MediaShair 2 vs BleControlsPi

“MediaShair 2” is a software application for use with the IOGEAR MediaShair Wireless Media Hub • Supports iOS 7.0 and above • Streams movies, music, photos and documents from the MediaShair Hub to several devices including iPod, iPhone, iPad, laptops, etc. • Displays DLNA Media thumbnails for video, photo, music and documents Ÿ• Supports search function based on DLNA media Ÿ• Supports file list/thumbnail view with ID3, support sharing operation for photos, music and documents Ÿ• Supports copy/cut/delete/create/rename operation and supports local/Wi-Fi Storage data transmission between • Supports photo slideshow with background music playing Ÿ• Supports music artwork shows, repeat mode setting, time line drag operation • Supports network and device parameter configuration Ÿ• Supports audio formats: .mp3, .aac, .m4a, .wav, .aiff Ÿ• Supports video formats: .m4v, .mp4, .mov Ÿ• Supports image formats: .jpg, .tiff, .bmp, .gif(image) Ÿ• Supports document formats: .key, .numbers, .page, .xls, .xlsx, .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .ppt, .pptx Ÿ• Supports NTFS, HFS+, and FAT32 formatted USB storage • Supports “Open With” feature; long press file names to open in compatible third-party apps • Supports wired and wireless network connection to enable Internet access for devices connected to MediaShair Hub’s Wi-Fi network • Supports use with compatible third-party video players to playback non-native video formats such as .avi, .mkv, etc. • Supports bulk file transfer- large numbers of files between attached storage devices • Supports VPN pass through for network connections • Supports photo slideshow with background music playing • Supports email and upload to Facebook function for documents and photos • Support uploading videos (recorded on your device) and photos from Camera Roll to attached USB or SD card storage

The BLEControlsPi App allows to create various iOS controls such as Button,Toggle, Sliders, Steppers, Pickers (color, date, options) to Control a Raspberry Pi. Manipulating these controls sends their value to the Raspberry Pi (or linux device) in real time over Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE). You can also define Display controls such as Gauges and Text Displays, to create a Dashboard, where the Raspberry Pi sends info to the iPhone/iPad also in real time over Bluetooth. You can create, edit, size, and positions the controls in the app without being connected to a Raspberry Pi. However, before you can connect to, and control the Raspberry Pi you must instal the Python code (see below). IMPORTANT: You must install the free companion Python Software on the Raspberry Pi - where you define your own handlers (callback) functions that take actions on the Raspberry Pi, or fetch data on the Raspberry Pi to send to the iPhone/iPad. The code is provided with an automated installer for the Raspberry Pi. See https://github.com/bluepieapps/blecontrolspi-python and the README. The app provides 2 free controls. These can be created , deleted and re-created as often as you wish, allowing you to test any configuration, or run a simple control scheme. If you need more controls, you can use In-App Purchases to buy Control Packs (in quantity 1,3,5 or 9) for a small fee. This is not a subscription. Once you own the pack - it is yours to use. Packs allow the creation of any controls offered in the app, and any such controls can be edited, deleted and re-created at will. You can install the app on multiple iPhones/iPads that all use the same Apple ID. Controls Packs, and Controls you define on one device are synchronized to the other devices on app restart. Add a new control on your iPhone, and it will show up on your iPad. delete a controls from your iPad, and it will be deleted from your iPhone. See a video of the app at: https://youtu.be/8y3t2luLw3k See the documentation at: https://bluepieapps.com/Control-Pi-over-bluetooth/ - There is docs on how the controls, working which type of controls are available. - There is also an explanation of how you create handlers in the Python Code on the Raspberry Pi to have the RPi react to the controls you have defined.