Air Display and Music Server Enhancement Ideas (Update)

I don't think that remote control is a good idea for a audiophile music server. This means that an additional program has to be installed on the server or at least that the processing of the functionality displayed on iPad is running on the server.<br />

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Serveral tests convinced me that it is a good idea to reduce OS and program installation on the music server as far as possible. Particulary it is important to pass on software with graphical user interfaces with the intention to reduce message loops which can cause serveral annoying noises.<br />

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So my solution is the separation of remote and renderer. All GUI and database action is done on the remote (notebook, mobile device) and the renderer (server) has only a small, tiny windows embedded standard 7 installed with one additional GUI-less application to communicate with the remote and playing sound.<br />

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Regards,<br />

Christoph

Hi Chris...<br />

great finding, if the performance is good, of course.<br />

I would love to use Jriver Theater View, not only because of the interface itself, but because JRMC allows me to play wav files, while ChorusDS is only playing FLAC at the moment.<br />

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Cheers

Chris, sounds like an interesting app. I am thinking about using a Mac Mini with the iPad2 for music and as my main monitor, but the staff at the Apple and other computer stores discourage me from doing that as they indicated there is a very noticeable delay and the apps are not so precise manipulating the screen. I was wondering if you experienced a delay and lack of precision from what you did on your iPad or iPhone as you stated: <br />

     "Another idea I have is to use an Ipad running Air Display as a touch screen monitor controlling J River Media Center while in Theater view. This is just an idea right now as I'm not sure if the response will be quick enough." <br />

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Thanks.

Chris<br />

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This is my first post on your great site. I think I may be being a bit slow but just to be sure are you saying that the app can be used to control the computer or just as a remote display?<br />

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Thanks Jason

Wow- you may have just found a way to make J.River usable with a remote! <br />

This I have got to try. <br />

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-Paul<br />

My audio system (MacMini + Amarra Software, DAC, Amplifier) is located nearby my TV set. To monitor the MacMini, it is connected to the TV set. <br />

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You can configure the MacMini so that when it is turned on, iTunes and Amarra are launched automatically (the start of Amarra can be linked to those of iTunes). As a result, no need to turn the TV set on. Then, I remote iTunes with Apple Remote app on iPad. Music goes on.<br />

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Problem : to turn the MacMini off and quite applications, I need to turn on the TV set i.e. move my a** from the couch, turn on the TV set, select HDMI output etc.<br />

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Following Chris' advice, I downloaded Air Display. It is a nice app to centralized the control of iTunes and MM from your iPad (or iPhone) and to avoid painful and useless physical exercises.<br />

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The + : Impressive reactivity (the best I have experienced from all the VLC-alike apps).<br />

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The - : Need some time to be configured. As always, not easy to control your Computer desk with finger (solution : mouse or track Pad)<br />

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I think TeamViewer does a simular job as AirDisplay (which I have not tried yet). It works for me for remote control of JRMC. And it is free (for private use).<br />

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http://itunes.apple.com/dk/app/teamviewer-hd/id379424610?mt=8<br />

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regards<br />

Gerhard

Can someone please explain the difference between what Air Display is doing and what a VNC (VLC?) programme does. I've got an iPad2 arriving within the week and want to use it to control my Mac Mini. I currently use a wireless keyboard & mouse, with my TV screen as the monitor. <br />

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Main applications are iTunes / Pure Music and Spotify<br />

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(the latter being the trade off for no HD Tracks in the UK)<br />

Hi philwright - No worries. If you have the question the chances are high that others do as well.<br />

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VNC - A VNC program allows remote control of a computer from another computer or device like the iPad. The screen on both host and remote control device are identical (for purposes of this discussion).<br />

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Air Display - This program can display an identical mirrored version of the computer's screen or it can be used as a second display. Using Air Display and an iPad allows you to display something completely different on the iPad than what's on the main computer screen. It's like having two monitors but one doesn't need a physical connection and can take advantage of a touch screen. <br />

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Here's a video from YouTube

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<iframe width="699" height="398" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xkl4h5W4Bjc?rel=0&hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />

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Thanks, Chris.<br />

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It's hard to tell from the video just how close this gets to actual screen-sharing w/ a laptop. Would I be able to do most iTunes control & management w/ it? Are you able to type into text fields w/ the virtual keyboard?<br />

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I can mostly get away w/ using Remote for controlling my headless Mini, but sometimes have to revert to my laptop. I'm wondering if an iPad (don't own one now) + this app could replace the need for my laptop in my listening space.<br />

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Thanks,<br />

Rascal

Hi Rascal - In my experience nothing is better than a laptop with Screen Sharing as far as being able to do anything easily. I'll try to mess with the app a bit more and hopefully some of the CA readers can as well.

Hi Jason - Thanks for the kind words about the site. Check out the video I posted below. This should answer your questions.

Take a look at this one. It was recommended to me by some techs at Amarra. Has worked reasonably well, so far.

... another VNC app. If so, it makes you control your distant computer via the iPad iOs i.e. with no other option than touching screen of the iPad (use of fingers only). Its not the greatest solution : big fingers are not compatible with smaller informations of your desktop, lower definition, poor reactivity. <br />

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As far as Air Display, the iPad screen is simply mirroring what you will see on your regular monitor. You still control your Mac with the usual keyboard, mouse, track pad connected to it. I experienced it : with Apple's bluetooth keyboard and trackpad, its really cool.

Although I agree that it's not like using the real Mac or PC, Splashtop does do the job and is reasonably quick about it. Using two fingers to expand the area you want to work on allows for big finger work, in the absence of a pointing device.<br />

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And there's a version that's free for testing purposes. It gives you an unimpeded 5 minutes access to any systems you've added to the application for testing.

Thanks a LOT Steve for the Splashot recommendation. Works very well so far.<br />

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True, It is a VNC app but that's pretty much what I was looking for to control JRMC16 from my Vista desktop with my iPad. <br />

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I've tried so far to no success UltraVNC, RealVNC (couldn't get those to work let alone configure properly on the pc end), LogMeIn (easy to configure but way too small for the iPad) and just tried TeamViewer as someone else recommend earlier in this thread. TeamViewer works well but is a bit cumbersome with the integrated mouse/keyboard. Easy configuration though.<br />

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Now, I've just been playing with Splashtop for the past hour and I am almost tempted to say WOW. 30 seconds installation, just need a password (that you choose) and voilà, up and working. The best image I see on the iPad from a VNC app. Resolution is super clear and clean, mouse and keyboard works very well. A bit of lag indeed but NOTHING like the other programs. <br />

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JRMC16 is playing, I browsed to the net easily, can even watch videos without much lag. I am quite impressed and happy so far. <br />

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True, It is still a tad small with the finger/mouse situation but at least It works. But If I sit on the couch with my real wireless mouse and the iPad then It's almost like playing with the desktop. <br />

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For 2.99$ I am more than happy to finally have found a working solution to control JRMC16 from my iPad. <br />

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It's not perfect, It is not completely smooth or seamless but It is the best I've tried so far and thus this semi-rave here.<br />

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Perhaps AirDisplay works just as well (even though It is not really a VNC) but I was about to buy It when I've read display mirroring doesn't work (yet) with Windows. If anyone tries It with Windows and JRMC, please report on the quality of It. Might be worth a try after all.<br />

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Thanks.<br />

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I've yet to use untethered mouse or keyboard with my headless Mac Mini and Splashtop. I'll need to see if this adversely affects the sound quality of the system. I'm super sensitive on that score. But will need to try it out simply for its better level of control.

app (free I believe) with Pure Music and see and select all your iTunes library ,response is within a few seconds, it's quite nice I believe, have used for abt a month now with very few problems. Install is simple. It helped me decide to switch from Decibel to P Music.<br />

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"I've got an iPad2 arriving within the week and want to use it to control my Mac Mini. I currently use a wireless keyboard & mouse, with my TV screen as the monitor.<br />

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Main applications are iTunes / Pure Music and Spotify"

I wonder how Air Display reacts with iTunes in CoverFlow with touch?

I have a mac mini server using Channel D Pure Music into a Dac, have also been looking for a good solution for using iPad as a remote. Sadly this isn't that solution.<br />

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The display is slow, buggy and almost impossible to use as a remote- for instance it has no keyboard function so you can't search music. <br />

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A much better solution is iTeleport- it works on iPad and iPhone and logs straight into the computer so you can control it completely from the iPad. It is reasonably fast and not too buggy- a much better solution.

Are you using Apple Remote app ?

This would be great Chris. I have been tinkering with getting JRMC Theater Mode working on my iPad as a remote for a few weeks. <br />

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I can get normal mode working using a remote desktop type client on the iPad but that's only OK. Often too slow and controls are too fine to work with the fingers. I end up going back to remote desktop on my laptop.<br />

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Theater Mode doesn't work using remote desktop type clients though because, as I understand it, rendering occurs at the client for RDP and the direct3D engine use for Theater Mode does not work in this case. It does work for remote display apps like VNC where rendering occurs at the server. However, the few VNC clients I've used have been too slow too. I planned to try scaling the display down to exactly 1024x768 to see if that helped but have not done that yet.<br />

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If Air Dispaly is more responsive than the VNC like apps I've tried that would be great. I hope it works. Unfortunately, my wife took our iPad on a trip so I can't try it for a while. I'd be happy to hear what others find.<br />

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Also, for those happey with TeamViewer and SplastTop, have you tried it in Theater Mode or not? If so, how did it work?<br />

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Thanks,<br />

Gary

@ Gary<br />

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Theater View through Splashtop works perfectly :-)<br />

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Regards<br />

Gerhard

That's great news Gerhard. Thanks for letting me know.<br />

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I thought I tried out Splashtop before but perhaps not with Theater View. I'll have to give it a try when my wife returns with the iPad.<br />

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..Gary

Thanks for this suggestion. It was $3 today so i just bought it. <br />

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I've used it for 15 minutes and it already convinced me to disable my iPad VNC program. This is vastly superior.<br />

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What i didn't appreciate is that it treats your iPad as a native resolution display. The interactions are completely intuitive. I would go so far as to suggest it is more natural than working with the iPad's own OS and display.<br />

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Using iTunes cover flow, for example, was too clunky for the VNC display. For this, it works with a two finger swipe gesture. Modifier keys are nicely incorporated, so keyboard shortcuts on menu items, including my scripts, are very easy to access.<br />

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This is the best $3 i have spent in a long time.<br />

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my only complaint is it installed Soundflower when I told the installer not to.<br />