iPanel will turn your iPad into a very expensive remote control unit
I've previously reviewed a couple of relatively inexpensive products to turn your iPhone into a universal remote. The RedEye and POWER A remotes are pretty cool, but the one thing that always sunk it for me was the lack of hard buttons. Plus, I'm always on the lookout for a decent contender on the iPad. [Note that we covered Savant Systems' iOS and Mac mini solutions for automation and AV several months back. –Ed.]
Crestron, maker of high-end AV and automation solutions for home and office/presentation use, has a solution for both: the iPanel, which surrounds the iPad in a hardware dock with buttons for key functions. At US$500, it's not something I'm going to be running out to buy, but the option is there.
Obviously, at $500 it should do more than change the volume on your TV, and it does. Lighting, music, media centers ... all the usual Crestron fun stuff. It's also cheaper to turn your iPad into a touchscreen Crestron remote than it is to buy an actual touchscreen Crestron remote. The 13 hardware buttons also function without the iPad connected, so you're not up a creek if your iPad is off charging and you need to change the channel or dim the lights.
The iPanel will be shown at the CEDIA Expo 2010.
[via Engadget]
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I've previously reviewed a couple of relatively inexpensive products to turn your iPhone into a universal remote. The RedEye and POWER A...
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This is a joke, right?
This is the kind of desperate scamtastic Hail Mary we are going to increasingly see as iOS continues to dry up these little ponds of graft and deception. Likely this company has been milking gullible rich, old folks for two decades with their "high end" A/V gadgets and now iPad -- an infinitie button machine, endless interface -- comes along and kills off all useless buttons, toggle switches, and levers, and now what can these people use to justify their absurd prices?
I know!
Let's put a frame around the iPad!
And attach a special $600 Unobtainium tipped super-cable to the iPad for pixel clarity and place it all in the mink-lined dock which is gilded with chocolate, caviar, and blood diamonds.
This product is a clown car.
Tom, reading your posts here I can only conclude that you have neither wealth or intelligence.
Don't be so bitter about it though, just some people have to work harder than others to succeed.
Tom, reading your posts here I can only conclude that you have neither wealth or intelligence.
Don't be so bitter about it though, just some people have to work harder than others to succeed.
This price is really stupid... oh WAIT, I get it, it remotely operates an MRI machine, oh WAIT yes, it also flips views and operates a Cat Scan machine at your city's General Hospital... well Jeez yes, it IS worth $500.
Oh, no, it doesn't ? I know, it manages EVERY movie in a huge multiplex theater operation, WOW !
What ? It doesn't do that ? Well... what is it doing that I would pay $500 ??
You make it sound like you're being forced to buy it.
Some people have $500+ to spend on a system like this. It's not worth $500 to you cos you're not the target market
There are two types of wealthy person.
Those who are wealthy because they are smart with money, and smart in general. Those who are wealthy because of sheer dumb luck, and who may be dumb or smart.
The former would never buy this product. Those in the second category who are easily gulled and have more cash than intelligence might purchase this... if you paste more rhinestones on it, and have it signed personally by Diddy.
The target market for this product are rich, dumb people.
Not to call you guys retards or anything but you have no clue what you just wrote about.
1. You need a crestron system or processor for this to be of any use.
2. Crestron already makes a $100 app that lets your iPad control a crestron system. This is like an add on to make it even more useful - even giving it a custom charging cradle.
3. Comparing this to a red eye app is just insane as they are not even on the same playing field.
Crestron systems are whole house control systems often costing over $100k.
They can control anything that can be controlled. Lights thermostats motorized shades every audio zone and video zone in your house your jacuzi and more.
A similar crestron wireless panel made by them is over $3k
And to say a red eye is anywhere close to this is misleading.
It happens to be a bargain at $500 plus $100 for app.
Again keep in mind - it won't do a thing without an actual cresteon processor to communicate with.
@motech
I'm pretty sure you actually did just call me a "retard," despite the backhanded approach.
I'm sure your comment would have been more useful without the slander. I might even have read it.
That's an easy way to avoid the topic of your poor research skills.
Just post anything iRelated and watch the clicks come in!
This is a great $29 idea! And we leave it up to you app designers to put it into existence.
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