I wrote about the Roomie Remote a short while ago and decided to expand on my review (although there we will be a little bit of overlap for those only reading this article - if you need a basic understanding of the remote, you may want to click on the link above and read my initial article) since I decided to go ahead and add the parts to make the Roomie iOS remote app perfectly functional in my living room and office setups.   I also have some control in my bedroom, but I will need to add a "Global Cache IP2IR iTach Wired TCP/IP to IR" to the room to get the same level of control.
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Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

Last week, I mentioned that the price starts getting expensive when you go "all in" with this remote.   I have purchased the following to get everything up and running:

Global Cache IP2IR iTach Wired TCP/IP to IR - $91 - This is the part you need to control components that can't be directly controlled via ethernet (IP control).  

Roomie Remote for iOS - 9.95 - this is the bare minimum to get the remote up and running with two devices that can be controlled via IP.

Home Theater Pack - $19.99 (in app purchase) - This expands to unlimited devices in unlimited rooms.

Roomie Remote Agent for OSX - $19.99 - This will make it possible to control a Mac and bring it out of sleep/screensaver mode and launch applications.   

Agent Management Pack -  9..99 - provides synchronization and backup for all Roomie devices on your network.  This is really a nice feature since it keeps all devices in sync.  In other words, if one remote is tuned to your DVD player, the other remote (iOS device) will also be synced to the DVD player.  This is one of the main issues with using home theater remotes, one remote usually has know idea what the other remote is doing.  

This comes out to roughy $150 for the entire package.   For me, it was worth it since it controls my main system, makes my office system much more functional, and even adds some control features to my bedroom, kitchen, and sunroom.

For the main system, I started this process to get more use from the Mac Mini that is hooked up to a Denon 4311CI receiver in the living room.  With the Roomie Remote Agent, I can hit one button on the app and it will turn on the Denon receiver, set the receiver to the correct input, set the receiver to the correct outputs for audio and video, and launch Plex.   With the Remote Agent, you can simply create and "Activity" and tell it the program you want to launch from the "Applications" folder on the Mac.  It works with any program in the Application folder.   With Plex, iTunes, and XBMC, you can control them right from the controls in the Roomie.

For some devices, you have further control.  One of my favorite features is Roku, which gives you the ability to control your apps from the remote:

The DirecTV app is also full featured with a guide and allows control over every function:

The iTunes remote is also full featured with this setup.  You can control Airplay, songs, playlists, albums, iTunes Radio, etc..  I have iTunes setup for each room with an Airplay device, so that I can turn on receivers, put them on the right input, etc.  There is also the ability to autostart a specific Airplay device,  but I have found a lag in that process, so I will probably set them up to allow me to choose the Airplay device manually.

After you choose music and a specific album,  you get a screen similar to the pic below:

If you want to listen to Spotify, you are currently a bit more limited.  I prefer just using the Spotify iOS app and Airplay, but you can also see a super small version of you desktop from inside the Roomie app.  This usually works okay for controlling the mouse on computer screen or TV, but it is a bit too small to be very useful without a larger display. 

With devices that are controlled with the iTach device (this is just a small box with power, an ethernet port, and three inputs for the included infrared repeaters, and included blaster), there isn't the same level of functionality, but you do get access to all of the controls you need for many devices (they have preconfigured remote settings for all of my devices).   

I should mention that my Samsung TV was very particular about where the IR repeater was placed (The Roomie website even mentions that difficulty).   The way I got around this was by sticking  the repeater to the arm of a small lamp I have on my entertainment center (below is an older pic, I don't have a PS3 in this setup anymore, but you can see the lamp on the right side of the console behind the record player):

You could also attach the repeater directly to the TV, but since I already had the lamp sitting there and it hides the wire, I went this route.  I have power behind the TV, so I could buy a wireless iTach or get an IR extension cable and run the cable through the wall.   However, I am just going to get some double sided tape and it will hide the cable completely behind the arm of the lamp.

I also have an Oppo 980H DVD player and an older Panasonic Blu-ray player and use the blaster (which works better for controlling more than one device when they are on the same shelf) for controlling them.  They both work without any issues.  I also have an AppleTV 3rd Gen version on another shelf in the setup and I used the last IR repeater for it. 

As you can see in the pic above, I have three monitors and a receiver in my office system.   I have an HDMI feed from the Denon receiver in the living room that feeds the Sony receiver in my office.  I can control everything in the office manually since everything is at arm's length, but I also wanted to control everything from my main system with the Roomie app.   With the Roomie, I can change the audio output on the living room receiver to "TV" so that it sends audio via the HDMI instead of out to my living room speakers.  Also, the Denon 4311CI has two HDMI outputs and I send the second output to the office and the Roomie will allow me to send the signal only to that output from within their activity screens.

So, if I want to watch something on the Blu-ray player that sits in the living room, I have the Roomie setup to send that video and audio to my office (Sony receiver).  I have an HDMI splitter coming out of the Sony, so it sends the audio/video to the display on the left side of the desk and to the Westinghouse HDTV above the iMac.  I can choose which display to watch at that point.   I don't have an iTach in my office, so I still use the Westinghouse and Sony remotes to control those devices.  Below is a photo of the remote screen I have for the office:

My bedroom setup has changed a bit since I took the picture above, but basically, I use the Roomie to control the receiver and the DirecTV Box.   I don't have an iTach in the room at this point, but for audio and controlling the DirecTV box, the Roomie will come in handy.  One thing I like is that I can use the receiver for music without the iTach IR box.  I have an Airport Express feeding a Little Dot DAC on my nightstand and it feeds audio to the Denon 3808CI in the bedroom.  The Roomie will turn on the Denon to the correct input and control volume.  I can also control the music that is going to the Airport Express with the iTunes interface in the Roomie software.

The Roomie will also control the media app built into the Denon 3808CI.  I can select music from one of my media servers and from the internet radio feature built into the Denon.  It is nice to have control of this feature without needing  to have a TV on:

If this review is a bit difficult to follow, you at least get an idea about how difficult it can be to set this up.  I had a Pronto remote, so I am used to setting up macros and making a user friendly remote control device from start to finish.   I found the Roomie much easier to setup than a Pronto, but there is still a lot of tweaking after the fact.    

One cool feature that helps with setup, is that once you set up the Roomie with all of your selections, you can actually back up the settings to Dropbox.  You can then download those settings to another iOS device (or devices) and have the same remote abilities.  I have Roomie on an iPhone and iPad and I simply set it up on the iPad and then downloaded those settings to the iPhone.  Also, with the OSX management software, they stay in sync, so I can have an iPad in hand one minute and an iPhone in hand the next and still have the same control over my setups without missing a beat.

I should mention that the Roomie has more capabilities than I have exploited.  Home automation, like Vera Control, Video Cameras, like Logitech Alert, make it even more useful for some people.  I haven't looked into whether it will work with our cameras and security systems, so that may be an article for another day.

While I am a huge fan of the Roomie app, I wouldn't recommend this setup for everyone.  It is great for managing equipment behind walls and between rooms, but I plan to use it as complimentary device to the Harmony 880s that I have had for years.  The ability to feel buttons rather than looking at a screen is an important feature for me since I use a DVR on a daily basis.   However, it will still get a ton of use with all of my other media devices.   I will also use it alongside the Harmony for TV since it has a fabulous guide built in.   My suggestion for those that are interested would be to try out the $9.99 app before jumping in with both feet.  I found it irresistible at that point, so you should have a great idea whether it is the system for you in a short amount of time.

As I have mentioned, I have a 2010 Mac Mini in my office that feeds two separate systems.   I have the mini placed in my office and I have it feeding the office display with DVI and I also have a long HDMI cable feeding a Denon receiver in my living room. 

I guess the strange part of my system is that the Denon receiver in the living room feeds two systems (it routes HDMI back into my office), as well.  This makes it possible to use the Mac Mini in both rooms and every component in my main entertainment system in my living room and office.

I started looking into a way to easily control XBMC (software for watching movies, listening to music, and a lot more) from my living room via a remote app.   I already have a few ways to take over the computer with the iPad and apps that make the iPad into a mac keyboard (Rowmote Pro).  These are both great approaches, but I wanted something more embedded into the overall system.  In other words, I wanted something with "activities"/macros that could make it easy to hit one button and  have my TV turn on and go to the correct input, then my receiver turns on and goes to the correct input, and finally the XBMC remote pops up on the screen.

When I started looking into this, I ran across a site called EverythingiCafe that had a great description of how they use their Mac Mini and an introduction to Roomie Remote. 

I looked into Roomie a little more and found that it might fit my needs for XBMC in my living room and a lot more.  However, I will probably have to build my system around it over the next few months since it starts getting costly with each add on.  The current pricing for what I have already purchased:

1.  Roomie Remote app -$9.99 - This allows you to control two devices in one room.  
2.  Home Theater Pack - $19.99 - This expands to unlimited devices in unlimited rooms.

So, I am already in for $30 and I will have to change settings on my mini to get it to work the way I want.  When my mini's screensaver comes on, or my mini goes to sleep, the app will no longer control XBMC.  I have to use the Rowmote Pro app to move the curser around to wake up the mini so I can control it with Roomie again.   Not ideal.

That being said, I discovered other uses for the app that I had not anticipated when I initially started researching.  Right now, my Denon receiver, Roku, and Directv Genie can all be controlled via the Roomie app via IP control.  This means they are all connected to my network and available for the Roomie to control (Not all internet devices work this way.  For example, I can't control my AppleTVs this way).   

One issue I have had with sharing Directv from my living room into my office is that I am using my Denon receiver's second HDMI output for the office setup.  For some reason, my receiver has an issue using both HDMI outputs at the same time, so I have to go into the Denon's webpage and change the output to HDMI 2 manually.  I also have to manually route audio to my TV rather than my amp via the Denon web control.  With Roomie, I have set up an "activity" to make these changes automatically when I want to watch Directv.  I also set up my main system to put these settings back when I want to use HDMI 1 and the amp/speakers in my living room via Roomie.

Now that I can use Roku and Directv in my office using Roomie, I am starting to think I want to use some of their other features to get everything working perfectly.  The downside is that this starts to get expensive very quickly.  Here is the breakdown of what I need to have everything working in my Office and living room (I would also like to add some of this to my bedroom, but that will be a while down the road):

-Roomie Remote Agent - $19.99 - This will make it possible to control the Mac Mini and bring it out of sleep/screensaver mode and launch applications.   It says it will also control the mouse on the Mac.  

-Agent Management Pack -  9..99 - I think I will also need this to make Roomie Remote Agent work.  It is not really clear on their website, but their in app purchase makes it sound like this is a required add on, too.  I will have to research it a bit more.  

-Global Cache IP2IR - $91 - This is a box that plugs into a router via ethernet and has IR blasters that will control IR only devices (AppleTV, Samsung TV, etc.. in my setup) .  

Roomie Service Subscription - $16.99 per year - this gives you access to IR codes that you will need to control those IR devices.   This is the one thing about the service that worries me a bit.  What happens if they go out of business?  I am stuck with trying to find another app that will do this or I could be dead in the water.   Vanishing tech is an issue with all small tech services like this, but I will probably risk it.

So, if you are keeping up, adding everything above will have me all set for my office and living room.  However, the add-ons start getting pretty expensive.  I would also need to spend another $91 for another blaster if I wanted the same setup in the bedroom.  However, I rarely use that system, so I am not sure I will ever add it.  Also, the Roomie can handle some security cameras and home automation devices, so you can even expand on what I mentioned above.

Also, I should mention that this system is not just plug and play.  You may need to configure routers, figure out how to add the "webserver" to XBMC,  figure out what add ons you need, etc..  They do have a forum, but it isn't very busy, so that could be an issue for some.  Also, some of the responses were too "tech speak" for me.

I won't be getting rid of my Harmony Remote even if I buy everything on the list, but the Roomie will be a nice supplement to that remote.  Also, if you have more than one iOS device and a Dropbox account, you can setup one device, upload the settings to Dropbox, and download those settings to a separate iOS device which I found very useful.    I will probably add the "Roomie Remote Agent" in the next month or so and then decide if I really want to add the IR blasters since that is when the yearly charge and additional hardware are needed.  I will report back as I add new features. 

Lately, I have been going through old photos and I have been taking advantage of sharing my Lightroom library across my network.   I have the library saved onto my Synology DS Cloud server (I was running out of space on Dropbox) and my only disappointment was the speed of my laptop when it would access my library.

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

I recently updated my 2011 MBP to SSD, so naturally, I wanted to take advantage of that speed when using Lightroom (and anything else on my network and web).  Since I mainly use my laptop on the chair picture above or on the couch, I figured I could put a power line ethernet adapter in both areas and be able to make better use of my time when using a laptop.

Today, I was able to try out the ZyXel 600mbps Powerline AV2 Gigabit adapter with my system.  I started by buying one set of adapters,  just so I could try it out before I bought more.   The reviewers on Amazon seemed to think that you needed to plug both of the units into the same wall socket to make them sync up.    They are too big for me to be able to do that, so I plugged one of them into the other.  I am not sure if that did anything, but I took one of them into my living room and tried to plug it in to the same wall socket as a power strip in the wall (from what I read it needs to be plugged directly into the wall).  However, the thing is so large that I couldn't plug it into the same wall socket because the two plugs were competing for the same space.  Not a big deal since  I have another socket on the same wall.  I will just buy an adapter for my power strip to solve the issue in the future.

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

Once I plugged it in, I attached an ethernet cable and plugged it into my MBP (the ZyXel has a couple ethernet cables, but they are short).   I was immediately connected to the net and the speed seemed to be  just fast as plugging directly into my router.  

While I realize that a lot of people move around their homes with their laptop, which is similar to how I use an iPad, so tying down to an ethernet cable may be too cumbersome.  However, for me, I usually keep my power plugged in all the time, so this is just another cable that completely improves my experience.  I would highly recommend the adapters for someone in a similar situation.

I wrote the article below in April 2014.  However, you can also refer to my updated article (March 2015) on thisKelbyone vs Lynda.com comparison.  


I mentioned last year that I started a subscription to Lynda.com.  For those unfamiliar with the service, it is a site with tons of training videos.  I started the service when I was considering taking  a photography course locally, but realized I could get several months of training videos for less money.

While there is something to be said for hands on training with a professional teacher, I work full time and I was looking for something online.   Since I knew about Lynda.com, I gravitated toward their service.  As I mentioned before, they have two monthly subscription programs and a few different yearly programs that offer a discount or add features (like downloading to an iPad for offline viewing).  I went with their more expensive 37.50 a month program that offers access to the files they are using in their courses.  I scaled back to their $25 a month program since it saved $12.50 a month and I wasn't really following along with their project files while I was watching videos.


I have been using Lynda for nearly a year now and I am happy with the service, but I was curious about the other programs available.  I was watching a video podcast called "The Grid" on my AppleTV and saw a commercial for KelbyOne.  This is a site associated with Scott Kelby.  Most people that have read a Photoshop or Lightoom book have probably heard of Kelby.    The interesting part was KelbyOne's monthly membership is also $25 a month.

Since I was curious, I decided to join KelbyOne for a month to see how it compares to Lynda.com.  

The thing I like about KelbyOne is that it has more classes from well known professional photographers.  Joe McNally, Moose Peterson, Trey Ratcliff and many more well know photographers have courses on the site.  While Lynda.com has great teachers and some photographer interviews, they don't really have a wildlife photography class from someone as successful in that area as Moose Peterson.

To me, this is the main difference between the two services.  Lynda will teach you how to get great photos in numerous areas by focusing on the fundamentals of photography, which I found very interesting.  But KelbyOne will take you out in the field with Joe McNally, Moose Peterson, etc.  Also, they have courses from Scott Kelby on the process of going from taking a flash photo on location to how to manipulate those photos in Photoshop.

While I am not saying which approach is better, I found them both to contain a lot of information for the amateur photographer.   I also found it interesting that KelbyOne touts 10,000 videos to Lynda.com's 2500.  The reason I found it interesting is that Lynda has a much wider range of courses.  You can learn Excel, Quickbooks, iPad Music Production, and much more.   KelbyOne seems to be much more focused on Photography and rarely moves completely away from that subject.  Also, while KelbyOne apparently had more videos, it actually feels smaller to me.  For example, they have a Canon 5D MarkIII course, but it is 4 hours shorter than the in depth video from Lynda on the same subject.   I have found that many of the Lynda videos are longer and more in depth that the KelbyOne videos on the same subject.  Also, it doesn't make sense to get too hung up on the number of videos when some of those videos may not apply to anything you do.  For example, a Lightroom 3 video may be of no consequence if they offer a Lightroom 5 video and that is what you are using.

While length of videos, photographers, and subject matter may be different, this is not where the differences end.   The way you interact with the two services is also different.

If you use a PC for both services, you will find some differences in how they work.  Lynda.com just seems more polished for a few reasons.  The main difference, and it is a big one, is that Lynda keeps track of where you left off on a course.  Both services break their courses into numerous videos, but Lynda puts an eyeball icon next to those you have started watching.  KelbyOne requires that you figure out where you left off on your own.   While KelbyOne does have a "dashboard" section that shows your recent history, it  does't seem to know where you left off.  Most of my history takes me right back to the intro video rather than the last video I watched in the sequence.

On an iPad, which is mainly how I watch the videos, Lynda is far superior.  For example, I can create individual playlists and put courses in them for watching later.  I can review my course history, see what percentage of a course I have started is finished, and see the last video in the course that I have started watching.   Also, I have the ability to search for new subjects just by typing in a word, by subject, by software, etc...  Once you decide on a subject, for example Black and White, you see a list of courses like "Colorizing B &W", "B&W in Lightroom", etc...  You can usually see a very long list before you need to scroll down, which makes it easy to find a subject.  Also, if you are interested in one Author, you can click on their name and see a full list of every course they have taught.  Next to each name is also the number of courses.

KelbyOne also has an iPad app.  However, it is much less useful.  You get subjects like "Photography", "New Courses", etc.. like you have with Lynda.  However, for some reason the subjects aren't even in alphabetical order like they are in Lynda.  Also, when you click on "Photography", you don't get a list.  You get  a photo with the name of the course underneath.  I believe the courses are arranged by the date they were made with newest first, but I am not sure.  However,  you have to navigate to that page every time you relaunch the app and find the course again, to pick up where you left off.  You also need to remember the name of the last video you watched in the course.    

My issue with the photo on of each course is that you can't even fully fit 6 different courses on a page, so if you were watching a video that wasn't brand new(assuming this is how they are sorted), you could be scrolling and trying to find the video for a long time.   Lynda has course names in alphabetical order, so I can find courses very easily.  Also, KelbyOne does not have course history or a search function in the app.  They do let you look for an "Author", but they don't tell you how many courses that author has  available and rather than a long alphabetical list, you get about six courses per page in random (or possibly newest to oldest order).  If I want to watch a course in Lightroom by Scott Kelby, I have to scroll through every page, try to remember the subject that best fits my needs when I see a course with Lightroom in the name and the scroll back to that course after I review all of them to see which fits my needs best.  It is much easier to see an alphabetical list and then choosing which class in that list fits your needs best.   You can go to a specific "Photoshop Lightroom" tab, but then you have to sort through videos by all authors.   

My opinion is that KelbyOne really needs to work on a much better way to organize their catalog and needs to really update their iPad app.  That is not to say that KelbyOne doesn't have some advantages.  For example, with a membership you get a copy of "Photoshop User" magazine, discounts for some photography services (that may pay for a month on its own), and a community board where you can ask questions.   In fact, there are probably other features I am unaware of because you get shuffled in out of areas as you click on services.  For instance, when I clicked on "Community" on their webpage, I got taken to "members.photoshopusers.com" and had to sign in again.  

I also want to mention that I mainly use these services using an iPad or iPhone and Airplay the video to my AppleTV 2.  Even then, the video for Lynda.com is often sharper and looks better.   This isn't an across the board assessment, but overall, in my opinion, many videos just look better on Lynda.com.  

Finally, this article may come off sounding like a ringing endorsement for Lynda.com.  If I had to live with one of the services forever, it would definitely be Lynda.com.   I would also recommend it before KelbyOne for most people.  That being said, these services can both be subscribed to on a month-to-month basis.  As a result, I am canceling Lynda for a while since I want to watch more KelbyOne videos.  That may seem strange, but I have been using Lynda for nearly a year and I have exhausted most of the basic photography courses and it is always interesting to see similar areas discussed by another author.  The reason is that there are so many ways to use Lightroom, for example, that the subject is covered differently and may bring more insight into the way I am working with these things.  I will definitely go back to Lynda in a few months, but I only have time and money to watch videos from one service at a time.  

For me, the content outweighs the interface of these services.  Although, KelbyOne could learn a lot of from Lynda.com and the great organizational skills put into their interface.

2/15 - I wrote this article about a year ago and I plan on writing an updated article soon.  I have attached a free video below related to one of my favorite ongoing classes called "The Practicing Photographer".  I should note that I could get a small payment from Lynda for advertising their site, but I will also look into Kelbyone for a similar program before I write the new article.