upcoming TouchSquid remote control (Android-based tablet) - thoughts/opinions? - Page 3

The changes just keep coming. With the latest update, they fixed an issue I had when re-editing buttons that was getting me a bit frustrated. So now it's working exactly as I had hoped.

They also improved their channel icon library with (IMO) much better graphics. They also incorporated another one of my suggestions...which put a tiny feather in my cap!

Click here to see the update thread over at the TSR Forums where I show the improvements made to the Favorites screen...I've also posted the pix below. Please note the "before" icons for ABC-HD and CBS-HD were my own (not-so) handywork...

BEFORE v1.86:



AFTER v1.86:

So watcha waiting for?

^^ Good luck with your post-surgery efforts...and your upcoming wall surgery!

I'm more impressed with this remote every time I use and tweak it - I would think you'd like it quite a bit. With the supposed ability to do macros at more that just the "Starting Activities" level (per a comment on the TSR Forum), that will make this remote that much more powerful.

OK, I hope this is not going to be a stupid question, but here goes...

We have a wireless router on the main level of the house that's connected to the Comcast cable modem. This is the wireless router that the TSR uses for doing its thing, and for the house in general. The TSR is currently used on the main level AV system of the house (all gear via IR), so not too worried about a bad connection. The wireless signal in the basement is good, but could be stronger as I've had erratic performance in the past when using a laptop.

But, I'd like to regularly use the TSR (or eventual second unit) in the basement media room, currently controlled by a Harmony 1100. All that AV gear is operated via IR except for the Lutron Maestro IR dimmers which are controlled via the Harmony RF wireless blaster. What I would like to do is move all the AV gear either into an adjacent storage closet or behind the seating area, so I guess I could buy the GC WF2IR device and use this via the wireless router upstairs. The GC device would be in the same rack as the basement AV gear, with the IR emitters.

Now for the stupid question:

Could I just buy a second wireless router for downstairs, not have it connected to the internet, and just use it as a means to get signals from the TSR to the GC device? Or will the second wireless router find/connect to the main wireless router upstairs automatically, which will sorta help "boost" the wireless signal so that's it stronger now in the basement?

My thoughts for adding a second wireless router is to have that much more of a robust connection due to the shorter distance the wireless signals must travel. I'm not that knowledgeable with networking beyond just the basics, so forgive me if this is a stupid question. If I really, really wanted to, I could run 75'-100' of Cat 6 cable from the main level modem/router, thru the garage, down thru the furnace/water heater platform, and pop out into that basement storage closet I mentioned above.

Thanks for not laughing too loud at my stupid question! Any thoughts would be appreciated...

EDIT: Or would the TSR communicate directly with the GC device, without needing a wireless router?

The bridge/extender seems like a great suggestion as I don't necessarily need internet access on the TSR for the basement system. This system is used a few times/week primarily for movie watching since that system has the much better TV and surround system than the upstairs family room.

But maybe it would be worth the trouble to just hard-wire something from the router on the main floor down to the basement storage closet...

I'm trying to find time to post my review and overall experience using the TSR, but can't seem to find time to finish it up. Hopefully I can get something thorough posted up sometime this weekend...

In the meantime though, I will say I've been using it regularly and making tweaks to improve the efficiency. A few screenshots are below (pardon the PQ, I need to download a screenshot app soon!), and I love the ability to add my own icons to the Favorites screens, such as the radio station logos for the tuner presets on the AV receiver...

This picture shows one page of Favorites, primarily for watching TV. The brown buttons on the lower right are just a few to operate the STB, and two website shortcuts are shown at the bottom left:



^^ Note that some of the channel icons were done by Squareeyes, of the famed Harmony icons website. He is working with Touchsquid to create a database of icons. Compared to the resolution of the Harmony screen's icons, the razor-sharp TSR icons are miles ahead - they really look fantastic! My picture does not do them justice...

This next picture shows the Favorites screen I change to during the Listen to Radio activity - eight radio station icons for the presets, lower left buttons are in-process, and two website buttons to a couple of my faves:



^^ This buttons layout is still a work-in-progress, but at least you have a general idea of the TSR custom button capabilities.

I'm also using a Global Cache WF2IR device to control the system via the wireless network. I have a separate profile on the TSR for this (copied from the all-IR profile), and so far seems to work great, except at times the receiver stops accepting commands but that might be due to user error by adding too many devices...

I also bought a Kindle Fire, downloaded the TSR app to it, and simply copied the GC'd Profile from the TSR onto the Fire and...BAM! Worked from the start, without all the programming fuss. Pretty damn easy to backup your profiles and copy to other devices running the TSR app...

I'm quite impressed with how the TSR app operates. But to be clear, I have no other experience with other tablet/remote apps such as iRule, Digit, etc. But coming from years of Harmony remotes, the TSR is exactly what I've been craving.

More to come!

I measure it about 7-1/8" wide, 5-1/8" tall, 9/16" thick. It does have a nice feel to it, esp. with the rubberized back which makes it easy to grip. Below are a few comparison pix between the TSR and the Kindle...and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9:

TSR on left, Kindle on right:


Backs of TSR (top) and Kindle:


TSR (left) and Kindle thickness difference:


TSR (top), Kindle (middle), and larger Samsung Tab:


TSR (left) and Samsung thickness difference:


The difference in thickness is noticeable. The TSR has the squared-off sides which makes it easy to pick up with one hand, esp. if lying flat on large surface. The Kindle, while not as thick, is also easy to pick up. The Samsung Tab is too big to reach the edges, so need both hands if its lying down. But if its sitting on arm of couch/chair and overhanging a bit, then not an issue. The slighted rounded back corners of the Samsung feels the best when holding it during use.

The TSR "feels" the bulkiest of all three, but it's not bulky by any means. I'm only comparing the tablets I have in front of me. The TSR does have a nice heft to it, so I don't feel like I could break it very easily. The Samsung feels the fastest (and lightest) of the three, but that's probably just the difference in processors. I also think it's a bit easier to switch between running apps on the Samsung.

I prefer the feel of the Kindle over the TSR, but the Kindle's lack of a hard volume button and Android Market is a deal-breaker for me. I love the features of the Samsung (lightweight, Android Market, volume buttons, good battery life so far), and the TSR App works good so far. I also downloaded the Xfinity TV app to the Samsung so that I can check TV listings and control the DVR channels thru that app. And it's easy to switch between the Xfinity and TSR apps on the Samsung. If I could figure out how to root the TSR to gain access to the Android Market I'd be more than 100%+ happy with it. To be clear, I have no regrets about being a TSR Early Adopter!! It really is the remote that Harmony should have strived to be.

The Kindle is being returned tomorrow, and I just ordered a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus from Costco ($50 instant rebate right now) as I think I'll prefer that size over the Tab 8.9 which was bought two days ago and will also be returned this week.

Just remember if you get any tablet/Kindle to use with the TSR app, you will need a device to control your IR-equipment, such as the Global Cache devices. I'm using a WF2IR with all of my devices (yes, including the TSR) and it seems to work well...EXCEPT for some reason the Kindle and Samsung will stop controlling the Yamaha receiver. The TSR doesn't seem to hiccup at all, though I'm not sure why...

I hope the above helps! Now someone take my camera away, clearly I like to take pictures and post 'em up!

For some strange reason, the Yamaha might stop responding to commands when using the Kindle or Samsung Tab. If I'm in a Watch TV mode, I can still control the STB and TV - just not the Yamaha. The signals are being sent, as I can see the Xantech's IR emitter blinking on all devices.

I think this issue might have been caused when I added a ninth Device to my Profile, then deleted that ninth Device as I think there's a limit of eight maximum. Though my TSR's IR and GC'd Profiles seem to work just fine. There might have been something buried deep within the Profile when I copied it from the TSR's folder to the same folder in the Kindle and Samsung.

I might just take the Samsung and recreate a new Profile from scratch (eight Devives max) and see if that clears up the problem.

For those of you concerned about the TSR's battery, I replaced mine this w/e due to the original battery being suspect of not holding a charge for long. The remove/replacement process was fairly easy - I've included a picture of the guts for the curious...

If you need the IR capabilities, then the TSR is the only way to go! I'm not sure of any other products out there with built-in IR that can do anything close to what the TSR does. The Vizio VTAB1008 is a joke of a remote - don't even bother with it unless you want the "basic of the basic" commands and no Activity-like macros.

There is a Capture App available from the Android Market, though I haven't used it. I believe it requires a Global Cache device to do the actual learning of your original remote's commands. Maybe you could get a better answer over at the TSR support forums?