RE: Squeezebox 2

["John B" <home-automation@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Has anyone tried one yet? Im very impressed with the sound
> quality compared to the old one. Can anyone also help me try
> to use the screen for displaying other text sent to it from
> another device or software?
> Im wondering if it is possible to send it commands via tcp/ip
> that would then display on its screen like house temperature
> etc. Also is it possible to use the IR reciever for anything
> else also sending back commands to another device again via tcpip.

There are 3 ways that I know of to control SlimServer - the web
interface, the CLI, and via xPL.

The CLI is a TCP-based protocol for sending commands to the players -
full details are included in the online help.

The xPL support means that you can control the players using UDP packets
rather than TCP, but more importantly, the players can send out UDP
packets (xPL packets) that you can listen for in your own application,
to notify you of asynchronous events.

For example, if you enable xPL support in the SlimServer web interface,
you can have each button on your infra-red remote generate an xPL
message, as well as being notified when a new track starts, or when the
end of the playlist is reached etc.*

Also, if you have other compatible remotes (JVC family of codes?) the SB
infra-red receiver will also pick them up and transmit their hex
representation as an xPL message.

Regarding displaying custom text on the screen: This is really easy
either using the CLI, or using an xPL osd.basic message.
I think at this stage, the CLI will offer you more flexibility, as much
of the enhancements for the new SB graphics aren't accessible through
the xPL interface yet.

Regards,

John

* There have been quite a few enhancements to the xPL support recently,
but these are in the 6.1 branch, which is currently under development.