[mrlanrat]

Hello all,

I am looking for a sort of launcher program for my HTPC.
The idea is this program starts when windows (or linux, I am happy with either OS) and brings up a menu of programs, such as XBMC, HULU Desktop, BOXEE, Firefox, Shutdown, And exit. Then the user can select a program with the arrow keys on their remote (or keyboard, or mouse, etc...) The program will then launch the selected program...

When the program exits the launcher will appear again allowing the user to start another program or exit to the computer's desktop or shutdown the computer.

Such a program seems simple and I would guess that one like this would exist already, however I have had no luck searching.

Does anyone know of such a program?

The closest thing I have come across are the "dock launchers" that mimic OSX's dock on windows/linux, however they do not have remote support.

[jhsrennie]

With the official MS remote you can configure the green button to open the Windows Start menu. Then you can navigate the Start menu using the arrow keys and start the selected program using the OK button.

JR

[mrlanrat]

With the official MS remote you can configure the green button to open the Windows Start menu. Then you can navigate the Start menu using the arrow keys and start the selected program using the OK button.

JR

That's not exactly what I am looking for, but it may do. How do I configure the green button to do that? I assume you mean the green button that has the MCE logo and launches MCE by default?

Iv noticed some remotes have colored buttons, mine does not.
This is what my remote looks like: http://images.trustedreviews.com/images/...remote.jpg

[jhsrennie]

That's not exactly what I am looking for, but it may do. How do I configure the green button to do that? I assume you mean the green button that has the MCE logo and launches MCE by default?

Iv noticed some remotes have colored buttons, mine does not.
This is what my remote looks like: http://images.trustedreviews.com/images/...remote.jpg

Your remote is an HP, which is allegedly compatible with the MS remote assuming you're using the HP IR receiver. There is some info in http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Remote_Control_Reviews towards the bottom of the page.

See http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Using_a_Micr...in_Windows for info on how to configure the MS remote. You'll need mceremote.zip from xbmcmce.sourceforge.net as well. You'll need to configure the green button to send ctrl-escape. I haven't done this myself, but I think the modification to the .reg file will be to the line starting "0d":

0d,00,00,00,04,01,29,\ ; Windows - sends ctrl-escape

JR

[frostwork]

good question!
I searched a lot, but with no perfect solution for me atm.
most (all) launchers are intended for netbooks or cars,
some are also for available for opensourcehandhelds like gp2x or openpandora
( gp2xmb f.e. - http://home.gna.org/gp2xmb/ )

netbooks-launcher is probably the best choice atm
(not for me though, as I don't want to pull in tons of gnome-dependencies)

https://launchpad.net/netbook-remix-launcher

there's also the quiet neat nghost (doesn't seem to support keyboard, so probably useless for a remote)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGhost

for emulatorlaunching the best i know is the mighty wahcade:
http://www.anti-particle.com/wahcade.shtml

[neostead]

Hi, i also looking for such an application.
I build my HTPC on arch linux. I want to autostart if with X(or fluxbox or other lightweight windows manager), and be able to choose witch app to launch with my remote (xbmc, moovida, stepmania,nes emulator, or shutdown script)

cairo-dock could be that, but has no keyboard control ability, or maybe i could force it to be controlled with remote?

In other case, i will have to write such an application

[bruce71]

This would indeed be a neat little program.

Just launch it in Autostart.

User should be able to add programs in a setup menu, otherwise the layout should be clean with a "bigger" icon and the name of the program and ability to use arrow keys to control it.

But how will it automatically go back and be in focus after a programme have been shut down?

I would use it to launch XBMC, Spotify and Voddler

[neostead]

It seems i will have to write one for us. I'll try do that using python to be cross-platform.
I think it could be a simple application in fullscreen mode, wallpaper support, keyboard controlled, with configuration in plain text file.

Too bad i'm occupied with other tasks right now
When i make sth, i'll let u know.

[clutch]

thanks jhsrennie! now ive bound my windows key to ctrl-esc and it works nicely. ive also made a menu item on startmenu that first kills xbmc and then starts xbmc again:
C:\util\sysinternals\pskill.exe xbmc.exe
%comspec% /c start /high "" "E:\xbmc\xbmc.exe" -p

[vesarious]

I think your looking at the problem the wrong way.

Why do you have to have a program run the items.. Why not modify your screen Back Ground to show remote F key functions or programs..

All PC remotes I have seen have keys for programmable commands. I use mine to open Readon Player, Digital DJ and of course things like web browers, Windows explorer, EMAIL, AVI joiner, Mixer.. and a few others.. I can have XBMC loaded and it minimises the program runs the selected program and returns XBMC once it closes. Simple!

[Jeci]

Has anyone had any joy with this?

Or finding something similar? I'm looking for something that as the OP said, is a simple remote compatible front end to launch a set of applications...

[mrlanrat]

Wow, this thread is back from the dead!

I ended up using EventGhost. You can read about it on my blog here: http://lanrat.com/use-eventghost-to-make...oxee-htpc/

I should add that I have not used this system since 2011.

[teeedubb]

Has anyone had any joy with this?

Or finding something similar? I'm looking for something that as the OP said, is a simple remote compatible front end to launch a set of applications...

Why not use xbmc as the launching application with advanced launcher, or even custom launching addons? Or win8 start page. With linux im sure you could configure a desktop to act as a launcher that is controlled by remote.

[Jeci]

Yeh sorry for reviving a dead thread.

I ideally want something that sits ontop of XBMC/Plex/Media Portal so I can launch streaming services and other stuff....

[Vee-Hive]

Does this help:

http://www.veehive.x10.mx/Vee-Launcher/