Start GBPVR from Windows MCE
It is astonishing, but true, that Windows Media Control Edition (MCE) cannot support two different types of television source!
For example, if you want to control, say, a Sky or NTL set top box (STB) and use a Freeview card in your media centre - tough. You can't.
The 'reason' provided by Microsoft is that it does not have what it takes to develop a version of MCE that supports two electronic program guides (EPGs) simultaneously. Which leads one to wonder just how serious it is about domestic computing.
Rant over.
My solution is to use MCE to control my NTL STB and another media player - GB-PVR - to run my Freeview card. That way I can use both sources simultaneously.
However, there's no easy way to go from MCE to GBPVR and back again without getting the keyboard out. So I developed StartGBPVR. It's an MCE add-in that appears under 'More programs' on the MCE main menu. When you click the 'Start GBPVR' icon the add-in:
- Asks you if you are sure you want to start/switch to GBPVR.
- Minimises MCE - this is necessary because GBPVR cannot start full screen if MCE is already full screen.
- Stops anything you currently have playing. This prevents your TV getting two audio streams simultaneously.
- Starts GBPVR - this brings it to the foreground if it is already running.
To return to MCE at any time, just press the green button on your remote.
Repeat the above steps to switch back to GBPVR, and so on.
To install the add-in, double-click this icon:
You will see a warning message. Click 'Run' or 'Open' to install the add-in.
You can uninstall the add-in via the 'Add or Remove programs' icon in the control panel.
Let me know if you encounter any problems. Also, I'm interested to know if this works in Vista. I don't see why it shouldn't but I've no way to test it right now.
Andy Henderson