Controlling My Media Center via a web browser

[mcehound]

Has anyone ever tried to setup controlling Ceton My Media Center via a regular browser - why you may ask.....well if its possible, it opens up some very cool capabilities to integrate My Media Center with home automation tools, in particular, iPad and iRule.

using a protocol analyzer I can see http get commands coming into my Media Center PC from the companion app running on my iphone, but i cant seem to duplicate them when trying to send them in various formats from the browser address bar

the following is a command to show information when media is playing.
/RemoteCommand?command=4108&deviceId=1L

any clues on how i could that that to work???

[Motz]

We have special security protocols and encryption in place that does not allow this. In the future we are looking into opening up the API for developers, however I do not have an ETA when that will happen.

[mcehound]

thanks for a quick reply, I'll keep hoping.

having one single TV viewing experience from something like iRule would be great. Anyone else know of a way to control media center via IP commands?

[kendrome]

I'd also love IP control, I just setup an iRule system at my dad's and are looking to do more.

[tad]

Look at VMCController. http://vmccontroller.codeplex.com/

It's no longer being developed, but the latest version is stable and works well on x64 system. It has http control, telnet control, and a telnet event sink.

[potts.mike]

We have special security protocols and encryption in place that does not allow this. In the future we are looking into opening up the API for developers, however I do not have an ETA when that will happen.

I know you have your hands full with the echo right now but once I can control extenders from my HA system I'll be buying 5 echos.

[tad]

We have special security protocols and encryption in place that does not allow this. In the future we are looking into opening up the API for developers, however I do not have an ETA when that will happen.

I know you have your hands full with the echo right now but once I can control extenders from my HA system I'll be buying 5 echos.

As I said above, you can do this right now with VMCController. I am doing it and it works well.

[barnabas1969]

Has anyone tried running the Companion app on an Android emulator? It wouldn't be the same as a browser, but it would give you control from a PC.

[jrw]

What is the status for opening up the API for the "My Media Center" app for local control via TCP/IP? I'd rather not install software that is no longer supported if I don't have to. Thanks!

[Motz]

No status change, no eta on it at this moment either.

[jrw]

Thanks for the reply even if it wasn't what I was hoping for.

[makryger]

Or perhaps using this:
http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/01/25/w ... n-your-pc/

[tony_park]

Hi,

not sure if my request is the same as has been discussed - but currently I find that I can't connect my WP7 to my office network, so I can't use the My Media Center app to schedule recordings. It would be really great, if we could remotely access the same functionality via a browser by using an external ip address etc and see the same details. I realise that the problem with this, is that this isn't likely to generate any income, unless you can find someway of limiting the access etc, but it would be really really appreciated here!

Thanks
Tony

[foxwood]

I presume the problem is that you're behind a firewall at work, so you can't connect to any external services, unless you go through a http proxy service.

I wonder if the app might actually be able to work through a http proxy service, if proxy support was added - I know that the service will respond to a http request from a web browser, but I don't know if it the transactions use http syntax.

[Motz]

@tony if you are on your normal cellular connection are you able to connect?

If you are on your works wifi there might be something blocking it there. On your work pc you could try to go to:
http://externalip:5832 and see if you see our generic error message

@foxwood It should all be http syntax. It is all odata and wcf services/clients and such.

[foxwood]

@foxwood It should all be http syntax. It is all odata and wcf services/clients and such.

I thought it would be, but you would still have to add explicit Proxy support to the app to solve Tony's problem. That might be technically possible, because the app is essentially a HTTP client, but I'm not sure whether that would be worth doing because it would only benefit a few users, and supporting proxy authentication might cause a lot more headaches that it would be worth.

[tony_park]

Hi Motz,

using that url you provided, appears that port is being blocked - I'll try again from the hotel tonight.

Thanks
Tony

[Motz]

@foxwood yeah I agree risk vs. reward. We will see if more need it.

@tony yeah seems like that might be the issue. You could always maybe use VPN on phone I guess? does it work over cellular?