Trying and trying again.

Boxee iPad App Request: The Perfect Remote

I’m really excited to watch Boxee on an iPad, but as someone who’s invested time and money in a killer home theater setup, I’d love if Boxee would use the iPad to solve the fact that remotes suck as a means for interacting with content.  The iPad is an awesome content consumption device, yes, but it also has the potential to be the greatest companion remote ever.  

What I’d like to see is pretty simple: a Boxee remote app for the iPad that presents the Boxee menu structure in parallel with the video playing through Boxee on my Mac Mini.  A persistent, inch-tall band would contain controls for the currently playing video (play, pause, etc.), but the bulk of the screen would be taken up with the classic boxee interface, allowing me to browse content without interrupting the main screen (comparable to how I can now concurrently browse and listen to music in iTunes).  For bonus points, the iPad’s onscreen keyboard makes text search easy.

I’m all for pushing the limits of the iPad, but let’s not forget that this device can expand the possibilities for tools that don’t warrant the iPad’s cost on their own.  Few people want to pay $500 for a touchscreen remote, but I’m sure many people would love to have the $500 remote experience for free on a device they already own.