DVPRemote search automation enhances the new Netflix experience on Roku!

DVPRemote, featured in the February 2010 Roku Newsletter, enables an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to function as a wireless remote control for a Roku Digital Video Player (DVP), also known as the Netflix Player by Roku, or simply Roku Player.  Commands are sent from DVPRemote to a Roku Player using WiFi.  All functions provided by a standard Roku Player infrared remote control (i.e. Home, Up, Down, Left, Right, Select, Rewind, Play/Pause, and Forward) are supported by DVPRemote.  Holding down a button causes it to repeat just like the Roku infrared remote. The app automatically finds Roku Players on the same network as the device running it and configures itself to use them. Player information can be entered manually as well.  DVPRemote can control multiple Roku Players.  It has multiple user selectable skins and can provide audible or vibration feedback and highlight animations on button presses if desired.

DVPRemote also provides functionality beyond that provided by the standard Roku infrared remote.  For example, DVPRemote is not limited to short range, line of sight control like a standard infrared remote since a network connection is used.  This allows control of Roku players that are inside entertainment centers, in another part of the house, or (with appropriate configuration by users with advanced network configuration skills) across the country. Another example of functionality beyond that provided by the standard Roku infrared remote is the search automation feature which completely automates the navigation required to select letters and numbers on Roku search pages.  DVPRemote provides an intuitive QWERTY keyboard to enter search terms.  To do a search for "technology podcast" would require 74 button presses using the standard infrared remote or an app without search automation and only 19 keystrokes using DVPRemote.  To see DVPRemote search automation in action with the new Netflix experience on Roku, click on the video below!

 

You can use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to control your Roku Player while you watch movies and shows from your Netflix Instant Queue, from Amazon Video On Demand, MLB.tv, or any of the other channels from the Roku Channel Store!

IMPORTANT: The Roku Player controlled must be accessible from a WiFi connection on the device touch running DVPRemote for this application to work properly. (The Roku DVP can be connected to the internet by either hardwired ethernet or WiFi.)

Click on the DVPRemote image to the left to see additional screen shots of the app.

 

If you would like to purchase DVPRemote, click here, or on the “Available on the App Store” icon above. If you already purchased DVPRemote, please write a review of it by clicking here.

If you need support for DVPRemote or want additional information about it, please click here to go to the support web page or send an email to pirey4@claytongrafix.com.  If you have a comment or suggestion on how to improve DVPRemote, please send an email to pirey4@claytongrafix.com.

Commonly asked questions are “What do I do if player autodiscovery doesn’t work?”, “Why does DVPRemote lose contact with my Roku?”, “What do I do if I don’t have access to infrared remote control?”, and “How do I manually configure the information about my Roku DVP?”.   Click here to find the answers to these and other questions.

One situation where you probably still want to use your Infrared Remote is if you travel with your Roku.  We take ours on vacation with us.  If you try to connect the network at your destination, it is likely to require configuration using the Roku setup screens since the network address configured in the Roku is likely different than that required at your destination.  These setup screens may require the use of the infrared remote control that came with your Roku.  Click here to find out when DVPRemote can be used if you don’t have access to your Roku infrared remote control and need to move your Roku Player to a new network.

March 3, 2010 - DVPRemote 1.5 approved for sale in the app store.  Features of this release include:

1. Added Preference option that disables Screen Lock during use. (Disabled by default)
   

2. Added Preference option that enables vibration for button presses. (Disabled by default)
   

3. Fixed bug where app continuously flashed error message if a button was pressed after waking from screen lock/sleep before network connection is reestablished.
   

4. Shortcut taken on search screen to initiate search rather than navigating to and pressing the "search" button.
   

5. Player search filters out Roku devices which are not DVPs (e.g. Soundbridge, HD1000, and Brightsign products).
   

6. Added additional debug info in message to developer to help debug configuration issues.
   

7. Removed use of private API call per Apple request.
   

January 7, 2010 - DVPRemote 1.4 approved for sale in the app store.

January 4, 2010 - DVPRemote 1.4 submitted to app store for approval.  Features of this release include:

1. QWERTY search keyboard - intuitive QWERTY keyboard provided to enter search information.  Roku style search keyboard can also be used. (Set via app configuration option.)
   

2. Search automation - DVPRemote automates the entry of search information on Roku "Search" screens.  Just enter the search terms using the DVPRemote keyboard and let it navigate the Roku search screen and select the search term numbers and letters for you.
   

3. Buttons autorepeat when they are held down - just like the Roku infrared remote
   

4. Buttons can be animated with highlights when pressed
   

5. Host information can be saved to player list even if a connection can not be made to it.  (For advanced users)
   

6. Configuration information can be emailed to the developer to help troubleshoot networking and other issues.
   

7. Additional configuration options available in app settings.
   

8. Bug fixes.
   

October 21, 2009 - DVPRemote 1.3 approved and made available on the app store.

October 18, 2009 - DVPRemote 1.3 submitted to app store for approval.  Features of this release include:

1. Addresses the crash on startup issue encountered if you don’t delete the old version of the app before installing the new version
   

2. Fixed memory leak
   

3. Adds animation to player switching
   

October 16, 2009 - DVPRemote 1.2 approved and made available on the app store.

October 6, 2009 - DVPRemote 1.2 submitted to app store for approval. New features in the 1.2 release include:

1. Automatic search for and configuration of Roku Player info (#1 requested feature)
   

2. User Interface completely revamped
   

3. Support for multiple Roku Players
   

4. Support for multiple remote skins
   

5. Configurable audible feedback for button presses
   

August 17, 2009 - DVPRemote 1.1 approved and made available on the app store.

August 6, 2009 - DVPRemote 1.1 submitted to app store for approval. New Features include:

1. "Advanced Tab"screen that provides access to advanced functionality not commonly used.
   

2. The "Set Bitrate" button on this screen uses a button macro to access a screen on the Roku that allows the user to override the automatic stream bit rate selection and enable playback debugging.
   

July 29, 2009  - DVPRemote 1.0 approved for sale in the app store.

July 8, 2009 - Submitted DVPRemote 1.0 to app store for approval.

June 5, 2010 - DVPRemote featured in article on hackingnetflix.com.

February 10, 2010 -  DPPRemote discussed in article on newteevee.com.

February 10, 2010 - DVPRemote featured in article on jkontherun.com.

February 10, 2010 - DVPRemote featured in Roku’s Feburary 2010 Newsletter

January 14, 2010 - DVPRemote featured on zatznotfunny.com.

December 9, 2009 - DVPRemote mentioned in CNET review of Roku HD XR.

October 29, 2009 - DVPRemote featured in Roku’s October 2009 Newsletter

October 27, 2009 - DVPRemote featured on The Mobile Gadgeteer.

October 22, 2009 - DVPRemote 1.3 featured on hackingnetflix.com. 

October 20, 2009 - DVPRemote featured on itvt.com.

October 20, 2009 - DVPRemote featured on multimedia-pcs.com.

October 19, 2009 - Roku features DVPRemote on their facebook page and twitter feed.

October 17, 2009 - DVPRemote featured on zatznotfunny.com.

September 1, 2009 - DVPRemote featured on videobusiness.com.

August 30,2009 - DVPRemote featured on multimedia-pcs.com.

August 29, 2009 - DVPRemote featured on zatznotfunny.com.

August 28, 2009 - DVPRemote featured on hackingnetflix.com.