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Controlling Your Music From Outside

post #1 of 20
4/24/12 at 10:49am
Thread Starter 
Hey folks,

I've got an Onkyo TX-SR607 receiver. I have outdoor speakers on my deck connected to it through Zone 2. I also have an HTPC connected to it currently running Windows 8 (Consumer Preview).

My vision is that I'm outside with my Android tablet. On my tablet I browse my music located on my htpc, select a song and it starts playing through my deck speakers. I'd also prefer to be able to play and control my Sirius Internet Streaming account, and Pandora and Spotify. Don't want to use Apple Airplay though.

One idea that I have is to run XBMC 11 on my htpc and then run XBMC Remote on my Android tablet. That will probably do the trick, however I don't think I'd be able to use my Sirius or Pandora or Spotify with that method, correct?

What other ideas do you got? Any hardware streamers out there that have a really good Android app to control it? Or maybe is there a way to stream from Android to my htpc? If the music had to live on my tablet instead of my htpc, that would be fine.

Thanks!
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post #2 of 20
4/24/12 at 2:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nullqwerty View Post

Hey folks,

I've got an Onkyo TX-SR607 receiver. I have outdoor speakers on my deck connected to it through Zone 2. I also have an HTPC connected to it currently running Windows 8 (Consumer Preview).

My vision is that I'm outside with my Android tablet. On my tablet I browse my music located on my htpc, select a song and it starts playing through my deck speakers. I'd also prefer to be able to play and control my Sirius Internet Streaming account, and Pandora and Spotify. Don't want to use Apple Airplay though.

One idea that I have is to run XBMC 11 on my htpc and then run XBMC Remote on my Android tablet. That will probably do the trick, however I don't think I'd be able to use my Sirius or Pandora or Spotify with that method, correct?

What other ideas do you got? Any hardware streamers out there that have a really good Android app to control it? Or maybe is there a way to stream from Android to my htpc? If the music had to live on my tablet instead of my htpc, that would be fine.

Thanks!

you can run windows terminal services to remote control anything on your pc if you are using windows as your htpc operating system.
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post #3 of 20
4/24/12 at 2:26pm
Squeezebox or Sonos
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post #4 of 20
4/24/12 at 3:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mlknez View Post

you can run windows terminal services to remote control anything on your pc if you are using windows as your htpc operating system.

I'm trying to make it wife-friendly. If it were me, I'd do exactly that. Thanks though.
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post #5 of 20
4/24/12 at 3:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by scl23enn4m3 View Post

Squeezebox or Sonos

Sonos is out just cause of price. Squeezebox is a consideration though. Pricey too, but if it's my only option...

One idea that I'm thinking of testing though is putting a USB Bluetooth adapter onto my htpc and then just stream all sound from my tablet to my htpc. Just like you might do in your car. That in theory works great. In practice, I'm not sure. It would have to be Class 1 bluetooth because of distance and walls. Anyone have experience with that?
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post #6 of 20
4/24/12 at 3:45pm
Why not use the various remote control apps? I've been testing out eMote for Android which controls music on WMC. It's got a great interface and works really well.
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post #7 of 20
4/24/12 at 6:20pm
You can also control your PC with Teamviewer on the PC & the Android APP from anywhere.
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post #8 of 20
4/25/12 at 5:50am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by scl23enn4m3 View Post

Why not use the various remote control apps? I've been testing out eMote for Android which controls music on WMC. It's got a great interface and works really well.

Just cause then I don't think I can control Pandora or Sirius or Spotify. If I could, then eMote or the XBMC remote app would work well.

Seems like I need to use either bluetooth audio streaming from the tablet (which I'm not sure will work cause of the distance) or I might have to go with the Logitech Squeezebox (which stinks just cause of the price).
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post #9 of 20
4/25/12 at 5:51am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregzoll View Post

You can also control your PC with Teamviewer on the PC & the Android APP from anywhere.

Yeah, that's kind of like what mlknez said. But as I said to him, I gotta make it wife-friendly, and I'm not sure that'll cover it. But I'll download it and give it a shot before purchasing anything. Thanks.
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post #10 of 20
4/25/12 at 7:04am
Have you thought about the following -
On that PC run Logitech Meida Server and squeezeplay.
Then on your android tablet run Logitech Squeezebox Controller. This will give you access to all your music, Pandora and Spotify. Though with Pandora to work you need to have a Paid account or a physical device like the Squeezebox. I upgraded to a paid account so that it works on my HTPC. I don't have a spotify account so not sure if that works but it is available.
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post #11 of 20
4/25/12 at 7:10am
Why not use AirPlay? I have a Klipsch G-17 which can be used portable or mounted. It's Wi-Fi and it works in every room and out on patio. I will be getting another one once 4 season porch is finished and then wall mount. It works, ez setup, sounds excellent and everyone can use it. There are less expensive AirPlay speakers though. If you look/check around you can find the Klipsch G-17 for around 350.00
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post #12 of 20
4/25/12 at 7:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nullqwerty View Post

Just cause then I don't think I can control Pandora or Sirius or Spotify. If I could, then eMote or the XBMC remote app would work well.

Seems like I need to use either bluetooth audio streaming from the tablet (which I'm not sure will work cause of the distance) or I might have to go with the Logitech Squeezebox (which stinks just cause of the price).

Oh right, I forgot about that. Refurbished Squeezebox Radios used to go for ~$80, but I haven't seen them at that price in a while. Any squeezebox will do because they all have audio outputs.
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post #13 of 20
4/25/12 at 8:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nullqwerty View Post


Yeah, that's kind of like what mlknez said. But as I said to him, I gotta make it wife-friendly, and I'm not sure that'll cover it. But I'll download it and give it a shot before purchasing anything. Thanks.

Teamviewer you do not have to pay for. It is a great remote desktop app.
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post #14 of 20
4/25/12 at 8:15am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cburbs View Post

Have you thought about the following -
On that PC run Logitech Meida Server and squeezeplay.
Then on your android tablet run Logitech Squeezebox Controller. This will give you access to all your music, Pandora and Spotify. Though with Pandora to work you need to have a Paid account or a physical device like the Squeezebox. I upgraded to a paid account so that it works on my HTPC. I don't have a spotify account so not sure if that works but it is available.

Oh no way! I didn't think that was possible. So, from what you're describing, it basically sounds like I'm setting up a SqueezeBox system, but without having to own a squeezebox, correct? Basically, my squeezebox device is my htpc, and then I'm just using the normal Android SqueezeBox controller app, right? If so, that's perfect!
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post #15 of 20
4/25/12 at 8:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nullqwerty View Post

Oh no way! I didn't think that was possible. So, from what you're describing, it basically sounds like I'm setting up a SqueezeBox system, but without having to own a squeezebox, correct? Basically, my squeezebox device is my htpc, and then I'm just using the normal Android SqueezeBox controller app, right? If so, that's perfect!

Yes that is correct - not sure if spotify works like Pandora though as you need a paid Pandora account for it to work.
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post #16 of 20
4/25/12 at 8:29am
You need to be a Spotify premium member last I checked. Also the official plugin won't work since it checks for official Logitech hardware, you have to use the third party one.
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post #17 of 20
4/25/12 at 8:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by scl23enn4m3 View Post

You need to be a Spotify premium member last I checked. Also the official plugin won't work since it checks for official Logitech hardware, you have to use the third party one.

Good info to know - thanks.
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post #18 of 20
4/25/12 at 8:32am
Thread Starter 
That's great though! Perfect. A real Squeezebox requires a spotify membership too, so that's fine. I'm more concerned with Pandora and Sirius anyway (and I have accounts for both of those).

Awesome...Thanks a lot! Gonna do a test install tonight and try it out!
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post #19 of 20
4/25/12 at 5:11pm
Thread Starter 
Just tried it out. Works perfect! Everything I hoped for. Solved all my problems. Thanks a lot!
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post #20 of 20
4/25/12 at 6:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nullqwerty View Post

Just tried it out. Works perfect! Everything I hoped for. Solved all my problems. Thanks a lot!

Excellent! and enjoy.
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