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XBMC Gets a Dedicated Remote
Malard writes "XBMC users can rejoice, developers from the team have partnered with Motorola to re-develop their previously announced Nyxboard remote with RF, programmable IR and full support on Windows, Mac, Linux and Original Apple TVs."
I've been looking at the XBMC wiki for how to program a Logitech Harmony -- or any other universal remote -- and was thinking "they have to be kidding". Modify the keyboard.xml file by hand?
I've been using the Android app and my phone as a remote, but it is limited. This will save a bunch of headaches.
Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
XBMC is no longer (Officially) on the XBox, it has had a Linux branch for a long time now, and now also has OSX and Windows versions. It's also the codebase that Boxee and Plex were forked from. I'd suggest you take a look at it, as it's truly an awesome media center.
It is always a bit surprising how expensive and/or limited remotes have continued to be. The hardware for implementing IRDA (at least when purchased in USB dongle form) costs peanuts(and, while ordinary remote control IR is somewhat different in operation, it has fairly similar part count and less demanding data rates, plus much higher volume, so it could hardly cost more) on the PC side, BT HID peripherals start fairly cheap as well, and have fairly standard support in most OSes for all normal keycodes, some extended multimedia ones, as well as mouse position and button state information. Ample.
The only real complication would be dealing with the assorted wacky IR codes used by random consumer electronics. Even there, though, an IR receiver for 'learning' or a small abuse of the HID spec for allowing a utility program to download premade device control sets would be neither difficult nor expensive.
And yet, we still have just a few classes of remote: the 'free in the box, impossible to obtain a replacement' device specific ones, the dollar-store 'universal' ones(universality may vary), the MCE-yes-the-computer-is-MCE-enabled-out-of-the-box-but-it-still-comes-with-this-ghastly-USB-dongle ones(all of which seem to have hit every branch while falling out of the ugly tree), or the extremely expensive basically-an-entire-PDA fully programmable universal ones.
Most of the higher quality HD skins for XBMC (Aeon, etc) are designed specifically to not use the mouse. Once you remove the mouse from the equation, a remote like they are offering becomes a complete solution for controlling your media center. With all its plugins, there is really never a reason to ALT+TAB out of XBMC unless you need to use a browser for something unrelated to media (there are even gmail plugins for XBMC).
"I hope you know how very lucky you are to know me, because I am so incredibly incredible."
I really prefer my Crestron remote and system. I talk to the XBMC dedicated box via tcp/ip and get two way info so that my Touchscreen remote displays elapsed time, show info, etc....
Glad to see that a XBMC specific remote is coming out with a keyboard on back to make IR remote users life's easier for searching or entering info.
and no, I'm not filthy rich.. I am using outdated Crestron gear that I bought for near nothing on ebay. you can have rapper and sports legend level home integration if you simply put the effort out there to find what is affordable and not have a "it's used, thats ooky" response to used gear.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.