Hi, There is some news on the iPad side. The new iPad mini 7 is set to be released next Wednesday. This also means we can expect some great discounts on the previous model, the iPad mini 6.
Just to give you an idea, the iPad mini 6 features a nice display that works really well even as a mounted wall display.
A quick note on the home dashboard layout: it only has two columns. Most widgets look great, although in the Dashboard section, the vertical one-column arrangement can make some widgets, like the clock, appear quite large. However, the horizontal layout looks fantastic.
Changing the font size doesn’t increase the number of columns. On iPadOS, you can adjust the font size either system-wide or within the currently open app.
These two screenshots show both the minimum and maximum font sizes, but in both cases, the number of columns remains the same. This suggests that the column layout is determined by the display’s pixel dimensions rather than the font size.
Starting Homey is done via the Windows Task Scheduler that runs when the Kiosk user (automatically) logs in. BlueStacks has the option to automatically maximize the Homey app on startup.
The other scripts are manually started via the Windows Task Scheduler. I am using SSH to trigger these tasks, e.g. when the presence or zone activity state changes. I am turning off the power of the display during inactivity via the HomeWizard smart plug.
I am logged into Homey with my own account, patiently waiting for the feature that @Emile mentioned (in the podcast, I believe), to be able to lock the dashboard with a PIN.
Why this “complex” setup? Because I could , and I was curious how this would work and what other options I may be able to introduce using this “computer” on the wall. Maybe I will eventually instead hang a tablet on the wall in the future.
Edit: For completeness, some of the downsides of this setup:
Overkill to just present a dashboard (would rather have a web interface)
With a web interface (dedicated dashboard URL) I may’ve been able to use the Windows Kiosk mode instead, or just a Raspberry Pi in kiosk mode
Requires 3 wires (Power, USB touchscreen cable, HDMI) to be pulled through the wall
Requires the mini PC to be placed in the closet behind the wall
Booting BlueStacks is paired with ads (there may be some unofficial ways to hide these)
Rarely, when the screen is powered on again the Homey app is not fully maximized (still figuring out why this is happening)
The screen is not flat mounted to the wall
Power consumption is a bit higher
Can’t use bluetooth to add new devices (Bluestacks doesn’t natively support direct access to the host machine’s hardware)
Ringmagnet is extremely strong and its a set of 2, so you can put 1 ring on its fixed location on the wall and it will go absolutely nowhere! https://a.aliexpress.com/_ExOklNj
As you can see its a small galaxy a9 tablet, so it also can be used as a big portable smart home remote in stead of only being fixed to the wall.
, and I was curious how this would work and what other options I may be able to introduce using this “computer” on the wall. Maybe I will eventually instead hang a tablet on the wall in the future.
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