Tablet use in HTPC scenario

Cheetah Designs · 1 Feb 2013 at 13:12

Has there been a high adoption of this, any good examples where it works really well?

I'm currently drawing up plans for my perfect HTPC and I think it should all be centered around a tablet remote.

Inherently, choosing something to watch it far easy on a tablet than it is using a remote control, you can use swiping gestures to get through lists quickly, type quickly and you don't have to have an item focused to select it....everything is quicker. For an example of what I mean, go onto Netflix on your TV with your remote and then do the same on your tablet, you will find its a lot easier and quicker to get something playing!

I envisage a situation whereby we would use our tablets as our remote (similar to the sky remote for ipad) meaning we can watch something and browse our media on the tablet at the same time. If you want family browsing (so everyone can see), simply mirror the tablet screen to the TV!

Everything would be controlled by the tablet (even the TV volume) in one universal interface so you wouldn't have to switch between apps on your tablet.

What do you think? Am I mad?

9designs2 · 1 Feb 2013 at 13:20

Already there, I can use the iPad and an App to control my Marantz AV amp and Blue ray player, they both can stream music and movies off the NAS drive..... Plus Internet radio and online services.
Also use another App to control all the music streaming for the Linn system... Or AirPlay direct from the pad to any of the systems.
Don't have an App to change TV channels though, it could be done if someone wrote one for the Set top box, as it is also networked.
Tablet control is good

Disaster · 1 Feb 2013 at 13:23

I use an iPad to control my XBMC and I love it. Its Always useful to flick between the remote and check things on IMDB.

Cheetah Designs · 1 Feb 2013 at 13:24

I know you can get separate apps for a lot of devices, I was referring more to one unified display for everything.

bertles86 · 1 Feb 2013 at 13:27

Have you seen Demopad?

Cheetah Designs · 1 Feb 2013 at 13:39

bertles86 said:
Have you seen Demopad?

I think I must have given a poor explanation as I think people are missing the point.

Imagine iPlayer, 4od, LoveFilm, Netflix, Hulu, TVCatchup, Demand5, ITVPlayer, SkyGo...etc...all in one menu on your tablet which you can scroll through (with gestures) and filter in the usual ways, create a queue etc...

...and without having to change apps/screens you can also adjust the volume, fast forward...etc...

Disaster · 1 Feb 2013 at 14:58

Oh right, yeah, that would be awesome.

Cheetah Designs · 1 Feb 2013 at 15:30

Disaster said:
Oh right, yeah, that would be awesome.

I was wondering if something like this has already been done? Otherwise I'm thinking I may create it.

Wouldn't be that hard to create either....the hardest bit will be the screenscraping.