Free HTPC Software : Digital Home Server

I'm happy to announce the new version of my "Digital Home Server", which is a free HTPC application which I wrote as part of my hobby. I announced the first version also on this forum about a year ago. It used to be a graphical interface for my 7" USB monitor, but now I completely rewrote the whole application. Website is http://www.digitalhomeserver.net.  Here is a screenshot :

 

It should become a mix between Home Automation and Multimedia. Until now, a lot of focus has been on the multimedia part, but I'm getting more and more into home automation. I like to think that DHS has some unique features, notably that it's fully multi-monitor, and it can handle any size (from 7" up to whatever). Screens are specially designed for touchscreens.

The application itself uses Widgets (small apps you can drag and resize) and modules (full screen applications). This is what I currently have released :

Widgets
- BE and NL railway delay (special widgets for specific audience)
- weather forecast
- rain radar (shows where rain is falling)
- MP3 remote control
- Time & date

Modules
- MP3 player
- Internet radio player (with radio station database)
- Photo slideshow (you can choose any monitor to send the slideshow to)
- Podcast player
- Shoppinglist (and use your iPhone to consult the list when shopping)
- Timer
- Video player (play anything for which a codec is installed, including HD and subtitles)
- Calendar (uses Google Calendar as backend)

In progress
- analog clock (will be released in a few weeks)
- dvd player
- equalizer and spectrum analyzer for MP3, Radio and Podcast

Still in "idea" phase
- too much to write down

I use this application myself at home, but I make it available to everyone. It's free, no nag screen, no spyware, ... The only constraint is that you can not use it for commercial purposes.

Hope you like it.

Soitjes.

 

 

PS I asked and received permission from the forum admin to publish this message.

 

Release 2.0.2.0 is now available.  A new widget : analog clock.

 

 

On request I implemented the option to specify on which monitor DHS should be displayed (previous default was to open DHS on all connected monitors).

 

Soitjes.

 

I just released version 2.0.3.1. New is the DVD Player. It can play DVDs from the optical reader, but also DVDR which are copied on the hard disk.



Just like the video player, the DVD supports multiple monitors. So you can control the DVD which is displayed on one monitor from another monitor.

Soitjes.

Version 2.0.4.1 is now released. New is the Scribble Pad, a small drawing program, mainly to be used to leave messages behind for the other family members.



And a lot of work behind the scenes, but the result of that will only be visible in the next releases !

Soitjes.

Version 2.0.5.4 is now released. A new module : the wakeup module. I tried to imitate a flipclock, and a few minutes before you have to get up music can be played.



A few other small updates have been implemented :

- the calendar now shows the number of meetings per day
- radio info is scaled and scrolls over the screen

Next module will probably be a slideshow module for Picasa albums (still discussing with myself), and I work very hard on xPL integration (worth a Google if you don't know what it is).

Soitjes.

Just released version 2.0.6.0. New is the Picasa slideshow module, which allows to make a photo slideshow with your Picasa Web albums.



The module is very simple, because all content management is done in Google Picasa. You only need to enter your Google account and you're ready to watch the slideshows.

As usual, multi-monitor is supported and you send the slideshow to any monitor connected to your system.

The next modules will be "paperless home" (scan and archive documents, track unpaid invoices) and "Notify My Android" (send messages from the Digital Home Server to your Android smartphone).

Soitjes.

Release 2.0.6.5 is now available. New is the "Notify My Android" module, which allows you to send free notifications to your Android smartphone.



You can set up multiple accounts or share accounts between smartphones (so that all smartphones get the same message), and sent messages are saved so it's easy to resend them quickly.

Soitjes.