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Topic:
Goodbye, Pronto... I truly loved thee
This thread has 20 replies. Displaying posts 16 through 21.
Post 16 made on Saturday January 20, 2024 at 13:55
buzz
Super Member
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4,434
TouchControl can’t provide additional hard buttons, but the GUI is fully under your control. You can start your configuration with a blank screen and use custom button artwork.

Yes, I miss hard buttons, but there is an interesting “Group” capability with TouchControl. A Group is simply a collection of Buttons that can be copied as a single item and pasted to multiple screens. You can access the Group definition and make a change that will be propagated to all screens displaying the Group. Since Buttons (a Group is simply a Button in this context) can be made invisible under program control, I have a Volume control Group for each room. This can accommodate different models of TV or receiver in each room by making the appropriate Volume Group overlay visible. The user does not need to be concerned with any under the hood details. You can also use the Pad/Phone hard Volume +/- buttons as you wish.
Post 17 made on Friday January 26, 2024 at 10:27
randman
Long Time Member
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435
On January 20, 2024 at 13:55, buzz said...
TouchControl can’t provide additional hard buttons, but the GUI is fully under your control. You can start your configuration with a blank screen and use custom button artwork.


Not sure if I can get over not having hard buttons, but with regards to screen design, this seems to be the most customizable remote app for the iPhone that I've seen. Even Javascript is supported! I couldn't see in https://www.touchapptech.com if they had a database of supported devices. I guess the the server software will have that information?
Post 18 made on Saturday January 27, 2024 at 07:08
buzz
Super Member
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There are no “supported devices”, but there is a database of IR commands. More and more I’m using IP commands. Unfortunately, I’m not aware of a general database of IP commands, you need to dig them out from each manufacturer and this can be tedious. I find that IP commands are more responsive, complete, and reliable than IR and you don’t need to fuss with IR emitters. For example, Yamaha MusicCast provides a complete set of IP commands that you can use to essentially duplicate their controller’s data on your screen. ROKU also has a decent set of IP commands.

Lots of nice details are possible with IP commands. For example, many devices can be interrogated. I regularly check Volume levels. This allows the controller in hand to show Volume changes initiated by other controllers. It is also possible for controllers to share data via the cloud.

One of my favorite interactions is with a cable box. I’m very fast when touching channel numbers — often causing the cable box to crash. With TouchControl I can accept the buttons at any pace, then meter them out at a pace that will not crash the box. Of course you can have channel icons too, but you’ll need to pace button presses here too.

I also have a scheme for channel icons that presents scrolling groups of channels. For example: “Local”, “Movies”, “Kids”, “Sports”, etc. Channel icons can be shown in multiple lists, if appropriate. The user simply touches a button, such as “Sports”.  A master database of channels and their artwork is maintained in a very ugly spreadsheet. I have separate columns for Verizon and Comcast. I copy the appropriate column into a file that the HTML button fetches. Changing from one cable service to the other is a single copy and paste. I started this UI approach in Pronto, even used it in RTI, but it was extremely tedious to maintain.

There are still bits and pieces of my Pronto code scattered about.

As I said, you are mostly limited by your imagination.
Post 19 made on Saturday January 27, 2024 at 15:10
randman
Long Time Member
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June 2003
435
I've programmed my TSU9400 to use IP commands, so I should be able to reuse that information with this or other IP capable remotes. Thanks.
Post 20 made on Friday June 21, 2024 at 12:33
randman
Long Time Member
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435
I've been using a TSU9400 since late 2007. Almost 17 years!!! I haven't found a replacement for it yet. I've considered other remotes, such as:

- the Harmony Elite (easy to program, but nowhere as powerful),
- iPhone-based apps (no hard buttons and just clunky to use),
- Control4 Halo Touch (not as powerful, for a developer, as the Pronto, and don't like requiring a dealer whenever a device is added/replaced),
- Sofabaton (not as powerful as Pronto, and seems like it's just a Harmony with a fancier screen).
- URC: form factor doesn't look as good as Pronto and needs dealer support.

The kickstarter for the Unfolded Circle Remote 3 just started today. Looks like a sleek remote, and their software seems to lack maturity, but seems promising, so I signed up for it today (won't be out until end of year supposedly). We'll see.
Post 21 made on Sunday July 7, 2024 at 19:58
randman
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2003
435
Unfolded Circle Remote 3 hardware looks quite nice (though won't be out until probably end of the year). Unfortunately, the software (for current Remote 2 which will be shared with Remote 3) is very immature. Don't know if their business model & practices will be good for long term. Interesting, but jury is out. Meanwhile, happy to keep using my Pronto TSU9400.
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