22 replies to this topic

[davidgol]

Hey guys - wanted to let you know about this new setup that I have just gotten working...

So here's the braindump:

I have skype installed on my MC in the lounge room. It is set to start with Windows and log into a spare account I setup specifically for this purpose.
The account only has 2 contacts - my wife and I.
I changed the Skype settings to Auto-Answer when a call comes in, and also to automatically start video.
I also have a Polycom CX100 (a little USB handsfree speakerphone) plugged into the MC permanently - these are awesome. It's a voice-chat-optimised mic and speaker about the size of two iphones [2].

Now, even when the hifi and TV are off, I can still dial up my Skype account from anywhere in the world, and just talk to whoever is in the loungeroom. Most importantly it means that the kids and wife don't have to touch a thing - they just hear me say hello as if I'm in the loungeroom (the CX100 is incredibly high quality).
A bit voyeuristic I know, but trying to get them to setup a PC and sign into Skype in the middle of dinner time rush when I have
two minutes of free wifi in an airport lounge on the other side of the planet was just never going to happen. The other day it happened to be 6am when I called and the kids were up early, wife was still asleep so I had a chat with them for a bit.

The only problem I was having was that when the MC interface is in full-screen (always on top), Skype wouldn't start the video chat. It just refused for some reason. I have a USB webcam attached too (which is hidden on the top shelf of the wall unit). So I could talk to them, but I couldn't see them.

So I fired up visual studio and knocked out this little system tray application which uses the Skype API to monitor for an incoming call, and when it detects one it minimises MC and maximises Skype. When the call ends, it does the opposite. If the kids are in the middle of watching TV, the TV disappears, and my face pops up (scary I know). After the call ends, the TV returns. All this without them having to touch a single button. It's the closest thing to integrated Skype that I could manage and it works absolutely flawlessly. It's also a neat security device because I can see the back yard through the window and keep and eye on the dog And it also works to iPhone Skype.

I've attached the app I wrote (it's version 1 so it might be a little buggy - but I've had no problem with it). The only addition I still want to make is to send a 'pause' command to MC so that the TV doesn't keep playing in the background.

Have fun - and send me any suggestions if you find this useful

[1] http://www.polycom.c...ator_cx100.html

Attached Files

•  SkypeMediaCenterBuddy.zip   14.26K   51 downloads

[vbap]

Nice stuff David! My travel has really dropped in the last 6 months, but I have always been on the lookout for a good WMC+Skype solution.

With all these new TVs coming with Skype "preloaded" (and otehr web services), it really would be good to have something that's integrated into WMC - and this seems pretty close.

What happens if the TV is off and you send video? Your voice is coming through as you say - do you tell the kids to turn on the TV so they can see your hairy head???

[Tak]

That's brilliant! Not sure how popular I'd be with the kids for interrupting their TV but I love the idea that you've made it so that you don't have to press anything for it to work.

[krypto]

Thanks David, I've been looking for something like this for ages.

[davidgol]

What happens if the TV is off and you send video? Your voice is coming through as you say - do you tell the kids to turn on the TV so they can see your hairy head???

Yep pretty much... but for some reason they usually leave the TV off .. hmm..

[Ivan_ekbpf]

I've been waiting for something like this. Thanks. I'll give it a go. What happens to audio on live tv when the call connects? does the call overlay on the tv sound. You reckon you could mute mc and leave skype on when it connects? If you mute mc the pc mutes as well??? food for thought.

[davidgol]

I've been waiting for something like this. Thanks. I'll give it a go. What happens to audio on live tv when the call connects? does the call overlay on the tv sound. You reckon you could mute mc and leave skype on when it connects? If you mute mc the pc mutes as well??? food for thought.

I have my main audio (TV) coming through the HiFi (via optical) and the Skype comes through the Polycom so they have separate controls. The kids just grab the remote and turn down the TV volume. Amazing how quick a 4 year old can learn to turn down the volume so she can watch TV on Saturday morning at 5:30am without incurring the wrath of dad.

I'll look into adding some code to pause the MC so that will kill the audio.. and then restart it afterwards. Can't be that hard.

Edited by davidgol, 02 February 2011 - 10:24 PM.

[davidgol]

Hey all .. here's a new version which adds code to pause and then resume Media Center at the start/end of a call. I've tested it on my dev laptop, but not yet fully tested on my MC rig at home. Let me know how it goes :-)

Attached Files

•  SkypeMediaCenterBuddy.zip   14.31K   57 downloads

[vacdk]

Sounds awesome...!

Will try it tonight.

[incapete]

This sounds like a great app! Well done for putting the work in to develop it!

[MetricOwl]

I installed the app and I get the status error: Unable to connect to Skype - going inactive. I get a COM exception in the log, 80040154 class not registered. This is on Windows 7 64Bit. Any ideas?

[gogreenpower]

Amazing, as soon as all my parts arrive and I get my MC up and running I'll be giving it a go. Thanks for your efforts

Edited by gogreenpower, 26 July 2011 - 11:43 PM.

[davidgol]

I installed the app and I get the status error: Unable to connect to Skype - going inactive. I get a COM exception in the log, 80040154 class not registered. This is on Windows 7 64Bit. Any ideas?

Yep - mine's doing that too now. I think skype must have updated something and the COM signature must have changed. I'll see if I can get it going again.

[nxsfan]

Yep - mine's doing that too now. I think skype must have updated something and the COM signature must have changed. I'll see if I can get it going again.

Hi! Your post inspired me to develop something similar, although it is not quite as tidy You can check it out here:

http://thegreenbutto...c.php?f=9&t=397

Essentially it provides the same functionality as your application, however it provides caller ID within media center and allows the user to decide whether or not to answer the call, along with providing an AFK message if nobody responds to the dialog. You do not need to set skype to auto answer with video because the app automatically answers the call if appropriate and enables video if available.

It is not quite as tidy as your solution and it does not pause media center (I currently don't check the media state to verify whether or not something is playing and I don't want to accidentally resume something - I will likely add this soon) but may be useful/interesting for you.

[gogreenpower]

Sounds great. I'll give it a go on my setup tonight and let you know how I go