ipad as htpc remote like airplay?

[capall]

H all
Is anyone using their ipad to act as a htpc remote where you use the ipad to browse TV content websites such as PBS, ESPN3 etc, then select the program you want to watch and have it play on the TV that is connected to a computer.

Seems this could be the solution for a great htpc remote control

Airplay does this, but oer wifi is rubbish and I'd rather not have a hdmi cable running across the living room

capall

[Dean Roddey]

The CQC sort of way to do this would be to set up a pseudo media repository and instead of real media load it up with fake content that represents the channels you want to have access to (with the cover art being the logo and the location info being the URL and such.)

You can then browse through it and select one. Upon selection send the URL to the player, such as Zoom Player or other software player that can play that sort of content.

Or, if there aren't that many of them you could skip the media repository and just create individual buttons for the channels you want to select from.

[Fonceur]

You might be able to do that with SageTV, though I'm not sure what is covered in their online category...

[capall]

Thanks dean,
Not quite sure I follow you.
However, I just tried out Logmein. Using a laptop I was able to Remote desktop from the couch via wifi into my htpc (connected to the TV) and then browse PBS's website and play a program on the TV. Seems like this is a good way to use an ipad(or other touch screen) to browse and play online content.

Is your way better.

Thanks
derek

[Dean Roddey]

I was talking more about a way of offering the user a list of streaming sites or internet stations to select from or something like that, like you might do for a set of favorite channels on a set top box via an automation system. That may not be what you are looking for. I'm always thinking in terms of the non-technical end user and how to give them a fail safe way to do things. But, yeh, if you just want to browse web sites and select music to play, then probably the RDP thing is as good as any, or just directly running the web browser on the client.

[capall]

thanks,
just found this also

http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/ipad-...e-process/