I made a browser extension which turns browser tabs into controllable media_player entities

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Hello everyone!
I have made my first HACS integration, together with a browser extension, which turns any major browser into a controllable media_player entity!
Each media-playing tab becomes available as a source in the media_player.

Disclaimer: The initial bare ones custom_component structure and browser extension were made in parts with the help of AI

Also be aware that this is the initial release, so something might not work properly right now, but i have been using this plugin on my Home machine for a week and “It works on my machine” (you know how it is)

Here is the repository with included installation instructions in the README

Currently supported functions are:

  • Play/Pause (Bi-directional)
  • Playback progress (Bi-directional)
  • Next/Previous
  • Title
  • Media Picture

My next TO-DOs would be publishing the browser extension on the chrome webstore and on the Firefox add-ons site

What I also would like to implement would be tab control. It would allow to open specific urls, and also close them

And maybe also something fun like open browser tabs count or similar

I am very open to suggestions and bug reports :smile:

1 Like
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What’s the difference between your integration & browser mod? 🔹 Browser_mod - turn your browser into a controllable device, and a media_player

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Hey, good question!

I saw it as something more oriented for devices that are used in kiosk mode and not for, let’s say, the average browser on your desktop PC

As I understand it, the browser_mod plugin adds a media_player entity, yes, but it doesn’t know what is playing IN the browser, you can use the media_player to cast stuff like TSS or music.

But I wanted something in the other direction: getting stuff out of the browser, in this case tabs playing media, for example.

TLDR (as I understand browser_mod)
Their plugin focuses on adding advanced home assistant features to a browser running on a kiosk device (with e.g. a hass dashboard)

My plugin focuses on adding media controls to existing playing content in any browser

Please correct me if I am wrong!

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I can’t correct you because I don’t use it. Just remembered that it exists & that it’s highly popular & wanted to ask if your integration does the same thing.

Hopefully someone with actual browser_mod experience can clarify.