Good read. I personally use the Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre, which is fully MCE Supported, even though it does have the bugs on the audio side. But I thought you should be made aware of the Vista Media Center Skin for PDVD Ultra if you haven't known about it already. Found here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=990376&highlight=powerdvd+skins
Dwight2001
Anyone know how to close PDVD with the remote?
Matt give instructions on what to do in his write up. If you install what he says to your should be able to hit the clear button to close PowerDVD with your remote.
Cheers,
Armyb77
sorry, I meant w/o the remapping sw... thinking about how that must work, it probably installs a low level hook, something I'd like to avoid if possible.
sorry, I meant w/o the remapping sw... thinking about how that must work, it probably installs a low level hook, something I'd like to avoid if possible.
And yes I have a review copy of Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre and it integrates much better, effectively it uses the same tricks but with proper MCE remote support and a nice fullscreen skin.
How does it catch the key presses w/o a low level hook? It has to work at a extra-process level, unless it does code injection.
How does it catch the key presses w/o a low level hook? It has to work at a extra-process level, unless it does code injection.
From the F.A.Q. - "... LM Remote KeyMap is installing a global keyboard hook that intercept all keyboard events (including those coming your regular keyboard or other HID keyboard device) and prevent the events corresponding to the buttons listed above to propagate to all Windows applications."
Further down it says this can be disabled, but I wonder if the hook is disabled or the handling.
That's what I get for not reading the details closely. However, I'm really not sure what the concern is with the hook though, that's pretty normal for this kind of software.
They talk about the downside to using this approach in the FAQ as well; the keyboard can get sluggish. I use my HTPC as a pc too, so it's a less than ideal solution in my scenario.
Ahh yes, I see. For normal HTPC useage there haven't been any ill effects once I tweaked the default profile a bit.
Matt,
I found your blog because I am searching for a solution to my HTPC remote control problems. This is my first one and I am a total idiot in this area. I was wondering if you could provide a sep by step instructions for an idiot (myself) on how to program my MCE remote that came with the case. I was a little lost in your instructions...
I got the picture on how to add the plug-in into the Media Center interface but I was totally lost in the remote control programming.
I guess what I am trying to do is to program my MCE remote so that I can control the PowerDVD that came with my LG BR/HD-DVD combo player just the way I can control Media Center Player.
Thank you very much to all of you who make our lives easier!
Matt,
I found your blog because I am searching for a solution to my HTPC remote control problems. This is my first one and I am a total idiot in this area. I was wondering if you could provide a sep by step instructions for an idiot (myself) on how to program my MCE remote that came with the case. I was a little lost in your instructions...
I got the picture on how to add the plug-in into the Media Center interface but I was totally lost in the remote control programming.
I guess what I am trying to do is to program my MCE remote so that I can control the PowerDVD that came with my LG BR/HD-DVD combo player just the way I can control Media Center Player.
Thank you very much to all of you who make our lives easier!
Just install the application I link to, select the Media Center V2 remote when it asks, close the program from the system tray, and then replace the profiles file with one I provide and you should be good to go. PowerDVD already inherntly responds to a Media Center remote's play/pause/stop/ff/rw/skip fwd/skip back/DVD menu buttons. This adds a proper way to call up Blu-ray menus (it uses the 'back' button on the remote) and hitting 'clear' down in the numeric pad closes Power DVD.
i am sorry, which link you are talking about?
what is a system tray?
Like I said you are talking to the novice!
Thanks!
i am sorry, which link you are talking about?
what is a system tray?
Like I said you are talking to the novice!
Thanks!
The link is in the main article, to LM Remote KeyMap and then the configuration file.
The system tray is the area next to the clock, on the otherside of the screen from the Start button. Programs load there to stay out of the way.
You say that PowerDVD inherently responds to mce - when I try to control it with my MCE remote - there is absolutely no response.... Why do you is that?
V2? what is that?
You say that PowerDVD inherently responds to mce - when I try to control it with my MCE remote - there is absolutely no response.... Why do you is that?
V2? what is that?
So then you must not be using a native media center receiver. What case do you have? If you're using an IR receiver built into your case then chances are the easy version of this solution isn't for you.
V2 isn't important, if you don't even have the program running. It refers to the fact that there are different versions of the MCE remote. The most recent is Version 2.
Matt, you are right. I got the OrigenAE S16V case with built in IR receiver. Maybe that is the cause of all my problems.
Do you have a solution for this one? I keep hearing that Gyration RF remotes can control both the Media Center and the PowerDVD bt I am not sure if this is true. Any ideas? Thank you much!
Matt,
the site you reference for the plug-in is down. Any idea what is going on? Will it be operational again? Do you know where I can load the plug-in?
Thanks!
Hmm I don't know. He's a member here on our forums 'Armyb77' is his user name, you could PM him.
Hello all,
I moved the plugin to OurMediaCenter.com. My ISP made some server changes (they didn't reload Apache RewriteRule) which did a number on the site as a whole, i'm waiting on my host to fix the site. But I was planning on creating the OurMediaCenter.com for a while now so it just forced me to make an early start on it. (It's in it's very early stages and needs members, moderators, and content contributors)
Cheers,
Armyb77
Trend Micro 2008 says it detected and quarantined 'generic trojan' in some installer file in a temp folder after this was installed. Comment?
This thread seems to be mostly about the IR remote. What about getting movies to play natively in the VMC and not causing it to minimize and fire up a BD movie in the full PowerDVD app. Or is this being caused by MyMovies. I don't recall seeing PowerDVD in my VMC GUI though.
This thread seems to be mostly about the IR remote. What about getting movies to play natively in the VMC and not causing it to minimize and fire up a BD movie in the full PowerDVD app. Or is this being caused by MyMovies. I don't recall seeing PowerDVD in my VMC GUI though.
Power DVD shows up as an icon in the VMC GUI if you use the plugin I talk about in the article, also it associated PDVD with the VMC autoplay events for HD DVD and Blu-ray disc insertion.
Now that the parts for HTPC v.2.0 are bouncing along our nations interstate highway system converging towards casa de Lowtech I have to start thinking about the software side of HTPCing. So I have a couple of questions specific to this guide.
First I just want to be clear that I understand the guide correctly. It’s titled “Making Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra play nice with Media Center” but an early reference refers to the “LE” edition bundled with the burners/ROMs. Therefore I assume that all current versions of PowerDVD will integrate as explained in the guide, correct?
Next, the linkee to Armyb77’s installer appears not to want to load for me. Is the code available anywhere else? If the file is not too big maybe MissingRemote.com could mirror it if someone still has it?
Lastly, I’ll probably purchase a Harmony 880 for remote integration duty (I assume that it is supported by VMC). How much support is there between the remote and the PowerDVD software?
Thanks.
Now that the parts for HTPC v.2.0 are bouncing along our nations interstate highway system converging towards casa de Lowtech I have to start thinking about the software side of HTPCing. So I have a couple of questions specific to this guide.
First I just want to be clear that I understand the guide correctly. It’s titled “Making Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra play nice with Media Center” but an early reference refers to the “LE” edition bundled with the burners/ROMs. Therefore I assume that all current versions of PowerDVD will integrate as explained in the guide, correct?
Next, the linkee to Armyb77’s installer appears not to want to load for me. Is the code available anywhere else? If the file is not too big maybe MissingRemote.com could mirror it if someone still has it?
Lastly, I’ll probably purchase a Harmony 880 for remote integration duty (I assume that it is supported by VMC). How much support is there between the remote and the PowerDVD software?
Thanks.
I've used with all sorts of versions of PDVD. I don't see any references to an "LE" version in the article...
Honestly I'd not bother with PowerDVD if you want proper integration I'd use ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre, it's cheaper then the full version of PowerDVD Ultra 8 too.
Looks like the plugin moved locations slightly: http://ourmediacenter.com/node/9
The LE thing was a tongue-in-cheek metaphor for low end version, ala how either nVidia or Ati used the tag for their cut down video cards.
In any case I now have a question regarding the ArcSoft software but I'll start a new thread so that this one stays on topic.
Thanks
missingremote.com and your guide specifically was referenced on systm's latest (7/8/2008) video podcast regarding installing a blu-ray drive in your pc.
http://revision3.com/systm/bluray
way to go.
Matt,
Thanks for all this. I have got PowerDVD running through MCE 2005 no prob.
I have a question about the key mapping default profile though.
I use the standard MCE remote and when I use the search function inside MCE I use the number pad on the MCE remote like a cell phone keypad to type alpha keys to spell the search term: pressing "3,2,3" spells "dad", for example.
I noticed that the profile.xml file causes the remote to loose this functionality. Upon further investigation in the LM Remote Keymap Editor, the "default" profile contains commands for the MCE Remote number pad. "Seven", for example, contains a Button Action Type: "PressKey" with the Virtual Key Code:"N7"
I tried a bunch of different Virtual Key Codes and Types but I cannot get the cellphone text style alpha key entry.
Do you know how to get that back?
You help would be most appreciated...
Davideo
Ya know I'm not sure, since PowerDVD doesn't support the number pad anyway it never really mattered to me, and I'm pretty sure it still worked in other applications.
Not really sure, and I've long since moved to ArcSoft's much better integrated solution, Total Media Theatre.
Buy Cheap Home Theater Systems at Wholesale Price on DHgate.com.
|
| ||
|
|
Your source for everything home theater & HTPC related
Matt,
Nice write up, I've been looking for a solution for the remote issue, it looks like you came up with one! There still are some other bugs that need to be worked out on my end.
1. On HD DVD playback Mouse may stay on the center screen and not disappear.
2. Non MCE Remotes still have some problems that I'm trying to figure out. Without testing LM on all of the different kinds it's hard to tell.
Once those problems get figured out I'll be a little more happy with this solution.
hopefully PowerDVD will get off their butt and integrate it for us, and not make it only available to OEM builders.
Dwight2001,
Yes that has been posted all over the Forums, including TGB. I agree it does make things a lot nicer!
Cheers,
Armyb77