are WiFi remotes a thing yet?

[Marzipan]

WiFi music streaming is gaining steam / popularity due to Bluetooth's range and bandwidth limitations and running a couple of 'wish there were products with this' thoughts through my head made me compose this question.

so many devices you control with IR / Bt remotes are now networked connected that having universal WiFi remotes to control them anywhere in the home, not just by line of sight or within 10ft has great use prospects that I hope it'll become a thing sooner rather than later if it isn't already.

 

[CMetaphor]

It's not quite a wifi "remote", but I've been plenty happy with Alexas running on Echo Dots (3rd gen). My voice is my remote, and I can link each to external speakers or Bluetooth each to larger setups. I haven't done it in a while, but I can technically run one audio stream to every echo dot in the house, and each can BT to my many audio setups. Whole home audio. Is that close enough to what you're after?

 

[Izerous]

There are also wifi controller ir/rf blasters depending on your specific need.

I had echos, and google minis in the office and side by side and went with the minis due to much better sounding speakers. Either way in a few spots I have them controller via voice/wifi and in some cases they control BT amp/recievers to drive full sized speakers.

 

[lowfat]

Harmony have had wifi capabilities for a long time. But they are also extinct. I can use the controls anywhere in the house and they connect to my FireTVs, etc over wifi. As well as doing the regular IR, bluetooth, whatever.

Also in theory home assistant can do it. I can control my AVR / TV through it via its phone app. Home Assistant server required tho. Can also adapt a bluetooth keyboard as the actual remote too.

There are other Harmony replacement options but they are stupid expensive.

 

[Lysrin]

Harmony have had wifi capabilities for a long time. But they are also extinct. I can use the controls anywhere in the house and they connect to my FireTVs, etc over wifi. As well as doing the regular IR, bluetooth, whatever.

Also in theory home assistant can do it. I can control my AVR / TV through it via its phone app. Home Assistant server required tho. Can also adapt a bluetooth keyboard as the actual remote too.

There are other Harmony replacement options but they are stupid expensive.

Not related to wifi remotes, but just wanted to say, I'd love to replace my aging Harmony with something, or actually the very same thing! But it's hard to find an option that looks good for a sensible price.

 

[Marzipan]

@CMetaphor @Izerous I don't think either of those would do what I want. let me share my 'wished for product' so you can all chuckle at me.

WiFi / Bt connected audiophile grade headset with controls that lets me switch between multiple devices like a PC, laptop, tablet and smartphone. the controls let me control the volume of individual applications that I am using, like Teams, audio player, video player and YouTube. this will allow me to mute / lower or increase volume on the fly as I walk around my house mostly naked while listening to music, watching (more listening though) WLiiT or take work / personal calls from whatever devices is trying for my attention.

the controls could be on this unicorn device or on a small remote I keep on me or between both, with that being the least desirable option.

okay...laugh.

 

[lowfat]

@CMetaphor @Izerous I don't think either of those would do what I want. let me share my 'wished for product' so you can all chuckle at me.

WiFi / Bt connected audiophile grade headset with controls that lets me switch between multiple devices like a PC, laptop, tablet and smartphone. the controls let me control the volume of individual applications that I am using, like Teams, audio player, video player and YouTube. this will allow me to mute / lower or increase volume on the fly as I walk around my house mostly naked while listening to music, watching (more listening though) WLiiT or take work / personal calls from whatever devices is trying for my attention.

the controls could be on this unicorn device or on a small remote I keep on me or between both, with that being the least desirable option.

okay...laugh.

But you can't really do that in Windows with a keyboard either. If you can't do it with a keyboard you can't do it with a remote.

 

[Izerous]

You could move everything to your phone, do the teams connection there instead of your desktop etc.

Remote apps do also exist to control things on your desktop from your phone using at is a remote.

PC Remote - Apps on Google Play

Powerful app to control PC.

play.google.com

An mqtt broker on your desktop and send it mqtt commands to execute macros... a few ways to do some of what your asking. A magical unicorn that does it all to all devices seems unlikely.

Also walking around the house naked I'm afraid to ask where your carrying your intended remote when your not using it.

 

[JD]

There are other Harmony replacement options but they are stupid expensive.

It's a shame they killed off Harmony, I don't really understand why. It was basically the only sensible option in the market and it doesn't feel like anyone has really filled the void?

WiFi / Bt connected audiophile grade headset with controls that lets me switch between multiple devices like a PC, laptop, tablet and smartphone. the controls let me control the volume of individual applications that I am using, like Teams, audio player, video player and YouTube. this will allow me to mute / lower or increase volume on the fly as I walk around my house mostly naked while listening to music, watching (more listening though) WLiiT or take work / personal calls from whatever devices is trying for my attention.

Sounds like you basically want to strap your phone to your headphones then as it doesn't sound like you'd have any pockets to put it in? I don't really see why you need to swap between devices as "inputs".

 

[Marzipan]

It's a shame they killed off Harmony, I don't really understand why. It was basically the only sensible option in the market and it doesn't feel like anyone has really filled the void?

Sounds like you basically want to strap your phone to your headphones then as it doesn't sound like you'd have any pockets to put it in? I don't really see why you need to swap between devices as "inputs".

I think I did a bad job of describing what I'm after.

as for switching device inputs...listening to music and then a phone call comes in, press of a button connects me to the device with the incoming call.