Is anyone using a tablet as a permanent interface for HE?

Here's a thread I've read to get dashboard ideas.

I've ended up with a Fire tablet using Fully Kiosk (https://www.fully-kiosk.com/) mounted on my wall.

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I'm one of them and I'm using

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Will the new 10” fire tablet work with fully kiosk?

Edit : nvm fully kiosk is an android app

So, you can root a fire tablet to run the play store and subsequently Android apps. The OS on fire tablets is just a fork of Android.

EDIT Just one example of how to do it.

Fully Kiosk has a version for the Fire Tablets and is available in the Amazon store.

No need to go rooting around.

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I would definitely take a look at smartly. They are in the works right now with a pretty massive update that creates a drag and drop interface native to the dashboards, which is pretty damn sweet. Also smartly looks very good without any effort and can only get better the more you put in. Also per device calibration is nice for multi-phone/tablet support.

https://community.hubitat.com/t/pre-release-dashboard-dragndrop-for-the-built-in-dashboard-with-smartly/50520

https://community.hubitat.com/t/release-smartly-v1-08-more-mods-more-icons-drag-and-drop-auto-json-install/36681

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I use a mounted iPod for dashboards, Sonos, and other connected home apps.

In working with the smartly team we have been able to make lots of CSS adjustment to mimic many features from other platforms. With smartly 2.0 (pre-release) the team has introduced drag 'n' drop tile placement, but also exposed the CSS targeting in such a way that makes lots of new mods possible. Keep an eye out for many new features/mods in upcoming releases.

However as @marktheknife mentioned I have no clue what a Vivint Control Panels looks like, so we cannot begin to add a mod for it. Please post some pictures that highlight the features you would like to mimic, and we'll see what can be done to get them added to smartly.

EDIT: oh and Welcome to the HE community!! :partying_face:

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I had tablets all set up with ActionTiles back when everything was smartthings, now that I have completely transitioned to HE I'm starting over, love the fully-kiosk tip, I'm definitely going to check that out.
Are there any threads where people show off their tablet configured dashboards?

The link provided above would have many examples of wall mounted tablets, although the thread showcases dashboards made for other purposes as well. (Show Off Your Dashboards!)

My wife and I love having a wall mounted tablet. I believe HE should be about improving your experience in your own home. For some people that means automating everything and never having the need or want of a dashboard tablet. For other people the wall mounted tablet is one of the best parts of their home automation. Each to their own. Here is a link to the tablet (simple android tablet) I have mounted on my back foyer wall, it runs full kiosk browser. Show Off Your Dashboards!

Here is a picture of the wooden frame I made and the wall mounting. Share Your 2.0 Dashboards

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I ended up using some magnetic mounts stuck to the side of my fridge and some of the metal plates stuck on the back of my tablet. You can't see the mounts in the photo on this post but I can take another one if you want. I also used one to mount my phone next to the tablet when I'm not using it.

I'm unable to connect with this apps i don't know what went wrong. if you post step by step instruction would be great.

Man, you guys are awesome!! Great suggestions. The Vivint Control Panel is very similar to the 2Gig panel for alarms. It was my past alarm company. It had an interface to change states on devices and show the status of the alarm. I will post some pictures later. I have mostly dismantled it as I am now using HE except for the video doorbell(change in the works).

sburke, If you could send a pic of the mounts that would be great. I'm thinking of doing a similar thing on a wall. Also if you could put a link to where you bought them?

Hi @ecraigconley,

The mounts are Scosche magicMOUNT Magnetic Flush Mount for Mobile Devices. I bought mine from JB Hi-Fi here in Australia, but I would expect anywhere that sells mobile phone car mounts would have these or something similar. The pack includes the mount itself and (from memory) I think it included a few different sized plates for the back of the device. I forget how it worked out that I needed to use some of the smaller plates on the back of the tablet...




I originally intended to mount my 10" tablet in landscape and place three mounts in the triangular configuration. I felt like it was a better use of space and the mounts to put the tablet in portrait, allowing me to mount the phone as well. One tip would be to consider the placement of the mounts, both in terms of making sure you don't get too much movement when tapping it, but also because they have incredibly strong adhesive on the back, so you have to be "committed" :slightly_smiling_face:

Simon

Thanks Simon. I'm familiar with those mounts. This will make my setup sweet.

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I use an Amazon Fire HD 10 with fully Kiosk Browser. I use the SharpTools.io service for my dashboards. I mounted the tablet horizontally with a wall mount I bought on Etsy, by Makes by Mike. It used a 1 gang retrofit low-voltage bracket to create a standard 1 gang space to mount the wall panel el to. The USB power runs into the wall, and out the other side behind my fridge, where a usb extension cable runs from a USB outlet to the wall panel.

This is a very permanent solution, but because it is based on a 1 gang box config, it can easily be adapted to future tablets.

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I also watched an interesting YouTube clip recently that talked about some of those products.

Also has some good general advice I think.

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Folks who have wall mounted tablets - how practical do you find their use over time? I'm thinking about doing one, but question if I'm just looking for a new project vs. truly improving my home automation. With phones always in reach, and HE Dashboard a few taps away, how often do you find yourselves using the tablet?

I find it extremely practical. My wife and I probably consider it to be one of the best parts of our Hubitat experience. I believe Hubitat should be about improving one's experience in their own home. For some people this will mean never having a dashboard and automating everything, for others the dashboard will be an indispensable interface. Each to their own. Some of the reasons why we find our dashboard so great:

  • It completely replaced our alarm panel, it is way easier to use especially when it comes to setting the alarm and is equally as easy to use for guests to set the alarm.

  • It provides a complete an detailed weather forecast, including precipitation maps and storm tracking. The weather page has all the details I need on a large screen, way bigger than my phone. (I could get some of this on my phone, but then I need to pull my phone out of my pocket and find the appropriate app, with the dashboard it is right there at eye level, one simple click away, way more automation that using a phone to do the same thing)

  • It shows reminders of things I will need to change and possibly purchase (furnace filters, water filters). You can obviously set-up notifications for this on your phone, but I get so many notifications already that it would probably just get swiped and forgotten. The daily countdown tile showing when I need to replace the furnace filter and water filter are great.

  • It displays my Blue Iris camera feeds. Its a quick and easy to way to confirm the cameras are working as they should.

  • It allows me and my guests to press one tile to start a specific Internet Radio Station or Pandora station to start playing on my stereo.

This is not the most recent iteration of my dashboard, but give you an idea:

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Very cool stuff. As a Blue Iris user myself, I can see the value in just having the cameras showing on a tablet. Not sure if this is possible with the current offerings out there, but what would be really cool is if a BI camera triggers, the tablet goes fullscreen from Dashboard to Camera view. If anyone tells me thats possible I'm buying a tablet right away :slight_smile: