Android Client

[bryanleesterk]

Got it, nevermind.

[Ziq]

Hi!
Great work, I got it working on my HTC Hero and I'm happy to finally find a good program to control my media players.
However I have some inputs/bug reports if you are interested

• When trying to download the only available layout (xbmc) the app force closes.
• The command "move" does not do anything, how am I supposed to be able to rearrange my layouts? Also, being able to copy/move between layouts would be a nice feature.
• On incoming events it would be nice to be able to send an event, say pause the music on computer when getting an incoming call. I'm not sure at all how to get the incoming events working but since it's only possible to load a new layout or run an application it's not really interesting to me at the moment.
• If you edit the "icon" without changing icon the icon is reset to the original ghost
• It would be nice to be able to customize the background, and be able to place icons without a grid in order to create nice looking remotes. Maybe it would be nice to have a 'move mode' when you can move the icons around and then when you exit they are fixed in those positions.
• Being able to upload layouts to share them with other users would be nice.

Thanks again for a great app!

[Ziq]

After using the app for a few days I've noticed a regular error message - the process com.timhoeck.android.eventghost encountered an unexpected halt (freely translated from swedish)
I'm running HTC Hero original ROM Android 1.5

edit: The error occurs every time WLAN is activated, almost directly after i push the button

[liquid8]

Thanks for the feedback....

I'm hoping that soon I will get some time to update EventGhost for Android. I've been working on an enhanced layout setup, much more friendly than the previous, and I do need to work out some of the bugs you mentioned (layout downloads, force closes due to network change, icons resetting, etc).. and I really want to make some improvements on usability and add/improve some plugins.

In regards to incoming events (i.e. pausing the music on your PC when you get a call), you can do this now with the Android Events plugin. This plugin sends Android events (Incoming Call and Call Ended events included) to your PC EventGhost, and you can then setup those events to, say, pause your music when a call comes in - and start it back up when the call ends.

[Livin]

Tim,
Any chance your client can easily be ported to Windows Mobile and/or iPhone? I have both right now, no Android (though I'm considering getting one but prob not for a year).

thx

[kudos04]

What do you do with the zip file above? I downloaded it and tried putting it in the plug-in folder, but it doesnt show up in the eventghost program on my computer when I select "add plug-in"

[liquid8]

Livin,

I have no plans to port this to WinMo or iPhone... sorry! I know there is an EventPhone app for iPhone...

------

kudos04,

The zip file is an EventGhost plugin. Once you have put in in your EventGhost plugins folder (i.e. C:\Program Files\EventGhost\plugins\Android), right-click on Autostart in EventGhost and pick Add Plugin.. the Android plugin is listed under 'Other'. This plugin is a combination of Network Event Sender and Network Event Receiver (and has some modifications to help with the app), so you can either use this plugin, or setup those two individually.

------
Just an update on how things are going (slow, but I am working on it)

Some features I am working on, that will hopefully make the next update:
- Better Networking code
- Layout overhaul (the current system is horrible) - this will address many issues/requests
- Layout Uploads (since Download-able ones should work now)
- More understandable Incoming events (maybe some walk through tutorial pages/videos)
- Trackpad for Mouse movement

I'm working on it, but I really want these things fixed up before release. Once the app is in better order, I will update and improve the plugins, and add a couple I think could be helpful.

[tstack77]

Is it possible for you to post a link for the XBMC layout since the app force closes each time I try to download it?

Thanks for all the work too, looks very promising

[merdok1981]

This is an amazing app. Already set it up to do so much. Thank you for this.

Not sure if this is something missing in the app or something I'm not doing correctly but it would be great if the notifications could be accompanies by a sound as at the moment they just pop up on my phone silently, which means I usually miss them.

[liquid8]

Thought I would drop in and give an update... I'm still here! Lots of improvements coming.. I'm starting to be happy with what the app does now

http://timhoeck.com/2010/04/24/eventgho ... e-are-you/

A bit longer, I still have some quirks to work out.. but Android to Android EventGhost is pretty cool! It's getting closer to the functionality of EventGhost on the Android platform.

After this update, I still want to redo the layouts (custom layouts would be really cool) and the ability to hook multiple events/actions together, like EventGhost does now.

[liquid8]

I released version 1.3 - available in the Android Market. New to this version includes:

- Payload support
- Enduring Events support (anyone care to test this?)
- Improved Plugins, now builtin (Notifications does vibrations,sounds, led and new Forward Events plugin)
- Multiple Server support
- Specify Server for layout (you can leave it the default server, or use a specific server for each layout)
- Edit mode for layouts - you can move icons now
- Mappings are called Macros (makes more sense)
- Macros can be triggered by event and optional payload
- Logging of Events/Macros (similar to the Log in EG)
- Layout Repository to download/upload layouts
- Somewhat improved server, you can specifiy password/port
- Lock orientation of the layout screen
- Wifi warning (shown if not connected to wifi)
- Other Apps can generate Events (GENERATE_EVENT intent)
- Lots more bug fixes

In the future I am looking to:
- Have an improved layout system
- Make the app work better as a standalone app, not necessarily requiring an EG server. Apps can now generate events, so users might not even want/need to run an EG server on their computer.
- Any other suggestions you guys ask for..

This app is basically an implementation of EG for the Android platform, so if I am missing something, let me know. I'm thinking down the lines now of tablets and google tvs running EventGhost.. what features do you want/need?

You can see walkthroughs and info here:
http://timhoeck.com/eventghost-for-android/

If you want to help with plugins, feel free to contact me for help. I have (mostly) updated the plugins/development page:
http://timhoeck.com/eventghost/eventghost-plugins/

[Ziq]

Really great work!

If you wan't something more to work on it would be nice to be able to make a layout without the grid (mentioned this before)

For a reference I would like the xbmc control to look like this (middle):


Either you make the icons resizable and freely movable or you make it possible to import an image and mark buttons onto it.

The simplest way is maybe to keep the grid and allow icons to expand over several positions. This way at least this layout would be possible with small icons.

Looking at another implementation - controlling lamps using tellstick, it would be nice to give feedback on what the state should be.
Instead of making a simillar layout to this:

It would be nice with only one icon that toggles between two modes, and sends out different commands depending on the current mode.
if icon == lamp_off
{
send "on";
icon = lamp_on;
}
etc

I can understand if this is not top priority but I think it will make the program more practical to use and more competitive with prefixed solutions.

[liquid8]

I'm definitely looking into creating a flexible layout creator. My thought is to have various controls (widgets) that could be theme-able.. you drag-and-drop the new widget onto the layout wherever you want it... these "widgets" could be toggle-switches (like you mentioned), sliderbars, trackpads, etc...

It might take me a bit to get the core functionality going.. but I do plan on getting past the grid layout

[Killedbyalbany]

Hey Tim, I love this app. I actually went out and bought and EVO on the strength of it. I really appreciate all the time and effort.

I'm curious, is there a way to monitor the alarm clock built into Android, and send an event back to Eventghost? I have my apartments automation all tied into EG, and it would be awesome to have the "dismiss" command on my phone alarm be the cue for my lights to turn on, my tv to switch on CNN, my coffee maker to start brewing, etc, etc.

Thanks!

[Turkey_Buzzard]

I would like to offer kudos to Tim Hoeck for EventGhost for Android (EGA). IÔÇÖve used it to run my home entertainment center very successfully. I find it superior to the current IPhone-IPod Touch counterpart by Melloware due to multiple layouts, customizable icons and send-receive capability. I havenÔÇÖt tried Touch IR+ for IPhone-IPod Touch. There may be others IÔÇÖm not aware of.

For anyone interested, here is my HTPC setup: The ÔÇ£entertainment centerÔÇØ consists of televisions in a couple of rooms, a cablebox, a video switch, a video distribution amp, 3 dvd players, 2 recievers (one for in house audio and the other for the patio), music and movies stored on a hard drive accessed using XBMC, music playlists using Microsoft media player (for more instantaneous music without loading XBMC), a variety of internet radio stations, and a bunch of sound effects (a Chinese gong, tympani drums, fanfare, various animal sounds etc.). The equipment other than the TVs is housed behind closed doors of an old entertainment center cabinet and the computer is in separate room.

I use USB-UIRT to translate between the computer and the ÔÇ£entertainment centerÔÇØ (which are all infrared controlled devices). Wi-fi connects the phone (HTC Eris) with the computer.

My default EGA layout is for the TV and cable box with buttons matching the cable box remote as well as buttons for a selection of particular channels, e.g. icons for CBS, NBC, as well as an icon for a timed 3 minute mute for commercials etc.

There are additional icons to select the other modes, i.e. #1 DVD player, #2 DVD player, #3 DVD player, internet radio, sound effects, cable music channels, music playlists on the computer, XBMC for video, and XBMC for music (the TV is not turned on etc.). Each mode has its own layout on EGA. When one of these icons is selected, EGA sends a wi-fi signal to EventGhost (EG) on the computer which in turn sends a wi-fi signal back to the phone which causes EGA to switch to a new layout for the mode selected that has the appropriate customized control icons. This is pretty slick.

For a more detailed explanation of how changing a mode works, the most complex is the XBMC for video. The other modes are similar but simpler. HereÔÇÖs the sequence for the XBMC mode: touch the XBMC icon on the startup EGA layout screen on the phone, EGA sends a wi-fi event to EG, EG sees the event and starts a macro, the macro tells EG to send signals to USB-UIRT that flashes IR signals to the IR distribution system that turns on the TV and the receiver using discrete ÔÇ£onÔÇØ IR codes (not the toggle code). The macro then starts the XBMC program on the computer and sends a wi-fi signal to the phone causing EGA to switch to the XBMC layout. EG delays for a few seconds for the TV and receiver to power on and for XBMC to load and then EG sends commands to USB-UIRT to switch the receiver and the TV to the proper inputs. I donÔÇÖt have a dedicated HTPC so the TV is configured as a third screen of my main computer (which requires two video cards since I use dual screens for ordinary computer work). The XBMC window on the computer is then moved to the third screen i.e. the TV. The entertainment center and the computer are in separate rooms so it was necessary to run wiring through the attic. The result is the XBMC user interface on my big screen TV and a customized XBMC remote control via wi-fi on the phone.