Synchronize music/video multicast-stream playback to multiple instances of XBMC

controlling the other xbox, and transfering files between is fairly simple to impliment. but there is no way to sync the two players exactly due to many factors (caching, network latency)

there is no system available to sync the players. if the boxes are in the same room you will notice the audio and video is out of sync

thats true

i want an xbox in each room.

i want xbmc to be able to list other lan xbmc instances on other xboxes (like xblive).

i want to know what those instances are doing (video, music, etc).

i want to be able to sync/unsync to that.

thats all i ask.

i made a formal request on sourceforge for this:
1. xbmc would be aware of other lan instances of xbmc
running (similar to xbox live being aware of your
"friends" and what they are doing).

2. xbmc would be able to synchronize to other lan
instances of xbmc. this would allow multi-zone
audio/video. (i.e. xbmc in garage that controls
speakers outside pool could be sync'ed to music playing
in the house)

3. xbmc would be able to synchronize other lan xbmc
instances to it. again, allowing multi-zone audio.
(i.e. xbmc could set other xboxes that are connected to
stereos to the same music playlist - playing music
throughout a house)

please post if you feel this would be something interesting to you.

also, help me with this thought:
if you had ir transmitters you could technically power on other systems throughout the house with one remote? i'm thinking maybe even a palm pilot with omniremote or something similar in each room.

maybe a pocketpc and do a webserver - you could control xbmc from the pilot, with omniremote or some ir type program to power on and off the device?

see this thread for discussion regarding potential solutions.

this is a great feature if it can be done correctly.

biggest problem will be syncing. slightest delay will be detectable. theres a lot of smart guys that dev for xbmc so i'm sure it wont be major.

the sync feature could be either restart and play on all or a "catch up" sync that will start the living room xbox at whatever point the kitchen is on.

Anyway to do this? I wanna have another device(maybe xbox, maybe squeezebox? or some other device) refer to the xbox for what it is playing to play that from the same source at the same time? Bit out there?...I'll get my coat....

Check out http://www.sonos.com

running an icecast/shoutcast server and streaming that doesn't really do anything with regard to sync because the different clients will have slightly different buffers, and thus be out of sync. you need a protocol that actually has sync built into it...
just FYI.

This is a great idea. If it ever happens I'll pee my pants.

SleepyP is totally right. The xbox doesn't support multicast but it supports broadcast which is enough to do that. However that doesn't guarantee that in time, playback will drift. A need for synchronization is required.
FYI, now that UPnP is implemented, it will be possible to stream content to other xboxes (or even a PC). This is a planned feature for after 2.0.

Cheers