Smartphones and tablet PCs offer a good overview on their displays, can be operated on a child-friendly basis via a touch screen and can be connected to computers or network players via a wireless network. In addition, they are capable of learning. So what is closer to using them to control networked flat screens, Internet radios or even household appliances?
TV sets, Internet and streaming
It is not just the manufacturers of entertainment electronics that offer time-saving programs (apps) that turn smartphones and tablets into universal learning remote controls. Apps also control devices for home automation - and so the mobile all-rounder mutate into the command center for the whole home.
TV control via app
The light should be switched off at 7:30 am and switched off at 0:00? No problem. The heating is to be turned off in the morning and evening and the blinds are closed at noon and open in the evening? A fingertip on the touch-sensitive screen is sufficient. Moreover, it soothes to take a look inside the home via a network camera - even this is a routine job for home automation apps. Video presents the best applications for the networked home.
Speaker and receiver via app control
Smart TVs and smart TV receivers link the television to the Internet. The cunning TV sets or set-top boxes find themselves via network cable or wireless contact to the home network and Internet. They also receive additional offers from the TV stations such as the Mediatheken of ARD and ZDF, video-on-demand services such as max cathedrals or electronic magazines on the screen. Partially the video chat via Skype and access to Twitter or Facebook. And, of course, Smart TVs play videos over the network.
Mobile network control
The problem is the operation: keyboard and mouse are uncomfortable on the sofa. And a traditional remote control is neither suitable for text input nor for navigation via a website
Here, smartphones and tablets come into play - and the TV manufacturers like to play with. They usually offer applications for the two popular smartphone and tablet operating systems iOS (Apple) and Android. In addition, there are often different app versions for smartphones and tablets as well as different app versions for the control of different TV series, Blu-ray Disc players or home cinema systems.
For example, the Korean manufacturer LG to control its current TV devices from 2012 offers the app LG Magic for iPhone and Android phones. Older TV models from 2011 can be operated by TV remote app only with Android smartphones. Both apps control basic functions such as program change or volume. Touchscreens also make text entry easier in TV menus. A pointer on the TV screen can be controlled on the smartphone: this facilitates navigation through menus or websites on the TV.
Philips TV is well positioned with the MyRemoteApp for iOS, Android, iPad and Android tablets. It works with all Smart TVs from Philips since 2009 and above with Philips Blu-ray players and audio systems - praiseworthy clear. The MyRemoteApp controls basic functions and allows convenient text input to the smartphone or tablet.
IFA Highlights 2012: Home Network and Smart TV
However, it is used to play back photos, music, and videos in high-definition mode: It accesses media servers on the home network that are familiar with the UPnP AV network standard. Better still: With Slideshow you can view photos directly from the iPhone on the TV screen - but not with Android phones.
The SmartView app from Samsung runs only on Samsung tablets and the smartphone Samsung Galaxy S II. It works together with Samsung's Smart TVs of the 2011 and 2012 years. The control of the TV devices dominates the app by the way. Your highlight is playing a TV movie on the mobile device (DualView). So if you do not want to take a thriller to the living room late in the evening, take it to your bed with Samsung Galaxy Tablet.
Sony focuses on the remote control of Web-enabled BRAVIA TV sets and networkable BD players with its MediaRemote app for iOS and Android. The app moves a website, which shows the tablet straight, by fingertip on the TV device - and vice versa. With this, manufacturers are reacting to the current viewer behavior, because smartphone or tablet owners often use their mobile devices parallel to the TV - for additional information or for communication.
Loewe goes one step further with the Assist Media App. The app is only available for the Apple iPad. It controls Loewes TV sets Individual, Connect and Art. The Electronic Program Guide (EPG) of the Assist Media App uses the space of the larger tablet screen. Gracenote, known as a music infotainment, provides detailed information on TV broadcasts. Via iPad, an interesting program can be selected easily.
Home control at the touch of a button
The TV recordings can be started or programmed at any time, if a hard disk is installed in the TV or connected via USB. The iPad can access the Loewe portal MediaNet. On board is also the retrieval video store Maxdome. Movies can be borrowed on the iPad and viewed on the TV screen.
Loewe is able to record the recording program only within the home network. But the digital TV manufacturer TechniSat has a solution with the app MyTechniSat in a petto: it allows the remote programming without complicated router settings. Recordings on Internet-enabled receivers and TV sets of the manufacturer can be programmed on the excavation site. And the program guide SeeFern Info provides an excellent overview.
For music playback, the UPnP AV protocol, often certified by the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), ensures easy connection of network players and servers from different manufacturers. The advantage is that a DLNA player easily plays music stored on a Windows or Mac computer or a network hard drive - without any additional software.
A useful app for controlling UPnP AV devices is the PlugPlayer (four euros, only for iOS). The app allows you to select any UPnP media server and player. The PlugPlayer not only plays music, but also transports photos and videos from a network storage device to a playback device.
Audio specialist Teufel offers with the Raumfeld system its own audio streaming product range: The playback can be controlled by a controller or via Raumfeld app for iOS and Android. As an audio player, there are stereo compact systems such as the Raumfeld One, shelf boxes that connect directly to a network via WLAN, right up to extended hi-fi speakers for demanding hi-fi fans.
Raumfeld plays music from DLNA servers such as network hard disks. Different sound zones can be set up for multi-room playback.
Even in the high-end range, apps are used. The noble network players of the Scottish manufacturer Linn can be controlled via iPhone from Kinsky App. Hi-Fi fans even think that the playback quality of the DS series is better than the high-caliber CD players thanks to self-developed streaming technology and the finest digital-to-analog converters.
The Sneaky Music DS is available for € 1,450. It is the only digital source product to have power amplifiers. In addition, Linn provides music in studiomaster quality up to 192 kHz / 24 Bit via the portal www.linnrecords.com.
IPhone, iPad and iPod touch serve as a music store. Therefore, it is a good idea to listen to the collection wirelessly from the mobile device via loudspeakers. The Apple technology AirPlay sends music from the mobile Apple devices directly to AirPlay-capable audio players - which is very handy.
More and more manufacturers are offering apps for configuring the home network. This works with the Connected Cloud platform from Cisco, for example. The Cisco Linksys EA routers use this software. Apps for the iPhone or Android manage the network devices. New devices are integrated into the network in no time: WPS technology (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) eliminates the need to enter a WLAN password. Guests can set up a network access via app - even from the road.
Via App, individual devices can be prioritized: this gives them access to the full bandwidth before all other network clients - this is practically practical for downloads or online games. And to the offspring can be blocked by app times the access to Facebook & Co., so that it goes with the homework. Other manufacturers have apps like the Gemini IP Camera Viewer, which brings the image of network cameras to the mobile display.
On a network hard disk (NAS), audio, video, photo or other data are stored. The manufacturer Synology has created a versatile platform with its expandable NAS software Disk Manager 4.0. This means that the network storage functions as private cloud services: all data is available on all terminals. Synology apps for iOS, Android and Windows Phone also manage data and hard drives, control audio and video playback, or access network cameras.
If you are a home user, you can also control the entire home: The central controller, such as the EZcontrol XS1 or the HomeMatic, receives the settings via a network connection. They then control and transmit signals from sensors such as temperature and humidity sensors, motion detectors, IP cameras or smoke detectors via radio or cable dimmers, door lock actuators, blinds or roller shutter actuators.
Connect the living room wirelessly
With the app CasaRemote (HD) for iPhone or iPad, homeowners with installed network cameras always remain in the picture. Radio sockets or sockets can be controlled via gateways. Switching operations are quickly programmed - for example, to switch the light on and off at the desired time.
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