[preview] iTunes2winAmp - for AveTunes and others

Good news: more functionality added:

Album Art is now read/write (AveTunes drop - that was a hard one)
Set position works by quick hack pointed out by Shaneh - thanks, man
Minimizing temp fake iTunes window also minimizes WinAmp - iTunes46 compatibility
Playlist Queue now plays random track after 1 sec enqueueing
Runs satisfactory with Kapsules, now that most stuff is cached

Open

Still no LibraryPlaylist implementation (AveTunes Drop of mp3 does not add to library)
Yet to test with Konfab 1.8.1

Misc

Revision history added

PS: OMG they have turned the fantastic Baba O'Riley intro into a car commercial! They show no respect!

PPS: The Pope aka Pontifex Maximus has finally ruled out any conflict between catholicism and the scientific evolution and big bang theories - bye bye 4004 BC.

#232867

great work herd - getting ever better :-)

#233293

Well, using this with avetunes causes itunes.exe to quit with an error

the funny thing is, then I uninstalled itunes, deleted every itunes.exe on my harddrive, and then ran avetunes (to see what it would do.)

clicking on the desklet crashes "itunes.exe" but the IS no itunes.exe.

I checked. nowhere on the hard drive. So, what does this error mean? I figure the error might be in the avetunes desklet, since it crashes avedesk each time this happens.

btw, avetunes works a-ok with itunes installed normally.

#234009

Well, using this with avetunes causes itunes.exe to quit with an error

the funny thing is, then I uninstalled itunes, deleted every itunes.exe on my harddrive, and then ran avetunes (to see what it would do.)

clicking on the desklet crashes "itunes.exe" but the IS no itunes.exe.

I checked. nowhere on the hard drive. So, what does this error mean? I figure the error might be in the avetunes desklet, since it crashes avedesk each time this happens.

btw, avetunes works a-ok with itunes installed normally.

You probably didn't bother to read the readme:

HOW DO I GET IT STARTED?

Install the ActiveWinamp plugin from http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=143299,

also included in this zip. If you already have iTunes.exe installed, backup it to some bogus name. Replace it with the iTunes.exe in this archive. If you don't have iTunes at all, expand it to a folder of your choice and run it with -regserver argument. If you don't know how to run an application with an argument, this thingy is not for you yet.

Oh, and call a regsvr32.exe (located in WindowsSystem32)on the attached id3com.dll, otherwise album art won't work. Maybe you'll need to do a regsvr32 on the gen_activewa.dll too, if you just copy it into winamps plugins folder.

#234056

of course I did

I've tried both methods.

the plugin is installed, the dll registered, and itunes.exe replaced.

I also tried running it by itself with the -regserver argument - it does not create the fake itunes window, or show up in task manager.

Is this normal behavior?

#234081

OK, in order to find out, here are some steps:

confirm that iTunes.exe isn't running by killing it in task manager.
paste the following into notepad:

 dim i
 set i = createobject("itunes.application")
 msgbox i.version

save it as test.vbs
double click it.
please confirm:
- Fake iTunes window launches
- WinAmp launches
- An empty message box appears

If one of the above is missing, you still didn't install correctly.

Winamp is missing or not the correct version - only tested with 5.06
fake iTunes.exe could not register itself - not enough privileges.
the ActiveWinamp plugin is not registered or not correct version - (regsvr32) confirm that there is a HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTActiveWinamp.Application entry that is pointing to and a HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{1C7F39AF-65C0-4C14-A392-6B4714705DC2}LocalServer32 key that is pointing to winamp.exe and that the plugin has been started with winamp at least once.
the ID3COM.dll is not registered (regsvr32) - confirm that there is a HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTID3COM.ID3ComTag and a HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{AEBA98BD-C36C-11D3-841B-0008C782A257}InprocServer32 key that points to the dll.

I may have other ideas if fed with more info

#234117

That did it!

The activewinamp plugin hadn't been registered, though it did seem to be functioning inside winamp...

works great! and avetunes can even hide the little fake itunes window too.

works like a dream

between this and the global jump hotkey, i'll never need to look at a winamp skin again.

avetunes doesn't "unhide" when i launch it but then again avetunes was always a little flaky in this respect with the real itunes.

#234297

hi,

first post..

i was interested in this tweak...

i had followed the step in the readme..

but i still cant get it to work..

whenever i run a itunes widget it will complain no itunes

however my i run my winamp, the itunes window did popup and there's itunes inside my task manager..

any ideas? thanks

#251299

thanks herd.. i also posted in the wrong thread.. X( doh...

#251301

could it b some other software i need to install first?

coz i only had winamp, the dll and itunes widget..

is there any other? like vb dll files or something?

#251324

hi,
first post..
i was interested in this tweak...
i had followed the step in the readme..
register all those dll
but i still cant get it to work..
whenever i run a itunes widget it will complain no itunes
however my i run my winamp, the itunes window did popup and there's itunes inside my task manager..
any ideas? thanks

Which widget do you have a problem with? The new SysStats's iTunes controller isn't working yet.

You need to manually start winAmp the first time.

For fooling some apps, a fake iTunes window and a fake iTunes.exe is started.

In the package, there is a gen_activewa.dll. Put that into the Winampplugins directory. Register it as been said in the readme.

Also in the package and mentioned in the readme, is a id3com.dll. Register that too, otherwise no album covers.

Use with full version of winamp 5.06 and later only. (Contains the so called Media Library).

I hope I can mock up an installer that takes care of the heavy stuff in the near future.

According to some reports I hear, this thing works on systems that never seen an iTunes installation before as well as systems that have. Correct me if I'm wrong.

#251329

itunes remote for konfabulator and Sputnik

i m currently using winamp 5.08d

when the widget start it jus say no itunes connected...

i did copy the dll to my plugin folder and register it with regsvr32

oh yah there is something weird tat i found

u mention abt the registry key stuff..

i went to check them manually...

there is a HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTActiveWinamp.Application entry

there's also a HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{1C7F39AF-65C0-4C14-A392-6B4714705DC2}

but there isnt any LocalServer32 key that is pointing to winamp.exe

some goes wif HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTID3COM.ID3ComTag

there is a HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{AEBA98BD-C36C-11D3-841B-0008C782A257}

but no InprocServer32 key that points to the dll

could this b the problem?

#251335

one thing i found, is the iTunes.exe you provided seem to not close it self properly. i found i had it running 3 times after i closed avedesk and tried to get it running again.

so avetunes didn't 'find' itunes

#251338

one thing i found, is the iTunes.exe you provided seem to not close it self properly. i found i had it running 3 times after i closed avedesk and tried to get it running again.

so avetunes didn't 'find' itunes

You are right it isn't protected against multiple instances. I'll see to that. And come with a new version soon.

However since its runned from the COM library as soon as a script says e.g. CreateObject("iTunes.Application") or whatever iTunesWidget / AveTunes does, there should be only one instance. I'm running it with them at no problem. No matter how many times I start or kill AveDesk, there's only one. Maybe you have the same problem as Gorilla? The COM library should detect that it is already running. Then to avoid load/create/dispose/unload cycles, the server waits 3,5 seconds after the last client has detached before he exits.

Never double click the fake itunes.exe.

@GoRILLA:

That shouldn't be.

Look at this:

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{AEBA98BD-C36C-11D3-841B-0008C782A257}]
   @="ID3ComTag Class"

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{AEBA98BD-C36C-11D3-841B-0008C782A257}InprocServer32]
   @="[color=Red]C:Program FilesiTunes[/color]id3com.dll"
   "ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{AEBA98BD-C36C-11D3-841B-0008C782A257}ProgID]
   @="ID3COM.ID3ComTag.1"

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{AEBA98BD-C36C-11D3-841B-0008C782A257}Programmable]

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{AEBA98BD-C36C-11D3-841B-0008C782A257}TypeLib]
   @="{AEBA98B0-C36C-11D3-841B-0008C782A257}"

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{AEBA98BD-C36C-11D3-841B-0008C782A257}VersionIndependentProgID]
   @="ID3COM.ID3ComTag"

and this:

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{1C7F39AF-65C0-4C14-A392-6B4714705DC2}]
   @="ActiveWinamp Application Class"

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{1C7F39AF-65C0-4C14-A392-6B4714705DC2}LocalServer32]
   @="[color=Red]C:Program FilesWinamp[/color]winamp.exe"
   "ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{1C7F39AF-65C0-4C14-A392-6B4714705DC2}ProgID]
   @="ActiveWinamp.Application.1"

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{1C7F39AF-65C0-4C14-A392-6B4714705DC2}Programmable]

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{1C7F39AF-65C0-4C14-A392-6B4714705DC2}TypeLib]
   @="{142FF258-EE9C-4527-B2C7-4EAD10B752D9}"

   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{1C7F39AF-65C0-4C14-A392-6B4714705DC2}VersionIndependentProgID]
   @="ActiveWinamp.Application"

Above you see how it should be.

I adapted the file paths to the most likely position. The red colored parts need to be adapted to your machine, then save it as a .reg file and double click it.

Be careful with the double backslashes.

hth,

Herd

#251378

thanks for the reply

to run this.. i jus open winamp will do?

coz previously i jus dble click on the fake itunes.exe

abt this instruction

"If you already have iTunes.exe installed, backup it to some

bogus name. Replace it by the iTunesLib.exe in this archive. If you don't have iTunes at

all, expand it to a folder of your choice and run it with -regserver argument."

where shall i place the fake itunes?

at a itunes folder inside program files?

#251461

**deleted**

reason: i got the stuff to work.. yeah!!

#251471

haha...

it works..

think is becoz i didnt place the itunes.exe and the id3com.dll into itunes folder..

now it's working...

thanks herd..

it is great stuff...

EDITED:

i find out that when i get everything to run.. the fake itunes, winamp and the widget...

i can close the fake itunes window and the thing still works..

even i change to other itunes widget it still work...

herd, mayb u can implement something tat will close the fake window or try this out...

cheers

#251472

I can't detect if some widget believed me that I'm iTunes yet, so it stays.

Some other widgets will think iTunes isn't running if the window disappears so it stays too.

PS:

@everyone: Do not double click the fake iTunes.exe. It'll start all by itself when an iTunes widget requests an iTunes start. And it'll launch winamp then.

#251581

I fancy giving this a try but I just have a little question first - I have used WMP and Winamp controllers with desktop sidebar and when the apps were launched they stayed there on the screen. I just wonder if this launches Winamp minimized? or is that down to actual AveTunes desklet?

#251781

I fancy giving this a try but I just have a little question first - I have used WMP and Winamp controllers with desktop sidebar and when the apps were launched they stayed there on the screen. I just wonder if this launches Winamp minimized? or is that down to actual AveTunes desklet?

Neither. It's up to Winamp itself. It remembers its last position and state. For this time being, it does not close Winamp when it is shut down.

I'd rather fancy people giving it a try and finding out about its marginals themselves - it doesn't hurt or bite and is easier to get rid of than to install and after all - since it's only a wacky preview - definitely not for the faint at heart.

#251833

herd, i don't know anything about programming, so i hope you or somebody else can answer me...

but wouldn't it be easier to program an AveTunes for Winamp instead or an AveTunes for iTunes linked to Winamp?

i say this (or recommend it if you want it) 'cause running THREE applications to play mp3s with a good-looking skin isn't too encouraging for a user without 512+ MB of RAM

#254799

herd, i don't know anything about programming, so i hope you or somebody else can answer me...
but wouldn't it be easier to program an AveTunes for Winamp instead or an AveTunes for iTunes linked to Winamp?

i say this (or recommend it if you want it) 'cause running THREE applications to play mp3s with a good-looking skin isn't too encouraging for a user without 512+ MB of RAM

Hey, I'm on a P3 with 500 MB of RAM myself and I find iTunes2winamp + winamp is much smaller and crisper than iTunes alone. Yes it adds meagre 2 MBs so what. Yes it would make sense to write an AveAmp, AveQCD, AveFoo etc. you name it. But it would not be easier - in some cases it would be doubleing the effort, in others less. So this is actually a 100% work saver for Andreas (AveTunes) and myself (iTunes46 docklet) and Judge (new iTunes remote) and Andrew_ (Mahalis's Excellent Kapsules remote) and Arlo Rose (Konfabs mini remote) etc. etc. Code your iTunes remote once and have it ported to winAmp yesterday. (Other players tbd).

#255255

@herd,

Thank you for not giving up on improving this app. I have been watching the thread's progression eagerly. Please keep us informed of all the exciting things you accomplish on this project, even if it's something under-the-hood. Your posts are always a welcome sight and quite informative/entertaining i may ad.

#255267

seems great,can't wait the foobar version

thx

#269704

Ahh fantastic, thanks Ave, worked brilliantly.

#283118