I know this is not common, but I have an old tablet computer (Fujitsu Point 510) that I use in my home theater. It controls lights, computers, and in a way IR devices too.

If the total remote unit could be plugged into the headphone jack I could use that tablet PC to control the rest of my AV gear. I know this would not work now as I don't run Pocket PC on the tablet and I don't know if the headphone hack hardware is compatible, but I think it would be kind of cool to make it work. If tablet PCs do catch on again, then you have a 14" color remote that surfs the web and does E-mail or anything else.

The way IR control is done now (if you check the HTPC thread on avsforum.com you will find others doing this) is I have the tablet talk to my Home Theater PC via LAN with Girder and then have that HTPC setup with a serial to IR x-mitter to relay commands to my Xantech IR distribution center. Getting this setup is not that easy to either find or build and is not a $30 solution like the Total remote could be.

So griffin - what would it cost to try and re-compile your software on a Windows platform - outfit these new tablet PCs they are trying to push with your little add on and you can "control your house!"

I would like to see this ability too. The integration with Cinemar Mainlobby software would be nice. I wonder if there is any way to create a 3rd party app that would allow users to be able to learn and send ir commands, and then use girder to execute them.

Hmmm Any programmers out there please help.

Mark

I have just thought of one potential problem with this. Most users of tablet/webpad pc devices i assume use them as remote desktops away from their main pc/server. The problem i see is that i cannot workout how to get sound from the main pc to the tablet in order for the totalremote to potentialy work. e.g when you click a button on the tablet via remote desktop there is no sound generated from the main pc via the tablet.

unless that is, i am doing something wrong.
I am using radmin remote desktop software.

mark

Hi kids, inventor of TR here.

I have JUST become aware of Mainlobby. I have basically no idea how to use it, so please suffer gracefully the inevitable stupid questions and comments.

I assumed Mainlobby was a remote control app for WinOS, and most commonly ran on TabletPCs and the like. If you are telling me that Mainlobby is a control interface for sending commands to your desktop computer (via 802.11?) that are then converted to IR signals by some magic box (Girder?) then clearly the integration of TR's signaling technology and infrared code database with Mainlobby's ready-to-go framework would be of considerable use.

Am I to infer that Mainlobby is more for control of a HTPC than anything?

Thats right, i use mainlobby as a control interface to control all of my home theater equipment in my home from my main pc. I use a progear tablet pc as a remote desktop allowing a remote control like interface to be used. I use Radmin remote desktop software and the new version 3.0 due soon will stream sound from the main pc to the tablet allowing total remote to plug into the headphone socket on the tablet and operate in the same way as on a pocket Pc. This will turn any tablet pc with a headphone socket into a fully blown ir remote control.

Mark

by the way the magic box as you put it would be total remote ir transmiter connected to the tablet pc headphone socket. I hope.

Don,

We had spoke a while ago and I'd be happy to explain in more detail how MainLobby works. It's mostly being used by home theater enthusiasts but is quickly expanding into other areas as well.

It essentially provides a cool looking front end that users can build or select from already predesigned scenes and buttons. The user then assigns commands to those buttons such as launching programs, web pages, sending IR throught the Slinke or communicating with other home automation software/hardware.

Using Girder you can communicate and control another computer via 802.11.

I see your hardware as another source for sending the IR to devices or for creating the interface for your application.

I'd be happy to converse with you again if you'd like.

Don - good to see that you think other software packages might have value when supported by TR and vice versa.... Now how 'bout investigating PDAWin and NetRemote?

Don,
I second Carl's motion. The TR is a great invention, but don't limit yourself to one device and application.