USB Remote Control

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."

Comments

Scary?

[Rombuu]

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...

Re:Scary?

[CaffeineAddict2001]

They could expect you to build one bitchin' dilithium powered hibatchi from space junk.

What I Want In A Remote

[dscottj]

• 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?!?

Could be fun

[Mahrin Skel]

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

Sure.

[tweakt]

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.

[radish]

Errr, if the DVD is paused, why do you need to press Mute anyway??

Phone rings, press pause.

Back in my day...

[Kenny Austin]

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.

Re:USB and not FireWire?

[WWWWolf]

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*