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Totally not getting your argument, Mac. So you're suggesting taking a simple TV GUI option away from the client because it doesn't match their touchscreens?

So now every controller in the home should be an expensive touchscreen, no handheld remotes for example?

When I had Crestron, I had a touchscreen that had everything, and an ugly hard-button remote that I used 90% of the time for TV.

Well one problem I can see with the GUI is the guys at Crestron while awesome are not installers in the field.

I have yet to see a demo program from Crestron that functions the way a system would in the real world, and never mind that there is a VAST difference between a Residential system and its GUI and a Commercial system and its GUI.

While the Crestron app may be awesome, will it be set up in a way a user would actually want to use it? For example, Crestron still creates things with an ON button and Source select buttons, but I don't know any Resi System that doesn't uses buttons like Cable, Bluray, etc to turn everything on switch inputs etc.

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You are also a very techy person who likes to play with different control options - NOT anyones typical customer.  I agree with Mac - simplicity and consistency is key for customers.

I don't think he's saying that at all :-). He mentioned several reasons, but one in particular is HUGE. We prefer not to design systems that have features that are based on the whim of companies like Samsung. What happens when next year they take this feature off their sets? Or when the Client wants or needs to swap a TV out in 3 years and the feature is gone? Or when the Client wants to buy that cool new 4K set, or cool new 1/8" deep set from some other company, and now they lose their interface?

Now you may say "sure but that can happen with anything" but in actuality by carefully choosing what we specify we can minimize that a great deal. On our average system we could swap out every television on the project with minimal change to the programming or system. On the other hand, if we were relying on this it would mean that EVERY aspect of the system is dependent on having a Samsung TV with this interface.

NOT saying it's not nice that Crestron and Samsung are offering this, but I don't intend to be at the mercy of Samsung for our GUI.

 I've said for years that they should build this functionality into the RMC boxes.

I would think this is intended for the low end, not the high end where David plays. The MC3 has an OSD that I believe has now been exposed. It would be a universal OSD and David and Mac can customize this to match their skins. Imagine how much fun Mac will have utilizing 4k resolutions for his graphics.

Last year's Samsung's had serial control that included access to its embedded apps. This year's models will turn on and off, switch inputs save for where the apps are embedded. It is available via IR. Perhaps someone has found the latest serial protocol. I have not.

For some reason smarthub is desired by many salespukes. On the low end it is surprising how tolerant a client will be if he doesn't have to spend money. On the other hand, execution of these apps is an other matter. If it's just one more app on the smarthum so be it. If Samsung has to include control as BenQ did Roomview, make sure all codes work before committing. My experience was that Power on did not work with the BenQ despite it touting the internal Crestron Roomview driver.