I just received an email a few minutes ago regarding a partnership between Eyecon and Popcorn Hour(actually thought it was spam but just verified it is in fact legit). Here is an excerpt:
“Eyecon is partnering with PCH to introduce EyeconTroller for Popcorn Hour media players. EyeconTroller provides mobile control of your personal media experience.
· Search for and preview content on your iPhone, iPod Touch or netbook.
· Create multisource, multimedia playlists.
· Use your iPhone as an integrated remote for A-100, A-110 and C-200 media players – control volume, mute, play-pause-stop stream.Important Note: Along with EyeconTroller, users are required to download EyeconManager, a free software module for their networked PC or Mac.
· EyeconManager aggregates content from multiple media servers (DMSs) in the home as well as external content sources including YouTube, MetaCafe, Picassa and others. Go to EyeconManager – PC/Mac SW http://www.eyecontec.com/go/web/desktop-04-main-download-page.php
Quick Start Guide…http://www.eyecontec.com/content/quick-start-guide
Certified DMS’s Include:
· Twonky
· Windows Media Player 11 & 12
· Mediabolic
· iTunesFuture Plans
Eyecon will introduce multiple enhancements in Q1 to its portable interface for Popcorn Hour media players including;
· Additional external content sources
· EyeconTroller for Android
· Facebook integration for sharing playlists
To be honest I have never heard about this company. From looking briefly through the Quick Start guide it mentions that the EyeconManager should be installed on a device that is always “ON” such as a NAS device or PC, so I am going to go with the assumption that this can be installed on WHS. If I have some time I may give this a try, particularly to see how well my iPod Touch intergrates as a remote for my PCH C-200. If anyone else has used Eyecon’s products or is willing to test this out, please leave some comments with your thoughts.
Article by Damian
Hi, my name is Damian, and I'm tech gadget addict! Although I always had some interest in technology, it wasn't until I got my EX470 and more importantly found Mediasmartserver.net, that my interest became an addiction. My goal, aside from world domination and to see the Mets/Broncos win another championship, is to set up the perfect digital home where all my media is available at the click of a button. When I am not writing for Mediasmartserver.net you can find me over at my blog at http://dbone1026.blogspot.com.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting indeed. However I can already stream movies to my cell phone through ORB which connects direct to my server.
I am however curious about this method of streaming. Is it limited to the iPhone which I do not have. I use a Windows mobile smartphone but also have a netbook which duel boots XP Home and XP Pro. The Home is for my personal stuff and Pro is only used to run Rockwell Automation Software which is another topic all together.
So I am very interested in remote streaming an how well it works using the configuration your mentioning vs ORB which is working now.
From what I can tell, it appears you can use any PC as long as you install the Eyecon software, so it is not specifically an iPod/iPhone product. From the mobile phone standpoint, I think only the iPhone is supported as I don’t see any reference to Windows Mobile or Android. I would expect that this would change over time. Hopefully some readers have heard of this product and can give some feedback. I might give it a testrun as well when I have some time. Remote streaming hasn’t really interested me much so really haven’t looked in to closely.
Hi Damian and comp1962 –
Eyecon works with WHS. Your iPod Touch/iPhone will serve as a fantastic remote for your PCH C-200 (make sure you have the latest firmware: 02-01-091113-19-POP-408-000), but Eyecon is much more than a remote.
Eyecon (whether used from iPhone, netbook, notebook, etc.) lets you search ALL your media (home based or web based), preview it, and create multi-media multi-source playlists. But unlike ORB, you can PLAY YOUR MEDIA ON ANY NETWORKED DEVICE, i.e. PCH, WDTVlive, Squeezebox, etc., using just your mobile device. Kind of an important difference.
There is an Android app in the works.
I’d be very interested if you tried it out and let me know what you think.
The PC/Mac software is (free) at http://www.eyecontec.com and the iPod/iPhone app is under EyeconTroller at the Apple app store (also free for a limited time.)
By the way –
I’ll amend one comment I made, Eyecon will search most of your home media libraries, but of course not ALL – there are certain library types and media servers that we’re still working on.
And Eyecon will play media on most UPnP or DLNA devices connected to the network, but once again of course not ANY device.
@ Johnny. Thats good to hear. I will keep an eye on this and in time I know Damian will run it through its course and write about. From there if my interest is still there then I will contemplate purchasing a unit for the house.
I looked at the eyecontec web site. Looks very interesting as a matter of fact my eyes just popped out of my head and it blew my mind at the possibilities. Right now I have too many projects to get done but if I have time this weekend I think I am going to give it a shot but before I do I will have to visit the forums on that site to see what people are writing and maybe get abit more educated. Hey the demo video had a Red Sox game on with the Sox leading the Yankees now they got taste but then I am origionally from Massachusetts so I just happend to notice it more not that it has anything to do with this thread.
@ Comp1962. I’m glad you like the idea! If you get a chance to try it out this weekend let me know what your take is. I’m still waiting for Damian to submit his review as well.
Yeah I noticed the Red Sox game too, somebody on that committee had the right idea.
@ Johnny I hope to dedicate sometime to installing the software this weekend. I mean I was impressed with the presentation. This weekend I will be setting up a small 1U server to test the movie streams to see what improvement I will obtain over a very much over burdend EX470. If that unit does not arrive this week then I will definately have time to dedicate to the software installation. I am just going in too many directions right now but I know if Damian installs it he will write a very honest review.
Has anyone tried installing the eycontrol software yet? I am dying to do it but right now I am working on an HP Proliant Server here at the house, I got it running but damned if I know which PCI or PCI-X Card to use to properly work with my portmultiplier cards. After I resolve that issue I will install the eycontrol software on the Proliant to see how it works. Sorry if I got off topic abit but its been one of those weekends….
Just an update. I have installed this on my EX470 but am clueless as to what it really does or how access it. I guess I will have to install it also on my cell phone, then on a client and see. Right now the EX470 is about to become somewhat of a redundant storage server but I for one would like to see what this Eyecontroller actually can do for me.
What I do not know as of yet is how do you controll who has access to it as its not abundantly clear how this is configured. So this weekend it will be make or break for this because I really need to determine if it will be installed on the new server or not before I move my domain over to it and let it function as my primary server.
Has anyone played with it yet? I have only installed it and looked at it from the server side not the client side yet and am somewhat confused as to how to control access to my server as I do not desire it to be wide open for the world to access my media content.
I am really hoping this weekend I can start testing out. Between the bad weather in the Northeast, work, and the crazy kids running around my house I have been snowed under (literally)!!!
Hi
Let us know how this is working for you. After installing the EyeconManager on a PC or Mac, it should aggregate and index metadata from the various SUPPORTED media servers in your home. it will allow you to search over multiple media servers and integrated internet sources such as youtube and metacafe. the UI (on the PC/Mac or iPhone/iTouch) will also allow you to preview content and control playback over supported DMAs such as the PCH devices.
we would appreciate any feedback on what you liked and any issues you may have. this will help us to improve the product.
thx
@ Damian ~ I am originally from MA and now I am stuck in GA but I miss the snow. I found out today that our NJ Facility is burried in the snow causing delays in getting my facility restocked. Guess its time to dig out the beach toys an see if your kids will help ya out but making snow castles instead of sand castles. Anyway I am going to try to dedicate sometime to better understand the eyecontroller but as I mentioned before I have it on the EX470 but from the server end I do not see how to control access and it appears wide open at the moment. If its indeed wide open and I can not control access then it will be removed but I have to get it installed on a client to see.
I spent a couple hours playing with Eyecontroller and I wish I could put a more positive spin on the software but it pegged my CPU on my desktop and I could not find any way to control my content other then opening it up wide which is not what I desire to do. This would be fine on your intranet but not the case if you want to provide access to it online. For the time being I have removed the software from my desktop and server.
Maybe someone else can figure it out but for now I will just take a back seat until I can be shown how to control access by others to my content.
@ comp1962:
The server is fully compatible with the EX470. If I understand correctly, it’s possible you have received the wrong impression about the service – at this point Eyecon does not expose any content outside your wifi/wired network, the idea is not to provide access to it online. The only access to your media is whoever has access to your network.
Once you’ve installed the server on you EX470, install the client (EyeconTroller is the UI, EyeconTunes if you’re running an iTunes library). Using the UI (on your PC/Mac or on your iPhone) you’ll be able to recognize various supported media libraries (on PC’s or on media servers), search through them all simultaneously, and play them directly to a networked device (example: Damian’s Popcorn Hour C-200).
You’re welcome to try again, and feel free to write to support@eyecontechnologies.com
@ Johnny,
Thanks for clearing that up! I really did not want to appear negative but I guess I made an assumption about the software that it could stream online and thats what my entire point was regarding. Since the software is really only for someones local intranet then its not a problem.
My interst is really to stream my content on the interent which I am already doing quite well on my new server. While I do have a wide screen HD TV and the surround system I only use it when people are visiting or on rare occasions. When I do watch movies I use my desktop which has a real nice 24″ 1080p monitor.
By the way, this might help clear up what EyeconTroller is to be used for…
http://www.youtube.com/user/EyeconTechnologies
The ‘New User’ clip and ‘Playing Media on your Devices’ should help.