News

8 Jul 2010: inControl 2.0 has been released!

It has been a while since the last update of inControl, but inControl v2.0 has now been released in App Store! The theme for this release is "recordings" and adds functionality for both schedule of recordings and browsing of already recorded programs. In addition, it also include graphical improvements and various optimizations. See this page for some screenshots.

I hope you all enjoy this new release. Please grade it and perhaps provide a comment in App Store to let everyone else know what you think about it. And also, if you have some functionality in mind which could improve the application, provide a comment in the forum. I'm interested in all feedback I can get.

Introduction

In case you use Windows Media Center as the home-entertainment hub for your TV, then inControl is the remote application for you! It is not an ordinary Media Center remote, but a full featured application which has been designed with the specific purpose of getting you in total control of your TV setup (through a Wi-Fi or 3G connection).  For example, the inbuilt TV guide provides easy access to program information and the possibility to schedule recordings. The application also provides a toolbox which enables you to compile activities for controlling all peripherals connected to you Media Center computer (peripherals MUST support RS-232). You can for example compile an activity that, when executed, starts Media Center, turns on your TV and receiver, and adjusts the volume to a suitable level.

The inControl solution consists of a server application installed on your PC, called inControl Server, and a iPhone/iTouch application, called inControl Client. inControl Server can be retrieved from the install section and inControl Client can be retrieved from App Store.

Features

• Support for Wake-on-LAN for powering up your computer.

• TV Guide view used switching channels, browsing through programs, and schedule recordings. No need to fiddle with the cursor keys to control Media Center in order to access the program guide. (See this page for detailed configuration instructions for Vista TV Pack 2008 and Windows 7.)

• Recordings view for browsing saved recordings, see detailed information about recordings, start to view recordings, and delete recordings.

• Keyboard view with navigation keys, media keys (fast forward, rewind, play/pause, stop, and record), and volume control.

• Mouse view for controlling the mouse.

• View for running self configured activities like “Start TV and Media Center” and “Watch TV with surround sound system”. An activity is configured using the inControl Server application and consists of a set of commands that are executed when running the activity. The command toolbox contains commands for

  • switching between displays connected to your computer (useful, e.g., in case your Media Center computer is connected to both a computer screen and a TV).

  • sending RS-232 commands to devices connected to your computer (used for controlling TV, receiver, projector, or any other peripheral connected to your Media Center computer by a RS-232 connection).

  • starting/stopping Windows Media Center and controlling the Windows Media Center window (maximize, restore, move to foreground).

  • hibernating, suspending, or powering off your computer.

  • running command lines which, e.g., can be used for starting an application with some arguments.

• Sleep Timer view for configuring commands to be executed after a specific time. Same command toolbox are available for sleep timer as for activities.

System Requirements

• inControl Client
  • Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch
  • Requires iPhone OS 3.1.3 or later
• inControl Server
  • Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate Edition (32bit/64bit) or
  • Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate Edition (32bit/64bit) TV Pack 2008 or
  • Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprice, or Ultimate Edition (32bit/64bit)
  • NOTE: In Vista TV Pack 2008 and Windows 7 the program guide information must be configured manually, see this page.