Got Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate? Also got a Windows Mobile? Then this is for you.
Again, I will post this as a tutorial-like… tutorial, with steps and what you’ll need, as well as what the final result should be. But before I go into that, I will first detail what makes this possible.
On the 2nd of June, 2008, the Windows Sideshow team over at Microsoft released a program, a “developer preview”, which lets users use the Windows Mobile 5 or 6 device, whether touchscreen or not, as a Sideshow device. That means that all Sideshow gadgets compatible with all other Sideshow devices. This includes Windows Mail, Outlook and Windows Media Player controls.
But much more recently, on July 7th the Windows Sideshow team launched a Microsoft Connection at Microsoft Connect, which when joined allowed users to download their WIndows Media Center remote control gadgets, especially for the Windows Sideshow system. It allows you to view your TV, your music, your videos and pictures as well as control the Media Center. It even displays the album art of the music file you are viewing. That is the technology that makes it possible to do what we are doing today.
To use your Windows Mobile device as a remote control, you need a computer with Windows Media Center and Bluetooth (or Bluetooth dongle), and a WIndows Mobile device.
- Download Windows Sideshow for Windows Mobile here.
- Install it. The instructions for installing the program can be found below the download.
- Setup a bluetooth partnership between your phone and computer (explained below).
- Click start, then search “bluetooth devices” and open the program.
- Click add…
- Follow the wizard, turning on your bluetooth on the phone and making it discoverable.
- Right-click the paired device on your computer (still in device manager)
- Click properties.
- Go to services tab.
- Check “Windows Sideshow”
- Click Apply, then OK.
- Watch as the drivers get installed.
- Open Windows Sideshow and click Connect. Then choose a user.
You have successfully configured Windows Sideshow on your computer and mobile device. Now to get the Media Center plugins working.
Note: If steps 1 or 2 fails and you are not able to download the file, download it here.
- Download the gadgets here (64-bit here)
- Download the Windows Sideshow Managed Runtime 1.0 here.
- Install it.
- Install the “executable” from step 2 now. There’s two, so depending on whether you’re using 32-bit or 64-bit, choose the right one.
- Click start, then control panel.
- Search “sideshow”
- Click “Windows Sideshow”, you should see your already-configured device here. If it isn’t connected, connect it.
- There should now be 4 new programs: Music, Now Playing, TV and Pictures+Videos. Click all of these checkboxes to enable them.
Now you can control Windows Media Center with your Windows Mobile device! Very convenient.
Step 2 link doesn’t work
I have updated the post with the new link: http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=f59c1163-2fa4-4899-a9a3-5955892ae7ee&pl=7&bt=8
Did step 1 work properly for you? As in were you able to join the connection? I have just tried it (step 2) and the link works so it might be step 1 which isn’t working.
After installing the first part, I was not able to get step 1 (the invitation from connect) and step 2 and 3 failed also.
Yes, “Note: If steps 1 or 2 fails and you are not able to download the file, download it here.” applies to the steps 1 and 2 below it, not above it. So just download the file there instead of following steps 1-2.
I installed sideshow on my windows mobile device but it keeps giving the error that it isn’t signed with a valid certificate or another component isn’t found??? Could somebody please help me.
I put the WindowsSideShowForWindowsMobile.CAB on my mobile and installed it, are there more files that I should copy to my mobile?
I have Vista Business which I know wasn’t listed. My question is… Is there anything I can install to make this work on Vista Business?
Step, 12 failed, it could not install any drivers? Can I download them somwhere?
I’m quite sure if your computer supports Sideshow the drivers should install automatically. Can’t help you there, sorry.
I sure hope this works for me. I can’t wait to use my phone as a remote control!
To answer some questions here –
1) The Media Center gadgets have been released and are now available on the Windows Live SideShow gallery at http://gallery.live.com/default.aspx?pl=7 , you don’t have to use Connect for them anymore.
2) Media Center is not part of Vista Business, just Home Premium and Ultimate.
3) A certificate error is unusual, but may occur if you get your phone through a company IT department and it has restrictions on installing software.
Followed this through and it works like a charm. Ideally what should happen is that the video should be mirrored on the device and allow you to scan/scrub through the file… but I guess that will be in the next version (maybe).
I can get step 2 to work, i am getting the following error:
Page Not Found
The content that you requested cannot be found or you do not have permission to view it.
If you believe you have reached this page in error, click the Help link at the top of the page to report the issue and include this ID in your e-mail: 8fc4b904-b89e-4f52-b7bd-6125d5983447
I have logged in with no problem so I don’t think its that, is the link still working?
I can’t get this working in Windows 7 x64. It tells me it’s of Vista ony. Any chance of getting around this?
Windows slideshow on phone throws an error when I try to play songs. The connection is fine though. The error is an Array Out of Bounds Exception in the phone.