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The version of Windows Media Player in my Exec doesn't allow me to control playback unless it's the foreground application. This isn't good when I've got music playing with TomTom in the car and I want to switch tracks or pause the music. The new TomTom 5.1 forces itself to full-screen mode which means I can't quickly flick back to WMP to change the music. Pain in the Ass. :evil:
There are several solutions to this problem:
- use an alternative music player that allows me to assign persistant hot key combinations that work even if the application isn't in the foreground
- stop TomTom forcing itself to full-screen mode, like I could do in TT3 perfectly :evil:
- learn how to achieve this with the existing setup. I've tried mapping obscure key combinations in WMP but they just don't work unless WMP is in the foreground.
I really don't like this latest version of TomTom. My v3 was much more flexible In the good old days of XDA2 I could tell WMP to keep the button mappings while it was in the background too, I think.
Anybody got any suggestions?
Edit: Title of post changed to reflect the outcome of the thread, in case it's useful for someone else...
Have you tried phm keys?
V
Trying it now....
Thanks for the tip. Will report back asap.
Edit:
Nope. Doesn't work. Doesn't have any effect while TomTom is running.
Also, only allows me to map the four hardware buttons. Was hoping that I could use keys on the standard keyboard to control WMP. WMP allows me to map any key to its controls and I want these to be persistant.
Should I try TCPMP? Does that allow button mapping? Can't find any info on their website(s).
Found one solution, but it's not elegant: The Task Switcher (Alt-Tab) control of PocketPlus works in TomTom so I can use it to switch to WMP and control the music, then swap back to TT.
It's a fiddle though, and I'd still like to find a way of doing it with one button press
I think TCMP does allow persistent button maps, and pocket music I think as well. GSPlayer also, from memory. Hopefully one of those should work!
GSPlayer is free and open source, so well recommended. However, no idea how WM5 compatible these are.
I'll try to have a look into the phm keys issue, should be quite feasible, but the problem is using the keyboard to launch progs - I've not got a universal, so it's not an issue I've ever looked into (hopefully getting one soon though, to develop on).
V
Sorted! TCMP has wonderfully flexible persistent button mapping, it works perfectly, and I'm happy!
I can control my music playback with keyboard keys while TomTom is running. As well as this, TCMP allows me to boost the volume of its playback so the music volume is higher than the TT voice directions (so TT doesn't interfere with the music too much).
My final hope is that TCMP automatically pauses playback when an incoming call comes in, but I'll have to test that later.
So, I'm close to achieving the perfect set up in the car: TomTom giving me on-screen directions and TCMP giving me shuffled non-stop music. Audio output is played from the Exec headphone socket to my car's head unit except when a call comes in, when it switches automatically to my BT headset. One day I'll also play movies through TCMP so my wife doesn't get bored on long journeys!
All I need now is a powered car mount.
I think TCMP does pause playback as soon as it loses focus, eg reminders or calls. Tell us how it goes though!
V
Yeah, just tested it on the way home and TCMP worked exactly as planned. Driving along with music playing and TT nagging me, I pressed my headset button, got the voicedial prompt, spoke the number, the music paused, I had a conversation, pressed the headset button again, the call ended and I was back to The Verve and TT. All automatically
The whole thing got confused when my wife rang me, but I think that's because the Exec wasn't powerful enough to handle everything that was happening when the call came in. I suspect that TT5.1 isn't fully WM5-compatible yet and so it's much slower and more demanding than it will eventually be when TomTom eventually release an approved WM5-compliant version.
Interestingly, when I made the call the call audio was coming from both the car speakers (via the Exec audio jack) AND my BT headset, so all passengers can join in the phone conversation too.
SiliconS - what kind of gprs are you using?
V
vijay555 said:
SiliconS - what kind of gprs are you using?
V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm... the regular kind? The kind that O2 set up in their settings. GSM, not UTMS, btw.
Sorry, my doh. GPS, not GPRS!
V
Ahh. All is now clear
I've got the TomTom Bluetooth one, bought in the box with the software. Works fine with the Exec and the (cracked, until TT release a genuine WM5-compatible version) 5.1 version of the software.
You can go one better here with your automation I think, if prepared to try it. I use it on my Jam but havent tried it with the JasJar yet. If you use Microsoft Voice Command it has commands for WMP. You can hit the voice prompt button and say "Start Windows Media Player" - it will start WMP if not already opened, or switch to WMP if already open. Nice thing about Voice Command is you can issue commands to WMP, such as "Play the Verve" or "Play Coldplay" or "Play X&Y" for the album - saves you having to scroll through searching for songs while driving.
BTW just hit the Voice Command button and say "Start Tomtom" and it will revert back to TomTom.
admisi said:
You can go one better here with your automation I think, if prepared to try it. I use it on my Jam but havent tried it with the JasJar yet. If you use Microsoft Voice Command it has commands for WMP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a very interesting idea. I wonder how it would work, though, if there is music playing in the background when trying to use the voice commands. I already find voice dialling through the BT headset is unreliable if I'm driving so more ambient noise would screw things up even more, I'd have thought.
Would be interested to hear others' thoughts though.
Hey, humans!
After searching through the forums for a couple of days, I thought I would go ahead and post to ask if anyone has a fix for the following problem...
I recently purchased the Jabra BT 620s stereo Bluetooth headphones, tapped the A2DP cabs, and got wireless stereo working (along with all of the buttons and the mic) right away.
Unfortunately, every time I turn off the headphones and reconnect them, they connect to the phone as "Hands-Free" only. In this state, I can use the answer/call/play/pause/etc. buttons and the mic, but audio is delivered through the 8125's speakers and not the headset. To fix it, I have to open the BT settings, click on the Jabra phones, Refresh (because it still says that the set is connected as "Hands-Free" and "Wireless Stereo"), and reactivate "Wireless Stereo" every time I want to listen to music.
Is there any trick/registry tweak that could help me bypass this extra step? Oh, and does anyone know of a media player that doesn't hog my resources like WMP, uses AVRCP, and can play streams?
Thanks in advance!
In response to my own (2nd) question...I've read that TCPMP respondes to AVRCP commands.
Does anyone know how to get them to work with the Jabra BT 620s headphones?
I'm continuing to look for a solution to my problem and find an alternative to WMP10, which sucks up so much memory.
I have finally managed to get Pocket Player 2.72 (http://www.conduits.com/products/player/download.asp) working with AVRCP. Although it is supposed to work right out of the box, I tried using it and received no feedback from the Jabra BT 620s's buttons.
While looking for a WMP today plugin -- one that I had hoped would have a smaller footprint while still allowing AVRCP controls to function -- I came across a post and eventually found a .dll for Pocket Player that allows me to use my Jabra's controls to influence the player.
Unfortunately, Pocket Player is a woefully bad player (even worse than WMP10 in my opinion!) and I can't get much use out of it because it “skips” constantly and forces the screen back on (it doesn't automatically shut off again) with every command from the headphones. However, for everyone who prefers PP and can't get Bluetooth to work through it, trying downloading this rar file (http://www.modaco.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=19163), unrar'ing it, and placing the enclosed .dll in your Pocket Player directory.
I personally really like pocket player, but you need to wait for v2.73 out soon apparently. If you go to conduits forum you can see alot of info on this issue.
I find it plays beautifully thru iTech Clip R35 (I admit I have a different device ie jamin).
But to your first point, I still have that problem as well, I have to manually switch on the bluetooth stereo option, I haven't found a solution for that yet.
cheers
groverbot said:
Hey, humans!
After searching through the forums for a couple of days, I thought I would go ahead and post to ask if anyone has a fix for the following problem...
I recently purchased the Jabra BT 620s stereo Bluetooth headphones, tapped the A2DP cabs, and got wireless stereo working (along with all of the buttons and the mic) right away.
Unfortunately, every time I turn off the headphones and reconnect them, they connect to the phone as "Hands-Free" only. In this state, I can use the answer/call/play/pause/etc. buttons and the mic, but audio is delivered through the 8125's speakers and not the headset. To fix it, I have to open the BT settings, click on the Jabra phones, Refresh (because it still says that the set is connected as "Hands-Free" and "Wireless Stereo"), and reactivate "Wireless Stereo" every time I want to listen to music.
Is there any trick/registry tweak that could help me bypass this extra step? Oh, and does anyone know of a media player that doesn't hog my resources like WMP, uses AVRCP, and can play streams?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I just bought the BT-620s and have exactly the same problem you have mentioned, otherwise a great BT headset.
Did you ever manage to find a fix for this problem?
Hello,
i have a small problem - i have bluetooth stereo headphones (nokia bh-503) which has remote controls on them (playback, next/prev track). The problem is, that whenever i press the play button (only the play, next/prev works fine), the device turns itself on... first i thought its caused by media player (conduits pocket player), but i noticed it does even when using wmp and so on :/
also i tried it in several roms (default one, xperience by itje, jack's v2 lite)
does someone has a suggestion what to do to prevent this? i've tried every setting available in system, but no result :/ i guess there'll be some app or reg tweak i couldnt find thx
hmm, no answer at all? dont tell me no one uses bt headphones these days
I bought a bluetooth car kit to play music with. When I first paired the device to my phone, all 3 the media buttons worked (play/pause, forward, and back). The next time I used the kit only the play/pause button worked.
Knowing Samsung sucks at everything, I didn't waste my time disconnecting/reconnecting. I plugged the phone into the ADB interface and watched the system log in DDMS. What I found was really confusing.
I plugged the bluetooth kit into a 12v source and connected the 2 devices. I played some music off my phone and watched the log as I presses some buttons. In the log, the button presses were actually showing up in the log with the right scan numbers but the media player just doesn't respond to anything other than play/pause.
If I try different combinations of connecting/disconnecting I can get the media buttons to work but 90% of the time they wont. WTF is happening T_T
I have not had that trouble with my bluetooth head unit. I have been using Pandora and Mixzing. I only have issues with audio dropout and it seems to disappear (stop dropping) after the connection has been used for maybe 10-15 minutes.
It worked perfectly with my Samsung Omnia.
I found out that the bluetooth controls only work when the media app is in the foreground. If I'm on the home screen the controls will be ignored. If I have pandora open on the screen, pandora will be controlled.
This is annoying and I wonder why nobody else is having this problem.
I understand your frustration. And if I may, I would like to add this question:
Does anyone have a handle on the interrelationship between the Epic 4G, wireless headsets, and AVRCP music players?
My rooted Samsung Epic 4G is running 2.1 and has the stock ROM.
I’m looking for a compatible MP3/Wireless headset combination using either the Motorola S9-DH or S10-DH, or the Rocketfish RF-MAB2. So far, I am unable to do everything the headsets say I should be able to do, that is, answering a call and having the player resume (both headsets get this far) and also controlling the MP3 player, i.e., allowing for track skipping, pausing, etc.
In short, I do not have control over an MP3 player’s basic functions from a wireless headset.
I have tried both the Motorola and the Rocketfish. While the Motorola does not see an MP3 player at all, the Rocketfish does control an MP3 player’s volume level.
The following MP3 players were tried: stock Epic player, Winamp, PowerAMP and MortPlayer Audio.
I am open to suggestions. I am not wed to the Motorola or Rocketfish, but I am comfortable with the way they sound and fit.
OR...would you buy the headset you like, work the MP3 player manually (not a good idea while driving) and tough it out until Froyo addresses the issue of Bluetooth connectivity?
Thank you.
Hi
First i have to say is SORRY about my english. I'm learning and i don't want to use a translator.
I have a Nexus One connected to my handsfree on my car. I have a Ford Focus. Well when i try to listen some music on it, stock music player star to play and stop, start and stop anbd i don't know why.
I have flashed many times OxygenN1 mod and for all other things the rom is perfect but i don't know why do this.
I have to say to, if i try to play music with another app it starts to play normaly while stock player is playing on the buttom so this is imposible to listen anything.
Thanks for all.
Anyone can help me?
Thanks
All I can contribute is that I am having the same problem.
I am using a Bluetooth headset to listen to podcasts - this is one of those headsets that supports the A2DP profile for playing music etc., as well as the normal headset profile for phone calls. I don't have the problem when taking calls, just when listening to music/podasts so I suspect a problem with the A2DP profile implementation.
You are probably using that same profile in your car.
I wasn't sure if it was the phone or the headset that had the issue - sounds like it is probably the phone if you are having the same issue.
For the record, i have the AT&T/Rogers Canada version of the N1, with 2.3.6.
A couple things to begin troubleshooting:
1. Try using your phone with a different vehicle. It would be helpful to try pairing your phone with a different car's Bluetooth stereo, and see if it works properly (maybe a friend with a recent car?). If that works, then the problem is with the car stereo.
2. If you have a friends with other smartphones, try having them pair with and play music through your car stereo. Hopefully a pattern would emerge: maybe your exact ROM doesn't work, maybe it's a hardware quirk in your phone itself.
3. What media players do you have installed? I occasionally have conflicts between players fighting over the Bluetooth connection; Pandora and the stock player used to fight, but now they play nice. Notably Pandora has a section in its settings that tells it whether or not to take over Bluetooth controls. This sounds like it might be the reason for your second problem (if I understand you correctly).
4. You might also want to try a different firmware, maybe one that's either closer to stock or further. Maybe try the stock firmware first, then maybe MIUI.
5. What year and model is your Focus? Sometimes (rarely) there's a firmware update for the car stereo.
If the stock player is starting and stopping by itself: first try uninstalling all other media players and see if it still happens. If it does, it might be that the car stereo is sending pause keypresses, which it shouldn't. There might be a defective button on the stereo, or maybe a quirk in the stereo firmware.
Hopefully some of this helps narrow down the problem. Let us know if you get any results, hopefully we can help find the problem!
---------- Post added at 10:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 AM ----------
Tomaxda said:
I am using a Bluetooth headset to listen to podcasts - this is one of those headsets that supports the A2DP profile for playing music etc., as well as the normal headset profile for phone calls. I don't have the problem when taking calls, just when listening to music/podasts so I suspect a problem with the A2DP profile implementation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using the headset for both podcasts/music and taking calls? Or using the headset for part of it, and another Bluetooth device for the other?
I just ask because I once tried leaving my voice-only earpiece for handsfree talking while listening to music over the car stereo. I had them "working" configuration-wise (the earpiece took only calls, music went only to the stereo), but after a little bit the phone would sort of melt down and lock up. It was probably running turn-by-turn Nav at the same time that did it, still it was cool while it worked
There are certainly bugs in the A2DP and AVRCP profiles, but I understand the implementation is kind of complex and there's a lot of corner case problems. Personally, our stereo displays the artist & album names, but always says "Paused", and the title and time info and just random numbers.
About the best you can do is try to isolate your specific problem, then try to find where to file a bug report. CM is probably the most responsive but most resource-strapped for fixing corner case problems, Google is at the other extreme and never really replies to bug reports. The stack itself is written by the BlueZ group (which I can't link, you'll have to Google); I've never tried submitting a bug report there, as I suspect they wouldn't be interested in hearing from a 3rd-party Android ROM user.
This might sounds odd, but try turning wifi off and see if that solves the problem.
Sent from my Nexus One
jvi007 said:
Hi
First i have to say is SORRY about my english. I'm learning and i don't want to use a translator.
I have a Nexus One connected to my handsfree on my car. I have a Ford Focus. Well when i try to listen some music on it, stock music player star to play and stop, start and stop anbd i don't know why.
I have flashed many times OxygenN1 mod and for all other things the rom is perfect but i don't know why do this.
I have to say to, if i try to play music with another app it starts to play normaly while stock player is playing on the buttom so this is imposible to listen anything.
Thanks for all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try downloading ES Explorer (this has a player built in) browse to the audio files and select play in ES media/audio, I could get music to play through this but not the stock player because it would keep stoppping after a second or two.