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Television Media

USB Remote Control 145

Posted by michael from the couch-potato dept.
c13v3rm0nk3y writes "The Easy Zapper from Harmony is a universal A/V remote with a twist. Created to battle the complexities of operating home theatre systems, the Harmony operates a bit like a mobile telephone. There are few buttons to get you into trouble. The idea is that a single gesture is necessary to "watch a DVD", or "listen to music". It also acts as a TV Guide, as it can learn your local programming, and even tweak those choices based on a "zap" from the user. The interesting thing is that the unit itself has no remote "smarts". It learns eveything it has to by downloading code (va USB) and visiting the Harmony website. Support for Windows only right now, but there are plans for Mac OS, Linux, Playstation and XBox support. Very cool toy. The potential ability for this company to collect a lot of data on "typical" viewing habits is a bit scary. RemoteCentral.com has a review."
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USB Remote Control More

USB Remote Control

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  • Sounds lovely, but now useful can it be? Sounds like nice thing to hack though.

  • USB and not FireWire? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I suspect Sony will require FireWire for it to work with its products...
    • The PS2 has two USB ports and one Firewire port, actually, so there's no problem there.

    • Ummmmmmmmm...

      Firewire?

      Super-mega-turbo-ultra-fast cable connection to send a very small chunk data to small device?

      Can we spell "overkill"? =)

      Besides, I would still like to remind that while USB is catching on, Firewire port isn't yet a standard PC feature. *sigh*

      • Did you manage to mod yourself on this one? Insightful? You are simply a loud moron that doesn't understand mild sarcasm.

        • I couldn't care less of what the moderators actually think, and dare not to speculate exactly why it was moderated that way... =)

          ObRemoteControl: if I only could use a remote controller that would have lots of buttons, could work nicely with LIRC, and receiver would use USB... My current remote works nicely with LIRC, but doesn't have much ports and uses serial port. *sigh* And yes, the widget in the story is pretty interesting.

    • I'm sure that USB2 would be more than adequate for the amount of data needed to be sent/to from it. :-)
    • Um, you might not have noticed, but USB is standard (usually alongside Firewire) on many, if not most, of Sony's hardware products, including the PS2.
  • But how big is the code? Can it be handled over dialup?

    Just another thing to teach my parents how to use. They need a button marked "set time on VCR."
    • I can't imagine that the code would be *that* large. It wouldn't be practical. Not *everyone* has broadband (although they should ;)

      Well, if it has one touch "Play a DVD" then it wouldn't be much harder to do "Set Time on VCR".
  • The "activity-based" model for this remote reminds me too much of the "Wizards" Microsoft is famous for... Nice in concept but more confusing in practice. This remote claims that when you choose an activity, for instance "Watch a DVD", everything will be turned on and set to the right function. How does the remote know the state of a device? When trying to toggle the DVD player on, it may inadvertently toggle it off. Then what do you do when you can't control individual functions, being left with mostly activity buttons?
    • Maybe you should read the site. It has a way of getting around the "is my tv on or off problem"
      • Yes, which requires constantly re-syncing the devices. The devices will probably often go out of sync from people manually controlling the devices on the faceplate. It sounds cumbersome to me. I understand that it also has the ability to do every function of a device, but where is the button for it? Do you have to browse through some tedious LCD menu to get to it?
        • Yes, which requires constantly re-syncing the devices. The devices will probably often go out of sync from people manually controlling the devices on the faceplate. It sounds cumbersome to me.

          It's very simple. Just use the remote to control your devices, and don't mess with them manually. You bought this remote so you don't need to interact with them physically, why would you keep doing that?

          My friend has a Pronto. When we're done watching TV, TiVo, or DVD, he just hits the off button, and all the devices are turned off, and the lights are turned back on in the room. Simple.

          He presses pause, and things pause, and the lights are turned on in a dim fashion.

          Very cool. Sounds like this thing works the same, but with some physical buttons which I think Pronto lacks.
    • Many devices actually support codes that the default remote will never send. The most common such codes are separate on/off codes.
    • Wizards have begun creeping into KDE as well. every release, a few more stupid wizards.

      Pratchett was right here as well. The more wizards trying to do magick, the more chance of tentacled things from the Dungeon Dimensions appearing to eat your brain and leave you a useless vegetable (with MSCE certificate to prove it).
    • Supposedly, it has internal variables that store the state of your device (which they are somehow trying to patent). This technique _is_ flawed in that it will only function properly if you use _only_ this remote to control your devices, but the review also mentions a function that allows one to change the values of these veriables, in the event that they become out of sync with the real world.
    • 1. It uses discrete commands where possible.
      basically this means, it will send an "ON" command instead of a "toggle power" command.

      2. It's got a help function if some equipment becomes out of sync.
      It will ask you for example "Is the TV on?" so you can correct it, then everything is fine again.

      =D

  • I wonder what the Interface Hall of Shame [iarchitect.com] would make of this one.
    It's a real world model designed to function as a poorly designed virtual model, or so it seems. There doesn't seem to be any real advantage to hitting three or four buttons to do something when I can just hit {VCR}{1}{2}{ENTER} to do the same thing on any other universal. If you REALLY want this functionality, perhap you should use your Palm Pilot [google.com] instead?

  • Is it just me . . . (Score:2, Insightful)

    by T-Lex ( 519231 )
    or is there no "record" button on this miracle of hi-tech?
    • Or a "display", "clock", "record speed", "slow", "x2 speed", "menu", etc. I could go on but I don't have my remotes in front of me. I have a VCR where the majority of the functionalty is on the remote. The VCR itself only has the basics. How does this thing let you do any of the nit-noid functions that let you actually use your equipment? Simplicity is fine but not at the expense of functionality.

      My other bitch is I THOUGHT OF THIS FIRST!! Of course I'm too lazy to actually do anything about it, but my ideas were better from a geek POV. :)
  • Nah. When you realize that the remote controls work by modulating at 40kHz the pulsing of an Infrared Emitting Diode. The bandwidth just isn't there.

  • Scary? (Score:4, Funny)

    by Rombuu ( 22914 ) on Friday May 17, 2002 @09:44AM (#3536958)
    The potential ability for this company to collect a lot of data on "typical" viewing habits is a bit scary

    Yeah, if someone knew I watched a lot of Junkyard Wars, Iron Chef, and Enterprise, why they could... er, they could, um...
    • Junkyard Wars, Iron Chef, and Enterprise, why they could... er, they could, um
      Guess that you read slashdot?
    • They could expect you to build one bitchin' dilithium powered hibatchi from space junk.
    • The potential ability for this company to collect a lot of data on "typical" viewing habits is a bit scary

      Yeah, if someone knew I watched a lot of Junkyard Wars, Iron Chef, and Enterprise, why they could... er, they could, um...
      Sell you an online personal ad? Sensitive imaginative handyman, likes to cook, in search of ...
    • Yeah, if someone knew I watched a lot of Junkyard Wars, Iron Chef, and Enterprise, why they could... er, they could, um...

      They might then be able to target advertisements specifically to your tastes, which obvious is terrible because errr, uhhhh...

      Oh fuck it.
    • I realize it's probably too late for this comment to get a meaningful score, but you are so wrong.

      The potential ability for this company to collect a lot of data on "typical" viewing habits is a bit scary Yeah, if someone knew I watched a lot of Junkyard Wars, Iron Chef, and Enterprise, why they could... er, they could, um... What if someone wanted to know you were watching a political party convention on CPAN? Or perhaps a [insert political viewpoint] news commentary show?

      Or, let's forget political stuff. Perhaps more likely around here... maybe you were watching adult movies. I bet you'd love to get junk mail solicitations based on that.

      • Well, whatever political party you registred with is public information in my state, so your first point doesn't really bother me.

        Actually the second point doesn't really bug me either now that I think of it.

  • Uhh... This isn't for this crowd. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by dimer0 ( 461593 ) on Friday May 17, 2002 @09:46AM (#3536970)
    For example, when you are watching a video and the phone rings, simply press Mute. The Harmony will not only mute the sound, but will also pause the video.

    Did I SAY I wanted to pause the video? ..

    I'm sure this is configurable, but I really don't think this device is useful. Two years ago, my wife bought me one of those cool lcd-screen remotes (The Marantz), and while it's pretty cool to be able to set it up so one button will dim the lights, kick on the behind-the-tv light (ease the eye strain), turn the TV to input 2, kick on the DVD player and the Receiver -- I found that after a few months I started using my normal remotes again. It was just too much work to keep this configured correctly.

    Now, for my wife who has no clue what inputs things should be on - this is okay. But most of my good remotes (with many buttons - which I like, and with tactile feedback - which I like even more) have the ability to learn the capabilities of a few other remote's functions - so my receiver's remote can control my TV.. I just set up a few of these remotes that I use most often to control a couple other devices that are associated with them, and I'm very happy.

    My Marantz now sits in a closet.

    • Are you insane? I have been waiting for this since I got my first VCR. At home if I want to watch a DVD I have to flip on the TV, change to channel 3, flip on the VCR, change to aux input 1, flip on the receiver, set the surround sound mode, then flip on the DVD player and stick in the disc.

      All for "watch DVD." Now if I could buy an integrated system from, say, Sony or Phillips that did all of this with one button, I'd get it in a heartbeat. This remote seems like a godsend.
    • ...my wife bought me one of those cool lcd-screen remotes (The Marantz)...It was just too much work to keep this configured correctly.

      What, someone used to sneak in and unconfigure it whilst you weren't looking?

      I have one of these - a Philips Pronto. Very nice, and I used to use nothing but this remote. However, since getting a Tivo I find I'm tending to use that. TV only of course, the Pronto is used for everything else.

      Cheers,
      Ian

    • Sure. (Score:3, Funny)

      by tweakt ( 325224 )
      Because:

      Grab the receiver remote. Press power, select input for DVD.
      Put it down and grab the tv remote, press power, put it down.
      Grab the DVD remote press play.

      Phone Call

      Grab the receiver remote. Press mute.
      Grab the DVD remote, press pause.

      Is soooooooooooooo much easier than just pressing [Watch a DVD]. Phone Call -- press [mute].

      • Re:Sure. (Score:3, Funny)

        by radish ( 98371 )
        Errr, if the DVD is paused, why do you need to press Mute anyway??

        Phone rings, press pause.

        • Re:Sure. (Score:3, Informative)

          by Zathrus ( 232140 )
          Which is why a lot of people with high end remotes simply remap the Mute button to Pause for DVD's, VCR's, and TiVo's.

          I think my VCR actually does mute too, since they tend to decide to "Stop" instead of pause after a few minutes, but I haven't used a VCR in about 2 years now, so I'm not sure.
        • Um, because I'm an idiot =)


    • Good points. I'd go even more shallow, though, and say what is the point of muting and then pausing when pause will generally provide a muting effect in the first place. Why develop technology around user error in the first place?

    • ...not only mute the sound, but will also pause the video.
      Hang on. Last time I checked, the 'pause' function on my player paused both the video and the sound.

      'Paused' sound is eerily similar to 'muted' sound...

  • Program via serial port: JP1 (Score:5, Interesting)

    by crow ( 16139 ) on Friday May 17, 2002 @09:47AM (#3536977) Homepage Journal
    If you get a remote like the Radio Shack 2104 that has a 6-pin connector accessible from the battery compartment, you can build a serial cable and program it from your computer. This lets you program any button to do any function or sequence of functions.

    There's an active discussion of these remotes at the JP1 Yahoo Group [yahoo.com].

  • It learns eveything it has to by downloading code (va USB) and visiting the Harmony website.

    This has "CueCat" written all over it!
    Now hack away, hack away, hack away all!
  • I would have like to see some more information about the software used to program this thing. Specifically if it were capable of sending some of those special codes needed to make many DVD players into Multi Region players.

    The review didn't go into very much depth on that side of it. Does anyone have one of these things?
  • I think what all of us geeks need is a remote that can lower the volume on your wife (or for the less fortunate - inflatable significant other) when watching sci-fi or Tech TV.
    • Inflatable vs wife?
      I'm of the impression the inflatable populace are the more fortunate, not the other way around.

      Especially in the modern world of realistic, heating, vibrating, erm... whatsits?

      Another 10 years and we'll have waterproof androids (anybody seen Armitage 3?) then we'll be the smug ones... (cue maniacle laughter)

      Excuse I have to go and have a lie down in a dark room for a bit..
  • Alot more complex that the KeySpan model http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/remote/ that I use. But it sounds cool.

    As computers move more onto the Stereo rack, these should be more popular.

    Cheers,

  • What are you so scared of? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by ryanvm ( 247662 ) on Friday May 17, 2002 @09:58AM (#3537055)
    The potential ability for this company to collect a lot of data on "typical" viewing habits is a bit scary.

    I'm not looking to get flamed here, but why are people so terrified of the collection of anonymous, aggregate, viewing statistics? Or for that matter even the collection of individual viewing data? Am I the only one tired of receiving douche coupons and Metamucil samples in the mail?

    Exactly what are the negative aspects of more accurate advertising profiles? We might as well get used to advertising - it's here to stay. If I'm going to be inundated with junkmail - I'd at least prefer it to be potentially useful.

    [I knew I should have worn my tinfoil hat today.]
    • It is not necesarily the collection of "anonymous, aggregate" viewing statistics that is the problem. I have no particular interest in becoming a Neilson family member.

      Coupons for products I have no interst in at the moment, and often even for products I may very well be interested in, go directly to the trash.

      The major problem is that I feel fairly strongly that what I do in my house, is really of no one elses business. There are potential exceptions, however it requires a warrent to collect evidence of crimes committed, and a warrent requires "reasonable suspicion" to be presented to a judge.

      If I feel it important that advertizers know who I am, and what interests me, so that they can better target ads that are of interest to me, I will be more than happy to tell them. However I have seen nothing to provide any evidence that any survey that marketing has performed has led to better targeting of advertizements.

      Then again, I accept that I can be wrong, and you may have better information. If so, I would be happy for you to provide some indication that a survey that you have participated in has provided you with a reduction in the amount of Junk mail, or Spam that you have recieved.

      -Rusty
    • One interesting data point may be that when certain types of commercials start, couch potato X starts flipping channels. When other types start, the channel stays put. Of course this could be about as useful as slashdot polls unless they also place sensors in your couch to make sure you haven't waddled off to the fridge. Vince
    • I agree with you. I actually want my viewing habits to be tracked. But I don't want them to have that linked to my name.

      As long as they just know my age, my zip code, my sex, and my occupational field, I'm happy.

      The advantages of this are twofold:

      1. I get better targeted advertising towards me

      2. Programming that I like is less likely to be cancled.

      If every slashdot reader, arguably a pretty sweet demographic (mid twenties, professional, with disposable income), allowed their viewing habits to be tracked in the aggrigate, Futurama would never be cancled.

      ===
      • If every slashdot reader . . . allowed their viewing habits to be tracked in the aggrigate, Futurama would never be cancled.

        Fox released their fall schedule [yahoo.com] yesterday and Futurama [amazon.com] made it in. From the rest of the article you get the impression that with all the other cancellations (X-Files, Ally McBeal, Dark Angel) they needed to keep some of the marginal shows around just so people would remember what network they were watching.

        Of course they failed to make the one change that might give the show a real shot at survival, putting it in the 8:30 timeslot instead of the 7:00 slot where it will yet again get bumber almost every week by NFL football.

        • As somebody pointed out, they have I think two full seasons already done and ready to run. The cancelation effects all shows after this. They will run the ones they have that are ready, then no more.

          Of course we could have another Invader Zim thing, where they canceled it, then people started watching it, and they decided to reverse the cancelation.

          But anyways, this is why it's still running, and it will, for I think two seasons, even if it stays canceled.

      • Actually, from reading every single story that might have anything to do with the job market, it seems to me that a lot of Slashdot readers don't have all that much disposable income. In fact, it seems that a lot of them are quite bitter about it, too. Any story related to the job market invariably gets inundated with posts to the tune of "Yeah, just try getting a job without a college degree..." "...and once you get a college degree, nobody will hire you anyway because there are no jobs..." "...people who know Windows really well are stupid because that can't get them jobs..." "...I know Linux really well, and I'm angry that that doesn't help me in the job market."

        Note that this is only an observation, but I haven't noticed many signs of vast sources of disposable income here, unless there is a silent majority.
        • reading [...] anything to do with the job market [...] Slashdot readers don't have [...] disposable income.

          But read a story about any technical device and you'll find that readers are posting their review, because they bought it months ago...

          Besides, when they post a story about the job marked, wouldn't it seem rather pompous if people start to write about their huge salaries?

          unless there is a silent majority.

          With 200.000+ readers I'd tend to think so, as you don't see posts from 200.000 different individuals on each story...

  • Useless buttons... (Score:2, Interesting)

    by rusty0101 ( 565565 )
    Sorry, but this is another remote with poor design in my opinion.

    The best remote I have seen was on the VideoGuide system. A central joystick, an independent rocker panel around the joystick, a button above the rocker panel and a button below it, with an index finger button on the underside (protected from accidental pressing by the sculpting of the remote.)

    This should work with a set-top box with an ethernet, usb-b and as available jeni and upnp interfaces. Consumer devices with these interfaces would plug in, solving the "what state is the device in?" question. Additionally, the consumer devices would provide a software faceplate interface that the remote base station would use to provide an on-screen interface for the user to control.

    If this were integrated into a A/V Reciever, the reciever could figure out what device was plugged into what port on the reciever and handle just about all of the setup for you. Otherwise you would have to tell the set-top box how your system was wired together.

    Then again, that's just my opinion, your ideal is probably different.

    -Rusty

  • User review. (Score:5, Informative)

    by _LORAX_ ( 4790 ) on Friday May 17, 2002 @10:05AM (#3537104) Homepage
    I got one of these beasts back in novenber. Despite some problems it does work as described, BUT the company has not been forthcomming with any documentation for the propriatary XML language or binaries that the device uses.

    Harmony has time and again broken promises to release the full XML spec. I have even extrapolated non-documented xml features that have helped, but I should not have to.

    As a simple remote with "activities" they are great, but if you are getting this to do complex programming steer clear.

    http://www.remotecentral.com/

    Good forums that have true user feedback.
  • What if my components are holed up in closet next to the TV? (Which they are)

    How do they get the IR information into the closet?

    I've got a 'smarthome' control screen that's X10 based and has an IR blaster for the closet. It's fully programmable and could probably do 90% of what this'll do, but I can't be bothered to PROGRAM it to do so.

    This device claims to remove the programming acpects, but it OBVIOUSLY won't IR blast thru walls... (And NO, after spending $500 for the current setup, and $200 for this new setup, I'm not willing to loft ANOTHER $80 on an IR repeater.)
    • What is my TV is from 1981 and has an ultrasonic remote instead of IR?? HUH? WHAT THEN? Why don't you support my dumbass home theatre setup that involves burying my reciever under 4 feet of concrete in the backyard?

      I just spent $3000 on a gigawatt ruby laser remote that LITERALLY blasts through walls! Why should I spend a reasonable amount of money on appropriate technology that works properly???

  • What I Want In A Remote (Score:4, Funny)

    by dscottj ( 115643 ) on Friday May 17, 2002 @10:09AM (#3537127) Homepage
    • A button mounted somewhere else I can push that'll make it beep when I can't find it
    • Button construction that doesn't get all wierd and sticky when I spill BBQ sauce on it
    • Water-resistant design that doesn't fry when I dump it in my beer glass (I actually did this once)
    • A screwed-down battery lid so I don't break it by constantly playing with the latch
    • The ability to remove the bits that make up the keys so I can clean all the cat hair out of it after years of use
    • Comes with a "Junior" remote that changes the channels and the volume but nothing else to give to my parents when they visit

    Is that too damned much to ask?!?

    • LOL

      I'd also add:

      * Made out of some space-age titanium magnesium alloy so as to withstand being dropped, stood on, sat on, driven over by a toy car, beaten against a table by a child, etc.
    • Waterproof would be good. I've lost one remote and nearly lost a second when my son decided to see what they would do when dunked in his juice.
    • > A screwed-down battery lid so I don't break it by
      > constantly playing with the latch

      Pretty much every remote I have has tape on the back holding on the battery cover. Who designed that stupid little plastic latch?

      Must be a slow news day, because I sumbitted this same story over a year ago. Of course, I didn't tack on the conspiracy theory either. Hmmmm...

    • 'Comes with a "Junior" remote that changes the channels and the volume but nothing else to give to my parents when they visit'

      i dunno about the rest, but my parents have a sony tv from bout 5 yrs ago that does this - the remote itself is double sided & has a single sided cover that clips over the side you dont want to use

      Also the sony video remote has a folding cover that covers all the more complicated funcs, leaving just the stop/play/pause/ffw etc buttons
    • the perfect remote is like finding the perfect woman.
      Hey, come to think of it, the perfect woman would be the perfect remote.
      And junior remotes take about 4 years to become useful..

  • I don't think... (Score:2, Insightful)

    by ArthurKing ( 577487 )
    ...that this could be too successful. It seems like it's targeted almost at power users, most of who probably understand how to work their televisions already. Hell, my parents call me up when they need to shut the computer down. They're not going near a USB port... ever. Seems like it would be fun to play with, but just another piece of technology like any other: Too complex for the lay man, too easily broken for the family (leaving it crying for its old remote collection), but fun to mess with for the techie.
  • Since it's using XML from a web-site, if all else fails you could edit your HOSTS files and point it to a different website, or even to a dummy on your local machine. That pre-supposes a reverse engineering of the protocols, in order to generate the proper pages, but that probably won't be too hard, I doubt there's a lot of authentication built into this widget.

    Of course, the flip side of that is if someone hacks the DNS for your cable modem and points it to a bogus website, you could get stuck with a Barney marathon. Unless you were *trying* to let your kids watch Barney (which should be classed as abuse), when it would kick out the Playboy Channel.

    --Dave Rickey

  • login: wewewe

    pass: wewewe

    There are many things to look at and click on..

  • where is the numeric keypad? I didn't see that option on the site.

  • Back in my day... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Kenny Austin ( 319525 ) on Friday May 17, 2002 @10:36AM (#3537286) Homepage
    This is old technology, back in my day my father had all of this and MORE! It would change tv channels, answer the phone, and make popcorn. It was a wireless model, voice driven.. "Kenny! Bring me some coffee".
    Sigh, I need kids of my own.
  • Infrared sensing distance approximately 2 cm to 30 cm (1 inch to 12 inches).

    Why bother if you have to be within a foot of the receiver... :rollyes:

    NEXT!
    • Maximum operating distance of at least 12 m (40 feet).

      guess I missed this part... OOPS

      Still wish it was RF based instead of IR.
  • the remote is Harmony . . . so you got it backwards. it is a little confusing though, seems it should be the other way around.
  • I have a remote on My TV card and My Sound card, it's about time that someone designed a standard IR remote interface for the computer, with a sensible API then i could use one remote and controle evrything, on windows / linux/ freebsd. instead of having some crappy remotes that are useless.

    whats more you should be able to connect it to the TV, HIFI , DVD player, Video Recorder, TV in the kitchen. I dream of the day when I can have one remote:- {{prefrable radio, digital and with a 128bit key that i can use to turn the overn off when i wan't a few extra pints down the pub}},
    shit i've woken up again, never mind.
  • This has been out and well-publicized for months! Why is it on slashdot? It's been onsale since about september of last year!
    Everyone and their brother [easyzapper.com] has reviewed it! It's been featured on remotecentral [remotecentral.com] since february!

    Is slashdot [antioffline.com] near death? Tell me something new, not something that has been beat to death elsewhere!

  • Once they found out you flip the channels or mute the tv (or go to pee, yes they have ways to know that!!!), you will spend the rest of your days in jail, watching daytime television with no pee brakes.

  • S-Link (Score:1)

    by Misao ( 23446 )
    It's not a remote, but my reciever/dvd/tv are hooked up via s-link; and while I don't really notice it affecting much, the one feature I do appreciate is loading a DVD in the DVD player will automatically turn on the receiver, the TV, and set them up to the appropriate inputs.

    Quite handy, because 99% of the time when I stick a DVD in the DVD player, that's exactly what I want to do, and navigating the silly Sony 2-way remote (I _hate_ complicated remotes.....) is such a pain.

    -misao
  • All I ask is that remote controls be standardized to have included a 'locator'. Kinda like my wireless phone has. So I can find the damn thing when the dog hides it under the bed or the wife takes it to the laundry room with her!

  • don't feed the troll.

  • Lots of buttons on remotes are handy for a very good reason ... you don't have to look at the damn remote to do common things. I know where the buttons for guide, info, last, exit, volumne +/-, change +/- all are, which are the buttons used 99% of the time. Can't do that with this thing.

    So, I can lay back in my couch potato fashion, in the dark, pick up the remote, and feel my way through all the channels.

    My girlfriend, on the other hand, takes FREAKIN FOREVER, because she has to look at the remote to hit the guide button, look up to make sure it came on, look down again to press page down, look up to see what is on, keep pressing down until something neat is on, look at the remote to press channel down, look up .... you get the picture. It's a wonder she doesn't get RMS in her neck from lookin at the TV and back at the remote.

    It's apparent from the site that people who are not very techy will be able to use it either, so where is the audience?
  • Remote sounds good, but how does
    it work in real life?
  • The potential ability for this company to collect a lot of data on "typical" viewing habits is a bit scary.

    Yes, God forbid the networks find out everyone I know watches the now-cancelled Futurama while nobody I know watches Everybody Loves Raymond.

  • For years radios had been operated by means of pressing buttons and turning dials; then as the technology became more sophisticated the controls were made touch-sensitive - you merely had to brush the panels with your fingers; now all you had to do was wave your hand in the general direction of the components and hope.

    Chapter 13 [ernet.in]

    Weaselmancer

  • For a lot less then then $199, to be exact $35,- you can pick up an Irman [evation.com] remote control sensor. It will recieve any infrared code and works with LIRC [lirc.org], an open source linux package.

    DISCLAMER: I used to be associated with Evation.com

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