iTunes plugin for GBPVR

[acheyne]

I have started looking at developing a plugin that can be used to control iTunes through GBPVR. I created a very quick prototype last night that gives the following (very basic) functionality:

- View the songs in your main Library.
- Play the songs in your main Library.
- Go to the Next song in your main Library.
- Stop

As I said, very basic!

Building this prototype has been a large learning experience for me. I'm a software developer for a living, but had never used C# before, and also had to learn the GBPVR Plugin SDK and the iTunes SDK.

Before I go further, I wanted to put the announement out to the GBPVR community that I have started to build the plugin and to get input on what it should look like, what it should be able to do, and anything else you can think of. For an initial release, I would like to see:

- Support for the main library (view and play).
- Support for Shared music sources (view and play) (Note: I had this working in the prototype, so I know it's possible).
- Support for Podcasts (view, subscribe, play).

Anything else?

Andrew

PS: I've attatched the prototype to this post. It requires the latest GBPVR (97.7), GbpvrUiElements and the GBPVR Common Utilities. Check the Wiki to get these installed. (Of course, it also requires iTunes!!)
PPS: Keep in mind that it is just a prototype!

[joshftx]

Output to AirportExpress device option would be nice for redirecting sound. I use this with ITUNES and love it! Beats sending the output to my computer's dinky speakers, or in this case (with MVP) through the TV.

[cyberdude]

If you are familiar with the functionality of the Roku sound bridge, that would be a great reference.

1. Search capability (song, auther, genre, etc.)
2. Build play lists on the fly. You don't need to send them back to iTunes, just for local use.
3. Play Net radio stations saved in iTunes library.
4. Play, pause, skip forward, skip back.
5. Wake/Sleep timers
6. Display of Artist, title, album, etc.

I haven't tried the plugin, so I don't know what it does now. I'm not brave enough to upgrade to the latest GBPVR yet.

[goober56]

Any updates to this program as of late? I cant seem to get it to work. I can access it through my MVP, but this is the error I get:

Retrieving the COM class factory component for CLSID: (Looks like a Registry key), with the following error: 80040154

[fb_de]

Hi,

I saw this post today, and I'm thrilled that somebody capable of software development has decided to integrate iTunes with gbpvr - GREAT!

From the the first day of using gbpvr, I found the weakest spot of it was that the music functionality was too limited. Especially I don't want to browse my music in a directory-like structure, and not with a remote. I use iTunes for my music, which in my opinion is the way best front-end around.

iTunes has so many features, but the best feature of all is the general library feature, that let's you filter your music by anything you type in the box, or select from genre, artist or album.

If you can bring that to gbpvr (the type box, the filters and playlist support) - that's all I would need.

Regards,
Frank

[dottore]

the shared library is very interesting. i have all my music on a mac. all i would have to do, is switch it on, switch itunes on, go to the living room and start your plugin.

one thing: as soon as the plugin starts, the itunes-window overlays gbpvr. can this be changed? and itunes should be shut down when the user goes to the main menu.

[Troy]

Sweet! I just found this thread, too and I had been hoping someone would integrate iTunes someday. I'm not too familiar with tweaking my Hauppauge remote to get it to work with iTunes and I would love if it functioned through GBPVR. Right now, on my PVR, I use iTunes to play music using a wireless mouse that I use from the couch cushion next to me (kind of a pain). I second fb_de's requests and also wouldn't mind seeing a way to turn on the graphical display (where all the colors and stuff change with the music on the screen) from GBPVR. I have not upgraded to the newest version of GBPVR either, but your iTunes based plugin may force me to do it soon! Cheers and good luck!

[acheyne]

Hi all!

Sorry, I haven't been actively working on the iTunes plugin as I've been in the middle of a move to a new house, and a new baby is arriving any day now. As soon as I'm in the clear, I'll take some time to put this together properly.

Cheers!
Andrew

[Troy]

Congratulations and good luck with the new baby!

[JonnyCam]

I would like to see a plugin which allows you to create a playlist and the synch that to the ipod from within GBPVR - I havent looked at the plugin, so not sure what it currently does.

Just a thought for when you get some free time (not likely!)