Kindle Fire as AV controller

[AverageJoe]

I have to admit, as a former techno-junky I've really been left in the dust by my kids - and even most of my contemporaries - when it comes to new technology, outside of AV interests, of course. Evidence of that is supported by my cell phone, which (much to the amusement of my son) only makes phone calls - no cool games, no GPS, weather, net browsing... nada.

I only mention it because probably everyone but me is already familiar with the cool apps available to control the networked devices in you HT setup, but just in case not...

I was pretty happy with the features of the Kindle Fire when my wife gave me one as a gift. Streaming movies is really pretty convenient and not bad quality, even when you're used to watching on a 10' screen with 7.2 audio. Games are fun, and sometime I'll get around to reading books on it, which I suppose is what it was mainly intended for.

But when I added the Yamaha and LG control applications to it, that's when the fun started. The display is a good size for the controls, and I can look at disc information - description, cast, ratings, etc. - without interrupting the movie we're watching. It works as a zone controller for my RX-V3900, so I can wander around the house, changing inputs and volume in the zone locations, and play Angry Birds in between (much better than on my wife's phone - yes, she's more contemporary than I am).

Anyway, In case you have a network-capable receiver or Blu-ray player in your system, and got a Fire for Christmas, you might check to see if an AV Controller App is available for it. Yamaha, Pioneer, and LG are the one's I've tried.

 

[Adam]

Thanks! You have me wondering if my Android phone has any apps like that for it.

 

[AverageJoe]

Actually, you're right. They are really Android apps, and I believe the Kindle's Android OS is somewhat modified, but supports them. I think they are available for the iPhones OS as well.

I suspect the next great 'Format War' will be Apple vs. Android?

 

[sholling]

Thanks! You have me wondering if my Android phone has any apps like that for it.

I have an Android phone app for my latest Onkyo receiver that works pretty well and used Unified Remote and the PowerDVD remote control tool for my last HTPC. All of the above are IP based apps and not IR based. Even my NeoTV550 can be controlled from a browser. But now that the HTPC is an expensive paperweight I'm happy to be back to my Harmony One.

FWIW the latest Samsung Tablets are said to include a remote control application and a built in IR emitter. Unfortunately they start at $400.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My Androids can control my Denon AVP-A1HDCI, AVR-5308CI, & AVR-3310CI, my server and all HTPCs , and both my Panasonic BD players.

Wait, why can't I control my dual $2K Denon BD players with Android, but I can control my dual $100 Panasonic BD players with Android?

I need to figure out how to control my dual projectors and all my amps independently with Android - I mean other than the amp trigger cable connected to the Denon.

Is there like an Ethernet controller connection with all the amps + triggers?

 

[goodman]

Vizio has an android tablet with an ir emitter and a remote control program. I input all of my components and they worked well, except for the projector, which has separate on and off buttons, so I couldn't turn it off. I called Vizio and they were unable to assist. I returned the Vizio.