Ok...I was bored, so I started playing with the
Google Maps API and the MCE SDK. The result was this page :
http://savage.org.za/GMAPMCE/ which doesn't really add much functionality
other than being able to browse the world from your couch with the remote.
To add to your Media Center simply download and install GMAPMCE from the links on the right and it's
available to use in Windows Media Center under the More Programs menu.
On the web page use the arrow keys to move around and PgUp / PgDn to zoom. On MCE
use the arrow buttons and CH [+][-] on the remote.
New! Google Moon & Google Mars for Media Center
Skype Media Center Add-in : Missed Skype Call Notification
I have a Skype dualphone plugged into my Windows Media Center because that's the PC that is online most of the time. I don't have a keyboard plugged into it because I prefer to control the whole thing with the remote only, and use the dualphone handset for Skype. To this end I have disabled as many notifications and popups as Skype will allow. There are two problems with running this arrangement:
- Without minimizing the media center full screen UI, I can't easily see if there are missed calls.
- Whenever I make an outgoing call with Skype, the Skype application grabs the window focus from media center, causing the remote to not work anymore, screensavers kick in while you're watching TV, the screen blanks while it changes mode ...just annoying things that shouldn't happen normally.
Originally I set out to solve both problems but after experimenting with the Skype api and setting "silent_mode" on, the api stops responding to requests about missed calls. i.e. Problem 2 is still a problem. I did however manage to solve problem 1 with this little addin.
Before you get too excited, it is not a full Skype client in media center like mcePhone, it only does notifications of missed calls and active incoming calls. However it is free and it does work on XP MCE and 32 bit Vista. I may add other notifications if necessary.
ZaEpg
This service has been discontinued, please find an alternative solution here : http://mceguide.co.za/
