs that our server could talk to in order to launch an external player and that has been discussed but not designed or developed yet and is more complicated than it may seem.

 

So, yes, given enough time and other resources almost anything is possible.

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Scott750

But I think it does work on loading a program to another pc. My media and MBS are on a seperate server. I can start MBC on my HTPC, and using the Web client and remote control can select MBC on the HTPC as the play to device which launches MPC-HC.

Unless that's not what you're taking about?

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But I think it does work on loading a program to another pc. My media and MBS are on a seperate server. I can start MBC on my HTPC, and using the Web client and remote control can select MBC on the HTPC as the play to device which launches MPC-HC.

Unless that's not what you're taking about?

 

Yes, that works very well but that's because MBC is running on that machine so we can talk to it.  The OP is asking for us to be able to launch MPC-HC directly from another machine.

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Hi,

 

I am looking for a way to launch and play media in en external player, from the web client.

e.g.  a 'Play in' button to launch a movie in VLC, Media Player Classic, etc.

 

It seems like Media Browser server and web clients are all ready for such a feature, but I can't find it.

I have the proper windows shares, the correct path substitutions, and I can copy and paste the paths to launch.  All that is missing is a 'Play in' or 'Launch' button.

 

Can someone point to a the proper config page, a configuration bit I have missed, or a chrome/firefox extension that covers this ?

 

Thanks

Edited by zigmond
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If you read this thread you will see that there are a lot of options for you to play remotely but it either needs to be to one of our client apps or to something that can accept a DLNA play to request.  Having a web page launch another program (player) is not currently an option.

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