[skunark]

Over the weekend I read about an ipod touch/iphone app called "peel" which when paired with the hardware, is suppose to control your tv, blu-ray player, apple tv, etc.   

What I like about this over every other solution is that it lists the shows instead of acting like a remote.  You pick the show and if you have the hardware it will turn on your TV, stereo, etc and off you go.   I've always been confused why all the other remote apps seem to just mimic the remote when they could be doing so much more.  I would guess that the source devices like a blu-ray player, fm tuner and possible even the Apple TV will still be remotish, but this is a great start but still not perfect.   Hopefully they will build upon this and include boxee, mpd and other various servers for audio and HTPC solutions. 

Also another annoying tidbit is the "fruit" or just ugly yellow/black blob that you are suppose to sit in front of all your gear.  I have most of mine behind a cabinet but guessing it will work if i set it in-front of an IR repeater.

I've ordered the hardware from apple store but sadly it has a 1-2 month delay and I haven't found it elsewhere.  The app is free but only an iPod version at this time, hopefully the ipad version will be free as well if they are working on it.

If anyone has used this product I would appreciate the feedback as I've also been pondering a global cache/irule app solution.   Otherwise it seems it will be 1-2 months before I can provide do a  or 

[Geardaddy]

I read about it on the journal:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704506004576174624099755848.html?KEYWORDS=peel

I came away with mixed feelings about it...but minor ones.  Let us know.  I am an Iphone user and was considering something along those lines.  It is a good idea...

[skunark]

Last week, I finally received the Peel hardware to pair up with the iPhone/iPod Touch app and did the initial configuration with glaring issues right out of the gate.  I don't consider my system that complex with just a Pioneer TV w/cable card, 2ch Pre-Amp and Bryston BDA-1 for the dac.   I did guess I would have issues with the Bryston BDA so when that didn't work it wasn't a shocker, but I was annoyed to find that there were issues on how it operated my TV.   

First thing I noticed was how long it took to change channels, it was seriously punching in each number and just waited until the TV timed out to switched to the channel, (there is an "enter" opcode).  But that was minor compared to the next issue, if a video input was selected prior to watching TV channel, the remote couldn't figure out how to switch to the Antenna and then punch in the number, so I was still stuck having the TV remote around if I was going to use Peel.

I did contact customer service about the issue with the TV and the lack of control for the BDA.   They quickly responded about a known issue with Pioneer TVs and their remote and were looking into it, and also said I was SOL with the Bryston BDA dac.     It's been a week and no resolution on the issue with the Pioneer TV.

To top it off, I took the time to select only the stations that were in "HD" and only the HD channels I watched.   I noticed today that my hard work of selecting only the channels I wanted to watch was a waste, and now have 200 channels that I don't even want to watch.       

I have to give Peel with the hardware an A for the idea, F for execution and F for issue resolution. 

Now that I've wasted $99 on the Peel hardware, I picked up the Logitech Harmony 700 remote as I still needed a solution to control a new pre-amp and the Bryston BDA.  I'm actually rather impressed with the Harmony remote even though I've spent close to four hours over the last few days configuring it.   It still has it's quirks, but seems pretty straight forward.  I will have to say that support has been rather responsive with a few issues reported and solutions provided in a 24 hour response time.  I will have to give the Logitech Harmony remote a C for the idea, B for execution and A for the issue resolution.  To me it's just another universal remote with the key difference is that now have to use an application to configure it.   Maybe one day, a better solution will come along.

[Pez]

The Harmony remote isnt bad. I've programmed a few for clients. That said it makes me really sad every time I deal with one of them. I makes me realize just how far away from usable a truly universal remote control is. Unless you spend stupid amounts of money the harmony is pretty much the best available. 

[Crimson]

It makes me realize just how far away from usable a truly universal remote control is. Unless you spend stupid amounts of money the harmony is pretty much the best available. 

What? No AMX? No Crestron? 

[Pez]

Savant is better, though $$$$$.

[JoshK]

I've had a number of universal remotes and to me they all sucked.  i just use the originals from each component.   i hate progamming remotes and the harmony i had wasn't any better than others and wouldn't do some pretty key functions i needed it to like aspect ratio on my tv, so i had to keep the tv remote around and then what is the point then?

[skunark]

The problem at my house is the remote pairing to a given task.   Everyone at my house has no problems using the Apple TV, an iPad/iPhone App, PS3, Xbox360 and can even drive, ride a bike or skateboard   All of which I consider requiring a bit more skill than selecting the right remote.  But challenge has always been:  what to do when the TV is on and there's no sound...  As much as I point out the TV selects the video and the 2 channel pre-amp selects the audio, that concept is lost.    I've always thought about getting an inexpensive surround sound receiver to plug in the mix which could switch both the audio and the video, but the HT passthru would have to work flawlessly otherwise I would be in the same boat.

I do think for folks with just a TV (not pioneer atm) and a receiver, the Peel solution is probably still very useful, especially if your TV doesn't have a built in TV Guide.

[srb]

Although not task-centric like the Peel, I have an L5 IR dongle for the iPod Touch.  I really liked the look and customization options (including retractable "drawers" for infrequently used buttons).
 

 
Because it uses a rather inconvenient IR dongle, I was also looking at Peel-like Bluetooth to IR translaters like the Gear4 Unity and Griffin Beacon (both also non task-centric) which would at least loose the dongle.
 
But in the end, I find that they (iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad) pretty much require two hand operation unlike more convenient one hand physical button remotes.
 
Steve

[skunark]

I'm with you on the physical buttons with the remote and that feedback that we are all so used, but that's more of an intimate device that one will learn over time.   I'm catching myself pondering about the various devices around the house and who would be consider an expert and who is just a novice user.  (i.e. the Xbox 360 controller expert does not know how to use the coffee pot and vice-versa)   

My original thought was the Peel + iPad would break any learning curve for most users and also guests trying to use it.   The harmony remote is gaining traction but it's not without it's faults especially with any guests unfamiliar with it.

[srb]

The iPad, with its much larger view and capability for larger buttons, is probably well worth the tradeoff for two handed operation.
 
Hopefully an ongoing availability of software updates will let the Peel fufill its promise.
 
Steve

[skunark]

So I've played with the Logitech Remote for a few weeks now and finally declared it's almost worthless.  It can control every device needed, even has macros (logitech calls it an action) to set things up and a help menu to when the remote gets confused. It horrifically is that it can't remember what you done with the remote.  So if I was playing music and decided to watch the game it would toggle power on the TV and sometimes toggle the antenna input.   The annoying part here is that you seem to have to make a macro of each "action" you want to do.   Another huge issue is that I can't seem to get the volume buttons to always map to one component, so even if I go and adjust a device setting, I can't mute or reduce the volume as needed.

I have had a running list of pet peeves with devices without RS-232 or inadequate IR codes, lacking both "in" and "out" 12v triggers mini-plug jacks, lack of hard power switch (vs always off with power).  And now Peel and Logitech remotes     I'm $200 in the hole and I feel it's probably time to look into the bigger and extremely overpriced solutions.   At least I can re-gift the remotes to my friends with the all-in-one devices (where the remotes probably do work )...