Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

This may be more of a rant than a question, but I'd appreciate any efforts to enlighten me. I was going to put it in PC-connectivity-manager thread but I think it's more of a general question/observation.

First I'd like to thank all the very capable people here who contribute what must be vast amounts of time and trouble to contribute to open source stuff like Maemo.

I got my n810 a couple of years ago but didn't do much with it because, among other things, it couldn't talk to my network so it was pretty isolated and limited as a useful device. When I bought it, I figured that having a Linux-based OS would make it more adaptable and useful because of the open-source community flogging away at it, even though I'm not into Linux myself.

I've just begun trying to figure out how to get it to talk to my XP PC, to get some more use out what is a nice piece of hardware, if a bit antiquated. My point here is that I'm staggered by the amount of fiddling that accomplishing anything useful with the device seems to require, and I'm wondering if I'm just naive, or what exactly are the reasons why this stuff seems so hard?

My example is PC-Connectivity-Manager. Without an obviously major effort by the developer to package it and write thorough instructions, it would have been literally impossible for any mortal to figure out. As it is, the server install to the PC took 20+ minutes, wrote what looked like hundreds of individual applications to disk, and it STILL needs to be configured and tuned.

Same on the client end. It's changed all kinds of stuff on my n810 and I don't know if I hit all of the 97 steps necessary to get all the required stuff on there in the right order. I will be studying and fiddling with it for the next month, I expect. I'd rate myself as modestly tech-aware but this stuff seems unbelievably complex

Not to speak heresy, but I have an ancient IPAQ that still serves a lot of my mobile needs, if slowly. It syncs, views network shares, and streams media pretty much out of the box (although it sucks at internet, which is what I wanted the n810 for). I'm not comparing Maemo to the Evil Empire, I'm just wondering if all the stuff I had to install today is invisibly under the hood of 10-year-old Pocket PC 2003 or is it just a lot more complicated to make Maemo talk to Windows?

Maybe I'm just coming to appreciate how much wetware it takes to hack stuff, but I'm simply stunned by how complex this is. Or am I missing something? Is there an easier way to just get this thing on a network?

-gryvn

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

For Windows XP, I have these two installed on my computer:

tightvnc-1.3.10-setup
dfmirage-setup-1.1.68.2 (I love this. It makes the screen on the tablet refresh faster and prevents any screen tearing).

On the tablet, I install VNC Viewer.

Not exactly what you're asking, but it makes a great addition to your other requests, plus it's super easy.

Good luck.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

Ooh, also look into installing Knots 2 from your Application Manager.

This will stream your videos and music from your PC to the tablet and can recode your media on the fly.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

Hi Addison, I thought you might be watching.

I found a lot of discussions on networking with the 810, but the only one that seemed to be definitive and complete (as opposed to piecemeal solutions) was this:
http://pc-connectivity.garage.maemo....ion/index.html

I'm about halfway through it at this point and groggy.

It's vast in scope, and has an install/tweak curve like nothing I've ever seen. Perhaps it does more than I need and I'm overthinking again. I will check out your suggestions.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

"tightvnc-1.3.10-setup
dfmirage-setup-1.1.68.2 (I love this. It makes the screen on the tablet refresh faster and prevents any screen tearing)."

Where did you find these Windows executables on the Maemo site?

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

Strange as it might seem, I'm not a nerd. *lol*

So yeah, your requests are actually something I've never even heard of before.

Try out my two suggestions though.

Knots 2 has just a little bit of a learning curve but it's well worth it.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

"your requests are actually something I've never even heard of before."

Maybe I wasn't clear. I'm not trying to do anything exotic, I just want to be able to use the 810 to access network shares via wifi (or usb) and play media across the wireless connection.

The pc-connectivity thing does seem to be a lot of artillery to swat a fly, but the directions imply that it's necessary.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

By the way, the pc connectivity project installs tightVNC, but also Cygwin, FileZilla, and it's own pc-connectivity business.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

That would be Knots 2.

http://wiki.maemo.org/Knots2

Don't forget that mirage driver as well, it makes a huge difference.

Also look into port forwarding.

Say you're at a store and just thought of something you would like to see later that night.

With VNC and port forwarding, you can begin downloading the show on your computer and have it waiting for you by the time you get back home.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

Your making it way too hard.
If you have your n810 connected to a WIFI AP on your network that your PC is also on, just open from the main menu, choose Utilities, and choose FileManager. Wait for it to complete opening, and scroll down in the left pane, It will list Shared folders and Shared Media, sometimes they take a couple of seconds to appear. You should be able to see any publicly shared folders under the shared folders. The shared media, will work if you are using shared media with Media Player, not sure what version of Windows Media player you need.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

Hi Pat.

How can I open a video in Mplayer from my Network share connection?

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

"It will list Shared folders and Shared Media, sometimes they take a couple of seconds to appear. "

This may be the problem. Doesn't happen, never happened. Only local resources (internal storage, SD card) in File Manager, ever. Hence my impression that the tablet wasn't capable of what seems to be a basic task, without installing some additional application.

Now I need to figure out why File Manager is broken. I'm starting to see a reflash in my future.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

Do a quick reboot.

In Xterm:

root
reboot -n

If you have a shared network, it should show up after this.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

"root
reboot -n"

You mean FROM root? Those commands just give me "not found". Is it the same as a reboot with the power button?

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

This will give you root privileges.

Attachment 25511

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

I think I'm going to bag this for the day, maybe permanently. I'm beginning to think I've got at least major software, and possibly hardware issues. This thing has led me on a wild goose chase looking for over-elaborate solutions to simple problems, when it's now looking like it's just broken.

The media I can get to play run at about five frames per minute. Throughput is decent on other devices over wireless so it's not the network.

A punt to the back yard is sounding like a reasonable alternative at the moment. Thanks for your help. I'm a glutton for punishment so I'll probably be back, unless in a moment of sanity I step on this thing.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

You'll be missing out. :)

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

On what? Further hair loss and stress-induced cardiac arrhythmia?

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

If you find a TV show online to download, an hour episode should be about 350 megs in .avi format. Mp4 is not good at all.

I have $3,500 + in med apps.

A $1,000+ in med books.

SCUMM. Dosbox. GBA. Super Nintendo. Jagged Alliance.

Evince and Kchmviewer for books.

Cbrpager for comics.

Xmms and Vagalume for music.

That's for starters.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

There was a bug that sometimes happens, If you Opened File manager when there was no WiFi connection or resources, then sometimes later when you connect to WIFI it fails to show these two listings. I think there is some way to force a refresh without rebooting , but will have to look it up.
But if you fully power off the n810, then power it back on, connect to the WIFI that your PC is on and while your PC is running, and then and only then start File Manager, you should see the listings for Shared folder, shared media might work, but I'm not sure which Windows Media player you need.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

Addison: I got Knots2 going. (Told you I wouldn't be able to leave it alone).

It works a lot better than anything else playing over the network on the 810, presumably because of the streaming, but it's still choppy in places, and cut out a few times. Same file plays smoothly in Media Player on wireless on my netbook. Do you think it's cpu speed limitations on the n810? Do you have problems?

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

For Knots, I don't use it like everyone else does.

I only use it to stream cartoons.

I remove the 400x240 transcoding, drop the audio down to 22050, and bottom the fps to 8.

It sounds like this would be horrible, but it keeps me happy. :)

Knots is only good if you don't feel like transcoding yourself.

If you decide to do this on your own, it is possible to get really great results.
http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...7&postcount=17

Make sure your firewall isn't messing with Knots.

That's the problem most people first experience.

Re: Remote PC app, n810 and wtf
 

Ah dern. My video link expired.

Sorry.

PM me if you want to talk more in real time. :)