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Philips iPronto Does It with Linux

Posted by michael on from the lost-it-under-the-sofa-cushions dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Philips iPronto may well be a gadget-lover's dream come true. Ever glance around the family room in bewilderment at the number and diversity of remote controls required to make your entertainment systems go? If so, you might think you know why Philips created this brainy new remote. But getting rid of all those little button-studded black plastic battery-eaters isn't all this Linux-powered marvel aims to do." And all for the low low price of $1700.

21 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. sheesh by _RiZ_ · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I went shopping for remote controls and checked all the models out at the local Home Theater store. Let me tell you, a remote should be easy to use and functional. This is not it. Anything more than a Hometheatre Master MX-500 is a waste.

  2. WWOD by stankyho · · Score: 5, Funny

    Could Ozzy figure out how to use this one?

    --

    ---
    eeww, I'll have a crab juice.
  3. ProntoLITE by pherris · · Score: 4, Informative

    In case $1800USD is too rich for your blood they do offer a greatly stripped down version for $20 and there's a free demo (registration required).

    --
    "And a voice was screaming: 'Holy Jesus! What are these goddamn animals?'" - HST
  4. all in one by syle · · Score: 4, Funny

    So now, with one small device, I can control the porn on TV, the porn on the web, AND the porn streaming from my computer? No wonder it costs $1,700.

    --

    /syle

    1. Re:all in one by Black+Perl · · Score: 4, Funny

      They don't call it the ipr0nto for nothing!

      --
      bp
  5. Eek... by Bvardi · · Score: 5, Funny

    At 1700 this device would actually cost more than all the things I would use it to control! :)
    (Hey I'm a geek on a budget)

    That being said - it does look like the ultimate in remote control bragging rights in one rather large (for a remote) package.

  6. Re:world's greatest remote by vivian · · Score: 3, Funny

    My stepfather used to have one of those - every time he'd yell "Vivian!" (which meant I had to run up 2 flights of stairs to the lounge) it usually turned out to be a request to change the channel. The remote was usually just out of reach on the other end of the cofee table. Still, it did serve to tear me away from my computer song enough to get som excercise...

  7. Re:Coolest ... thing ... ever! by maharg · · Score: 5, Informative
    check it out at http://www.pronto.philips.com/index.cfm?id=496.
    flash required!!

    It's got a browser (well I assume that's what the hotmail screendump represents).
    a quick rundown of the specs:
    • The res is only 640*480 tho, a bit too blocky for my liking..
    • Intel X-Scale processor - no mention of speed
    • touch screen - "high sensitivity" - Mmmmm
    • 64 MB of non-vol flash memory
    • 64 MB of RAM
    • built in mic, 'phones socket and "speakers" - no mention of a line out or better, I guess you'll have to live with the headphone out..
    • PCMCIA slot with removeable 802.11b wireless card
    • 8 "direct access" buttons
    --

    $ strings FTP.EXE | grep Copyright
    @(#) Copyright (c) 1983 The Regents of the University of California.
  8. Startup time?! by jraf · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was looking around for the battery life specs (I couldn't get to the specs page on the Philips website) .. and came across this page http://www.remotecentral.com/wn030403.htm Found out that its got 5 days of standby lifetime.. not too fantastic, but with a convenient dock its acceptable I guess. But the second new feature of the firmeware upgrade said Reduced start-up time... Hell..ANY startup time for a remote control isn't going to be good..

  9. Pronto Neo by Black+Perl · · Score: 3, Informative

    I went shopping for remote controls and checked all the models out at the local Home Theater store. Let me tell you, a remote should be easy to use and functional. This is not it. Anything more than a Hometheatre Master MX-500 is a waste.

    Ironically, Philips makes a $149 programmable touchscreen remote (with a decent number of programmable hard buttons like the HomeTheatreMasters)--the Pronto Neo.

    Some links:

    Photo

    Customized screen examples

    Amazon $169/free shipping

    BlueDo.com $149 (where I bought mine)

    I really like it.

    --
    bp
  10. For $1700 by teamhasnoi · · Score: 4, Funny
    it better come with a Greek chorus that announces the channel I'm on.

    (In unison) "He requires channel CXXVII. He changes the channel."

    Yes...for 1700 dollars, I could hire a kid to act as my remote, *and* get me a beer.

    Beat that Philips!

  11. Remote Control via PDA by gunnk · · Score: 4, Informative

    The remote-control-via-PDA is a great idea, except that the range on the IR beam from most PDA's is terrible. I tried a similar piece of software on my Palm IIIxe -- the range was only about a meter and a half. Kinda makes it pointless if you have to walk half way across the room to use it.

    I did train it to open my wife's Jeep Cherokee, though (that's an IR model remote as well). Newer cars are going RF, so YMMV.

    --
    Life is short: void the warranty.
  12. Hmmm... lets see... by esconsult1 · · Score: 4, Informative
    Fancy "Linux Remote" for $1,700. Instead I could buy:

    Yamaha 400 Watt Dolby/DTS Receiver ($299.99)

    Yahama "natural sound" 5 disc CD Changer/ MP3 Player ($150.00)

    Sony Progressive Scan DVD Player ($250.00)

    GRaphic Equalizer ($99.00)

    Sony Surround Speaker Set ($499.00)

    Oh yeah... Home Theater Universal Remove with LCD Display etc. etc. ($229.00)

    With the change left, hmmm.. 10 DVD's? Monster cable? Taxes for the equipment?

    Sure the remote is for the high end (like my boss's viewing room), but my Den could sure use the extra system above.

    --

    Newsfollow.com

  13. mislabelled by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The iPronto isn't a remote control. The iPronto is a network terminal that happens to have consumer IR stuff built into it, allowing it to have remote control capability.

    --
    Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
  14. REAL Critieria for a Handheld Remote by cmehta1 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Maybe if we told people what we want, they might give it to us.

    1. Fits in one hand
    2. Real Physical Buttons (no touch screen)
    3. Filled with codes for lots of units
    4. USB connection to download new codes using USB Hard Drive spec (like Archos MP3 player) for Windows/Linux Compatibility
    5. Learning/recording features from your collection of old/new remotes
    6. Tivo/DVD friendly jog/shuttle buttons
    7. Intuitive Layout (Yes..Holy Grail kinda request)
    8. Macro Recording/Programming of button presses
    9. Handles multiple sources (TV, Cable/Satellite, DVD/VCR, Tivo, Stereo/CD)
    10. Config files to backup remote setup (thru USB interface)
    11. Override/Reprogrammable Buttons
    12. Battery door that DOESNT BREAK!
    13. Sony-style of multi-function buttons (Sony used to have a grid of 12 buttons that could be changed by using a slider on the side that showed which device/function you were using for the twelve buttons. The slider would pull up/down a cheatsheet underneath the buttons that would would display the commands available in a viewable plastic window)

    Optional:
    * Embedded Linux

    1. Re:REAL Critieria for a Handheld Remote by CDS · · Score: 3, Informative

      You may be interested in the One For All remotes -- they actually DO all of that! :) (or nearly all that anyway)

      Check out http://www.hifi-remote.com/ofa/

      They fit in one hand, and most have real buttons.

      They are filled with codes for lots of units, and have Advanced Codes as well. For example, the default codes for my DVD player did not include the Zoom function. I looked up the Advanced Code for Zoom, and programmed it in, and now Zoom works.
      They also have many Discrete Codes that are not available on the original remotes. My DVD player has an on/off button. Push it once to turn it on. Push it again to turn it off. I didn't want that. I JUST wanted ON. I set up a macro using the Discrete On function that switches my receiver to DVD, switches my TV to DVD mode, and turns ON the DVD player. I have another button that flips everything back to TV. When I hit the DVD button again, It switches back to DVD. I needed the discrete code because the original on/off code would have turned the DVD player OFF when I switched back...

      Computer connection: They don't have USB capability, but they do have a serial cable that plugs into the JP1 port on the remote - you can have total program control from your computer. Note that the model I have has the firmware for the JP1 but doesn't have the actual connector - you would have to solder the connector into the holes provided. Not a big deal, but it does mean a little hardware hacking. The "nicer" OFA remotes have the actual connector already.

      Learning: Most of them have learning capability. My current one does not, but I only spent $14 on the remote. I returned an $80 remote because my $14 OFA worked BETTER and was more hackable :) I also found I didn't need learning capabilities (at this time) because all the functions I was interested in have codes already.

      TiVO/DVD jog. I mentioned my DVD flipping above. I don't have a TiVO so I can't comment. But I haven't heard any complaints.

      Intuitive layout. The guide buttons are arranged in a circle (with Select in the center) and are located right under your thumb when you hold it. The channel up/down and volume up/down are also very well placed. I find it very intuitive.

      Macros - every button except Setup and the Device Selection buttons can be reprogrammed as macros. And even the Device buttons can be reprogrammed via the JP1 connection. My only gripe is that there is a 1-second delay between each command in the macros (this is to allow a device to complete the previous command before continuing with the next command). My understanding is that the timedelay can be modified via JP1.

      Multiple devices. My $14 remote is an 8-device remote.

      Config files. the JP1 interface allows you to backup your setup to computer.

      Reprogrammable buttons. See Macros, above.

      Battery door. Seems sturdy to me. no problems so far :)

      Multifunction buttons. Take a look at the OFA Kameleon (http://www.remotecentral.com/ureview/62.htm) -- not only does it have multifunction buttons, but only the buttons that are used with a particular device are illuminated.

      FYI My remote is the One For All model 6012, purchased from Walmart for $14.

  15. Interesting development for Philips by jackalope · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I worked at Philips Semiconductors up until about 9 months ago and they had a very strick policy: No GPL development, none, nada, nothing. The semi division was very afraid of having their intellectual property given away.

    Seems interesting that the CE group would turn around and product a Linux based device, especially since Philips has been so cozy with MS in the past. I wonder if they are going to release their optimizations back to the world like they are supposed to, or if they are going to hord them.

  16. Did anyone else notice... by SamTheButcher · · Score: 3, Insightful
    ...that it's a big "rah-rah" ad disguised as an article that's short on details but is "cool" because it runs Linux? I mean, that's great, but front-page worthy? Or...even newsworthy?

    What can't this device do? Not much, we suspect, given its embedded Linux operating system, graphical touchscreen interface, and sophisticated communications capabilities.

    Come on, that's marketing, not reporting.

  17. So how do I fumble for it? by thatguywhoiam · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I don't know. This iPronto thing, it seems to have a kind of major design issue.

    Put it this way:

    I'm about 80 minutes into Fellowship of the Ring. The room is completely dark (except for the tv of course). I have, balanced precariously on one leg a vat of popcorn, girlfriend likely leaning on other shoulder. There may or may not be a few drinks on the table in front of me. I may or may not be really stoned.

    Then that Balrog scene comes up and I just have to slow-mo it this time, it just looks so amazing, so in my dark, cluttered, reclined, drunk/stoned state, I fumble for the remote to hit the slo-mo...

    ... and whip out this iPronto thing, light it up, start dragging my greasy fingers across the touchscreen through frickin pull-down menus, eyes blinded by the sudden shift in light and focus, the Balrog's going mental on Gandalf's ass, I spill my drink...

    Nah. Don't see it. For $1700, I want to just yell what I want, or twiddle my fingers in the air, and have it do something.

    --
    If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
  18. Re:not another gadget by Marco_polo · · Score: 3, Funny

    There's a problem with that however.

    the average man thinks about sex every 5 minutes. So you can be sitting there with your girl, watching the 'lifetime movie of the week' and the TV suddenly switches to the spice channel.

    I'm not sure I want that..

    --
    I am the lord of the pun. Dance Knave!
  19. Saw one months ago at philips by UnConeD · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I visited Philips Remote Control dev center a couple of months ago here in Leuven, Belgium and saw an early version of one of these. It's a luxury product of course, intended for people who just have too much money on their hands and are spending $10000 on a home cinema system anyway (that's what the devs told us). We also saw the lesser pronto's, which are basically tough, pda-sized (though thicker) smart remote controls with a color touchscreen. They are just remote controls (unlike this mini-computer), but they do come with software for designing your own button layouts and such. Apparently it's still a worthwhile market in the US. Lots of rich people DO buy this sort of stuff. The iPronto is basically a tablet-computer for your living room, which just happens to also be a remote control. My main gripe when trying out the various pronto's was the touch pad which was inaccurate and seemed to respond badly... and that was without greasy fingers from crisps or popcorn.