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New EL Touchscreen Remote Control

Posted by chrisd on from the pretty-and-cheap dept.

raminf writes "Stumbled across the Kameleon -- a new remote control device from Univeral Electronics. The interface is a blank electro-luminescent touch-screen. The 'buttons' are animated graphics drawn to match any device you choose . You can update new device interfaces via a modem (specs aren't clear how exactly). You can also define 'macro' buttons to do multiple tasks with one button. Apparently it also has a built-in motion-sensor and turns itself on when you pick it up. You can't buy it directly in the U.S. yet. Here's a British web-site that carries it and has some specs and a picture. Here's the company press release. RadioShack has announced they'll be carrying it retail pretty soon."

8 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. But can it withstand.... by Dinjay · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The drop test, the fluid contamination tests? This thing looks way too fragile.

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    You break all the laws of physics and you seriously think there wouldn't be a price?
  2. buttons drawn? by Alrescha · · Score: 4, Insightful

    My interpretation of the web page says that the keys are pre-defined, and only the appropriate ones are displayed ('lit', perhaps?). In my mind, this is different from 'drawn' which implies a different level of sophistication.

    It does look cool, and the auto-on motion detection is a nice touch.

    A.

    --
    ...bringing you cynical quips since 1998
  3. Mo-dem? by JessLeah · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can update new device interfaces via a modem...

    Mo-dem? What's a mo-dem?... I think I remember Mo-dems...those were those slow things with the blinkylights that we all had before we got residential DSL and cable...right? And you could type +++ATH0 and it e(6`|:fK6@(^*&#~~~NO CARRIER

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    Honey, I shrunk the Cygwin
  4. Bah by Jonboy+X · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What good is a remote that you have to look at to change the channel? No amount of bells and/or whistles will make up for not being able to feel the buttons...

    --

    "In a 32-bit world, you're a 2-bit user. You've got your own newsgroup, alt.total.loser." -Weird Al
    1. Re:Bah by Malicious · · Score: 5, Funny
      People used to get called lazy because they didn't want to leave the couch to change the channel...

      What do you call a person who doesn't want to have to *look* at the remote?

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  5. Re:Umm by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 5, Informative

    Philips didn't just release the Pronto. It's literally been around for years.

    And the Sony device is totally different. This device and the Pronto use a true LCD display, a la Palm Pilot. The Sony device just uses a backlit template with buttons drawn on it. Depending on your device selection, some buttons are lit and some aren't. Your CD player will have a "play" button, but your TV won't, for instance. But you can't really change the labels of the buttons or anything about their arrangement.

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    I write in my journal
  6. Already done... by singularity · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Marantz has been offerring devices similar to this for quite some time. Check out the RC9200 and RC5200. They offer a serial port connection for easy connection to a PC to get more codes installed.

    They are also available in the United States.

    --
    - (c) 2018 Hank Zimmerman
  7. And you have to think about... by Flyskippy1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does it run on OS? In sure it'll be terrible when someone calls from the Living Room...

    "Honey, the remote Blue Screened again..."