Christian Koller

1. Open up the Terminal
2. Enter sudo apt-get install xbindkeys
3. Enter gedit .xbindkeysrc
   
4. Enter the following config:

   #Next
   "wget -q -t 1 -O - http://127.0.0.1:8080/old/?control=next"
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       Mod2 + XF86AudioNext 
   
   #Prev
   "wget -q -t 1 -O - http://127.0.0.1:8080/old/?control=previous"
       m:0x10 + c:173
       Mod2 + XF86AudioPrev 
   
   #Play-Pause
   "wget -q -t 1 -O - http://127.0.0.1:8080/old/?control=pause"
       m:0x10 + c:172
       Mod2 + XF86AudioPlay 
   
   #Stop
   "wget -q -t 1 -O - http://127.0.0.1:8080/old/?control=stop"
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       Mod2 + XF86AudioStop 
   
   #Start
   "vlc"
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       Mod2 + XF86Tools 
   

5. Save and close the editor window
6. Enter xbindkeys &
7. You might want to add this to your session. Go to GNOME Menu > System > Preferences > Session and add /usr/bin/xbindkeys to do so.
   
8. Open up Videolan (VLC media player)
9. Go to Preferences > Interface > General > Interface module: http remote control interface and check the box
10. Click Save
11. Restart Videolan (VLC)
12. If the keys are not configured as you like you may use sudo apt-get install xbindkeys-config followed by xbindkeys-config. More information.

Rhythmbox

1. If you want to extend the control functionality to Rhythmbox create a file with the following content:
   

   #!/usr/bin/python
   import sys
   import dbus
   
   # Start dbus
   session_bus = dbus.SessionBus()
   
   # Connect to player
   proxy_obj = session_bus.get_object(
       'org.gnome.Rhythmbox', '/org/gnome/Rhythmbox/Player')
   
   player = dbus.Interface(proxy_obj, 'org.gnome.Rhythmbox.Player')
   
   if sys.argv[1] == "1":
       player.next()
   elif  sys.argv[1] == "2":
       player.previous()
   elif  sys.argv[1] == "3":
       player.playPause(0)
   elif  sys.argv[1] == "4":
       if player.getPlaying() != 0:
           player.playPause(0)
   

2. Then change your .xbindkeysrc file:
   

   #Next
   "wget -q -t 1 -O - http://127.0.0.1:8080/old/?control=next; python path_to_the_file.py 1"
       m:0x10 + c:171
       Mod2 + XF86AudioNext 
   
   #Prev
   "wget -q -t 1 -O - http://127.0.0.1:8080/old/?control=previous; python path_to_the_file.py 2"
       m:0x10 + c:173
       Mod2 + XF86AudioPrev 
   
   #Play-Pause
   "wget -q -t 1 -O - http://127.0.0.1:8080/old/?control=pause; python path_to_the_file.py 3"
       m:0x10 + c:172
       Mod2 + XF86AudioPlay 
   
   #Stop
   "wget -q -t 1 -O - http://127.0.0.1:8080/old/?control=stop; python path_to_the_file.py 4"
       m:0x10 + c:174
       Mod2 + XF86AudioStop 
   
   #Start
   "vlc"
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       Mod2 + XF86Tools 
   

   
   
3. Replace path_to_the_file with the real path!
4. Take care: Using this script you control both players. To avoid problems only keep one of the two players open at the same time.