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

Doubtful it will work as promised

[og_sh0x]

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?

Is it just me . . .

[T-Lex]

or is there no "record" button on this miracle of hi-tech?

Re:Uhh... This isn't for this crowd.

[CynicTheHedgehog]

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.

What are you so scared of?

[ryanvm]

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.]

Re:What are you so scared of?

[rusty0101]

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

Re:What are you so scared of?

[interstellar_donkey]

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.

===

I don't think...

[ArthurKing]

...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.

slow news day? Time to dredge up old toys?

[inicom]

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 has reviewed it! It's been featured on remotecentral since february!

Is slashdot near death? Tell me something new, not something that has been beat to death elsewhere!