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ARCHIVED FORUM -- April 2007 to March 2012
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This is the first Archived Forum which was active between 17th April 2007 and 1st March February 2012

 

Latest post 01-22-2010 8:14 AM by scanorama99. 23 replies.
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  • 08-10-2007 1:40 AM

    Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    Mac Users!!!!!


    Anyone used Beo4VRC? How is it?  I'm think of trying it to control my Front Row \ Itunes with my Beo4 but I curently use BM-Link. So is it any better the BM-Link software? What you do guys think?

    Regards...
     

  • 08-10-2007 3:28 AM In reply to

    • francis
    • Top 500 Contributor
    • Joined on 04-16-2007
    • Münster, Germany
    • Posts 108
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    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    Brendon

    Good question, I'm keen to see the responses, as I am considering the same. My current thoughts: Beo4vcr pro: control of (potentially) all Mac applications with Beo4; con: no control from link rooms. BM-link: pro better integration into masterlink systems, con: only limited control of other Mac applications than frontrow/Itunes

    Francis

     

    |BV 7-32|BL 7-1|Ouverture|BL Penta|BL 6000|BL 2000|Beocom 6000|Beotalk 1200|MX 4000|Beoport|Beo4|Beo5|A8|A9|

  • 08-10-2007 3:33 AM In reply to

    • francis
    • Top 500 Contributor
    • Joined on 04-16-2007
    • Münster, Germany
    • Posts 108
    • Bronze Member

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    Have you seen the post of ppcmac in this thread?  He seems to be very satisfied.

    |BV 7-32|BL 7-1|Ouverture|BL Penta|BL 6000|BL 2000|Beocom 6000|Beotalk 1200|MX 4000|Beoport|Beo4|Beo5|A8|A9|

  • 08-10-2007 9:05 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    Hi Francis

     

    Yes.  I read it, Thats what made me pose the question.  I have never heard of Beo4VRC  before reading that thread.  I hoped we get more feedback about that application.

  • 08-10-2007 11:28 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    It all comes down how fast scrolling is supported. I did my own remote setup in IRED/IRtrans and just repeat the down key few times but I am guessing there are better ways to do that. Not sure how Beo4VRC does it.

    I want the same feel that I get with the apple remote and I havent seen that yet. Since Beo4 sends a different signal for pushing versus holding a key on the navigation cross,it should be possible to come close.

    One word for those considering IRED/IRTRANS, I would try and give the network verison a shot. I have the USB and while many of the USB problems I had dissappered, sometimes it seems it goes to sleep to save power and it takes a few seconds until it starts reacting.

    Beoport doesnt support fast scrolling, which makes it useless for me. I have 400 or so videos on my Imac and you cant browse that list without fast scrolling.

    JK

    BS9000, BS2300, BC2, BL2500, BL3, Bl2, BS1, BV8, BC4, A8

  • 08-10-2007 2:49 PM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    iRed/IRtrans work very nicely. There was a long write-up in a German Mac publication that put me on to what those programs can do in emulating the functions of a Beo4. Then Beo4VRC came along, and everything is good - because it's what I've been looking for.

    I'm setting up a stand-alone NAS server, with all my music and movies -- this will be connected through Ethernet to the smallest of the new iMacs, which will be the Media Center.

    This iMac will share its iTunes library with other Macs (we're a Mac crazed bunch), and will also output to Airport Express units I have set up. It's quite straightforward to have several Macs address the same libraries.

    I'll also use Apple TV to stream video.

    To control this, I'll use the Beo4VRC (which does fast scrolling, I've been informed). I've seen a demo, and am just waiting to get into my new place to hook all of this up. I want to be able to control the setup just using the Beo4. There's not really a need to have two-way now that there are screens just about everywhere one looks in a house.


    Looking forward to ironing out all the challenges of this setup!
     

  • 08-10-2007 3:19 PM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    Soundproof

    Where did you see that demo? I'd like to see that demo.

     

     

     

  • 08-10-2007 4:13 PM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    This is pretty much what I have. I use an Imac 20" as a media server in my living room. 2 Mactor 500GB harddrives. For movie watching a projector is connected. Sound is streamed to 3 airports all over may aprtment. And its controlled from the Beo4.

    Take a look at handbrake for the mac. it is freeware.  It can take a DVD and turn it to OK quality video in a matter of 40 minutes or so.

    I was thinking about a NAS as well, but want to wait a bit, I want to see if Infrant can stream video as well so I can share it and dont have to worry about updating itunes libraries. Right now I believe that works only for music.

    Cheers
    JK

    BS9000, BS2300, BC2, BL2500, BL3, Bl2, BS1, BV8, BC4, A8

  • 08-10-2007 6:48 PM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    The Infrant ReadyNAS streams movies without any trouble. It actually sets up with MOVIES - MUSIC - PICTURES as default folders.
    If you connect through ethernet to your media centre, then you get glitch-free streaming. But with Apple's most recent Airport base station (the -n series) you shouldn't have any trouble streaming wirelessly.

    I bought the ReadyNAS some weeks ago, works very nicely. Have it set up so that it comes up when my Mac wakes up -- all files readily available (including handy back-up). I've got 2 Terabytes storage in mine.

    This movie has a stupid intro - but at 2 minutes in he gets going with the ReadyNAS. You can see he is running four screens of video simultaneously behind him from a ReadyNAS. He demonstrates XRAID backup - he actually removes a harddrive, to demonstrate that if one harddisk crashes, your material is backed up on the remaining three. The movies continue without a glitch.
    You remove the damaged disk, put in another one, and off you go.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sD3BjhOjq8 

    ===

    A friend demoed Beo4VCR for me - that's how I came across it.


     

  • 08-10-2007 7:45 PM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    If you are saying the Ready NAS streams movies, you mean you share the movie folder, correct? Or does it show up in Itunes within the shared library?

    I have my Imac Library shared and as I am writing this I have a video playing on my powerbook via Itunes.

    Could you ask your friend how the fast scrolling behaves?

    JK

    BS9000, BS2300, BC2, BL2500, BL3, Bl2, BS1, BV8, BC4, A8

  • 08-11-2007 8:29 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    soundproof

    I have my NAS (2TB) already so I'm to the get step.  I might just have to purchase it ad see how it works.

    ----

    JK 

    The NAS does should show up as a Shared or Network Storage.

  • 08-11-2007 9:04 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    >>The NAS does should show up as a Shared or Network Storage.<<

    The infrant can also show up in Itunes as a shared library, at least for music that works for sure. No coverflow though. Check out the media streaming section in the infrant support forums. For movies it doesnt do that yet, however this is not super critical since Front Row pulls in whatever is in the movie folder, even if there is an alias inside, it follow its path.

    But for TV Shows, Itunes would be very nice though.

    BS9000, BS2300, BC2, BL2500, BL3, Bl2, BS1, BV8, BC4, A8

  • 08-11-2007 11:36 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    jk1002:
    >>The NAS does should show up as a Shared or Network Storage.<<

    No coverflow though. Check out the media streaming section in the infrant support forums.
    For movies it doesnt do that yet, however this is not super critical since Front Row pulls in whatever is in the movie folder, even if there is an alias inside, it follow its path.

    But for TV Shows, Itunes would be very nice though.

    If you set the library path for iTunes to the media folder on the ReadyNAS, then you get coverflow functionality, as the mac just treats the NAS as an extra harddisk.
    The server also shows up as a resource under SHARED, but I access it from the main LIBRARY section of iTunes.

    You're right as to Movies. I open those using VLC for playback (which I consider a superior platform to QuickTime for many kinds of files I'm watching).
     

  • 08-14-2007 12:29 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    Can any explain the manual for the Beo4VRC Software to me.  I have used google translater but it seems to be missing some key points during the translation. I'm currently trying to activate it to use Media center

     
    Thsnks 

  • 08-15-2007 4:30 AM In reply to

    • francis
    • Top 500 Contributor
    • Joined on 04-16-2007
    • Münster, Germany
    • Posts 108
    • Bronze Member

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    Brendon,

    I could try to help you with the translation. You should send me your document via PM  as I'm not shure to have the same version stored here on my computer.

    However, the first thing I would suggest is to contact the programmer. It is not unlikely that he already has an English version. For contact details see the "Impressum" on his website.

    Francis

    |BV 7-32|BL 7-1|Ouverture|BL Penta|BL 6000|BL 2000|Beocom 6000|Beotalk 1200|MX 4000|Beoport|Beo4|Beo5|A8|A9|

  • 08-25-2007 1:10 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    @Francis the creator of the Beo4VRC software has not email ime back and its been week.

    Anyway, I have question do you know if I must have an IRtrans to make MediaCentral work?  Here is my current setup:

     Mac Mini PPC (no IR)
     Beoport
     Bang& Olufsen IR Puck plugged into Beoport
    The new BM-LINK that I can control Front Row with  Beo4 remote

    Do you think I can purchase Ired Software only and have with in this set to control Mediacentral with help of Beo4_VRC? Or do I have to purchase the IRTrans LAN control in order for this to work?
     

    Basicly will the B&O puck remote work for me in these instance.

    Thanks 

  • 08-25-2007 8:51 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    If mediacentral works is difficult to anwser, while Ired simulates keystrokes that match what the mac remote has, you typically send these to a specific application.

    If you are patient and invest a few hours to learn you can come up with your own VRC. The template I have took me probably a weekend or so and I researched a lot to find a solution for fast scrolling.

    The B&O puck will not work, as the Ired software is written for IRtrans. You would need to connnect it to the mac and then find some sort of driver which is not there.

    Cheers
    JK
     

    BS9000, BS2300, BC2, BL2500, BL3, Bl2, BS1, BV8, BC4, A8

  • 09-09-2007 1:24 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    JK

     
    I have applescript written that does not require me to use Ireds.  No additional hardware required :)

    Brenon
     

  • 09-09-2007 7:49 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    I think I know how you did that. Didn't anyone mention here that one can link in his own apple script into BM Link?

    Would you post an example? Maybe that way fast scrolling could be implemented by repeating the down keystroke a few times.

    Thanks
    JK

    BS9000, BS2300, BC2, BL2500, BL3, Bl2, BS1, BV8, BC4, A8

  • 09-10-2007 11:22 PM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    It does not do fast scrolling.  Just simple commands (up,down,left right).
  • 01-07-2008 7:42 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    Hi,

    you have asked for fast scrolling in Beo4VRC for a while.

    The new version 1.2 now supports fast scrolling and fast forward/backward using Front Row 2 and Leopard.

    I've download and test the new version today. Much pretty better, than the old one.

  • 01-21-2010 7:07 PM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    I am not really a programmer here, but does someone suggest here that you have a "script" or alike that can be used to to unleash other apps than just frontrow and itunes by responding to beo4 arrow and sources commands like linkplayer do?

  • 01-21-2010 8:14 PM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    Inside the BM-Link installation folder is an Applescript directory that contains a one-page PDF that states:

    Support for Custom AppleScript in BM-Link

    NOTE! This is a feature made available for your convenience only, no support is given for custom written scripts.

    This feature is used for the included Front Row support. To use your custom script you must disable it in the preference pane.

    BM-Link v1.5 contains support for executing a custom AppleScript in response to commands received through the IR-eye connected to the BeoLink PC2 box.

    In order to activate this function you need to set a user default setting in BM-Link, this is done with the following command in the Terminal

    defaults write se.odlund.BMLink.MLServer \ IRAppleScriptPath <Path To Script>

    Where you change <Path To Script> into the real path of the script. This applescript must contain the following function.

    on IrCommand(source, command, linkbit) end IrCommand

    The parameter source is the name of the source to which the IR-command is sent (TV, RADIO, ...), command is the name of the command (PLAY, STOP, UP, DOWN, ...) and finally linkbit is an integer telling wether the the command received was a link command or not. (Some sources and commands are integers instead of strings, this is because only the most common ones are translated into strings)

    If something is returned from the script it will be printed out to the console. This can be used for debugging.

    BM-Link need to be restarted in order to make the user default setting take effect, but after this the script file is reloaded if a change is detected.

    Included is an example script with basic control of QuickTime Player.

    The directory also contains the example script.

    If I get time I may test QuickTime via BM-Link sometime today ... or more likely the weekend 

     

     

    First B&O (1976) was a Beogram 1500 ... latest (2011) change has been to couple the BL11 with the BL6Ks *sounds superb*

  • 01-22-2010 8:14 AM In reply to

    Re: Beo4VRC vs BM-LINK

    nice!

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