I have a very exciting first world problem of highest order I need to solve.
I have a projector in our lounge. This is controlled by a hdmi port into a laptop (win 10) located in the corner of the room, out of the way. I would like to control this laptop from the other side of the room for the purposes of playing Netflix, amazon prime & youtube without getting up off the sofa. Yes, I am that lazy.
So - what is the bestestist way of doing this without employing a butler to do it for me? Is there an app to use my android phone? Can I use my windows 10 tablet?
VNC server on your laptop. VNC viewer on your phone.
Totally free for up to 5 devices.
Kodi won't work with Netflix or IPlayer without a bit of hacking. I'd be tempted to get an Amazon Fire Stick or Google Chromecast. Although Chromecast doesn't natively support Amazon and I'm not sure if a Fire stick supports Netflix.
We have a Chromecast as that was my first thought. Sadly the usb on the back of the projector does not power the Chromecast dongle. As the projector is mounted on the ceiling, running another power cord up to it would be a nuisance...
Wireless keyboard of some kind?
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I do the same thing with a Logitech Wireless Keyboard (K400)
Chrome Remote plugin, then control your PC from your phone.
I'd be going the wireless keyboard and mouse route instead of a remote control app. A lot more reliable and generally less of a pain, trying to use a remote app on a small phone to control what should be a high res display through the projector wont be nice.
I use Unified Remote, available from the Play Store. It works pretty well. Loads of options available but I generally only use it for movies etc via HDMI. Also available for Windows AFAIK.
Wireless keyboard with mousepad built in, easy and simple and you can do everything you want with it or a HDMI connector plug to the cable and put the chromecast/Firestick etc through that
We use a Rii Wireless keyboard/trackpad for the Media PC under the TV
It's great. Watch out for the copies, the keys aren't as good.
Firestick supports netflix, YouTube, Amazon (obviously), iplayer, and Kodi, and your laptop as a media server with the right app.
Plus they don't boot and are low power and the remote is a work of genius. I'm a chrome stuff fan but firesticks are where its at for TV.
Kodi has a good iplayer plugin in that works perfectly & ITV. However no Netflix or 4od or Prime.
Then pick a remote control app for your phone.
Yuck.
Get a raspberry PI and infrared receiver and then dig out an old remote control & program the PI to send command-things to the Win10 laptop. Simple I suspect not.
Or just plug the infrared receiver into the laptop. No need for a Pi in the middle.
The Windows Media Center remote control is pretty good. It should work with Kodi, or you can configure the buttons to do other stuff.