XBMC has a built-in web interface that you can use to control media playback on any of your XBMC instances. The nice thing about the web interface is that it lets you quickly navigate your media library to see what you have available. It also comes bundled with an on-screen remote control that you can use to navigate the entire interface, and even though the graphic they use for the remote could be a little better it still serves its functional purpose quite well.
To get rolling the first thing you’ll definitely need to do is switch the HTTP interface on. This is done by going to the Settings -> Network -> Services, and turn on the Allow Control of XBMC Via HTTP. You’ll also need to specify a port number, username, and password:
After you’ve done that you should be able to connect to XBMC from your browser to make sure it is working. The most sure-fire way to get to it is to use the IP address of the machine running XBMC followed by the port number. Example: http://192.168.1.10:8080
If you see the web interface that means you can start experimenting with other things. A good example of something that takes advantage of the web interface is this Chrome extension that provides a virtual remote to control the media playback. This is pretty convenient for me because a lot of times I’ll be on my computer while watching TV, and having this extension means I can quickly pause a video without having to hunt around for the remote control.
CyberNet’s XBMC Guides:
- XBMC: Introduction to Our Upcoming Guides
Our introduction provides some of the deciding factors for switching from Windows Media Center to XBMC. - XBMC: Build Your Own HTPC
Our extensive guide on the hardware we chose for our home theater PCs (HTPCs), the cost, and some tips on choosing the hardware for your own HTPC. - XBMC: Prepare and Optimize Windows 7
A helpful list of tips to optimize the performance of Windows 7 so that the system is able to offer as many resources to XBMC as it can. - XBMC: IR Receiver and Remote (Harmony, Xbox 360, and More)
If you want your HTPC to operate like a set-top box you’ll definitely want to get a remote control configured, and for me this was a critical step so that I wouldn’t have to be concerned about less tech-savvy users trying to use my TV. - XBMC: Share and Sync Media/Settings Between Multiple XBMC Installs
Configuring XBMC to share settings between multiple instances means you’ll be able to stop a show in one room, and seamlessly pick up where you left off in another room. - XBMC: Fit the Picture to Your TV with Overscan
If XBMC doesn’t fit your TV screen perfectly there are a couple of steps you can take to get it just right. - XBMC: Installing Skins
How to tweak the appearance of XBMC so that it looks the way you want it to. - XBMC: Custom Home Screen Menu Backgrounds
Make the backgrounds of your chosen skin/theme a little more interesting by having it flip through artwork from your favorite TV shows and movies. - XBMC: Dynamic Weather Backgrounds
If you’re using the Aeon MQ 3 theme you can have it use dynamic wallpapers that change based on the time of day and current weather conditions. - XBMC: SMB on Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion)
I use a Mac to serve up files to my XBMC instances running on Windows, and so my preferred protocol for sharing files is SMB. This guide explains how you can get a XBMC-compatible version of SMB running on Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. - XBMC: Adding Media Sources
Learn how to add your media to XBMC and turn on the appropriate content scrapers. - XBMC: Troubleshoot Buffering Issues
Trying to troubleshoot buffer issues in XBMC can be quite a pain, and so I lay out some of the most common culprits. - XBMC: Test Your HTPC with High Bitrate Sample Videos
Want to see how well your HTPC performs? Throw some of these high bitrate 1080p sample videos at it. - XBMC: More Advanced Settings
Configure some of the settings that you won’t find anywhere in the GUI. - XBMC: Stream Hulu, Food Network, and More
Thanks to add-ons you can stream videos from some of your favorite sources including Hulu, Food Network, HGTV, TWiT, and more. - XBMC: AirPlay on Windows
Send videos from your iOS device to any XBMC instance with very little configuration. - XBMC: Web Interface and Chrome Extension
As long as you are on the same network as your XBMC box you can control it from any browser using the built-in web interface, or you can install a Chrome extension to make it even easier.
