The *ultimate* Crestron killer

[PhantomZone]

Seriously...if all i could ever do with this was read books, magazines, newspapers & have it as a home theatre remote i'd buy it in a heartbeat!

Odds on someone developing an IR blaster for it?

If above isnt happening...odds on someone developing an RS232 & Wifi solution?

slim maybe but given the price of Crestron solutions, someone could make a fair bit of money in the high end hi-fi game...

Heck my HTPC is crying out for this to be made reality

 

[johnnj]

So what are you proposing? A device that plugs into the iPad that then transmits IR commands?

John

 

[PhantomZone]

So what are you proposing? A device that plugs into the iPad that then transmits IR commands?

John

Don't see why not! With in-line design it would at most add another half inch to the bottom....

Whether or not you can design a blaster to work with Apples 30 pin connector and whether or not you can send codes to it is another thing

Imagine the tasty interfacing you can do with the likes of media browser!

At this rate though it'll be more likely you'll run an RDC app and control it all via the PC interface itself

 

[Chupa Chupa]

There were a couple of universal remote apps w/ IR blaster (attaches to the dock connector) announced for the iPhone recently, so the potential is already available. It going to be even better with a 9" screen. It's one of the many things I'm really excited about with the iPad.

 

[PhantomZone]

There were a couple of universal remote apps w/ IR blaster (attaches to the dock connector) announced for the iPhone recently, so the potential is already available. It going to be even better with a 9" screen. It's one of the many things I'm really excited about with the iPad.

Sounds like the ticket! Any links?

 

[roland.g]

https://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2010/01/09/ces-2010-iphone-universal-remote-accessories-debut/

 

[PhantomZone]

Well maybe not a dream after all!

I guess the main challenge is a nice interface and something that can control your traditional A/V gear as well as your htpc, allow you to browse from within the remote app and of course access your music....

All I need now is a great designer and coder because you know they'll just not be pretty enough!

 

[t22design]

There is also RedEye, which I think looks fantastic.

https://thinkflood.com/products/redeye/how-does-it-work/

 

[PhantomZone]

There is also RedEye, which I think looks fantastic.

https://thinkflood.com/products/redeye/how-does-it-work/

Yea saw that!

I think the big issue is going to be the complexity of the app...now theres so much real estate to play with you can do so much more than just basic remote functions!

 

[jw2002]

I think the iphone or ipod touch is a far more properly sized remote control device. They are already a lot more powerful and a lot cheaper than any of the dedicated remotes out there. Why spend $3k on a Crestron when an ipod touch plus an app plus an IR blaster can do it all? Furthermore, if you are using something like a Mac Mini as a HTPC, then let the Mac Mini serve as the front end to the IR blaster and then the ipod touch (or any other device that has an IP #) can issue remote control requests without having to stream a bunch of IR codes.

I think the days of the high end, dedicated universal remote control are coming to an end.

 

[PhantomZone]

I think the days of the high end, dedicated universal remote control are coming to an end.

Aye...*if* someone designs a decent app for the iPad with optional RS232/Wifi units, extenders and invisible eye type devices

Then they're so coming to an end...

Niche market no doubt...still... cheaper than a Pronto or a Crestron and thats gotta be of interested to a fair number of home cinema enthusiasts!

 

[NYC Russ]

Disclosure: I was trained by Crestron to sell their system when I worked for one of their retailers. I have been out of the A/V business for several years and currently have no ties to Crestron.


The iPad could definitely give Crestron a run for its money, at least with low end (for Crestron) installations.

Developing an IR interface should be easy. The important thing, on the IR side, is for the signals to be Xantech compatible so that the IR protocols can stay on copper. Electrical IR connections are far more reliable than optical ones.

Much more importantly, if the iPad is to go up against Crestron, will be if an RS-232/422/485 interface, and an ethernet interface, will be available. This is how intricate macros can be completely executed in a fraction of a second, with all commands executed. This is also how the remote control system gets data from the systems that it controls.

Crestron is about far more than a remote control. A full blown Crestron system can do some amazing things. For example, while acting as a remote, the display can also act as a duplex speaker phone, show live video from security cameras (including second homes thousands of miles away,) provide status feedback (and control) for HVAC and building-wide lighting controls, and more.

It would be nice to have total home control available for a fraction of the cost of a Crestron system.