Configuration VLC web interface

In this tutorial we are going to cover the basics steps needed to config a VLC mediaplayer instance to accept connections over the local area network. This tutorial is created to help configure the VLCRemote application for Android.

Windows

This tutorial is created using Windows 7 and VLC 2.0.3

Step 1 of 5: show hidden files

We need to edit a configuration file of VLC, the .hosts file. This file is hidden so we first need to enable our Windows system to show hidden files and folders. This can be configured in the Control Panel:

Start > Control Panel > Search for Folder Options  > Enable "show hidden files,..  > Apply

Step 2 of 5: edit the .hosts file

Now we should be able to see the hidden files. We will be editing the .hosts file to helps configure VLC to allow or deny certain  IP-addresses. We need to edit this file with a text editor enhanced with administrator rights.

Texteditor > Right click > Run as Administrator

When the texteditor is open:

Menu > Open file > C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\http\.hosts

Edit and save the file so the file looks like the following screenshot:

-> uncomment private addresses 

Step 3 of 5: enable the web interface

If you already have VLC mediaplayer opened on your computer, you should restart it so the new configuration can be loaded. When VLC is reopened you can continue to activate the web interface of the VLC mediaplayer. This is achieved by clicking on a menu item in the view tab.

Menu > View > Add interface > Web

Step 4 of 5: determine the IP-address of VLC-host

Our VLC mediaplayer is ready to accept connections. Before we can test the web interface we should determine the IP-address of the computer hosting the VLC instance. This can be achieved by using the ipconfig command in the commandprompt.

Start > search for "cmd" > open de cmd.exe

When cmd is opened > Type "ipconfig" > press enter

Step 5 of 5: test if the web interface is accessible 

Now that we have our IP-address. It's time to test the web interface. Open a browser and browse to a webpage constructed out the following format:

http://<ipaddres>:8080

If a page gets loaded you are set to start using the VLCRemote application. You only need to fill in the IP-address in the application and add some songs to the playlist.

I hope the how-to guide was helpfull. If not please leave a comment below.

Enjoy VLCRemote!

VLCRemote

version 0.2.7

The Ubuntu App Showdown deadline has passed. So the time has come to start a new project!
I teamed up with the same developer as the showdown competition, Lemaire Nick. Let's introduce the project by demonstrating some screenshots of the application in development.

Screenshot phone

Screenshot tablet

During my internship at Philips iLab in Leuven, I had the chance to discover the development possibilities of the VLC-platform created by VideoLan. One of the possibilities is the usage of the web interface via Http protocol. By using the web interface of VLC, a developer can control a VLC-instance on the local area network by invoking simple http requests.

Current features:

• Manuel connection wizard
• Playback control (play, pause, loop, shuffle etc.)
• Volume control
• Dynamic playlist
• Metadata processing
• Dynamic preferences

Future features

• Automatic connection wizard
• Gestures control

Design:

• Based on ICS-platform
• Created with Android design sources

Coming soon to the Google Playstore, just need to get my hands on a developers key!