New Features

• Live Video Cameras: View RTSP video feeds such as those from most surveillance cameras. Cameras can be added to Virtual Remotes and separate panels.
• Conditional Delays: Delays may be added when a device is powered on before sending additional commands with no delay if the device is already powered on.
• Windows Mouse Control: Support for mouse and keyboard control of Windows systems via MCE Controller.
• Remote Buddy Screen Control: Support for mouse and keyboard control as well as live screen viewing has been added for Remote Buddy for OS X.
• URL Buttons: Buttons on Remote Designs can now open apps, URLs or even live camera displays as part of the command list.
• Dynamic Device Updates: Roomie no longer depends on a monolithic device library and now downloads updates dynamically as needed. This results in much faster updates and a much smaller app footprint.

New In-App Purchase: Agent Management Pack

• Roomie Agent Integration: Roomie Agent for OS X, a separate product available in the Roomie Store, provides management of Roomie devices. Agent support is activated in Roomie by the Agent Management Pack in-app purchase.
• Backup and Synchronization: Synchronization and backup for all Agent Management Pack enabled Roomie devices via Wi-Fi Synchronization.
• Remote App Launching: Launch and bring to front applications on the Agent OS X system from Roomie’s command lists.
• OS X Control: Control a Roomie Agent OS X system including live screen display in the Virtual Remote, mouse control, and keyboard commands.
• Remote Configuration Lock: Configurations can now be locked remotely via Roomie Agent including an optional PIN number to allow local access.

Roomie Agent joins Roomie’s Wi-Fi Synchronization mesh keeping all of your Roomie Remotes synchronized instantly. Backup and restore configurations to all Roomie clients simultaneously.

PIN-based configuration lock for Roomie Remote devices with the Agent Management Pack. Turn your iMac or Mac Mini into a HTPC media center. Control OS X from the ease of your couch with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

Control OS X Launch OS X Applications Live Screen and Mouse Control Wake from Sleep Create Macros for Mouse/Keyboard Commands Restart, Shutdown, Sleep

New Devices:

• Logitech Alert Cameras: Viewing live video from Logitech Alert cameras as well as automatic discovery of the cameras and integration into Remote Designs has been added.
• iTach Flex Serial: Support for serial connections with the new iTach Flex adapters has been added.
• MiCasaVerde Vera Lighting Feedback: Brightness and power management for lights and switches via Vera has been added as well as synchronization of all Vera devices.
• Anthem D2v/50v: Support for Anthem’s D2v/50v processor series has been added including feedback.

Improvements:

• Over 35,000 new infrared commands have been added for even greater compatibility with virtually all infrared devices. Newly added codes especially focus on adding many devices from international markets.
• Sonos Pandora integration now includes Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down feedback.
• The System Off activity for a Room can now be deleted. New Activities may be designated as either Power On or Power Off Activities.
• Insteon ISY99 Lighting Feedback is now more efficient allowing a significantly greater number of simultaneous feedbacks.
• Add Device now re-sorts devices less frequently so that devices are easier to select on highly populated networks.
• Wi-Fi Warning now appears whenever resuming the app if Wi-Fi is not active.
• Sonos Group control has been moved to the Media Bar.
• Updated App Icon.

Fixes:

• Restored ability to set Repeats for commands to Serial and IP devices.
• Fixed scrolling issue in Guide Settings on iPad screens.
• Fixed rare crash related to guide data.
• Fixed older Marantz receiver volume feedback (Pre-2010).
• Fixed iTunes Airplay speaker feedback.
• Fixed issue on iPhone screens jumping to Virtual Remote from the Room list on a configuration update if an activity was open.

Configurations are automatically updated by this version. All Roomie devices sharing a configuration should be upgraded to this release.

New Features

• Automation Integration: Rooms, Lights, and even Shades configured with Radio RA 2 or Insteon ISY99 controllers are now synchronized with Roomie for simple integration of lighting and shade/drapery control in each room.
• Custom Sliders: Slider controls with live feedback may now be added to Virtual Remotes for control of many different devices including light dimming levels and volumes on supported devices.
• Live Buttons: Buttons may now switch state based on binary feedback such as power, mute, whether a light is on or off, a sensor, and more.

Automation Integration

Custom and Popup Sliders

• VLC IP Control: Deep integration with VLC clients featuring direct IP control, progress tracking and many VLC settings such as audio track selection and fullscreen mode.
• VLC Media Guide: Included as part of the HD Guide Pack, full media browsing of playlists and filesystems through VLC is now provided.
• Popup Activities: Activities may now present on top of the current Activity without changing it. Popup Activities may use custom Remote Designs.

VLC Control and VLC Media Guide

Popup Activity for Lighting Control

• Power Tracking: State is now tracked for toggled power devices. Power toggle commands are only sent when switching Activities in appropriate situations.
• Remote Design Management: Remote Designs are now managed centrally for all rooms. Any device referenced in a Remote Design may now source from any room even if used from a different room.
• Button Sounds/Vibration: Buttons on Virtual Remotes may now cause a sound or vibration of the device.
• Roomie Sync: Activity changes, power status changes, and all other configuration changes are now updated instantly by any Roomie on your local network without Dropbox or iCloud. Roomie Sync will soon by joined by Roomie Agent for Mac OS providing additional synchronization and management for Roomie devices.
• XBMC 12/Plex HT Integration: Discovery and feedback now provided for XBMC 12 Frodo and the new Plex Home Theater including play positioning and media display.

Button Sounds and Vibration

Lighting Area Matching

New Devices

• iTach Flex: Support for the new iTach Flex series adapters has been added. More information on the new iTach Flex can be found in the Roomie Store for the iTach Flex IP and iTach Flex Wi-Fi.
• DirecTV C31 Genie: HR34 client receivers are now auto-discovered and controlled via IP.
• Lutron Discovery: Auto-discovery of Lutron Radio RA 2 has been added.
• Yamaha Receivers 2012+: Support for Zone 4 and Airplay inputs have been added.
• Yamaha Receivers 2010+: Alternate method added to allow control from multiple iOS devices simultaneously. Select ‘YNC Zone 1′ to use this new control method via Manual IP. Not all features of the standard control method are available in this set.
• Remote Buddy: Added auto-discovery, logo, and keyboard support.
• Oppo 103/105 Blu-ray Players: Added auto-discovery in addition to the existing IP control.

iTach Flex IP and Flex Wi-Fi

iTach Flex IP with Tri-Port Cable

Improvements

• Sony 2012 BD players are now supported for keyboard input and display feedback for program name and disc.
• Row End markers can now be added to Remote Designs to force visual boundaries.
• Apple TV Virtual Remotes now include play position control when used with an associated iTunes.
• Added Denon SiriusXM and radio feedback.
• Notification of IP address changes now identifies the changed device(s) explicitly.
• iTach IR devices may now be added via Manual IP if auto-discovery cannot find them due to a router problem.
• L5 Accessory firmware is now updated automatically and no longer requires the L5 Remote app.
• Jump to Guide enabled for DirecTV.
• Added logos for Somfy, VLC, Velodyne, and more.
• Added room logos for Theater Shades and Garage.
• Collapse Prefix buttons can now address any device in any room.
• iCloud Synchronization has been restructured for increased robustness.
• Localizations added for German and Spanish.

Fixes

• Connection failures are now retried aggressively resulting in much faster recovery.
• Fixed feedback for streaming inputs on Denon receivers for Zones 2-4.
• Improved IR learning from L5 accessories that sometimes produced codes that did not work with iTach IR units.
• Fixed auto-discovery of some Vera models.
• Additional fixes based on field reports.

Configurations are automatically updated by this version. Roomie devices sharing a configuration should all be upgraded to this release for proper synchronization.

This year at CES looks likely to bring some marginal improvements for some manufacturers while others like Samsung remain firmly entrenched. Here is what we know so far until we get 2013 models in house.

Panasonic as usual was a clear highlight of forward-thinking IP control across its entire product line. This year, staffers claim that the entire Smart TV range will support power control via IP. Last year, only the top end VT50 and GT50 supported that, and even then only in US models. The Smart TV range is quite broad across many models, so we’re hopeful this claim pans out. They were able to demo power control for us live, so it seems like this may come to pass. They will also be offering new APIs for functionality in their 2013 models to launch apps on the TV which we look forward to adding in Roomie. Similarly, Panasonic will continue to support full IP control for their Blu-ray players with the new 230 and 330.

Samsung unfortunately continues to treat the mention of iOS and Apple as something bordering on a misdemeanor offense in their pavilion. They happily and immediately blame Apple’s blockage of Bluetooth APIs in iOS (Apple does not allow custom Bluetooth from iOS apps) for the lack of power control from iOS. They knew exactly what we were asking about and were quite clear they would continue to support power via Bluetooth and Infrared only and not IP which means another year of hobbled Samsung TVs. This obviously is pending resolution of the much larger ecosystem battle wherein this is just one of many smaller skirmishes.

Much like Panasonic, Sharp views IP control as a core feature across most of their product line. We expect virtually all Sharp TV models for 2013 to continue with full IP control support.

LG is a vendor we’ve added to support their Blu-ray players in the past, but their lack of true IP control with power support generally makes them better to use via infrared anyway. This year, LG representatives said they were definitely aware of the problem and were trying to get the issue fixed right now while their 2013 models are still in beta testing, but could not yet commit whether they would fix this. That of course means it is not fixed today, so tempered expectations are probably the best bet for now.

Sony has been a mixed bag for IP control in the past with some of their 2012 Blu-ray player models supporting Wake on LAN for the first time which was a great sign, but their TVs have never had any solution. We haven’t been able to find a representative at the Sony pavilion yet that knows whether they have made any improvements in this area for their 2013 TV models.

In summary, if you’re planning ahead for the year and looking to make sure your new sets have IP control, Panasonic or Sharp remain the best choices. We’re hopeful LG or Sony will join the party this year, and we’re confident Samsung can be counted out as firmly in the infrared group at least for their 2013 TV models.

New Features

• Infrared Learning: Roomie now integrates learning infrared commands directly into the app. Learning infrared commands in the event they are not part of our extensive library is now just taps away. Both the iTach IR series and L5 Remote are supported learning devices. Learned commands are automatically organized into a working Virtual Remote.
• L5 Remote Support: Roomie now supports the L5 Remote accessory to transmit and learn infrared commands conveniently and directly from your iOS device. All existing infrared commands work equally well with the iTach IR and L5 devices.
• Dropbox Polling: Changes can now be downloaded from Dropbox automatically allowing integrators to maintain a central master configuration.
• Incoming Call Pause: Incoming calls can now automatically pause the current device.
• Oppo Blu-ray IP Control: Added control and auto-discovery of Oppo Blu-ray Players. Please note only the 2012 BDP-10X models can be powered on via IP.
• Sony STR-DN1030 IP Control: Added control and auto-discovery of Sony DN receivers. Please note these receivers do not provide volume feedback via IP.



• MiCasaVerde Vera IP Control: Added auto-detection and control for MiCasaVerde Vera Z-Wave controllers.
• UDP Devices: Added DDK support for UDP based devices to enable addition of new, custom, and future devices.

Improvements

• Delays on commands to HTTP-based devices now always are obeyed regardless of whether each command succeeds. This allows better Wake on LAN operation with HTTP based devices such as Sony BD players.
• Boxee Box now supports play position setting and status and additional commands.
• Apple TV Virtual Remote now allows merging with the iTunes Media Guide and Airplay controls.
• Apple TV default Remote Design is consolidated and a closer match to the original remote.
• Added Epson, Spotify, MiCasaVerde, and L5 logos.
• Sonos Line-In can now selected by command.
• Multiple Airplay Speakers can now be toggled independently for iTunes.
• New .AIRPLAY TOGGLE SET command for iTunes can be used to toggle multiple Airplay speakers independently via automation.
• Added Guest Room and Headphone icon.

Fixes

• Fixed iTunes 11 pairing.
• Fixed brightness not returning to normal in some cases.
• Fixed issue that would not synchronize changes to Remote Designs over iCloud.
• Fixed issues with the Add Command button in Edit Activity.
• Fixed rotation issues with iPhone screens on iOS 6 to allow upside-down orientation for better L5 usability.
• Fixed connectivity issue with iTunes in rare cases.
• Fixed Denon volume calculations for some cases that were off by one.
• Fixed incorrect auto-detection of Apple TV after October’s Apple TV software update.
• Fixed Sonos Stereo Set incorrect auto-detection.
• Fixed Sonos Line-In input handling.
• Fixed Yamaha receiver radio tuner feedback.
• Activity Memory is now more reliable in the event of iCloud issues.
• Stricter matching by brand for Original Remote images.
• Receiver Input/Mode are no longer added to Remote Designs by default if the receiver is not set as the Volume Control device.
• Pioneer VSX Series is now called ‘All Models’ to remove confusion with SC Series.

Configurations are automatically updated by this version. All Roomie devices sharing a configuration should be upgraded to this release.

Many additional fixes and improvements. For detailed release notes and compatibility information, please see the Roomie website.

New Features

• iCloud Synchronization: Multiple iOS devices can now share Roomie configurations instantly synchronized via iCloud.
• iCloud Activity Memory: Activity status is now synchronized between Roomie invocations and even across devices via iCloud. Multiple iOS devices will now use the same Activity status when selected on another Roomie and restore that activity on resume.
• Hardware Volume: New Settings option enables the use of your device volume buttons to control your room volume.
• Automatic Dimming: New Settings option turns off the screen after a user-defined timer.
• Guide Time: New marker tracks current time in the Guide.
• Sonos Group Control: Multiple Sonos devices across multiple rooms can now be grouped or ungrouped.

New Features in the HD Guide Pack In App Purchase:

• Music Guide: Both iTunes and Sonos control now provide a full browsing interface for their respective media libraries accessible via the new Music Guide.
• iTunes Song Control: Individual songs can now played directly.
• Sonos Playlist Control: Individual songs, playlists, iTunes imported playlists, Sonos Queue, and more can now be managed directly.
• Sonos Pandora Control: Pandora stations can now be tuned on Sonos devices.
• Sonos Radio Control: Internet radio stations can now be tuned on Sonos devices.

The above features are activated automatically for any existing purchases of the HD Guide Pack from prior releases. If you have a Sonos device from a prior version, please delete and re-add it to enable the new functionality.

Improvements

• Wake-on-LAN commands can now be sent to a custom MAC Address if the target device was not auto-discovered.
• Guide settings are now saved even if no rooms exist or no Activity is open.
• Sonos systems now display feedback properly for Internet radio, Amazon, and other sources.
• Denon 2012 models are now compatible with the alternate HTTP multiple connection method.
• Song and interactive feedback for various Pioneer 2011 and 2012 models has been added on Airplay and MHL inputs.
• Added Patio and Master Bath room icons.

Fixes

• All commands are now displayed in the command bar on a System Off command.
• Fixed iTunes connectivity issue and improved robustness and performance of iTunes feedback.

Many additional fixes and improvements. For detailed release notes and compatibility information, please see the compatibility pages on the Roomie website.

New Features

• iTunes Control: Control your music and video library including play functions, playlist selection, position scrubbing, album art, volume, and more. Just turn on “Allow iTunes audio control from remote speakers” in iTunes Preferences to allow auto-discovery and pair iTunes with Roomie.
• Airplay Control: iTunes Control expands to your entire home sending your media from iTunes to any Airplay device such as an Apple TV, many receivers, Boxee, and other compatible devices!
• Sonos Control: Control Sonos PLAY and CONNECT devices with song feedback, scrubbing, and album art integration. Includes automatic discovery. (Sonos multi-speaker grouping/zones not yet supported.)
• DirecTV Guide Integration: DirecTV show, episode, and channel information is now directly integrated into the Virtual Remote including guide linkage and show progress.
• Receiver Music Control: Feedback for many sources such as iPods, Pandora, Rhapsody, Spotify, and more are now displayed with song, album art, and other feedback integrated into the new Media Pad for supported Yamaha, Denon/Marantz, Onkyo/Integra, and Pioneer receivers. See the compatibility chart for details.
• Receiver Dynamic Remotes: Virtual Remotes now adjust commands automatically based on input. Commands only available in a particular input such as an iPod Play command are automatically upgraded to the main play button when the input is set to iPod.
• Wake-on-LAN: Compatible devices such as Macs, some Panasonic 2012 TVs, Sony 2012 Blu-ray Players, and many others can now be turned on using special Wake-on-LAN Ethernet signals in any command sequence.

iTunes Control

Airplay Control

DirecTV Integration

Receiver Music Control

Sonos Control

Improvements

• Guide Scrolling: Vertical speed has been significantly increased. The guide can also now be smoothly scrolled side to side across different dayparts and days.
• Guide Index: New user interface for guide indexing allows faster movement among channels.
• Guide Visibility: New Guide settings allow explicit specification per-Activity whether the Guide should be opened with the Activity.
• Channel Logos: Graphics have been upgraded and are now selectable as Activity and Button graphics.
• Onkyo THX Volume: Usage of Onkyo/Integra THX volume levels can now be set on the receiver device.
• Yamaha Pre-2008 Explicit Volume: Older Yamaha receivers can now explicitly set volume via the slider, and feedback is now provided for zones 2 and 3.
• Pioneer/Onkyo/Denon Keyboard Support: Keyboard support is now provided for many receivers.
• Media Pad: New Media Pad addition to Virtual Remotes can be added to your Remote Designs instead of or in addition to the Play Pad. The Media Pad is automatically used for iTunes, Roku, and Sonos.
• Intra-Repeat Delays: Precise delays between repeated commands to IP or Serial devices can now be configured.
• New Rooms: Built-in graphics have been added for Gym and Pool rooms.

Fixes

• Top to bottom review of field issues has significantly reduced the chance of errors in this version.
• Fixed deletion of devices when using input switching that could incorrectly assign some commands to the wrong device.
• Fixed elusive issue that could cause device information to be out of date for connections.
• Fixed issue with connectivity to some types of devices over time.
• Fixed usage of second serial port on GC-100-12/18 devices.
• Optimizations to Virtual Remote opening and other areas resulting in generally faster operations.
• Fixed Marantz AV7005 auto-detection.
• Removed iOS 4 support per prior announcement at 1.4 release. Roomie now requires iOS 5.0.
• Updated to the latest Dropbox support.

Many additional fixes and improvements. For detailed release notes and compatibility information, please see the compatibility pages on the Roomie website.

New Features

• Multipanning Personalized Guide: Program discovery has never been more powerful. The new personalized guide enhanced for Retina displays includes detailed show information, next showing schedules, credits, and informative biography sections on cast and crew.
• Retina-enhanced iPad Interface: Full support for 3rd generation iPad graphics has been added across the entire app including Original Remotes!
• Centralized Guide: Guide setup and personalization has been redesigned and simplified.
• iPad Panning Interface: The iPad interface has been significantly improved with panning screen management.
• Custom Backgrounds: Custom background images can now be added to Remote Designs.

New In App Purchase

• HD Guide Pack: Upgrades the guide from one-third screen width to full-screen on iPad displays and upgrades guide tracking from the current day to a full two weeks on all device types!

New Devices

• Panasonic TV IP Control: Auto-discovery and control of Panasonic VIERA TVs including the new 2012 models.
• Samsung Blu-ray IP Control: Auto-discovery and control of Samsung Blu-ray players including the new 2012 models.
• Detailed compatibility listings are provided on the IP Compatibility chart.

Improvements

• Prevent Editing: New option in Settings allows lock down of all Editing throughout Roomie to prevent unintended configuration changes.
• Pandora Yamaha Integration: Yamaha 2010+ receivers now feature integration with Pandora, Napster, SIRIUS, and other services displaying song, album, and station information. To enable this, add Display buttons with Feedback set to “Song (Pandora)”, or Station, or Album as desired to the Remote Design associated with the Activity for your Yamaha Receiver.
• TiVo Forced Channels: TiVo channel changes can now be forced, asking whether to cancel recording in order to change a channel if needed.
• Insteon ISY99 Lookup: Configuring commands for ISY99 devices now allows simple selection from all known lights or scenes rather than requiring manual entry.
• Access to compatibility and video tutorials is now provided inside the Settings panel.
• Virtual Remotes on iPad size screens are no longer left-aligned in any orientation.
• Boxee, Plex, and XBMC control now allows explicit volume control directly via IP to the player.
• Marantz SR9600/SR5001 receivers and similar models from the era prior to the Denon protocol merge are now supported for feedback of Power, Volume, Mute, and Input.
• Collect Diagnostics: New setting allows users to collect diagnostics about their components to send to support to aid in addition of new components and diagnosing issues with existing components.
• URL Launching: Roomie can now be launched from other apps using the “roomie://” URL scheme.

Fixes

• Samsung TVs and Blu-ray Players may now be added via Manual IP in the rare event auto-discovery does not find them.
• Fixed entry of some Insteon device IDs associated with SmartLinc or ISY devices.
• Fixed automatic IP address updates for TiVos that changed name.
• Stop commands are no longer sent when activating the currently active Activity.

Many additional fixes and improvements. For detailed release notes and compatibility information, please see the Roomie website. More screenshots from the 1.4 release are available at our Roomie 1.4 Screenshot Preview Gallery.

Please note that Roomie 1.4 will be the last release cycle to support iOS version 4 so please make a backup of this version if you will be needing that.