Database Users

Easily controlling Music, TomTom5.1 and phone while driving

The version of Windows Media Player in my Exec doesn't allow me to control playback unless it's the foreground application. This isn't good when I've got music playing with TomTom in the car and I want to switch tracks or pause the music. The new TomTom 5.1 forces itself to full-screen mode which means I can't quickly flick back to WMP to change the music. Pain in the Ass. :evil:
There are several solutions to this problem:
- use an alternative music player that allows me to assign persistant hot key combinations that work even if the application isn't in the foreground
- stop TomTom forcing itself to full-screen mode, like I could do in TT3 perfectly :evil:
- learn how to achieve this with the existing setup. I've tried mapping obscure key combinations in WMP but they just don't work unless WMP is in the foreground.
I really don't like this latest version of TomTom. My v3 was much more flexible In the good old days of XDA2 I could tell WMP to keep the button mappings while it was in the background too, I think.
Anybody got any suggestions?
Edit: Title of post changed to reflect the outcome of the thread, in case it's useful for someone else...

Have you tried phm keys?
V

Trying it now....
Thanks for the tip. Will report back asap.
Edit:
Nope. Doesn't work. Doesn't have any effect while TomTom is running.
Also, only allows me to map the four hardware buttons. Was hoping that I could use keys on the standard keyboard to control WMP. WMP allows me to map any key to its controls and I want these to be persistant.
Should I try TCPMP? Does that allow button mapping? Can't find any info on their website(s).

Found one solution, but it's not elegant: The Task Switcher (Alt-Tab) control of PocketPlus works in TomTom so I can use it to switch to WMP and control the music, then swap back to TT.
It's a fiddle though, and I'd still like to find a way of doing it with one button press

I think TCMP does allow persistent button maps, and pocket music I think as well. GSPlayer also, from memory. Hopefully one of those should work!
GSPlayer is free and open source, so well recommended. However, no idea how WM5 compatible these are.
I'll try to have a look into the phm keys issue, should be quite feasible, but the problem is using the keyboard to launch progs - I've not got a universal, so it's not an issue I've ever looked into (hopefully getting one soon though, to develop on).
V

Sorted! TCMP has wonderfully flexible persistent button mapping, it works perfectly, and I'm happy!
I can control my music playback with keyboard keys while TomTom is running. As well as this, TCMP allows me to boost the volume of its playback so the music volume is higher than the TT voice directions (so TT doesn't interfere with the music too much).
My final hope is that TCMP automatically pauses playback when an incoming call comes in, but I'll have to test that later.
So, I'm close to achieving the perfect set up in the car: TomTom giving me on-screen directions and TCMP giving me shuffled non-stop music. Audio output is played from the Exec headphone socket to my car's head unit except when a call comes in, when it switches automatically to my BT headset. One day I'll also play movies through TCMP so my wife doesn't get bored on long journeys!
All I need now is a powered car mount.

I think TCMP does pause playback as soon as it loses focus, eg reminders or calls. Tell us how it goes though!
V

Yeah, just tested it on the way home and TCMP worked exactly as planned. Driving along with music playing and TT nagging me, I pressed my headset button, got the voicedial prompt, spoke the number, the music paused, I had a conversation, pressed the headset button again, the call ended and I was back to The Verve and TT. All automatically
The whole thing got confused when my wife rang me, but I think that's because the Exec wasn't powerful enough to handle everything that was happening when the call came in. I suspect that TT5.1 isn't fully WM5-compatible yet and so it's much slower and more demanding than it will eventually be when TomTom eventually release an approved WM5-compliant version.
Interestingly, when I made the call the call audio was coming from both the car speakers (via the Exec audio jack) AND my BT headset, so all passengers can join in the phone conversation too.

SiliconS - what kind of gprs are you using?
V

vijay555 said:
SiliconS - what kind of gprs are you using?
V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm... the regular kind? The kind that O2 set up in their settings. GSM, not UTMS, btw.

Sorry, my doh. GPS, not GPRS!
V

Ahh. All is now clear
I've got the TomTom Bluetooth one, bought in the box with the software. Works fine with the Exec and the (cracked, until TT release a genuine WM5-compatible version) 5.1 version of the software.

You can go one better here with your automation I think, if prepared to try it. I use it on my Jam but havent tried it with the JasJar yet. If you use Microsoft Voice Command it has commands for WMP. You can hit the voice prompt button and say "Start Windows Media Player" - it will start WMP if not already opened, or switch to WMP if already open. Nice thing about Voice Command is you can issue commands to WMP, such as "Play the Verve" or "Play Coldplay" or "Play X&Y" for the album - saves you having to scroll through searching for songs while driving.
BTW just hit the Voice Command button and say "Start Tomtom" and it will revert back to TomTom.

admisi said:
You can go one better here with your automation I think, if prepared to try it. I use it on my Jam but havent tried it with the JasJar yet. If you use Microsoft Voice Command it has commands for WMP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a very interesting idea. I wonder how it would work, though, if there is music playing in the background when trying to use the voice commands. I already find voice dialling through the BT headset is unreliable if I'm driving so more ambient noise would screw things up even more, I'd have thought.
Would be interested to hear others' thoughts though.

Inbox headset

Hi! I wonder about the headset (or what's it called) that came with the box.
Was does the button do? I have noticed that when pressed it calls a number (latest perhaps). Is it suppose to do that and why?
Can't you use it as a volumecontroll?
I would really like a headset where you could kontroll the player. (adjust the volume, start/stop/pause, maybe even skip a song.
Nothing like this exists, does it? Would be great.
Then you could have the phone in your pocket and doesn't have to pick it up all the time. A mpe-player you can have hanging around your neck, but this one is kinda heavy.

look at some of the stero bluetooth headsets around. That way you can leave your phone in your pocket and only have the controls for the music player near your head.
no cables to phone
sony and plantronics make them as do other brands.

Thanks, I'll check it out.
But how do the headset that came in box work?

i think its adapter?
that sucks ATT never give good hedaset
i remember i bought a htc touch diamond the GSM one when it wasn't released yet and only released imported.
it came with a nice quality built HTC headphones -_-

How do you mean that it is an adapter?
Really quite amazing that no one seems to know what the headset that came with the box is used for.
Doesn't anybody use it? Can't even find info in the manual.
It seems to open my last call when I tested but what is the use of that?
This is a phone where people have learned every detail down to what hardware it uses, still no one knows how to use the headset????
Sure you can buy an adapter and use another headset but someone must have tried it? Maybe you can program what the button do.

Wireless bluetooth stereo volume control does not work with HD2

Hello,
I have a wireless bluetooth stereo and when I connect it with HTC HD2 it always plays music to the loudest level. The volume control level of the phone (volume buttons on the left side) works fine (volume bar goes up and down) but the volume on the headset does not change.
I tried different music players (such as nitrogen which has volume control but still volume level didn't work).
However, when I am talking on the phone using the wireless bluetooth the volume control works fine. The volume controls works fine also when I have a wired headset connected.
This is my headset: http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/accessories/overview/hbh-is800
Anyone else had the same issue?
P.S. My wireless bluetooth headset is working fine as I have tested with other phones such as Toshiba TG1 (my previous phone - HTC is so much better), Sony Ericsson P1i etc.
Thank you

Use the volume control of the headset, then it'll work fine. The bt audio isn't routed through the HD2 volume control.

htc12345 said:
Use the volume control of the headset, then it'll work fine. The bt audio isn't routed through the HD2 volume control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no volume control at the headset.
I have the same issue here and my headset worked fine with my Xperia X1.
This headset is A2DP and should work with this phone
Maybe it is something with the Widcom BT-stack vs. MS
..JL

As jorglund said, there is no volume control on this handset
Too bad, I can't use it with this phone.
You would expect a phone like HD2 to support it.

for media player: no digital volume control on this headset like holding the play button until volume changes up-down?
for phone calls: did you try volume control on phone while in a call? does that work? (that should work)

for media player: I tried to hold down the play button until but volume did not changed down/up (it works with other phones).
for phone calls: Yes that works fine, the volume controls for phone calls is ok.

The manual says some phones don't support volumecontrol. On my Sony headset holding the play-button controls it's own volume for audio. However I cannot change callvolume with that headset.
Must be one or the other.

You are right.
I also read on my headset manual the following:
"The music volume cannot be changed"
"Some mobiles do not support remote volume control. Please check the support website for downloading the additional software"

Hello! don´t waste your time friend, I have my hd2 since Dec. 1st and the same headset,HBH-IS800 from my previous phone, and tell you that unfortunately are not compatible with HD2.

thank you mate for letting me know

this the headset that I use now:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDREX38iP-BLK-Earbud-Control/dp/B002M78JA2
is a very good one,no BT

I've got the same problem with my Jabra JX20 headset.
I use it for phone conversations, but not so long ago i remembered it supports A2DP. So i tried to listen some music through it, but the minimum volume is just killing my ears.
You can however adjust it somewhat through direct volume controls on the BT headset itself, but it is still way too loud if you turn it down to minimum.
I don't know who to blame here, HTC or Jabra, but i must say i'm really dissapointed with both of them since they so proudly state their A2DP capable phone/headset, but in the end you have to find out on your own if this A2DP thing really works (f***g lottery).
Does anyone know any software solution for this problem?

Same problem with my Jabra BT3030
Hello Guys
I use to have a HTC Touch which was a great little unit. I updated to the HD2 and tried to use my Jabra BT3030 (the one that looks like a set of army dog tags) and I have the same problem as you all. The music volume cannot be changed via the HD2. And the volume controls on the BT 3030 only reduce the volume a little regardless of what the volume is set up on the HD2. The HT3030 workded great with my old HTC Touch so what is the problem HTC? What is the problem and what is your! solution.
Are there any other bluetooth units out there that alow you plug in your own earbuds or canal phones (I use Etymotic er6i's and Shure SE240's)
Cheers guys
Kym
Sydney - AUSTRALIA

Hi guys,
Thought I share my experience with you.
I have the HD2 and the same BT SE headset, and the exact same problem. I have contacted HTC Customer Service and their reply is that the design of HD2 does not support remote volume control. FYI, I had the HTC Touch HD before and the same SE headset works great when listening to music; so much so my headset actually broke from natural wear and tear, and I have to have it repair/replaced. Unfortunately now it does not work with HD2.
I do hope HTC recognize the problem and that they will provide a fix soon. However, judging from the respone of the CS, I doubt that they are going to bother fixing it when they use the "design issue" as a shield. It is a little disappointing as HD2 is one of the greatest product of HTC yet.
Cheers!

BlueInput for Broadcom is closing in
We're happy to announce that Teksoft is just a few weeks away from the release of Blueinput for devices that use the Broadcom Bluetooth stack, including the HTC HD2, HTC Touch Pro 2, Asus, and others.
BlueInput is an advanced HID driver that totally transforms your Pocket PC or Smartphone into the perfect Mobile office solution by offering easy Bluetooth connectivity to Bluetooth Mouses or Keyboards.
http://www.teksoftco.com/index.php?section=press&cat=2010#100203

dhamma said:
BlueInput for Broadcom is closing in
We're happy to announce that Teksoft is just a few weeks away from the release of Blueinput for devices that use the Broadcom Bluetooth stack, including the HTC HD2, HTC Touch Pro 2, Asus, and others.
BlueInput is an advanced HID driver that totally transforms your Pocket PC or Smartphone into the perfect Mobile office solution by offering easy Bluetooth connectivity to Bluetooth Mouses or Keyboards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What does this have to do with anything? Looking at the website, this driver appears to be for bluetooth keyboards and mice connections? Does this driver allow A2DP volume control? Anyone?
Am quite annoyed with this issue I have to say, I've upgraded from the Storm which was quite frankly the worst phone I've ever owned, but it connected and controlled my HBH-IS800 earphones perfectly. Would have expected much better from HTC. Have trawled the internet looking for a 3rd party A2DP volume control app, but no luck. I've noticed that one has been developed for Android though, so looks like this was an issue for that OS too but someone has stepped up to offer a solution. Any developers out there who could give it a shot for Winmo....really, anyone....?

Just FWIW, you can use SRS WOW HD to reduce the volume of A2DP audio on the HD2. Or at least, you can on my HD2!
1) Install SRS WOW HD, which I can't link you to directly because i'm still a "new user" apparently, but try tinyurl dot com slash ybxf4tt
2) Start => Settings => Menu => All Settings => System => WOW HD Settings
3) On the "WOW HD Settings" page, leave "Enable SRS" as disabled (no, really)
4) On the TruBass/Gain page, you will find "TruBass Level", "TruBass Equalizer" and "Output Gain" are disabled (because "Enable SRS" is disabled). However, "Input Gain" is enabled, and lowering it from its initial value of -1db will reduce the output level of sound played through A2DP.
This setting will survive the shutting-down of SRS WOW HD; it does not survive a soft reset. State the obvious, if it's still too loud at -12db you can turn on the full "Enable SRS" settings and play with the other sliders to get an acceptable level.
Working well with my HD2, Nitrogen audio player and Sony HBH-DS200.

I have HBH-IS800 and use Nitrogen. I know the volume control doesn't affect the volume of the headset, but if you go into the equalizer then the leftmost slider is for pre-gain. This adjusts volume and is how I use the headset with the device.
HTC have told me that they're aware of the issue and are working to fix it. That was over a month ago.

Altec lansing backbeat 906
Same story here. I bought a bt headset and volume control don't function properly. Pitty

Sorry to shout, but I guess it's the only way to get heard.
Use Nitrogen as your music player and use the pre-gain channel in the equalizer to change volume.

HD2 + Sony Ericsson MW600 headset - Track name is displayed!

Recently purchased the SE MW600 stereo bluetooth headset. Was pleasantly surprised to discover that track name shows up on the headset, when paired with the HD2.
Display of track info is a SE implementation and is supposed to work only with SE phones. So not sure why it is working with the HD2.
Note that I also paired the headset with my Nexus One, Archos 5IT and Motorola Milestone. However, with these pairings, track name did not work.
So i suppose it is unique to WM/ HD2 bluetooth stack...

That's a good thing to hear.
I have been searching for a nice stereo bluetooth headsets for my lovely HD2 as well.
Does the Sony MW600 has swap between talk and music function?

Damnit!
I have an HBH-DS980 bluetooth stereo headset with OLED display, and it worked fine with a K850i. When I moved to the X1, I figured SE would include support for it in their BT stack - no such luck. Eventually I got the guy who writes SmartWatchM to include support, but its very basic - to show track titles, you lose the ability to take calls on it.
Major bummer! I guess yours uses a different, standard BT profile for track info display that the HD2 also supports?

zerglisk said:
That's a good thing to hear.
I have been searching for a nice stereo bluetooth headsets for my lovely HD2 as well.
Does the Sony MW600 has swap between talk and music function?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can do voice dialing using the mw600. and yes, when a call comes in, it automatically switches over from music to call. of course, it also automatically switches over when you dial out from your phone.
also, you can pair it with THREE devices instead of the two that most multipoint bluetooth headsets allow you to.
before this, i have used se ds220, ds980, jabra 3030 and sennheiser mm200. my current mw600 is the most feature-rich headset in a tiny package. the music quality is not as great as the senn bluetooth headest, but you can always swap in your headphone. i would say the quality is good enough for regular commute.

matthewf01 said:
Damnit!
I have an HBH-DS980 bluetooth stereo headset with OLED display, and it worked fine with a K850i. When I moved to the X1, I figured SE would include support for it in their BT stack - no such luck. Eventually I got the guy who writes SmartWatchM to include support, but its very basic - to show track titles, you lose the ability to take calls on it.
Major bummer! I guess yours uses a different, standard BT profile for track info display that the HD2 also supports?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have fond memories of the ds980. in fact, the only thing i miss about it is the access to phonebook and dialing out right from the headset - the mw600 has all the other features except that.
i have not tinkered with the BT settings. it just worked 'out of the box'. please note that my HD2 is on OzROM 2.10 ROM. have gone through the changelogs, but do not see any info on the BT stack being tinkered with.
So i assume track info will also get displayed on a stock HD2 ROM as well. and maybe other WM devices?

I can confirm that mw600 shows song titles with stock rom, using it everyday! Perfect for watching youtube-videos and so on.

How about radio? Are the devices smart enough to know that one (phone) is looking for an antenna, and the other (headset) can act as one, to use the HD2 radio app?

matthewf01 said:
How about radio? Are the devices smart enough to know that one (phone) is looking for an antenna, and the other (headset) can act as one, to use the HD2 radio app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tried it. nope, did not work. i don't think you can get around the limitation of having a cable plugged into the headphone jack for fm to work - the cable acts as an antenna. can fm work without it? i don't know.
however, with the mw600 this point is moot. the headset has onboard FM and the quality, at least where i live, was crystal clear. so the hd2's fm app becomes redundant.

Does it show incoming callers name as well?

Does SE MW600 change songs from dongle ? can i change song from dongle?

aahaan said:
Does SE MW600 change songs from dongle ? can i change song from dongle?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, all regular avrcp controls are available. you can skip to next/ previous tracks, pause, play...
about incoming caller names, i only see the number displayed when a call comes in.

Does it show track titeles only from htc music player or is it possible to force it to show tracks from S2P or different player? I have this headset and it only shows tracks from htc player...

IWANEQ11 said:
Does it show track titeles only from htc music player or is it possible to force it to show tracks from S2P or different player? I have this headset and it only shows tracks from htc player...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dosen't show names of tracks from S2P for me either.
Great headset though!!!

i am having problems... so far it wont play music through the blue tooth headset, it will only play thorugh its speakers... I got it to work once after i reset the phone but shortly after (say if i turn the mw600 off and on), it will once again stop working... Handsfree calling is fine though.
any ideas?

tsttse said:
i am having problems... so far it wont play music through the blue tooth headset, it will only play thorugh its speakers... I got it to work once after i reset the phone but shortly after (say if i turn the mw600 off and on), it will once again stop working... Handsfree calling is fine though.
any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you enabled A2DP on your device?
[Comm Manager]>Tap on "Bluetooth" (Name, not the switch)>[Advanced]>Tap on the MW600 you have paired>[Edit]>check [Wireless Stereo] and Save.

So does the MW600 show the audio track titles in HD2 android?

i didn't notice this. but i'm using pocket player, not windows or htc or s2p.
what i notice is, when in radio mode, my bluetooth can show caller name, but when in streaming mode it only show number.
i hate the slide volume control. never work when i use my finger, but will activate if it touch my shirt. kind of stupid, you have to look at it to use it. also the clip is not "coarse" and strong enough, easy to slip out. lucky, the earphone connection prevent it from dropping.

Pairing MW600 with PC
Has anyone tried pairing MW600 with PC?

pkchips said:
So does the MW600 show the audio track titles in HD2 android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the MW600 does not display track names when using Android, however, the hardware volume keys on the HD2 will adjust the volume of the headset - this does not happen under WinMo unfortunately. This is useful if you plug the MW600 into an amplifier and stream music to your hi-fi because then you can control everything : )
Another plus of using the MW600 with Android on the HD2 is that if you use DSP manager it will allow you to control bass and treble etc - again, the Audio Booster under WinMo does not affect the headset (even with the hack that allows it to run without a plug in the headphone jack).
The biggest problems with the MW600 for me are the awkward touch sensitive volume control, and the fact that it cuts the beginning off of each track (only a second or so, but if you're listening to music that kicks in on the first beat it gets really annoying).

Dinnu said:
Has anyone tried pairing MW600 with PC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, using windows 7 64bit and a Nexxus Blue Micro Pro dongle (v2.0 + EDR). With windows drivers it sounds awful. The high frequencies are bleurgh....
With a trial of the Toshiba stack and also Blue Soleil Software, it sounded very good indeed....
Make sure you get a dongle with good software/driver support and it'll sound great : )
The MW600 will show you what type of device you are paired with using an appropriate symbol. Like devices (e.g phones) get numbered one to three.
One word of warning, when you pair a new device, by default both the stereo audio and the handsfree audio (for calls) are routed to that device. This leads to some consternation if you, say, pair your girlfriends phone to it then wonder why your own phone no longer has call functionality but the music is working just fine. Oops. Duh, RTFM ; ) Press and hold the call button on the MW600 to choose which of your paired devices has call functionality. Press and hold the Play/Pause button to choose which has stereo audio functionality. It may help to shout expletives at it when you find you can't select the device you want using the 'insensitive one minute, overly sensitive the next' volume slider ; )

Headphones and remote

The Tab comes with headphones which have a button at the microphone. From the iPhone im used to click them anywhere and my musics starts.
Is therey any functionality similar to this on the tab?

Chuzam said:
The Tab comes with headphones which have a button at the microphone. From the iPhone im used to click them anywhere and my musics starts.
Is therey any functionality similar to this on the tab?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It appears to be the same way with v-modas that I have. I normally use Bluetooth headsets, but this cabled headset works in the way you mention.

They work for me on the iPhone but on the Tab all they can do is answer a call. No Musiccontrol at all.

If you install Winamp you can! The button is then for answering calls, and play/pause.
I use it so i can let my tab in my bag and turn it off if i need to listen to the big bad world