Idea for new toy. tablet to control htpc xbmc

[etrin]

I have thought about this a long time but have no idea what I am doing.
I wanted to control my htpc with a tablet, and if its able even to watch tv or movies from that device on the tablet.
Control the programs. There seems to be several apps out there to do it.
watch htpc or xbmc output on the tablet, is this possible?

guys I know nothing about tablets, I use a nexus 7 (old style) at work only when I have too, since its not mine I never get to play with it and see what it can and can not do.

is this something I can get working?

what device?
nexus 7....no expansion slot which kinda sucks
lg g pad 4.2.2 kinda old in a new device....is kitkat something my device should have?
EVGA tegra note...

something else


all comments, ideas and even flames are very welcome

HELP

 

[Fox5]

Not only can you get the XBMC remote control app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.xbmc.android.remote)
but you can even install the XBMC app on your tablet and stream anything from your XBMC computer.
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW-TO:Install_XBMC_for_Android

 

[JAG87]

I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to do, but if you want to:

1) Control XBMC with a tablet: very possible, I use an iPad and XBMC's remote app. It's by far the best way to control XBMC.

2) Play content using XBMC on a tablet: very possible on Android, somewhat possible on iOS (requires jailbreak).

2) Play content from a tablet using XBMC: super easy with iOS since XBMC acts as an Airplay sink, you can just use Airplay.

 

[etrin]

Great xbmc on tablet is a go.

What about windows media center control and playback on a tablet is there anything?
(Sorry I should have said that in the first email, I was calling it htpc duh I need more coffee)

question on android os do newer versions bring more performance, stability or just new bling stuff for the desktop. I was really looking at the LG because of expandability and IR
but its 4.2.2 and not the new 4.4 is this a big deal ?

 

[sweenish]

Buy the GPe.

Windows Media Center? Use Plex if you're not going xbmc. 4.3 brought TRIM, you will want that. 4.4 brought project svelte, its merits on higher end hardware are negligible, but not non-existent.

 

[vshah]

yatse is a better xbmc remote than the official app, just fyi.

 

[bearxor]

Yatse is very nice. Runs on any old Android tablet just fine. If you only want it for the remote control, just pick the cheapest thing you can find.

 

[Zaap]

You're right OP, a remote is an excellent use for a tablet.

I have a Nook HD+ (running CM11) as a dedicated xbmc remote.

Agree about Yatse for xbmc.

I also use Unified Remote to control Netflix, VLC and other media apps.

For Windows Media Center I use Media Center Control. For both of these, the server apps running on the HTPCs don't use much resources and don't conflict with anything.

And of course my household wouldn't function without dsub controlling our subsonic server for whole-house audio.

 

[rh71]

NVM... looks like IOS requires jailbreak.

 

[etrin]

thanks for all the help.
one last question.
I tried some of this on the old ladies kindle and had a hell of a time installing and connecting I don't know if it was me or the device, then I got word her book reader was not going to be used for this.
So after the trouble with getting the kindle to accept and run this kind of stuff is it because its a locked android or ?

so I checked some tablets last night.

2 really came to the front.

Hisense Sero 7 Pro, cheap, 1280 resolution, expandable with 64 GB micro sd, usb and hdmi(which I will never use), stock unlocked 4.2.1 android

Google Nexus 7, not so cheap $100 more, 1920 resolution, 32GB not expandable and 4.3 android

Belive me I don't know if locked, open, hacked, rooted any of that matters for what I am trying to do, or with most things but I just do not know much about these os's.

which one?

 

[sweenish]

"proprietary" android?

 

[poofyhairguy]

I use my Nexus 7 as a XBMC remote and love it.

 

[etrin]

sorry sweenish that was bad wording. I need more coffee lol

what I mean is its like this damn kindle set to only work with/thru amazon for the most part.
again I should reword that and say not sure what you can and can't install.

 

[Kaido]

1. Have you considered moving to Plex? It's an evolution of XBMC with more features.

2. Both XBMC & Plex have custom remote control apps available. And I'm sure there are plenty of customizable touchscreen keyboard apps for Android; here's a good one on iOS for comparison:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/custom-control-pad/id656431288?mt=8

 

[poofyhairguy]

1. Have you considered moving to Plex? It's an evolution of XBMC with more features.

I don't know if I would call Plex an "evolution of XBMC" as they focus on different things- Plex is about getting your media on your devices while XBMC is about the best ten foot HTPC interface possible. Each has certain benefits over the other and don't directly compete as much nowadays as when Plex first forked from XBMC.

OP if you want to actually playback content on the tablet and you want access away from your home network then Plex is a great choice. XBMC's new beta works good on Android devices but you will be restricted to local content and local network content.

 

[smitbret]

I have never understood the fascination with using a smartphone or tablet as a remote control. I hooked my RaspPi up to run XBMC and used 3 different devices and about 6 different apps to control it. Yes, the apps worked and some were better than others, but WTF, what if I just want to shut off the TV and go to sleep?

I am 10x happier using a Flirc and whatever remote control happens to be controlling the TV already. A lot more customizable and use able than any app.

 

[smitbret]

I don't know if I would call Plex an "evolution of XBMC" as they focus on different things- Plex is about getting your media on your devices while XBMC is about the best ten foot HTPC interface possible. Each has certain benefits over the other and don't directly compete as much nowadays as when Plex first forked from XBMC.

OP if you want to actually playback content on the tablet and you want access away from your home network then Plex is a great choice. XBMC's new beta works good on Android devices but you will be restricted to local content and local network content.

Plex is a great back end server and XBMC is a great front-end playback setup. I don't think I would place them in the same categories anymore.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Plex is a great back end server and XBMC is a great front-end playback setup. I don't think I would place them in the same categories anymore.

Yeah exactly, different categories.

 

[Zaap]

I have never understood the fascination with using a smartphone or tablet as a remote control.

That's because the idea isn't just a remote, but a full media library browser/management tool that's a satellite to xbmc or other. Personally I have no interest in just another remote- they're a dime a dozen.

I hooked my RaspPi up to run XBMC and used 3 different devices and about 6 different apps to control it. Yes, the apps worked and some were better than others, but WTF, what if I just want to shut off the TV and go to sleep?

No idea why xbmc would require multiple devices/apps to control it, and least of all why shutting it off would be an issue?

Keep in mind a lot of people have a surplus of devices. I'm far from the most upgrade-crazy around here and yet even I have more mobile devices stockpiled than I know what to do with. So being able to use a spare phone or tablet for such a useful function as a really slick home theatre controller is an much better use than collecting dust.

I am 10x happier using a Flirc and whatever remote control happens to be controlling the TV already. A lot more customizable and use able than any app.

A tablet or phone can control the TV and AV gear as well, with far more options. You can toss the old school remotes entirely.

 

[smitbret]

XBMC IS the media browser. I am certainly not interested in trying to use a tablet or smartphone to manage the file system on my server. That would be insane. Because remotes are a dime a dozen and you probably have one at each TV makes it more practical. Why add yet another device to the mix? That's the whole point of a Universal Remote in the first place.

I suppose if you wanted a tablet or smartphone to be the single remote for several different HTPC locations then I could see some sense in it.

You only need 1 app to control XBMC. I should have been more clear that I tried several different apps before deciding that none were adequate.

I haven't run across any way to turn the TV itself off from my tablet or smartphones, yet. There may be a way, but I finally gave up at that point.

Finally, everyone in the house knows how to run a remote control, from the 3 year old up to the 40 year old. I certainly don't want to got through the relearning process with each of them when it's basically the same as the DVR remote they have been using for 4 years now.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I haven't run across any way to turn the TV itself off from my tablet or smartphones, yet.

Get one with an IR port OR:

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/harmony-smart-control

 

[Zaap]

XBMC IS the media browser. I am certainly not interested in trying to use a tablet or smartphone to manage the file system on my server. That would be insane. Because remotes are a dime a dozen and you probably have one at each TV makes it more practical. Why add yet another device to the mix? That's the whole point of a Universal Remote in the first place.

I'm sure there are people using the same line of reasoning as you questioning "why use xbmc? Why a raspberry pi or an htpc? Why not just watch everything with rabbit ears and a DVD player?"

My answer would be the same: because I'm not interested in having my grandparent's entertainment center.

 

[Kaido]

Plex is a great back end server and XBMC is a great front-end playback setup. I don't think I would place them in the same categories anymore.

Is XBMC typically used more as a standalone player these days? Because Plex has the server portion & the client portion, both of which I currently like better than XBMC. And to the OP, Plex's front-end is called Plex Home Theater:

https://blog.plex.tv/2013/11/23/plex-home-theater-1-0-released/

I like Plex better than XBMC for the front-end as well because it has a lot of great plugins available in the store-like format (Netflix etc.) plus an app launcher if you want to jump into a browser or emulation console. The backend, Plex Media Server, is basically just a fancy scraper & streamer - it can direct-stream or transcode to a variety of devices, and they have really nice players for everything from a computer to Roku to iOS & Android devices to the Chromecast. So it's a really nice integrated package.

I love XBMC, but I'm having a hard time seeing why people still choose it over Plex, given the rich environment that Plex offers. What does XBMC currently offer that Plex doesn't?

 

[smitbret]

Is XBMC typically used more as a standalone player these days? Because Plex has the server portion & the client portion, both of which I currently like better than XBMC. And to the OP, Plex's front-end is called Plex Home Theater:

https://blog.plex.tv/2013/11/23/plex-home-theater-1-0-released/

I like Plex better than XBMC for the front-end as well because it has a lot of great plugins available in the store-like format (Netflix etc.) plus an app launcher if you want to jump into a browser or emulation console. The backend, Plex Media Server, is basically just a fancy scraper & streamer - it can direct-stream or transcode to a variety of devices, and they have really nice players for everything from a computer to Roku to iOS & Android devices to the Chromecast. So it's a really nice integrated package.

I love XBMC, but I'm having a hard time seeing why people still choose it over Plex, given the rich environment that Plex offers. What does XBMC currently offer that Plex doesn't?

I use XBMC because the Plex backend doesn't meet my needs for device transcoding. Plex is great if you have the common, Plex supported playback devices on your home system but it won't transcode on the fly to my DirecTV boxes. I use different back end software that is a little more flexible.

 

[smitbret]

I'm sure there are people using the same line of reasoning as you questioning "why use xbmc? Why a raspberry pi or an htpc? Why not just watch everything with rabbit ears and a DVD player?"

My answer would be the same: because I'm not interested in having my grandparent's entertainment center.

Certainly, I will concede if you can tell me what you can do (or even do reasonable well) with a tablet as a remote that I can't do with a remote for much, much, much less $$$.

If I were a single guy that just wanted to pack around a single device to control multpile locations then I would go that route. Once other people enter the equation, especially spouses and kids then the game changes completely. You seem to look at it from a techno geek standpoint and I am looking at it from a practical, boring family man standpoint.

It's cool that you can do that with your phone or an old tablet, but is it the simplest option in most cases? No.