Current iOS App (iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad) controlled receivers? - Page 8

Thanks for the quick reply. I had figured as much but thought it couldn't hurt to ask. I really enjoy using the app (maybe a little to much if you asked my wife. I scared the hell out of her last night playing with it).

I had a pioneer 1020 that worked with the pioneer app and I must say I found oRemote to be far superior to it. Job well done.

All I'm doing now is waiting to see what Onkyo comes out with. Past experience tells me I have nothing to worry about since OEM apps are sort of lackluster. The only insurance I have is supporting the "legacy" users who are essentially abandoned by Onkyo when the next year's models are released.

I'm also concerned that Onkyo will not be so forthcoming with their network specs once their app is released.

Rworne
Is there another update coming for this wonderful app? If so what will it contain?

The Pioneer app only supports a tiny subset of what is possible with the 1020. I've connected to my 1020 manually with a telnet client, and the entire RS-232 command set is working. The RS232 command set is pretty exhaustive--contents of the display are available, along with every command from every mode. Except for power-on, it could be a total replacement for the IR remote.

I've thought about doing an iPhone/iPad or Android app at some point, but is the market big enough? The 1020, 1120 and the current Elites use the same command set, and hopefully this year's models will too...hmmm

Lessee:

1. Power/Zone activity indicators on all the views (like on the front of the AVR)
2. Support for pre-2009 AVRs like the 905 and 906
3. Support for serial port only AVRs using a serial-ethernet converter. Theoretically, the app can support all Onkyo Integra AVRs with serial and Ethernet ports.
4. Better networking support, with some context-sensitive help when it has trouble connecting
5. Can change IP's on the fly without quitting app
6. can change AVR model on the fly, and all related controls for that AVR update.
7. Can manually select your AVR instead of relying only on upnp detection
8. Can detect multiple AVRs and prompts user to select which one to use
9. GUI tweaks to fix issues seen by Integra and 300X and 500X users in the iPhone version
10. Better slider operations for tone controls
11. Multiple connections. If you have several iDevices, *and* the serial converter mentioned above, you can have up to 4 (or more depending on the converter) iPads/iPods/iPhones connected to the same AVR. With synced info on all the screens and each device can control the AVR. Note that this does not require purchasing multiple copies of the app, since the Apple "authorized devices" allows install on up to five different devices.
12. Backward compatibility to iOS 3.2 instead of the current "4.2 only" compatibility.
13. Hopefully this will make it in: persistent states for the buttons with On/Off states: like the input sources select "BD/DVD" and that button will change color.

The update will be out when it's ready

There's no more features being added for this release, I'm just shaking out bugs and tweaking some GUI items. I'm also awating responses from some beta testers. It's nearly ready for release, but since the last version I have tons more users, and I am nervous about releasing something with some disasterous bug. So I am trying to be as thorough as possible testing this one. I've in the past taken the few users who had issues and added them to the beta list to sort out problems, but I cannot do that on a mass basis.

What's in store for the future:
1. Playto capability to enable DLNA playback with menus on pre-2010 AVRs. This was done with a proof-of-concept and I am working out how to get around the hobbled uPnP implentation on these AVRs. Either that, or I'm clueless. They do not document their uPnP support in any way that I know of.
2. More integration options. I've had requests for supporting GlobalCache devices, and I may work on a way to connect with those. From what I've read, this version probably works.
3. Look at what surprises the 2011 models will bring
4. Japanese model TX-NAXXX support
5. Multi-lingual support

I'm now getting an in-depth picture on how Onkyo is developing these systems just by my reverse-engineering efforts. There's subtle and not-so-subtle differences in upnp support and network support between 2009 and 2010 models. There's also features they claim are supported, but aren't. One good example is the four colored buttons on BD remotes that work over HDMI CEC via IR, but are not supported via network. I've pestered Onkyo about these issues with bug reports, but I have not seen any fixes yet. The last firmware update in November was too early to tell if they are fixing anything, but I am curious as to what the next firmware revision will bring.

There's a definite pattern that I see where each model year has a slightly "fuller" implementation of a partially-completed spec. It's disappointing to see older models simply not updated. Not to increase the number of features, but just to fix the damn protocol. Even the 2010 models have incomplete uPnP implementations.

I have a bunch of in-wall speakers installed in my house, and I'm thinking of getting a multi-zone receiver, like the Onkyo TX-NR1008, to run everything. It won't be used for surround sound at all - just stereo sound to multiple rooms.

We'd really like to be able to control the receiver from anywhere in the house from one device. So, it seems like the Onkyo receiver, an Ipod Touch or Ipad, and rworne's oRemote app will work perfectly for us.

It looks like this app would do everything we would want - turn the receiver on and off, select zones and their individual sources, change volume on individual zones, select internet radio stations, and select songs and playlists from USB devices, NAS drives, or computers on the network.

So, for the people that are using the oRemote app with an Onkyo receiver - would you recommend using this setup for a multi-zone system? (We're also looking at Sonos, but it's quite a bit more expensive.)

Rworne - you mentioned a while ago that you picked up an Onkyo BD player. Were you looking at adding that to oRemote?

I found a 507 BD player really cheap on closeout. Since I got it for a hair under $100, I figured I was only overpaying a little bit for what is essentially a Funai manufactured Magnavox.

The plan was to test the RI/RIHD functionality, and the best bet was to use an Onkyo and go from there. So far, the Onkyo BD player, The PS3 slim, and a Samsung BD player were reported working.

The only bad thing about it is Onkyo did not enable the four colored buttons when communicating over the network. Otherwise it works fine for general uses like: Power, Open/Close, Angle, play, stop, FF REW, chapter skip, up/down/left/right/enter, menu, top menu, and setup. They did not enable any other controls although the documentation says otherwise.

Another confirmation that the PS3 slim works for me ... after mucking with HDMI control issues/settings.



Which Sammy BD player model?

Generally if it supports HDMI CEC it should work. It has nothing to do with oRemote in particular, but the AVR and Onkyo's implementation instead. So it would be safe to say that any BD player that is compatible with RIHD is also compatible with oRemote.

I suspect the majority of them work. It's all a matter of getting the settings straight.

Mr. Worne, I'm wondering if you have time to help with an issue I'm having. I bought the iPad version of oremote, which in the description says it's "universal" across the iPad/iPhone platforms.

The app works on the iPad, but when I try to open it on my 3g iPhone v.4.2.1, jailbroken (eleven more days to upgrade to the iPhone 4 on Verizon!!!!!), using my wireless network, I get the following message:

"AVR Not Detected. Please enter the IP address and port of your supported AVR in settings. Be sure to enable Network Control on your AVR"

I already have Network Control enabled on my 807. The iPad automatically set itself up without issues.

Here's the part I don't get.

After I click the "OK" button on the AVR Configuration error message, I get the following:

oRemote will now exit. When you restart your new network settings will be used.

The only option I have at that point is to select "OK", at which time the software closes. I don't have the opportunity to set the network settings manually. It can't be done before the error message appears, then it can't be done afterwards because the software closes itself automatically.

Are the iPad and iPhone apps not actually "universal" and cross-compatible? If necessary, I don't have a problem with buying another app...you're already selling this too cheaply.

Thanks. Hope I'm not missing something that should be obvious to me.

Did you try closing the app, going into the iphones settings app, and setting the ip details through the oRemote settings in there ?

Yes, this is the way to take care of the problem. When autodetect fails to detect, it needs the IP address entered manually.

This issue is finally put to bed in the next upcoming release where it will take the person right to the settings page. 1.2.1 is supposed to do that too, but somehow that only worked for me.

Robert W.

Thanks to both of you. This worked. I don't mess with apps enough to have thought to get to the oremote setup through the iPhone settings menu.

Looks like the iPhone version doesn't have the ability at present to set main speaker levels though. Hope that's coming soon.

Thanks again for a great app!

Depending on your AVR, you can set subwoofer and center channel levels and front tone controls. 300X and 500X plus Integra 70.x and 80.x models have an extended array of speaker levels to tweak in the A/V tab.

The majority of functionality specified by Onkyo in their network documentation is supported. As I get each release out, what few items remain are being added as well.

Hey Robert,

I just purchased the ORemote to use with my Onkyo TX-NR3008 receiver and unfortunately, the app keeps crashing 2-3 seconds after starting it. Any ideas as to why this is occurring?

I am using an iPhone 4 running iOS 4.2.1.

Let me know what additional details if any you'd like to help troubleshoot.

Thanks!

Is it crashing or just talking about going into settings and exiting?

All I can think of right away is that the IP address is not set correctly. Open "settings" on your iPhone and scroll down to you see oRemote listed.

Tap on that and check to make sure the IP matches your AVR. It also helps to have the AVR on a static IP, but not totally necessary,

If all else fails, turn off and pull the plug on the AVR and plug it back in. Turn it on and wait a minute or so.

It should work then.

Thanks for the response Robert. Everything is set properly and I have power cycled both phone and receiver multiple times and it is still not working unfortunately. It will crash about 8 seconds after start up and none of the buttons are responsive during this time.

Is there any information that I can provide you with to help solve this?

Thanks,

Shane

Yes, I have an idea, check your PM.

Update for those who have older iOS devices, oRemote is now compatible back to iOS 3.1.3. This will be included in the next update to the App Store.

Can't wait for the update..... I just got a NR905....bought the app in anticipation of the new update. Hope it works with my AVR

Keep working!!!

Robert,

Thanks for a great app. Just got it today and I am enjoying discovering all that you have made available on my iPhone. I have a 3007. I had to manually setup my receiver, but everything has worked perfectly since.

Yes, this manual setup has been the big headache for v1.2.1. Not necessarily for the end-users, but it generates a lot of questions in my support email box.

The next update, whenever I can kick it out the door, has a "retry" button for detection and will not exit on a network error, instead bringing the user to the settings page directly.

As a side note:
For those of you waiting for 1.2.3, be it either for older AVR compatibility (905 and 906 users, I hear you!) or for iOS 3.1.3 compatibility, it is nearly ready. No major bugs in the app to speak of, I'm now working on caching the user preferences instead of saving them directly whenever they change. This is now working, but I still need to make some changes in the button update routines to get/save the settings from RAM instead of the preferences on flash memory.

I also fixed a crashing bug in the beta that affects 905/906 users when they use the HDRadio. Waiting to see if that has been solved.

Check out the oRemote Facebook page for current day-to-day status and musings while I work on it.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORemote/170987639581990

The official Onkyo app is now available for free in the App Store.

I've been playing with it for the last 10 minutes and not feeling to impressed with it so far. I can't get it to control any zones yet.

I am so close to pulling the trigger on an iPad, just waiting to see what Apple releases for the 'new' version.

I will be getting oRemote as well as DVD Profiler when I do!

Absolutely wait for the new version -- it's probably weeks. In addition to the oRemote app, I enjoy watching some Comcast shows, Hulu+, Netflix and video from iTunes on the iPad. It's great for solo watching whether in bed, or if the TV is in use. I find it less useful for video while traveling because of the slow speeds for streaming at hotels, although I suppose I could take the time to put some content on the iPad or pay Apple's rental prices.

Also great while watching TV to read AVS forum with the app. I'll check out DVD profiler.

Have you seen any reports on the new iPad yet?

I have had DVD Profiler for years, first on my PC then on my Window's Mobile 6.5 phone, great to keep track of my collection and with the mobile version (also available now for iPhone of course), I have caught my self before buying duplicate movies when I am away on business and snoopy through the bargain bins at places like Frys!

Apple, as always is silent, but the rumors are rampant -- it's been nearly a year: Apple's normal schedule. I follow macrumors.com, they report the new version is in production citing the Wall Street Journal (often have solid Apple reports):

"The Wall Street Journal claims that the next version of the iPad is now in production. They cite "people familiar with the matter".
The new device will be thinner, lighter and will come with a faster processor, more memory and a more powerful graphics processor, said the people familiar with the matter. It will have a front-facing camera for the first time for features like video-conferencing, but the resolution of the new iPad's display will be similar to the first iPad, they said.

The new iPad will be available through both Verizon and AT&T but not Sprint or T-Mobile, according to the newspaper."

I had to setup the IP in the Iphone in setting under ORemote. Along with turning on "remote control" in network settings in Onkyo setup. ORemote still crashed but looked like it pulled in my receiver info in Oremote like it said i had a NR5007. I then changed the port to 60120 on both Iphone and Onkyo.. and instantly started working.

A question I have is about accessing your AVR over 3g networks vs. your network. So if you are using the Iphone 3g network, you probably dont have access to your network IP's. Its only your WIFI/hub that knows about your IP. Anyone know a way to access your AVR through Iphone 3g? I guess you must give your network access to the outside world and then use port forwarding or something to access the AVR?

Thank..

It got the info because uPnP does not use ports. The uPnP info does not return the control port info, and it must be entered manually. The default is 60128. If the port is wrong, oRemote gets a "connection refused" and a network error is reason enough to quit.

Whenever I can get v1.2.3 out, it is more friendly with pop-up error messages and also does not exit on network errors. It can detect the above situation and mentions that the user should check the IP and port settings.

re: 3g
No access with oRemote via 3g. There's no reason why it can't, but oRemote uses uPnP which really should not go out over the cellular networks. uPnP will become more important in future versions of the app as well.