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[Matt]

I spent some time today experimenting with a new method to do a Theater View remote using an Android phone.

Gizmo actually started as a Theater View remote.  I was never happy with how it worked.  Having touch points you have to hit on a flat screen just doesn't work for a remote that you use in the dark with one hand on the couch.

With this experimental model, it doesn't matter where your finger lands on the screen (as long as it's not at the very top or bottom that are the titlebar / system buttons).

Here are the instructions that show when you launch it:

      
This remote allows you to control Media Center in Theater View mode.

Press and hold for a second to switch modes (the "green button").  Use this to begin, or any time you get lost.

Swipe in any direction to move in that direction.  Hold down at the end of a swipe to repeat.

Tap to enter.

Audio level can be controlled with the hardware buttons on your phone.

To give credit where credit is due, part of the idea for this model comes from JRemote.  He refined what we did by allowing swipes, and I think this refines it a bit more by allowing a hold at the end of a swipe and adding haptic feedback.

If you're interested, you can try it here:
http://jriver.com/install_gizmo.html

Feedback welcome.

[Matt]

I used this some from the couch and really like it.

It needs some tweaks, but I think the idea is solid.  I can easily imagine replacing my MCE remote with it.

[jmone]

It works really well with the exception of finding stuff like Pause/Play and Stop.  The navigation was pretty good and I could access the OSD just fine for video etc.

[fitbrit]

It works really well with the exception of finding stuff like Pause/Play and Stop.  The navigation was pretty good and I could access the OSD just fine for video etc.

Agreed. Am I missing something in that Stop is easier to access than I was able to? The only way I could access Stop (Play/Pause is just a simple tap, no?) was to go through various menus until I got to playing now. If that's the only way for now, any chance we could have multi-point touch support. e.g. three-finger tap is stop?

Otherwise, very well implemented, and I can begin to have a useful $110 10" Android 2.2 tablet finally.

[Matt]

I agree it needs a simple way to get a list of commands like DVD Menu, Stop, etc.  You can get it now from the top menu, but it should be easier.

It also gets clogged up sometimes like it's stuck repeating keys or something.

[jmone]

I agree it needs a simple way to get a list of commands like DVD Menu....

   So if you DO like Menus for Disks - can I have a BD one!

[Matt]

  So if you DO like Menus for Disks - can I have a BD one!

If you've been wanting a BD menu, why haven't you ever mentioned it before?

[jmone]

mmmm Good point.... and I have this other idea as well I know you will just love

[Matt]

I did a little more work on this to make the screen more subdued (so it's not a distraction next to you on the couch).

It's here:
http://jriver.com/install_gizmo.html

I'm not sure the best way to handle getting to a command page and/or leaving remote mode.  The existing title bar looks alright, but the white text is strong.  It might be better to make a special titlebar, or require some gesture, the back button, or something to get additional commands.

[Neco]

I will give this a spin later on when I have some free time.


However, just wanted to share my thoughts on the whole  touch-business.    I think touch is over-used and, frankly, overrated.  It seems like everything these days has to be touch enabled / oriented, etc..
I understand not wanting a "busy" distraction next to you,  but I'm not sure I agree with the screen needing to be "subdued" - however I'm not sure what's meant by that so I won't comment more until I try it out.

However,  when I am sitting there in the dark, I -want- a bright remote with buttons to look at/press.   Simple, easy to find.

My problem with the current ("old"?) Gizmo is that we have virtually no options presented on the screen,  and a somewhat odd and finnicky touch-interface it took me a while to figure out.    Tapping through the options we did have available was,  kind of annoying after a while.   But my bigger issue was phantom taps.   Where you would only tap something once and it seemed to register multiple taps (difference in finger pressure throughout the tap?).    But also the  border of the GUI items  were extremely sensitive,  leading me to tap a control I did not want to tap,  or in some cases  not being able to tap the control I wanted and have it register.


To be honest, I would prefer a classic GUI type remote.  Where we just have clearly defined, separated buttons for various options that we can tap.   Perhaps even customizable to a degree by making them widgets and letting us select which commands to assign to them (or giving us a few custom widgets).

In my view that's all we need..   Don't need fancy  multi-gestures, pinch here, pull-and-expand there,  swipe that!   -- that's not a remote,  that's a childrens toy.   The only use I can possibly see for  swipes is library navigation.  Which is perfectly OK.   But everything else can be accomplished with a simple  grid of configurable buttons imho.   

That's just my two cents.   Maybe my opinion will change some after I try out the new version?

[Matt]

Updated version here:
http://jriver.com/install_gizmo.html

[Matt]

I did the wife test last night, and this did pretty well.

I'm feeling like we're on to something important here.

I'd appreciate any feedback from users that use Theater View and have an Android phone.

[jmone]

Had a bit more of a play and it works pretty well as a MC RC.  That said it will not be a soln for my AV setup simply as we need to control other devices (not just the HTPC running MC).... so the Universal RC stays as it is the One Device To Rule Them All.  It is my precious. 

[Castius]

This is way better I like it.
I'd like to see a fast swipe ability. To move though long lists faster. Maybe a long press Then swipe?
I would be nice if this was setup with just a list of gestures that you assign actions to.
Two fingers up = volume up
Two fingers down = volume down

Also maybe gizmo could show the theater view as just text?
So I can navigate while looking at gizmo interface.

Thank you for sharing your wip
It's looking very nice.

[Matt]

This is way better I like it.
I'd like to see a fast swipe ability. To move though long lists faster. Maybe a long press Then swipe?

If you swipe and hold down after the swipe it repeats.

However, I agree supporting some other gestures might be nice.  I'll look at how to grab two finger gestures.

Also maybe gizmo could show the theater view as just text?
So I can navigate while looking at gizmo interface.

I think if you want to look at the phone, then use the regular Gizmo interface.  It's a pretty nice way to remote control.

For this, I'm focused on when you're using Theater View, preferably on a big screen.

Thanks for testing.

[imugli]

Just tried this last night and really like it. I first tried the version with the arrow buttons still on it (that was a little confusing - why doesn't the left arrow go left?) but the newest version is great. Good work.

On a side note - any chance of Gizmo ever becoming a true "Second Screen" controller on tablets? i.e with "What's Playing" meta info on the screen etc?

[eapool]

I tried this for a while this afternoon and I think it is great.  The only improvement I would like to see is a better way to stop.  As some have suggested, additional gestured could be added for other functions, but what I used today, is great.

Thanks,

Alex

[Matt]

The only improvement I would like to see is a better way to stop.

You can tap the header and then stop from there.

I wondered if swiping in a control panel from the sides would be better than needing to tap the header, but I'm worried it might trigger accidentally with that model.

[Matt]

I also think it would be neat to be able to call up a keyboard and maybe even a mouse.

[imugli]

Keyboard would be good. Mouse when controlling Theatre View though? Kind of defeats the purpose IMO.

[Castius]

I agree keyboard is a good idea. I'm not sure about mouse either. But the option is never a bad idea.
I'd also agree keep it simple so there is less chance to misclick. Maybe a double or triple tap to pull up options or change modes?

Either way I never thought I'd like a touch screen as my main controler but this has made me rethink about it.

[imugli]

The problem with touch screens as "Remotes" as I see it is that at some stage you invariably need to physically look at the remote when you want to do something.

I had something similar to this http://www.majesticausonline.com/product.php?id_product=34 at one stage. I think it lasted a week in my house. Just inconvenient to use, having to look down every time you wanted to do ANYTHING.

In the case of Gizmo as it stands, it's to bring up controls or access the DVD menu etc.

It starts off OK, but then just becomes annoying.

As others have said, perhaps multi touch gestures are the answer here - double tap to pause / unpause, 2 finger drag-down for DVD Menu, 2 finger drag up to Stop (just throwing ideas up here).

[Castius]

Then once you have a awesome setup you need to find a convenient way to save batterys.
Like keep it on all the time but wake on pick up.
I'm going to have to look into this now.

[park]

Keyboard would be great. I find the swiping feels very natural, and the scrolling speed of the lists is even better than when I use my real remote control.

[park]

Couple more thoughts. The swiping works great for me, but my son is still too young to be able to use it. He gets on fine with the four arrows style navigation though.

And the icon is also a little misleading. It sort of looks like you swipe up to play, down to pause, etc. The graphic should show arrows.

[marko]

Matt,

Running Gizmo v18.0.180

Using it in "Remote" mode to control the HTPC...

Use it to kick off a movie, put the screen to sleep, settle down for a couple of hours to watch aforementioned movie...

When movie ends, reach for phone to continue using the remote...

During the movie, the phone has become unbelievably hot, not just around the processor, the whole phone. Around the processor, it's ridiculously hot. Also, the battery, in those two hours, goes from 100% to 15%.

Something is not right. The phone is an HTC Sensation XE running Android v4.0.3

-marko

[Matt]

The remote mode may keep the CPU on.  It was designed thinking it should stay on (including the screen, just dimmed) while being used.  Otherwise you have to unlock it to use it, which isn't too neat for a remote.

On my phone, this doesn't hit the battery too hard.  I guess it must vary by device.

It's possible that just letting it sleep would be best, or at least a good option.

[marko]

My phone screen is set to never sleep. When I want it to sleep, I press the button on the top.

Phone screen was off for the whole length of the movie.

This isn't a mission critical thing as I have plenty of other options available. I'll just stay away from Gizmo remote until I get my next phone. I'm pitching for an HTC One. Apparently, it does IR blasting too, how mad is that!