Originally posted by Pulsar
Hi Steve,
Back again. Just wondered if you could answer a few questions for me please. It is not clera in my head exactly what Main Lobby is? Is it software that can be used to design a front end for launching all of your HTPC applications, or does it include some of its own applications?
Here are the applications that i currently use in my HTPC.
TheatreTek for playing the DVD in the drive (DVD's not ripped)
Dscalar for watching cable TV
Media Centre for playing music ripped to the hard drive in monkey audio.
DVD profiler for browsing DVD titles.
To this I would also like to add a picture slideshow application.
By using Main Lobby, will I be able to launch each individual program and control its function. For example, will I be using a main lobby button to skip chapters in TheaterTek, or use TheaterTek?
If it will do what I hope, then $60 is very cheap.
Cheers
Rob
Hi Pulsar, ok to begin, the media suite is essentially a front end for a HTPC. MainLobby is the main controller and allows you to launch either other "scenes" or applications providing you with a common look and feel.
DVDLobby is again a front end behind which sits either a DVD jukebox, like the Sony multichangers, controlled by a slinke controller, or a software DVD player such as Theatertek or Zoom. For the S/W players you can use either the DVD drive or ripped films (the main benefit comes from ripped films where you can build up a database of films, view the clipart, select and watch wherever is appropriate)
MusicLobby again is a front end which specifically links into J Rivers Media Center or Jukebox software and gives you a very slick front end utilising all of the capabilities of MC9 (and then some)
There's also WeatherLobby, WebLobby and a host of others in the pipeline including Photolobby and TVLobby all again front ends to allow commonality between applications.
Tying it all together is MainLobby Server providing a client server architecture to enable real scalability and simplistic whole house access to ..... well anything PC or AV based.
T give you an example, I've got:
AVServer with MainLobby, MainLobby Server and MC9 running, this holds approx 250 CD ripped ape encoded, 100ish DVD's ripped with DVDShrink.
Accessing this I have:
HTPC1 running MainLobby, MusicLobby, DVDLobby, MC9, MainLobby Server and Theatertek, this allows me to view my CD coverart, select playlists ect from the MC9 database via the MusicLobby MC9 plugin, view my ripped DVD's via their cover art (this could be either DVDProfiler as I used to have, or now directly via the DVDLobby plugin which offers the same if not better facilities) select the film and watch it, either ripped or by DVD drive in the HTPC (you can set up a script to send the essage "This Film needs to loaded manually, please insert the disk and press play" for example) control of Theatertek is via the onscreen interface provided via the TT plugin.
HTPC2 running MainLobby, MusicLobby, DVDLobby, MC9, MainLobby Server, TheaterTek, Holograph3d and Dscaler, I have got a menu setup that says:
Watch a DVD (Another instance of DVDLobby linking to the master database)
Listen to Music (As above, but can also use the zone capability of MC9)
Play Games (Launches the games directly and minimises MainLobby)
Look at my Pictures (not there yet)
Watch my Videos (Launches my Holograph3D Software and accesses the relevant input to watch Videos throught the de-interlacing of the Holo3d software)
Watch TV (As above, or launches DScaler to view my NetGen Freeview Digibox)
Watch Sky (As Videos)
All of this costs about $200 (one licence covers all the PC's in your house), with the next release the interface can only get better and with the USBUIRT plugin due soon, then I can use the USBUIRT to send IR commands to all of my AV gear in the rack, so switch channels/inputs up/down volume etc.
I've also got the PPC versions of the lobby suite, currently MuLobby and DVDLobby, soom to be MainLobby, this enables me to select which server I'm looking at and also selecting music /films to watch/listen to via my Tosh e740 PDA via wireless.
The flexibility of MLServer is truly outstanding allowing conditional commands, redirrect commands and the ML community are really helpfull.
Finally I am no way connected or remunerated by Cinemar, I just love their prducts
Any more questions please let me know.
Or PM me!!
Steve