Making the N800 into Universal Remote
 

Does anyone think something like this would work for the N800?

http://features.engadget.com/2004/07...emote-control/

I know lots of people really wish they could use their N800 as a universal remote control!

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

I would definately be interested in doing something like this as well, with a DVR, DVD, Home Theater System and especially now since I just got a new PC with Vista Prem, using Windows Media Center and am using my Xbox 360 as a Media Extender, it would be great to be able to program my N800 as a Universal Remote with that plug-in IR attachment shown in that article, rather then shelling out another $150-$300 on up for a Logitech or similar LCD'd programmable remote device.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

Great idea! I'm about 2 weeks into my 30 day return period for the N800 from Amazon. I love the little thing, but find it adorably useless. Every time I think about returning it, I can't. Its like a cuddly little toy or a Roomba vac. I show it to friends, and they coo over it, particularly the great screen. But as cute as it is, it 1) doesn't have a decent PIM, 2) can't play Audible.com audio books, 3) Rhapsody requires a Wi-Fi connection and can't do Rhapsody-To-Go (so I can carry along my subscription music) and 4) the email client is terrible. But the browser is SO much better than my Moto Q. Its definitely a Linux toy for early adopters, and I ain't an early adopter. So I desperately want it to have a few more utilitarian uses to justify the $375 price. Being able to use it as a programmable remote would be FABULOUS.

In looking at that post, though, of the endgadget gadget that turned an iPod into a programmable remote, the key would be that the IR attachment would need a 90 degree elbow. The N800 is landscape orientation with the headphone jack on the end.

I hope someone comes up with this. Wow! Being able to sit on the sofa and control my gear AND check email at the same time. Now that's something I'd personally find as useful as Skype.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

Yes, no Audible and no Naxos Spoken Word Library, either. I find it indispensible for other things, but those missing capabilities are tragic. Mainly they are the fault of Audible and Naxos, but still (BTW, you can stream Audible from a Windows computer using Orb, though) ...

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

It looks like this would be easily possible for the n800. It would almost be as useful as the navigation kit in increasing the utility of the device. The only issue would be battery life maybe.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

What about this one https://garage.maemo.org/projects/uremote770/

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remote
 

Seems like this program is a good start for what we all want. I know it's just being built but I wish we could use add-on infrared devices on our tablets instead of going through the computer. The stand alone IR receivers suggested by this (http://www.irtrans.de/de/index.php) don't really seem to be the best option for me but could work. I'll try to figure this one and see how well it works.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

Here is what the maker of uremote told me in his email:

That seems like a nice gadget for iPod, I must look more into it. However I
was wondering does it have as good accuratity and range as usb connected
ir-transceiver has. I could also do some research how to make an usb
connected ir-transceiver that can be plugged directly in to 770/N800.

Editing buttons in URemote770 is a bit touch thing to do in current version.
You have to manually edit URemote770.conf-file on 770/N800 and match it with the PCs lircd.conf file. The teaching process must be done with PC's
Lirc-software that runs on Linux. ( http://www.lirc.org/ )
However the graphical editor is being made. Once it's done there should be
editor that works with the principle "what you see is what you get". With
that the buttons can be drawn then dragged and dropped to the location on
screen that is wanted for button. So the editing should be a lot easier then.

--Kimmo Leppälä

So it looks like there is a bit more work to do before this can actually work!

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remote
 

Any news on this? I will receive my N800 hopefully next week and already have an Itrans transmitter installed. All the N800 needs todo is sent some IP-Packets to the infrared transmitter using TCP/IP. That is what the program mentioned above does. Hopefully I can get that to work.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remote
 

Hmm where did you get your itrans transmitter? Haven't been able to find one yet to be able to work on this. Let me know if you can get it to work when you get your N800. You think this http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2IN1-USB-Blu...em?refid=store
would be able to work hooked up to the computer?

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

Another alternative that has worked great for me (replaced my Philips Pronto 3000 remote) is pairing Promixis' Girder program with one of the USB-UIRT they sell running on a cheap PC.

You can then make the remote out of web pages, or build a more complete N800 native app. The former is easy to slap together and works pretty darn well (and has the added benefit of also working on ANY PC or net device that has access to your home network) but doesn't do press-and-hold buttons like volume very well. The latter is a bit harder to create but has no UI limitations.

If you have (or have wanted) a HTPC this is a great solution because Girder controls various media software on PCs extremely well (that's what it was primarily made for).

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remote
 

Hi all,
I just found this thread and would like to introduce me.

I am Marcus, the developer/founder of the IRTrans solution.

I just ported the server part of our IRTrans solution to the N800.
That means together with an Ethernet based IRTrans device
(IRT-LAN) you will be able to learn and send IR Codes. As the
Ethernet IRTrans devices are working stand-alone there will
be no PC/Server needed in addition to the N800. The learned
IR Codes will also be stored on the N800.
As the IRTrans system supports up to 255 zones you will
be able to control your whole house ...:D

That means the only thing we need now is a fancy frontend.
That might be Universal Remote 770 ...

I hope to be able to release the complete IRTrans support
within a week.

Marcus

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remote
 

That sounds great. I already have one of your devices and will receive my N800 hopefully this week. But since I have your device with build-in IR-database, I guess I don't really need the irtrans software on my N800. I just call the module with TCP/IP or web.

I am still looking into a fancy frontend but did not find anything yet. If java will be ported to the N800, I will program my own frontend :)

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remote
 

Hi, I have the device from http://www.irtrans.com. I have the ethernet module which is hooked up to my WLAN router using RJ45 and my N800 is connected using WLAN. This way I can sent HTTP requests from my N800 to the irtrans module which then sends the IR commands to my TV, DVD, ...

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

I know that you can use it as a remote. At least if you are using Linux (or any *nix) on your computer.
ReMoot let you control Xmms, Amarok, Kaffeine, Banshee, Quodlibet, Totem, Xine, Juk, Rhythmbox, Noatun and Kmplayer from your N800 or any other web enabled gadget. ReMoot can also be used with your multimedia keybord keys.

It works pretty well! :-)

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

It will be cool if irtrans make a module with bluetooth , so we can use a N800 to controler it.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

This https://garage.maemo.org/projects/irreco/ looks really promising for us! Has anyone gotten this to work yet? I'm not going to buy an expensive solution to this like irtrans is so I'd love something as easy as this interface.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

According to http://irreco.garage.maemo.org/ it seems to work. Have a look on this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcYWwGY6rTU

- kepler

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

I can't believe people are satisfied whis this kind of functionality. Come on! This sucks bigtime and isn't even remotely functional.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remote
 

Well you got something better!? This is the best thing we have as far as a universal remote so far isn't it!

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remote
 

That there is nothing better available doesn't mean I have to use a broom to brush my teeth. The N800 is not intented nor equiped to be used as a universal remote. It strength lies in it's connectivity through (W)LAN. Use that.

:rolleyes:

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

Hi im the author of Irreco. Thanks for your criticism :)

And i agree about the functionality. Irreco is still a pretty raw application. But i intend to develop it on the long run to be more robust tool for controlling different thins. The real strenght and feature of this first release is the layout editor where you can drag buttons around. Better support for devices to be controlled is on the works.

I also updated the weppage with nice pic how Irreco works.
http://irreco.garage.maemo.org/

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

You can hardly call my 'it sucks' remark constructive, so I have to apologize. Sorry for that one.

I still think the N800 is not an ideal substitue to a real universal remote. But it might work if you really need it on the N800 for whatever reason. Still, the average user wouldn't bother I'm afraid. Then again, the availability of special projects like this make these Linux devices succesful.

I'll keep an eye on your progress. :)

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

I sort of disagree. For example if you compare N800 and Logitech Harmony 1000, the only read difference between those is that N800 doesn yet have a nice UI, and that N800 has a bigger display :)

Ofcourse, if you want a remote which actually has fysical buttons, then you have a point.

I think N800 can do anything those fancy universal remotes do, if you just write the software for it. And N800 does have a usb port, so it could be possible to attach Ir leds directly to N800.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

Check this video out of the capabilities. Simply amazing. In the right step.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJEdTqMaSos

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

I'm very excited by projects like this, keep it up!

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

What about going wild and replacing the built in "camera" with an IR transceiver in the same form-factor?


I guess it depends on if the camera is soldered in place, and what drives it, and things like that. If the chipset is capable of driving an image out in that fashion or something.

It certanly seems that the camera was "not fully thought out" in the new days of 7mp cameras...

Cheers,
Chaoszeus

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

Know of any bluetooth-to-ir devices or similar? Could be the basis of a solution without modding the 770/800.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

The latest irreco supports IRTrans Ethernet. You can also customize the button graphics as you want. I tried the program and customized my tv channel remote control buttons with channel logos from http://www.lyngsat-logo.com/. Looks very nice.

-kepler

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

IRTrans Ethernet is ok if nw connection nearby. A small battery powered BT2IR unit would be ideal IMHO.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

Anything new on the remote front?

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

EDIT removed info on Total Remote as 1st post mentions it!

I stumbled across this article http://www.codeproject.com/netcf/PocketBeamer.asp earlier this year and it explains how the software part works there is a follow up comment on building your own dongle http://www.codeproject.com/netcf/Poc...97#xx1686897xx

The neat thing is that it is really cheap and whilst not simple it is straightforward; in that you just have to send the wave form in two pieces (out of phase, i.e. left+right speaker). I think this would be more practical than going over Ethernet (or BT) to an IR sender.

I've not built one of these though, it is one of the many "when I get time" projects I have lined up.

Chris

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

I am waiting for this too. I actually bought my N800 thinking there would be some software avialable for a novice. I really want to control my home theater items using this device. I hope someone will post a how to using the software talked about on this thread.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

This seems to be the most recent thread about remotes so I thought it'd be appropriate to post here and not start a new irreco thread.

I just wanted to say thank you to eXeonical and all the other developers of Irreco. I just installed it and use it to control my Mythtv in my living room. And wow - awesome. Great program!

I noticed some criticism of the project in the previous posts, and I have to say that at least based on the Myth part of the program, there's no functionality missing - I was able to setup a perfectly nice remote control for the frontend in a few minutes. Very, very nice program and ridiculously easy to set up.

For suggestions, the only thing I could see that would be useful is of course more button layouts etc, and pre-made remotes for Myth, a few different themes etc. but that's just polish that will, no doubt, be added later.

If anybody is interested, I'd of course be happy to send my own myth remote theme (if that's what I should call it...) to them. Nothing special about my setup, of course, just used the same background picture that I have as my myth frontend theme, so it matches. That actually might be a good idea for some theming in general: basing the Myth "remote themes" on the different Myth frontend themes that people are using. At least for me it creates a nice effect to have the remote match the frontend theme.

Kiitti jätkät, sohvalla rötvääminen on nyt entistä miellyttävämpää :)

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

would it be possible to use the IR port on my ericsson t39 with irreco?

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

I made a new thread, just for irreco.

http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ad.php?t=15919

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

I have no idea how to do that. I someone wants to write a backend for it, why not.

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

Well, send it to me and i'll see what i can do :)

Rötväämisiin, siis :)

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

there are usb to irda adapter for really cheap.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=120MM&cat=CBL
would you be able to use that with an adapter? My 2 cents

Re: Making the N800 into Universal Remot
 

Sorry to hop on the thread but... um... my friend who introduced me to the N800 PlayThing just sent me this and I'm not sure what the hell he's talking about:

"I put my n800 on steroids.

I built a linux server with 500GB of storage.

I installed the twonkymedia uPNP server on it ( which supports the N800
and the DSM 320, both of which I have)

I ripped all my cds to the linux server HD.

I installed the media streamer app to the N800

No I can listen to all this music or watch video on the N800, or
redirect it to the bigscreen and stereo in the living room.

I can build a playlist using the N800 as a fancy remote control for
everything.

You can do this with your Mac too."

Since my entire response, so far, will be a "yeah? Well *my* N800 has pretty backgrounds!", I was wondering if someone could tell me what the heck a twonkymedia uPNP server is and what a DSM 320 might be and if he worked the magic appls that this thread refers to.