View Full Version : Zerama Remote Reviewed at pocketnow.com
Jason Dunn
08-08-2003, 05:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=reviews&id=269' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?...=reviews&id=269</a><br /><br /></div>Joshua Truppman, Contributing Editor at pocketnow.com, takes Zerema Remote for a spin.<br /><br />"WiFi, or Wireless Lan Connections, have become quite a hit. Hundreds of people are discovering the beauty of accessing the internet, be it via PDA or Laptop, without wires throughout their own home. While GSM and city-wide wireless coverage is very expensive, WiFi costs nothing extra after purchasing the appropriate equipment. This has caused a great multitude of interest in this technology, and the interest is constantly increasing. With nearly every PDA offering WiFi capabilities, either built-in or with additional equipment, niche programs that utilize WiFi have begun to pop-up. This program, Zerama Remote, is just one such item. This program does something that a person like me can truly appreciate. It controls Windows Media Player on your PC and allows you to play music from your computer remotely. Now, if you are somebody who has tiny speakers connected to your PC with a few scattered audio clips, this program is not for you. If you are like me though, and have 15 + gigabytes of music on your hard drive, with your computer hooked up to your huge stereo system, then this program will certainly put a glitter in your eye."
ctmagnus
08-08-2003, 05:46 AM
He could have just gone with Winamp and one of the many (free) web-based remote control interfaces for it. That would have saved him a few installs and I imagine a reboot or two.
not to mention http://www.netremote.org/ ...
and http://www.explode.ca/xlobby2/
CameronK
08-08-2003, 02:29 PM
ctmagnus: There are some of us that, believe it or not, don't like winamp. Windows Media Player is the only program that I have found to meet my needs for a music/video player, so having a program that controls it is great.
Kiyoshi
08-08-2003, 03:04 PM
Bah I tried Zerama but the trial limited me to one CD (Linkin Park Meteora) and I checked this thread again and you guys mentioned free alternatives. I tried using Net Remote but I couldn't figure out how to get it to work, cuz I think it's meant for different purposes than playing music. I'm trying to go with the WinAMP alternative now but I can't find free remote controller software for the PPC. Anyone know of any? I found two but they were both $20, just like the Zerama software.
Scytale
08-08-2003, 03:29 PM
It's not just a great book by Neal Stephenson. You can find Snowcrash here:
http://www.mp3pirate.com/snowcrash/
I've used it from my PPC, both through PIE and sending HTML requests from a .NetCF program I wrote. It works fine, and is free...
Scytale
CameronK
08-08-2003, 03:47 PM
Bah I tried Zerama but the trial limited me to one CD (Linkin Park Meteora)....
That's strange, I was able to play all the music in my media library with the trial version. So evidently you're not doing something right :wink:
Kiyoshi
08-08-2003, 04:24 PM
Now, one thing to note about this program is that you cannot sync your music by choosing a directory on your hard drive. This program simply syncs the library that you have set up in Windows Media Player. For me, this meant opening WMP, adding my music directory, and syncing this program. If you already have your music set up in WMP, then you obviously need only to sync your library in Zerama.
So that's why I only got a few songs on Zerama!!! Wait.....setting up music libraries are a pain in the bum!!! Oh well.....
CameronK
08-08-2003, 04:37 PM
No way, a program meant for allowing you to play songs in your Windows Media Player 9 music library requires you to set up a music library in media player first? What a pain in the ass! :roll: And as for setting up a music library, I can see how hard it would be to click "add directory to media library" in WMP 9 (stupid ms for making things complicated!). Oh, and evidently PPC Mag (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/awards/category.asp?catid=41#RemoteMediaController) didn't think it was too hard to set up. :lol:
ctmagnus
08-08-2003, 07:57 PM
It's not just a great book by Neal Stephenson. You can find Snowcrash here:
http://www.mp3pirate.com/snowcrash/
I've used it from my PPC, both through PIE and sending HTML requests from a .NetCF program I wrote. It works fine, and is free...
Scytale
Not to aggravate CameronK :wink: , but this is one of the programs I was talking about.
Stealthboy
08-08-2003, 08:13 PM
Okay, since it hasn't been mentioned yet, here's another (best) audio remote control app.
Vinyl at www.pocketwerks.com
jet8810
08-08-2003, 08:36 PM
RemoteAMP is also an alternative music controlling software, and thsi controls Winamp. I have foudn Zerama remote to defeat it in every aspect though!
Thanks for mentioning this review btw Jason! :D
smashcasi
08-08-2003, 10:51 PM
RemoteAMP is also an alternative music controlling software, and thsi controls Winamp. I have foudn Zerama remote to defeat it in every aspect though!
Since I happen to be working on the next release of RemoteAmp now, I'd love to hear some elaborations on this comment - what specific areas do you think need improvement?
nirav28
08-08-2003, 11:30 PM
You can also get it here...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dncodefun/html/code4fun06272003.asp
Ok..this is mostly for developers who can compile the source available from the link above.
download the source and build it using .net cf framework/visualstudio
Kiyoshi
08-09-2003, 04:43 AM
CameronK, please keep the flaming down........
All I read was that it controlled WMP, and I didn't even think about needing a library. I thought I could just go through my files like an FTP from my handheld and just click on it and it would automatically have my computer play the song. Yes, it was pretty easy getting everything into one library, including all my videos, but I was saying that it would be a pain to do because last time I reorganized my MP3's I had to individually tag 750+ MP3 files into the same format (ID3V2) for MusicMatch, cuz I had used Creative Jukebox before that and I didn't need tags at all.
ctmagnus
08-09-2003, 07:23 AM
last time I reorganized my MP3's I had to individually tag 750+ MP3 files into the same format (ID3V2) for MusicMatch, cuz I had used Creative Jukebox before that and I didn't need tags at all.
You'll probably appreciate the effort in the future, though.
Kiyoshi
08-09-2003, 09:20 PM
Yeah, it does pay off cuz using MP3 players that categorize music for you are useless unless you have well organized files.
Hi All - Those of you that want Windows Media Player remote control may also like PlayerPal (http://www.playerpal.com/news/). It is web based so no PPC install is needed (and you can use it on your desktop too). It is optimised for Pocket IE (or equivalent).
It is in Beta1 right now but you can download it, see screen shots and subscribe to the RSS over here (http://www.playerpal.com/news/). Web controlled WMP9 on a Wifi PPC rocks.
Cheers BT
PPCRules
10-10-2003, 04:46 PM
(PlayerPal) Beta1 is free for you to use. It will expire in mid September.
I haven't tried it, but its usefulness might be limited. :wink:
Thx for pointing that out PPCRules! It was an error on the site. It should read "mid October". We have updated the page in question. (http://www.playerpal.com/news)
Thx for the interest. BT.
suddenly_ike
10-10-2003, 06:00 PM
I just downloaded the setup file, but i got an error message saying to install internet information server..
where to d/l this??
IIS is a component of Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000. On XP it is not installed by default. You need to install it. Instructions can be found here (http://www.webwizguide.com/asp/tutorials/installing_iis_winXP_pro.asp). You need XP Prof or Windows 2000 to run PlayerPal on your Server. Sorry this was not clear. We have amended the site to reflect this.
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