Griffin TotalRemote v2.0 Released

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.griffintechnology.com/software/software_totalremote.html' target='_blank'>http://www.griffintechnology.com/so...otalremote.html</a><br /><br /></div>Griffin Technology has released v2 of their remote control software. It includes CCF support, so that it'll work with Philips Pronto-based remote controls, and also now has full macro editing and customization compatibilities.<br /><br />The update is free for existing users. If you've been on the sidelines about whether or not it's right for you, you can download a trial of the software -- you won't get the range you do with the <a href="http://www.griffintechnology.com/griffinmobile/totalremote/">TotalRemote hardware</a>, but you'll be able to try out the new features.

[Jauz]

I just installed the demo, and the program doesn't seem to work with my somewhat-new Panasonic TV and Sony DVD.

Is it because I have a cheap PDA?

[JonnoB]

I just installed the demo, and the program doesn't seem to work with my somewhat-new Panasonic TV and Sony DVD.

Is it because I have a cheap PDA?

Unless you have Consumer IR, it most likely won't work well without the hardware IR extender as well.

[nic]

it makes my iPAQ h1945 go crazy when i touch any of the buttons :cry:

[Don Stratton]

I just installed the demo, and the program doesn't seem to work with my somewhat-new Panasonic TV and Sony DVD.

Total Remote was tested using a Sony DVP-NS300 DVD player, a Sony N51 VCR, and a Sony Wega TV, so it would be pretty odd for you to have a problem with a Sony device. Have you tried sampling your original remote? There is always the possibility that there is a newer Sony protocol than we have tested (Wega, for instance, is very different from DVD). If sampling does not work, I would love to know the model of the Sony DVD player you have.

Is it because I have a cheap PDA?

Not necessarily! Yes, many PDAs have weak IrDA output. Some, like Toshiba e310/330 and Dell Axim X3 are not only among the least expensive Pocket PCs, but they ironically have the strongest IrDA output! But then, paradoxially, the older Dell X5 is very very weak, so you never can say for sure that a PPC would make a good remote control based solely on purchase price.

All that said, the Dell Axim X5 is one of the only PPCs that Total Remote cannot perform well on. The IrDA port is very weak, so any attempt at using IrDA should be done from less than 5 feet away. Since the audio port is also one of the only ones that cannot reproduce our control signals our audio transmitter is basically useless. That does not make for a very practical remote control. :(

[Don Stratton]

it makes my iPAQ h1945 go crazy when i touch any of the buttons :cry:

Hmm. We tested Total Remote using a 1910 and did not notice any problems. Do you have any "graphic enhancements" installed, like WisBar or something?

[johncruise]

All that said, the Dell Axim X5 is one of the only PPCs that Total Remote cannot perform well on. The IrDA port is very weak, so any attempt at using IrDA should be done from less than 5 feet away. Since the audio port is also one of the only ones that cannot reproduce our control signals our audio transmitter is basically useless. That does not make for a very practical remote control. :(

What is the story on the Casio E-200 then? It's been disqualified also in the compatibility list :-(

[shanks]

Check this one out. I get a good 20+ feet range on my E800. It has a few cool features too.

http://vitotechnology.com/products/remote.html

Shankar.

[Mark_Venture]

Unless you have Consumer IR, it most likely won't work well without the hardware IR extender as well.
I didn't see anything on their web site, does Total Remote support the CIR of the iPAQ 2215 that is used by Nevo and supported by PDAWin's TV Remote Control?

[Don Stratton]

What is the story on the Casio E-200 then? It's been disqualified also in the compatibility list :-(

The exact same problem as the Dell Axim X5... because they are made by the exact same OEM manufacturer (Wistron, I believe). Weak IrDA, and audio that cannot drive the transmitter module. The reason the Dell Axim X3 _IS_ a usable PPC for remote control is that Dell and a Pocket PC remote control manufacturer (who shall go nameless) worked with Wistron to insure that the X3 had better hardware that could do the job.

I have not tested any Casio since the E-200, so I have absolutely no idea if the situation has improved with Casio PPCs.

[Don Stratton]

I didn't see anything on their web site, does Total Remote support the CIR of the iPAQ 2215 that is used by Nevo and supported by PDAWin's TV Remote Control?

Yes, we do! As of v2.0 we now control the "Nevo" LED conpletely independant of Nevo (you can have Nevo installed, but if you did an OS update and lost Nevo we can still take control of the LED).

Sorry for the lack of info on the web site. I will try to stimulate the web dudes to update things.

[Don Stratton]

Check this one out. I get a good 20+ feet range on my E800. It has a few cool features too.

&lt;link to Vito>

Shankar.

Actually, all PPC remote applications should be able to work with the e800 series IrDA port (which is pretty powerful), and they should all have the exact same range.

So, naturally, Total Remote v2.0 works with the Toshiba e800 series, and using my Sony DVD player I about 25 feet. :)

[JonnoB]

Unless you have Consumer IR, it most likely won't work well without the hardware IR extender as well.
I didn't see anything on their web site, does Total Remote support the CIR of the iPAQ 2215 that is used by Nevo and supported by PDAWin's TV Remote Control?

That I do not know. They do not list the 221x devices as having been supported so I have doubts. I personally have a 2215 and use the Nevo software. I have tried the PDAWin software and think that it is pretty good too. It performed very well with my HP568 and I am considering on using it with my 2215 just for the support of CCF files.

[Don Stratton]

That I do not know. They do not list the 221x devices as having been supported so I have doubts.

No fear! If you simply consider the fundamental system requirements, and the fact that EVERY SINGLE iPaq has always been supported, it seems like a safe bet. Of course, the trial version is the best way to make sure that TR is going to work on your PPC.

We also can control the "CIR LED" on any, ANY, iPaq so equipped.

[Janak Parekh]

Don,

Is the software obtainable separately? That's the one thing I wasn't sure about based on your website's information.

Thanks,

--janak

[Don Stratton]

Don,

Is the software obtainable separately? That's the one thing I wasn't sure about based on your website's information.

Thanks,

--janak

I really must remember to kill our web/marketing guy slowly and painfully...

Although there is no indication of it anywhere on our site, there are some purchasing options. They can best be summarized as:

Full retail package with CD and audio transmitter
http://www.griffintechnology.com/griffinmobile/totalremote/index.html

Software-only, no audio transmitter
https://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&jid=F41C35D1ABD7B1E136C2CA64FX5E7BE3&platformId=2&siteId=1&productId=91044&sectionId=0&catalog=30&txtSearch=%22total+remote%22

Without the audio transmitter you save $5. Since certain PPCs cannot EFFECTIVELY use the adapter (such as the Dell Axim X3), and since certain PPCs don't really NEED the transmitter (such as the Dell Axim X3), it seemed reasonble to offer another purchasing option.

[Mark_Venture]

Yes, we do! As of v2.0 we now control the "Nevo" LED conpletely independant of Nevo (you can have Nevo installed, but if you did an OS update and lost Nevo we can still take control of the LED).
Thank you for the reply. Time to try it :)

[organon]

One thing I noticed in using the demo is that I couldn't assign functions to the hardware buttons for my Motorola Cable Box. All the buttons could do was change the device. Obviously, it'd be nice if I could use the buttons to control volume/channel, as well as operate the menu, etc. Is this just an oversight or is there some problem with assigning hardware buttons for this type of device?

[DanielTS]

Actually, all PPC remote applications should be able to work with the e800 series IrDA port (which is pretty powerful), and they should all have the exact same range.

So, naturally, Total Remote v2.0 works with the Toshiba e800 series, and using my Sony DVD player I about 25 feet. :)

Good news for e800 owners ! :D

Does Total Remote v2.0 support VGA capable CCF, generated by Tonto ?

[Don Stratton]

One thing I noticed in using the demo is that I couldn't assign functions to the hardware buttons for my Motorola Cable Box. All the buttons could do was change the device. Obviously, it'd be nice if I could use the buttons to control volume/channel, as well as operate the menu, etc. Is this just an oversight or is there some problem with assigning hardware buttons for this type of device?

Were you trying to sample IR directly to the hardware buttons, or were you trying to change their function from Edit>Assign Hardware Buttons...? The only known problem with hardware buttons lies with the Dell Axim X3, which some people have reported has flaky buttons (we're looking into it). Otherwise, you should have at least two ways of reassigning commands to hardware buttons.

[Don Stratton]

Good news for e800 owners ! :D

Does Total Remote v2.0 support VGA capable CCF, generated by Tonto ?

Bad news for e800 owners! Total Remote, like an awful lot of programs out there, is hard-coded to work at 240x320. At VGA resolutions we take up the upper left corner of the screen. This is mostly a legacy limitation from our skin format, which defines areas in terms of 240x320 chunks. We are considering how to get around this for future versions, since we all know that VGA support will be widespread soon.

[norad]

what about 4150? Can I use IR extender with my 4150?

I couldn't any info about this (either here or on your website)

thanks :)

[Don Stratton]

AFAIK, based on the published technical specs on HP's web site, the audio transmitter should work. The two unknows for me:

1. Will our audio transmitter fit into the jack (it won't on 54xx/55xx)?

2. Does the 4xxx iPaqs still have audio good enough to drive the transmitter? All iPaqs, ALL, have to date so that is hopeful.

[norad]

AFAIK, based on the published technical specs on HP's web site, the audio transmitter should work. The two unknows for me:

1. Will our audio transmitter fit into the jack (it won't on 54xx/55xx)?

2. Does the 4xxx iPaqs still have audio good enough to drive the transmitter? All iPaqs, ALL, have to date so that is hopeful.

I wish we could be sure of that 'coz I'm planning to buy one if it would work properly...

[liunam]

My Total Remote just arrived this afternoon. I am both impressed and disappointed. I'm impressed by the range (using an old iPaq 3700). Finally, I can use my iPaq as remote control. It's been gathering dust in the drawer.

However, I am very disappointed by the difficulty in customizing the skins. I woule like, for example, remove the TAPE option from the Audio System skin since I do not have a tape drive and replace it with something else. Also, I want to add an option for the ReplayTV and Audiotron. I do not see an easy way of doing it!

I tried Omniremote on my son's Palm Zire and that piece of software was very easy to customize. Are there any website where I can download additional skins?

[Ben Stark]

Check this one out. I get a good 20+ feet range on my E800. It has a few cool features too.

http://vitotechnology.com/products/remote.html

Shankar.

Does it display in fullscreen VGA or is it stuck in the corner as well?

[Don Stratton]

However, I am very disappointed by the difficulty in customizing the skins. I woule like, for example, remove the TAPE option from the Audio System skin since I do not have a tape drive and replace it with something else. Also, I want to add an option for the ReplayTV and Audiotron. I do not see an easy way of doing it!

Two thoughts:

Have you read the documentation about how to make your own Total Remote skins? It's on the Total Remote download page, right above Pocket Grab.
http://www.griffintechnology.com/software/software_totalremote.html

Honestly, if you are comfortable with a graphics editor like Photoshop (or even Adobe Illustrator) you can churn out custom skin files VERY quickly.

Are you more comfortable making CCF files? I personally find the CCF format a disaster of complexity, and entire books have been written about the subject of making custom CCFs because it is pretty damn hard, but some people don't seem to mind. I'd recommend Tonto over ProntoEdit, but that's just me.

[liunam]

Hi Don,

Yes, I did read the document and spent a couple of hours playing with the default skins. I thought that it was too much work.

Then I spent another two hours playing with CCF that I downloaded off the Internet and found the screens ugly. :)

It's just that Omniremote was much easier to customize over Total Remote.

I guess I will have to learn to live with the prospect of modifying the skin files. Any freeware (or cheap) graphics editor you can recommend? I do not have Photoshop and find it too expensive for this purpose.

[Don Stratton]

Hi Don,

Yes, I did read the document and spent a couple of hours playing with the default skins. I thought that it was too much work.

Then I spent another two hours playing with CCF that I downloaded off the Internet and found the screens ugly. :)

It's just that Omniremote was much easier to customize over Total Remote.

From what I can tell you are extremely limited in what you can do with Omniremote, since all you can do is drag a few basic button shapes within a rather limited positioning area. While this is very quick it also lacks the power of either CCFs or Total Remote's native skin format.

I guess I will have to learn to live with the prospect of modifying the skin files. Any freeware (or cheap) graphics editor you can recommend? I do not have Photoshop and find it too expensive for this purpose.

I would suggest PaintShopPro, or almost any other decent graphics application that can load and save in PNG format.