06-20-2002, 05:59 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
The PDA that's also a universal remote? It's here!
http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2871473,00.html
David Coursey from ZDNet has some interesting news - it seems that a certain Pocket PC OEM has added a special chip and software to their device to make it work like a powerful universal remote control. Very intriguing! Who is it? We know it's not Toshiba or HP. Nothing about the Loox or Asus devices having this feature - that leaves Compaq or Casio. Casio hasn't made a peep about their next-gen Xscale device...so my money is on Compaq. What do you think?
"And now for something that, if not completely different is, well, different enough: Turning your PDA into a remote control for all your home electronics devices. Next week, a major manufacturer will announce that all its newest PDAs will come equipped with a new chip and software that turns a Pocket PC into a universal remote rivaling dedicated models costing $1,000 or more. This doesn't mean you should rush to the living room and throw your old remote controls in the trash. But it does mean that at least one Pocket PC--I can't reveal the name of the vendor until it's announced next week in New York--has gained an interesting new feature.
The prototype I've seen demonstrated uses a chip and software created by Universal Electronics, an old hand in the universal remote business. The company provides technology for some of the higher priced remotes, but they also make lower-end, everyday products: The company estimates that 150 million people a day touch a remote control that uses their technology. Key to Universal's offerings: An extensive database of the codes used by tens of thousands of devices that accept infrared remote control commands. These include not just televisions, but also home stereos, VCRs, DVDs, personal video recorders, and even some office video projectors. Microsoft has licensed this technology for use in its e-home project, intended to bring a remote control into multimedia PCs."
And of course, it just wouldn't be an online forum if Peter da Silva didn't pop in with his "Palm can do this better and cheaper" dance.
|
| |
|
|
|
06-20-2002, 06:06 PM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Re: The PDA that's also a universal remote? It's here!
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
|
Bwahahahahahaahaha..... :lol: :lol:
He is nothing if not consistant.
|
| |
|
|
|
06-20-2002, 06:14 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 34
|
|
To my knowledge there is at least one brand that has integrated IR consumer compatible hardware.
Be aware that being IR Consumer compatible it is a matter of generate and possibly read, a consumer IR carrier, that is about 40Khz (it varies slightly across appliance brands).
This can be done by using IR consumer ready made hardware or using high speed IR that is ubiquitous to any pocket pc. Having IR consumer eases the task however.
Another factor is the IR led power and angle. This has been shown to be a major drawback in existing IR remote emulators.
The most interesting piece of software I ever seen in this matter was one that emulated Philips Pronto remote. It seems Phlips did not want that software to be released so it disapeared from the website.
|
| |
|
|
|
06-20-2002, 06:28 PM
|
|
|
06-20-2002, 06:29 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 47
|
|
This is what is in the user manual: "Once you've downloaded the graphics and your Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC has synchronized
up the files, go to your device."
So I think the money you put on the Compaq is quite save <g>
|
| |
|
|
|
06-20-2002, 06:58 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 144
|
|
This info was posted on a sales site. The iPAQ 3900 series includes Consumer IR.
|
| |
|
|
|
06-20-2002, 07:08 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 14
|
|
I don't normally read the talkbacks... Holy cow that Peter da Silva guy is obnixous! 8O A little full of himself too, it seems...
Quote:
...Not in my experience, but what do I know, I've only been using it for a couple of years now... it's not like I actually read it on someone's website or something *reliable* like that.
--Peter de Silva
|
|
| |
|
|
|
06-20-2002, 07:16 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 144
|
|
Peter does have a valid point. The Handspring and Clie devices can do 25-30 feet with their built-in IRDA compatible ports and they are a lot cheaper than a Pocket PC. I have played with both Palm and Pocket PC remote control software and I find the whole lot to be less than adequate.
Buttons are a whole lot nicer to work with than a touch screen. Having to look down to change the remote control settings is not good. Also using a $$$ device to do what a $20 device can do is bad news as well. I'm sure some people who don't have kids and need to create lots of IR macros will get good use out of these things, but for the majority of people, this is just a cool tech demo and not practical.
L.B.
|
| |
|
|
|
06-20-2002, 07:45 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 47
|
|
I would say fill those empty spaces in those Pocket PC boxes up to the max and give me all the functionality you can give me!!! Being able to control my TV, connect to the Internet with WiFi and dial from my Pocket PC makes perfect sense for me :-) I *ALWAYS* have my Pocket PC with me, and being able to just program all the equipement I own into my PocketPC makes sense for me, if it doesn't for someone else just leave it <lol> Point is that being able to use it is in my eyes cool, and seeing the response on software based versions of this kind of functionality on both Palm and Pocket PC platforms, a lot of people seem to feel the same way.
So I disagree with what bitbank and "Peter"are saying...
I would be more disapointed if a new $600 device can't do what a $20 can do, than the other way around! However if they start charching a lot for this kind of functionality I would say "keep it" after all it's main use is as PDA and the rest are just nice add ons!
|
| |
|
|
|
06-20-2002, 07:54 PM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by bitbank
Peter does have a valid point. The Handspring and Clie devices can do 25-30 feet with their built-in IRDA compatible ports and they are a lot cheaper than a Pocket PC. I have played with both Palm and Pocket PC remote control software and I find the whole lot to be less than adequate.
|
I think the point is that no one should buy any PDA to control their TV with. What a pain IMHO. I use the remote by tactile feel of the buttons. Hard to do on a screen, no? But if you are in the market for a PCA, and a Pocket PC in particular, and consumer IR is a plus for you, then this new model is something to consider. Peter is only interested in bashing Microsoft in general. He does it to the PPC, Windows, etc. He is a huge Linux nut that uses a Palm. Plain and simple.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
