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...

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

[dimer0]

For example, when you are watching a video and the phone rings, simply press Mute. The Harmony will not only mute the sound, but will also pause the video.

Did I SAY I wanted to pause the video? ..

I'm sure this is configurable, but I really don't think this device is useful. Two years ago, my wife bought me one of those cool lcd-screen remotes (The Marantz), and while it's pretty cool to be able to set it up so one button will dim the lights, kick on the behind-the-tv light (ease the eye strain), turn the TV to input 2, kick on the DVD player and the Receiver -- I found that after a few months I started using my normal remotes again. It was just too much work to keep this configured correctly.

Now, for my wife who has no clue what inputs things should be on - this is okay. But most of my good remotes (with many buttons - which I like, and with tactile feedback - which I like even more) have the ability to learn the capabilities of a few other remote's functions - so my receiver's remote can control my TV.. I just set up a few of these remotes that I use most often to control a couple other devices that are associated with them, and I'm very happy.

My Marantz now sits in a closet.

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.

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

[mccalli]

...my wife bought me one of those cool lcd-screen remotes (The Marantz)...It was just too much work to keep this configured correctly.

What, someone used to sneak in and unconfigure it whilst you weren't looking?

I have one of these - a Philips Pronto. Very nice, and I used to use nothing but this remote. However, since getting a Tivo I find I'm tending to use that. TV only of course, the Pronto is used for everything else.

Cheers,
Ian

Program via serial port: JP1

[crow]

If you get a remote like the Radio Shack 2104 that has a 6-pin connector accessible from the battery compartment, you can build a serial cable and program it from your computer. This lets you program any button to do any function or sequence of functions.

There's an active discussion of these remotes at the JP1 Yahoo Group.

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.

===

User review.

[_LORAX_]

I got one of these beasts back in novenber. Despite some problems it does work as described, BUT the company has not been forthcomming with any documentation for the propriatary XML language or binaries that the device uses.

Harmony has time and again broken promises to release the full XML spec. I have even extrapolated non-documented xml features that have helped, but I should not have to.

As a simple remote with "activities" they are great, but if you are getting this to do complex programming steer clear.

http://www.remotecentral.com/

Good forums that have true user feedback.

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?!?

Re:why do they make this?

[SuiteSisterMary]

No, dude. 'Watch a DVD' generally entails:

• Activate receiver, pre/pro and amp, if any
• Select 'DVD' input
• Activate television
• Select appropriate input
• Activate DVD player
• run DVD

And that's a pretty basic list.

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.

Re:Sure.

[Zathrus]

Which is why a lot of people with high end remotes simply remap the Mute button to Pause for DVD's, VCR's, and TiVo's.

I think my VCR actually does mute too, since they tend to decide to "Stop" instead of pause after a few minutes, but I haven't used a VCR in about 2 years now, so I'm not sure.

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*