The Ultimate Remote Control?

[Andy Sjostrom]

<a href="http://www.griffinmobile.com/">http://www.griffinmobile.com/</a><br /><br />This is quite an interesting remote control implementation. Pocket PC remote controlling finally ready for prime time?<br /><br />"HOLLYWOOD, CA, POCKET PC SUMMIT – October 23, 2002. Griffin Technology, Inc. today announced Total Remote, the first complete solution for turning Pocket PCs into an all-in-one infrared remote controller. Total Remote allows your favorite Pocket PC to function as one master control for all your remote controlled devices. The product is being demonstrated for the first time at the Pocket PC Summit this week in Hollywood. Total Remote’s unique Infrared Transmitter Module (ITM) allows you to control infrared devices from nearly 100 feet away. Designed specifically for Pocket PCs, it uses the audio port to send infrared commands to any device that can be controlled via IR. It’s patent-pending design gives users up to 3 times greater range than standard remotes. The Total Remote software can also support built in Infrared ports (IrDA) at shorter ranges."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/remote_01.jpg" /><br /><br />Read the entire press release... <!><br /><br />Griffin Announces Total Remote Pocket PC solution<br />New application turns Pocket PCs into all-in-one remote controllers<br /><br />HOLLYWOOD, CA, POCKET PC SUMMIT – October 23, 2002. Griffin Technology, Inc. today announced Total Remote, the first complete solution for turning Pocket PCs into an all-in-one infrared remote controller. Total Remote allows your favorite Pocket PC to function as one master control for all your remote controlled devices. The product is being demonstrated for the first time at the Pocket PC Summit this week in Hollywood.<br /><br />Total Remote’s unique Infrared Transmitter Module (ITM) allows you to control infrared devices from nearly 100 feet away. Designed specifically for Pocket PCs, it uses the audio port to send infrared commands to any device that can be controlled via IR. It’s patent-pending design gives users up to 3 times greater range than standard remotes. The Total Remote software can also support built in Infrared ports (IrDA) at shorter ranges.<br /><br />Total Remote comes with preinstalled profiles for hundreds of devices such as TVs, VCRs, DVD players and more. Users can easily add additional devices by downloading new device profiles or creating their own in learning mode. Total Remote can sample commands from your existing remotes and creates “virtual” remotes that look and function the way you want. The program also provides a set of skins that enable you to change the remote control appearance any time. Additionally new skins can be custom made by a user or downloaded from the internet.<br /><br />“The Total Remote solution combines the simplicity of the all-in-one remote concept into the portability of your Pocket PC,” said Don Stratton, product manager of Total Remote. “In addition, we give users increased infrared distance and flexibility with our unique IR transmitter. In one of its more entertaining applications, we’re giving users the ability to sit in a restaurant or lounge and be able to change the channel or volume of any television in the establishment at will.”<br /><br />Total Remote works with Windows CE 3.0 and above on all ARM Pocket PC’s. In addition, Total Remote is compatible with the new X-Scale Pocket PC’s including HP/Compaq 3900 series, Toshiba E740, Viewsonics PCV35, Acer N-Series, and the Audiovox PDA1032. Trial software is available on request. <br /><br />Griffin also is announcing the new 3-in-1 Pocket PC Charger Kit for Pocket PCs. The all-in-one travel kit offers an auto charger, AC outlet plug and a unique charger that attaches to a USB port. <br /><br />Pricing &amp; Availability <br />Griffin Total Remote package retails for $29.99 USD and is available for purchase directly from Griffin Technology at <a href="www.griffintechnology.com">www.griffintechnology.com</a> beginning November 15th, 2002. It will also available at most major computer stores. OEM inquires can contact Jeff Pack, [email protected]. The Griffin 3-in-1 Pocket PC Charger Kit retails for $34.99 USD.

[msprague]

Looks great, but will the IR transmitter fit next to my Socket WLAN card at the top of my Maestro? It would have to be a bit less that 1/2" diameter to fit. Can anyone come up with an OD on that xmtr :?:

Thanks.

[Stefan]

Can someone give me a good reason, why to pay 30$ to turn a 700$ device into a device that can be purchased for approx. 20$ at almost every store?
And about the 100 feet range for IR-remote: It would possibly make sense if it wasn't IR-based technology.

[Sven Johannsen]

Can someone give me a good reason, why to pay 30$ to turn a 700$ device into a device that can be purchased for approx. 20$ at almost every store?

Because you can not buy a universal, programmable, learning remote with PC screen design capabilities, that actually supports every command on every remote you own, for $20. Those go for just a bit more.

With the added capability of wireless on the PPC, you can also use the same device as the controller for your PC based multimedia system. The one that has all your MP3s and PVS saves, and is hooked to your home entertainment system. You can also automatically download TV guide and other entertainment media to access via Avantgo, Offline/Online Browser files, or dedicated software, allowing custom searches.

When you put this with a $200-$300 PPC you have a remote to rival and exceed the capabilities of those that home entertainment junkies are paying over a grand for. I'm not even thinking of a PPC being used as a remote as an added feature. I see a market for the PPC as a remote period, with some nifty PIM functions BTW. I did this with a $100 Handspring and a $40 Omniremote and it is great.

[Fitch]

"Can you use your pocket pc for a remote?"

This is one of the top PPC newbie questions (an "FAQ" as it were) :)

I talked to the dude at the booth at the Summit and I was gonna say something like "wow, that's brilliant to use the audio port"

I said, "Wow, that's..."
"Impossible, right?"
"Well, I mean, if you have audio signals that turn into infrared signals, it seems very possible. Plus, you're selling this product, so it's possible," I joked.
"But it wasn't possible from the start until we developed some very clever circuitry to overcome the shortcomings of a direct sound-to-infrared conversion"
He went on to explain that they're really excited about this circuitry because some engineer told them that it was nothing like he'd seen before and that it could be used in processors and such to speed them up with little to no extra parts/money.

I thought that was quite interesting, so I'm gonna keep an eye on them to see just what the heck he was talking about and if anything comes out of that.

[Bob Anderson]

At this price point, I think this is a steal!

Now, of course, the old adage "you get what you pay for" comes to mind and before I plunk out $30 I want to see some reviews... so I hope they send a sample to someone at PocketPCThoughts so we can get the real low-down on how it works, not the flim-flam sales press release!

[Busdriver]

It seems like you would have to have the PPC sitting on the coffee table all the time to be useful as a remote. When I go out of town which is fairly often I take my PPC with me, of course, so then what does everybody else use while I'm away?

I would have to buy a PPC that is pretty much dedicated to remote control duties in my household. So I guess the question becomes which would give me more value and usefullness, a universal programmable remote (Which I don't know how much they cost) or a dedicated PPC (Which I do know how much they cost 8O ) with this setup acting as a remote.

I just don't see this of being an option for me-unless I win the Tennessee state lottery :wink:

[heyday]

It seems like you would have to have the PPC sitting on the coffee table all the time to be useful as a remote. :

Unless your a geek like me and wear your Pocket PC on your belt at all times.....

heyday

[mookie123]

Why stop shot just making it a remote control?

why not include a networking protocol into this little flashlight, I bet this puppy will act as a poor's man Bluetooth. 20feet low rate data transmission between handhelds?

for $30 that isn't too bad.

[JF in Detroit]

I find the negative comments about turning my $600 PPC into a remote to be disingenous (and I've read this type of comment regarding all sorts of computer innovations). I know we're all different. I don't expect others to think as I do -- so please return the favor. For me, it adds to the value of my machine. This is an exciting product.

[Dan East]

Hmm. Bandwidth wise this would certainly be feasible. The real issue is power. I would guess that the dongle would have to contain its own power supply, which would be a watch battery or similar. Of course the battery life would then be very minimal, and watch batteries are very expensive for what they are.

Dan East

[st63z]

Can someone compare this remote control software's GUI and code database vs. Nevo (the one built-in to newer iPAQs already)?

Also, Dan above says this uses its own batt?? I thought it would just use the small power output of the headphone port (which of course is enough to power the mini drivers in headphones), since IR takes so very little power...

[vassiliphilippov]

>Hmm. Bandwidth wise this would certainly be feasible. The real
>issue is power. I would guess that the dongle would have to contain its
>own power supply, which would be a watch battery or similar. Of course
>the battery life would then be very minimal, and watch batteries are
>very expensive for what they are.

The dongle has not additional power supply. It uses audio output power. And the truth is that it is enough (as I know it was very difficult to find corresponding hardware but it is found).

This dongle uses Pocket PC battery like any other sound signal and because the signals are very short - it takes only few Pocket Pc battery power.

[Sven Johannsen]

For those who are interested in how this stacks up to items designed as a remote, by features and price, hop over to http://www.remotecentral.com/

Yup, this genre' of device has it's own dedicated following. There is a feature there called Clicker Picker. See what you get for less than $300. ((Do actually look at the device before saying 'there's one for $59") They even reviewed the iPAQ Nevo.

[jweitzman]

a used iPaq goes for a few hundred bucks, whereas a Phillips Pront tU6000 goes for abotu $1000. I have the lower-end Marantz version of that universal remote and it's great--it's fully programmable. I can control my whole system, and develop different interfaces for different members of the family.

But with this solution, if I can run some Pronto-compatible application, I can have a full color fully programmable remote for about 1/3 the cost. It's a no brainer to dedicate a PPC to this task if you're replacing your Pronto.

I'm pretty sure I've seen an app that uses the Pronto .ccf format, hopefully Phillips will release a software-only version of their remote that runs on PPC.

[Newsboy]

Can someone give me a good reason, why to pay 30$ to turn a 700$ device into a device that can be purchased for approx. 20$ at almost every store?

Because this is something useful I can do with my Maestro when I replace it in a month. Rather than passing it on to a family member that won't use it, or sticking it in the "PDA" drawer (along with the Palm III, Compaq C140, HP100LX, HP200LX, HP OmniGo 95LX....)

I just want to know about battery life. Will I have to leave my "remote" plugged in 24/7?

[Newsboy]

Everyone seems to be skipping right over the power adapter kit. I'm more excited about that than any of the other stuff! I have learned to loathe Ac adaptors when traveling!

[Newsboy]

For those who are interested in how this stacks up to items designed as a remote, by features and price, hop over to http://www.remotecentral.com/

Yup, this genre' of device has it's own dedicated following. There is a feature there called Clicker Picker. See what you get for less than $300. ((Do actually look at the device before saying 'there's one for $59") They even reviewed the iPAQ Nevo.

That site is great! I used it last year when selecting a new remote I could program macros into. Picked up a Sony RM-VL900 for about $35 at Etronics.com.

[mookie123]

Hmm. Bandwidth wise this would certainly be feasible. The real issue is power. I would guess that the dongle would have to contain its own power supply, which would be a watch battery or similar. Of course the battery life would then be very minimal, and watch batteries are very expensive for what they are.


It's just a couple of blinking LED on the headphone jack. I am willing to bet it draw less power than average britney spear mp3 on earphone. heh

but I still think this little toy has so much FUN potential... (hey you can even scare some gold fish with IR LED. It's their version of disco light :lol:

I wonder if they would release some sort of standard in house API.

[ECOslin]

Its worth the $30 to be able to combine my remotes. Any of my programable remotes always seems to be unable to accept one or another remote. I've tried one of the Sima remotes and wasn't satisfied by the heavy weight(glass face and batteries) of the thing and its affinity to nose dive off a shelf or whereever faster than gravity.

I've tried using my maestro, but it's IR capability only goes out less than 6 feet and has to be aimed just exactly so.

I also like the annoyance factor of fast forwarding a tape or changing channels in a meeting. 100 feet, hmm.

Edward

[dma1965]

PDAWin's TV Remote Controller gives me a range of about 25 feet (plenty of distance) with my iPaq 3870 and requires no additional hardware and works flawlessly. I currently do not see a need for this device, but think it is a good idea if nothing else works for you.

[tccox]

And if the reviews indicate that it actually works my reason for buying it:

With a wife and three kids, I can NEVER find the dang remote control. But I alway know where my IPAQ is........ Worth $30 to me..

[JF in Detroit]

I also use PDAwin's TV controller for PPC. I am just dreaming of a better interface and extended range (e.g., from across my deck, through the screen door, past the couch, over the table and to the cd player). :D

[garretwp]

I dont have an ipaq 3970 but i do have an ipaq 3835 for my first pda. Now just by looking at the nevo thats one sweet interface. I hope the interface on this new program will be just as nice as the nevo!

Garrett

[Brad Adrian]

With a wife and three kids, I can NEVER find the dang remote control.
Big screen TV: $999
Bag of pork rinds: $1.99
Total Remote: $30
Always knowing where the remote is: Priceless

[blade_of_narsil]

I thought about blasting IR with an audio signals, but wasn't sure about the hardware to do it. I can't wait to hack this thing. I mean put in headphones, and I wonder what would happen. Play and mp3 and that would be cool to look at through a video camera. I wonder if you could record the audio, and then put it in mp3 player or record to a tape, then turn your walkman or whatever into a remote. Endless possibilities.

[dunneldeen]

And if the reviews indicate that it actually works my reason for buying it:

With a wife and three kids, I can NEVER find the dang remote control. But I alway know where my IPAQ is........ Worth $30 to me..

Dang right.

[mookie123]

I thought about blasting IR with an audio signals, but wasn't sure about the hardware to do it. I can't wait to hack this thing. I mean put in headphones, and I wonder what would happen. Play and mp3 and that would be cool to look at through a video camera. I wonder if you could record the audio, and then put it in mp3 player or record to a tape, then turn your walkman or whatever into a remote. Endless possibilities.

ya just gonna see bleeps of lights like thunderstorm i bet. nothing interesting.

[blade_of_narsil]

true, true. but can you record the audio and use the hardware in something else? like say a cd player. I don't see why not.

[mookie123]

you mean to function like one of those IR headphones? mmm.....

don't know. could be. but it looks like some serious computational power to translate the audio output into an IR signal for the headphones. I think Sony has some IR headphones. cost arms and legs tho'

I am not sure if there are other IR headphones or IR stereo system out there.

It could be easier if this IR add ons can act like fast Ir protocol in regular IR computer port. than it's just a matter of setting up networking protocol. stream the sound file slowly, than let the receiving end play the music.

but it'l be painfully slow at around 1-4MB/s

[Fitch]

Booth man also said that there will only be one set of GUIs with the software, and that if you want to create a custom screen, you'll have to do it with your favorite paint program. Two images: one with the skin, and another with a color mask-- each color represents another region.

[st63z]

For those who are interested in how this stacks up to items designed as a remote, by features and price, hop over to http://www.remotecentral.com/

Yup, this genre' of device has it's own dedicated following. There is a feature there called Clicker Picker. See what you get for less than $300. ((Do actually look at the device before saying 'there's one for $59") They even reviewed the iPAQ Nevo.

Uh oh, the Pronto and JP1 fan(atic)s ( www.hifi-remote.com ) will start coming here now 8O

[blade_of_narsil]

you mean to function like one of those IR headphones? mmm.....

don't know. could be. but it looks like some serious computational power to translate the audio output into an IR signal for the headphones. I think Sony has some IR headphones. cost arms and legs tho'

I am not sure if there are other IR headphones or IR stereo system out there.

It could be easier if this IR add ons can act like fast Ir protocol in regular IR computer port. than it's just a matter of setting up networking protocol. stream the sound file slowly, than let the receiving end play the music.

but it'l be painfully slow at around 1-4MB/s

No, I mean more like recording the audio that they send out to the port, and then using the little dongle in another device with audio out like a cd player. I mean you should even be able to blast ir over existing audio protocols, or just with 6' cable extending the 1/4'' jack. But shouldn't I be able to send some audio wirelessly to my computer that's headphone jack is in my media closet and blast those to control them with their little dongle? I guess we don't know till we try, but I know I will give it a whirl.

[nitrofly]

This would be even more excellent if it did RF as well. Many people have Bose equipment at the heart of their home entertainment systems. Bose don't work with IR. 8O

[cessquill]

This seems like a valuable upgrade from my trusty old Pronto (I've not followed you guys here from RemoteCentral, by the way :wink: ).

The screen on the colour pronto is not good, the new IPronto looks cool (wireless network connection, on-line tv guide, etc), but a little bulky to turn the tv on.

I had tried the PDAWin software, but needed an Ir Extender - not so much for the distance, but more for the logistics (some of the equipment is behind the projector screen, the projector is behind me - the Pronto would be fine with that).

Now a second-hand iPaq with either an avantGo subscription or a wireless jacket and this baby could be a pretty cool alternative...

Besides, the only game the Pronto has is Tetris, so I often find myself dragging playing cards around the iPaq when TV gets boring.

Does anybody know if it reads CCF files for its configuration (or have I missed something)?

[mookie123]

you need to entertain yourself during a boring TV interludes? yikes....

you need to get more channels... lol

[cessquill]

Yeah. Maybe. UK TV is a bit like Groundhog Day sometimes though.

[Don Stratton]

Let me see what little I can clear up:

Transmitter O.D. is 14.5mm (0.577 inches). Height is about 19mm (0.75 inches).

Low-speed data communications via the transmitter is certainly possible. That's all consumer IR remotes do.

We do need to consider releasing an API to access our audio engine. Doubtless you people will come up with some highly unorthodox and extremely cool applications for our little infrared tanning wand.

>>Big screen TV: $999
>>Bag of pork rinds: $1.99
>>Total Remote: $30
>>Always knowing where the remote is: Priceless

Sir, would you consider consulting with our marketing department? They need some help. :)

What happens if you load Total Remote's audio output onto, oh, I don't know, lets say... the Apple iPod?? We showed this at several Macworld trade shows. :)

>>This would be even more excellent if it did RF as well

We are looking in to it.

[Newsboy]

LOL!!!! Nice to know someone in corporate America still has a sense of humor! :D

[rook]

Has anyone seen a review of this software yet?

[ChrisW]

Here's a message I just sent to Griffin's support address. Maybe someone here can help me, though, particularly with how to create skins (which turns out to be entirely undocumented :x

I just received your Total Remote device for Christmas. I'm using it with my HP Jornada 567. It seems to be a pretty cool gadget in principle, but there are some gotchas (not surprisingly for a product whose hardware and software are version 1.0):


In the Audio System skin, the "Desk 1" button does not function. While you're at it, the correct terminology is "Deck", not "Desk".
In practice, device support -- both in the provided devices and in those I recorded myself -- seems spotty. Specifically, the Apex AD-1500 DVD controller didn't work for me, and only one of the commands I recorded for my Phillips DirecTiVo worked. I assume that at least the latter is due to insufficient experience on my part.
Creation of skins is entirely undocumented, but will be absolutely required for me to fully use my DirecTiVo. There is no other combination of skins that gives all of it's remote's features (like page up/page down, TiVo, Live TV, skip forward, skip back, etc.). In addition to the .PNG file containing the image, there must be some way to indicate the hot spots and identify them for programming, since without such a feature the skins would be limited to simply changing colors -- functional content, layout, and shape would be entirely fixed. I can't find any files in the installation that would do this, though. Please provide full documentation.
Your customers need a way to exchange the skins and devices they've built. I'm sure that I'm not the only owner of a DirecTiVo, or JVC receiver, etc. It would be of great benefit if there were some repository through which we could share our customizations.

Issues #2 and #3 above interfere with my ability to use this as a true universal remote. If we assume that #2 is just my lack of familiarity with the software, then #3 still needs to be addressed. I hope you can provide more information to allow me to create a skin for my DirecTiVo device and others.

[Don Stratton]

The documentation for the skin format is not quite finished, but you can contact Griffin for a pre-release copy that has all the needed facts, just not phrased as neutrally as the marketing guys would like. The marketing-approved version should be available in 2-3 weeks, but why wait just so they can dumb it down?

[ChrisW]

Thanks, Don. Since it sounds like you're associated with the company, do you know if there's any chance for a repository to share custom devices and skins?

[Don Stratton]

The marketroids are ridiculously busy preparing for the Macworld San Francisco show the first week of January, so they don't have time to work on Total Remote stuff right now. We WILL have a "user community" where people can discuss TR and share device profile and skins, but this will easily be the middle of January at the earliest.

[Don Stratton]

We finally did it!!!!

http://www.griffintechnology.com/griffinmobile/totalremote/skins.html

It took us (actually, the web guy) forever to get this done, but now that the framework is in place I encourage you all to check out the page, download what you like, and send in your own skins for posting to the page! We will be working on a skin submission system, and we will hold a skin contest soon.

Thanks for being patient, I know I wasn't. ;)

[ctitanic]

Does any one ever created a skin for DirectTivo or Tivo for this program?

:(

also, I could not find skins or codes for DVD Recorders. They still yet in the VCR decade. :(

[cory_jayc]

In order to solve the problem about using a $700 device a univercal remote,i know this is a PPC forum but for those interested in the remote, simply forget the Pocket PC all together, buy they 3.5mm Infrared adapter, (with software if you have to) .... plug it into you computer, record the sound files in an Audio Program (eg: cool edit pr, or ... Adobe Audition as it is now called) ... Mute the RIGHT track, and save the file ... then, simply upload all you remote signals to your iPod or any other Mp3 player you may own ... plug the device into that ... point and shoot at your Tv/xbox/dvd/ps ...