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Author Topic: Any ideas on using the IPad 2 as a whole home jukebox?  (Read 6073 times)

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Flake

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Any ideas on using the IPad 2 as a whole home jukebox?
« on: July 22, 2011, 11:32:16 am »
So here is what I have:

1.  Ipad 2 (not jail broken)
2.  Ethernet ports in every room in the house all running back to my network switch and wireless Uverse gateway located in the basement
3.  Crapload of MP3's in a shared folder on an older Dell computer that is connected to the network switch
4.  Office computer upstairs connected to the network switch.  This is the computer I have Itunes installed on.
5.  Older, cheap sony 5.1 receiver in the living room.  Speakers connected to it are a soundbar for the interior and 2 outdoor patio speakers.
6.  Older Harmon Kardon receiver in the basement hooked up to some speakers.

So....questions are as follows:

1.  Is there a way for the Ipad to access my MP3's in the shared folder on the Dell computer?
2.  Is there a nice looking jukebox software/app for the Ipad (something that looks like say Etouch)?
3.  Whats the best way to get audio from my downstairs Dell computer that houses all the MP3's to the upstairs living room sony receiver?

Bottom line goal would be that I would like to sit out on my deck (or anywhere in the house for that matter) and use the Ipad to select music to play that will be fed through the living room sony receiver that pushes audio to my outdoor speakers and living room soundbar.

Thoughts?

Donkbaca

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Re: Any ideas on using the IPad 2 as a whole home jukebox?
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2011, 12:03:24 pm »
Good idea....

I think the easiest way to do it is install itunes on the dell.  Get this:
http://bit.ly/5KBt1Y

Then get something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Music-System-PC/dp/B000BI2CIO

to stream the audio from your PC to your receiver


drventure

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Re: Any ideas on using the IPad 2 as a whole home jukebox?
« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2011, 12:36:47 pm »
You might check out JRiver Media Center. It's not free, but it's only about 50$, and it supports all sorts of streaming and remote control.

For instance, I have it running on my file server, audio out is connected to an amp, which then feeds some outdoor speakers.

MC has a built in skinnable web server that can.

1) stream audio to a web device for playback over that device.
2) allow a web device (in my case a windows phone 7 phone), to remotely control what's playing at the server, so I can use my phone to control what playlists play, or select individual tracks out by my pool. Anything that can browse the web can do that.

They also have some dedicated mobile apps (specifically for iPhone, but I believe it works with Android, not WP7 yet), that work a little smoother than the web app, but it works quite well for what I do.

Couple that with a remote streaming device (like a roku maybe)( and you can easily get access to all your music on your main HT.

Plus, if you want, MC also has a "theater view" that's specifically designed for running on a box that controls your home theater, you can select movies, audio, internet radio, record, blah blah blah on the HTPC you install it on.

Supports plain old remote controls, too, which is pretty cool for HTPC applications.

Flake

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Re: Any ideas on using the IPad 2 as a whole home jukebox?
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2011, 01:07:23 pm »
Dear God I'm an idiot....I already have everything I need for this but as usual I overthink things.

I already have a logitech wireless audio transmitter and receiver I used in my old house's inwall jukebox setup.  I also have a computer upstairs that already has itunes installed on it and that computer already accesses the Dell computer's shared files.

All I have to do is hook up the Logitech equipment and install the Remote App on my Ipad 2......duh.... :banghead:

Anyway thanks for the responses.

drventure

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Re: Any ideas on using the IPad 2 as a whole home jukebox?
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2011, 01:19:24 pm »
Ah, well, there ya go!  :)

So there's a "remote" app for ipad that allows you to control itunes somehow? Sounds cool!

Flake

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Re: Any ideas on using the IPad 2 as a whole home jukebox?
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2011, 01:42:01 pm »
So there's a "remote" app for ipad that allows you to control itunes somehow? Sounds cool!

Yep.  Hopefully I can find a way to control Pandora this way as well.  But if not the ability to access only my MP3's is good enough for me.