The Universal Off Button

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Posted by ryuzaki0 on Wednesday October 20, 2004 @05:04AM from the does-not-work-on-people dept.

jcr13 writes "Wired news is running a story about TV-B-Gone, a new weapon in the fight against the pervasiveness of television in our society. With this device, which takes the form of a keychain fob with a single button, you can turn off virtually any TV set. How does it work? By rolling through all known IR power-off codes, one by one, trying codes from the most popular brands first. Personally, I am terribly annoyed by TVs in restaurants and airports: they grab my attention over and over, no matter how hard I try to ignore them, and they distract me from the conversations that I should be having with my human companions. Unfortunately, the TV-B-Gone website seems to have already been swamped by the Wired coverage, so we cannot order these just yet. In the mean time, those of you with DIY proclivities may want to think about wiring one of these up yourself using a PIC chip or other micro-controller." An anonymous reader adds links to mentions at CNET, TV station KESQ and Ananova.

53 of 1,169 comments (clear)

Now by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-20 05:05 · Score: 5, Funny

I need a Universal On button remote... it'll be like a battle between good and evil, light and dark.
1. Re:Now by gnuLNX · 2004-10-20 05:42 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  "I think we tipped her near $200"
  
  Wow next time you need a waiter...look me up!
  
  --
  what?
2. Re:Now by IronChef · 2004-10-20 06:58 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I did something similar in high school. We were suffering through some Shakespeare movie in the hated English teacher's class. The VCR in use was the same model as my girlfriend at the time owned. I had planned ahead and brought her remote with me. In the dark room it was trivial to make the VCR act up... pausing at random, that kind of thing.
  
  Mysteriously, the troubles would always clear up as soon as the teacher approached the VCR.
  
  By the end of the period she was fit to be tied.
  
  A silly prank, sure, but it still makes me laugh today to think about it. Unlike the waitress mentioned above, Mrs. Dunbridge never got a nice tip either!
3. Re:Now by menscher · 2004-10-20 14:33 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Nah. I learned how to deal with roommates. It's called learning to juggle. If you suck at juggling, but insist on attempting to juggle knives, your roommate will not be home much. (No, I'm not making this up.)
  Besides, it's fun when your roommate sees the volume knob rotating itself.
Don't stop at just a power button by Patik · 2004-10-20 05:06 · Score: 5, Funny

Personally, I am terribly annoyed by TVs in restaurants and airports: they grab my attention over and over, no matter how hard I try to-- *MUTE*
1. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by Mattintosh · 2004-10-20 05:25 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  It would be much better just to hook those acoustic sensors (along with a motion sensor) up to remotely detonated mines. Place the mines as if they're manholes, notify everyone in the neighborhood to head for cover when they hear a "thump, thump, thump", and watch the 'tards fly.
  
  Now that's a noise ordnance! (Not the same as an ordinance, btw...)
2. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by seanmeister · 2004-10-20 05:29 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  You mean like this?
  
  It's in German, but if the google translation is correct, this device will the brothers many more subtly to the leather, once the elephant leaves the water. Which, of course, goes without saying.
3. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by Cipster · 2004-10-20 06:04 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Can I get one of those for my wife? I'd pay very well.
4. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-20 06:43 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  You are all thinking too complex, geeks. A simple alcohol bottle, old rag stuffed in neck, and a match. Light rag, toss at vehicle, and issue solved. Most importantly, don't forget to run.
5. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-20 06:47 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  What are you, some kind of black hole that eats fun?
6. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by pnutjam · 2004-10-20 06:58 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Or the guy that owns the bar will just cover the IR input with tape.
  
  --
  Cheap storage VM.
7. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by zapp · 2004-10-20 07:17 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Agreed, completely. Knowing the route someone takes to work in order to analize traffic patterns is WAY worse than destroying private property because of a personal pet peeve.
  
  You know folks, if you hate these guys with the stereos so much, why don't you quit hiding behind technology and do what you want anyway - follow then until they park, and slash their tires. Or run them off the road.
  
  --
  no comment
8. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by Cpt_Kirks · 2004-10-20 08:11 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  The guy who is selling this thing is first class dick.
  
  You know, one of those "TV is EE-VIL, I don't watch it and nobody else should either" types.
  
  Somebody should shove one of his remotes up his ass and stomp him until the TV turns off...
9. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by foobarb · 2004-10-20 08:20 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  This page at the microwave your boomer site is even funnier.
  
  But beware, the Thumpmobile Zapper is a dangerous beast. The full elephant details follow:
  
  "Now the moment comes, where the elephant leaves the water: Magnetron as to the remaining microwave furnace circuit attach before (use high voltage-firm cable - the Magnetron cooperates over 2000 V!) and SHORT switch on. In the case of correct adjustment the valuable transistors in the bass output stage of the victim will fuse within fractions of a second . In the case of not correct adjustment also engine electronics of the vehicle is destroyed. But you do not want that nevertheless, or? Effects on the brain of the driver are not to be feared after my experiences. But you do not let arrive it better on it, perhaps are with it nevertheless still vestiges of brain cells present: If the victim scharrt afterwards in the sand and shits into the yard, the adjustment was wrong or the dose too high."
10. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by dbIII · 2004-10-20 12:44 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  EMP mine, and I'm there -- fry their $$$ overpowered vehicular nuisance generator, er car stereo.
  Then you find out that they spent so much on the stereo that it runs on valves.
11. Re:Don't stop at just a power button by sporktoast · 2004-10-20 15:18 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Back when cable TV first came to Northern Virginia, the service was by Media General (now Cox), and the units were these resonably sophisticated things from Zenith. Among the usual buttons, they had one labeled "Parental Control". I don't know about anybody else, but I could never get it to work on Mom or Dad.
  
  --
  In a related story, the IRS has recently ruled that the cost of Windows upgrades can NOT be deducted as a gambling loss.
NFL by brjndr · 2004-10-20 05:06 · Score: 5, Funny

...and women ruin Sundays for men across the nation.
Suicidal by enforcer999 · 2004-10-20 05:06 · Score: 5, Funny

If you want to die a quick death, try using this gizmo at an Oklahoma sports bar during an OU Sooners football game. You will not live long.
1. Re:Suicidal by skavj_binsk · 2004-10-20 08:47 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  If you want to die a quick death, try using this gizmo at an Oklahoma sports bar during an OU Sooners football game. You will not live long.
  On the plus side, at least it's a fast way OUT OF OKLAHOMA. Might be worth it.
Awesome! by Shoeler · 2004-10-20 05:08 · Score: 3, Funny

Now all we need is the salesman-be-gone, the policeman-be-gone, and the nagging-mother-in-law-be-gone. ^_^
Try it out during the final Sox-Yankees game by geekee · 2004-10-20 05:09 · Score: 5, Funny

in a crowded bar. You'll make some new friends with this gizmo.

--
Vote for Pedro
1. Re:Try it out during the final Sox-Yankees game by sleepnmojo · 2004-10-20 05:14 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Even more in prison
During the Playoffs by Alien54 · 2004-10-20 05:11 · Score: 3, Funny

Just as the ball gets hit and everyone goes nuts, so you don't see the outcome. Revenge of the nerds indeed. hopefully this is small enough so you don't get caught

--
"It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
Ehh by The-Bus · 2004-10-20 05:12 · Score: 1, Funny

I'm too lazy to read the article. Is there a link to video of it somewhere so I know what it does? Anyone?

--
Small potatoes make the steak look bigger.
For those who like their TV... by iapetus · 2004-10-20 05:14 · Score: 4, Funny

I've created a device to counter this anti-social and selfish TV-deactivator. And what's more, it's easier and cheaper to construct. Just curl the fingers of your right hand into a tight roll, tucking the tips in towards the palm, and use this device to strike a sharp blow to the arrogant fool who thinks he has the right to mess with your expensive consumer hardware.

Patent is, of course, pending, but I'll be offering a free license for use in this sort of situation.

--
++ Say to Elrond "Hello.".
Elrond says "No.". Elrond gives you some lunch.
Re:Free market, people by finkployd · 2004-10-20 05:14 · Score: 5, Funny

Are you trying to insinuate that the entire world shouldn't conform to my preferences? How un /. of you.

Finkployd
Don't forget .... by binaryDigit · 2004-10-20 05:16 · Score: 4, Funny

Troll-be-gone
FP-be-gone
In-Soviet-Russia-be-gone
Microsoft-anything-sucks-open-source-everything-ro cks-be-gone
Cowboy-Neal-be-gone
1. Re:Don't forget .... by The-Bus · 2004-10-20 05:33 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  These devices exist already ...in Japan!
  
  --
  Small potatoes make the steak look bigger.
Re:Free market, people by Derkec · 2004-10-20 05:18 · Score: 2, Funny

No kidding, next he'll tell me that it's wrong for me to try to uninstall cripple / emacs on other people's computers in an effort to bring vi glory to the world.
How about a Button to Turn Off People by syntap · 2004-10-20 05:19 · Score: 3, Funny

And their cell phones. And not as noisy as a machine gun.
Re:Discrete on/off codes... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-20 05:26 · Score: 1, Funny

I'm envisioning playing Bingo at one of those large store displays with all the different TV's in a big grid.
Truly universal... by IGnatius+T+Foobar · 2004-10-20 05:27 · Score: 2, Funny

The truly universal "off button" is that big 100-amp (or more) main breaker. I guarantee it'll work. Hehe.

Seriously though ... in order to avoid incurring the wrath of the society zombies among you who actually want to watch the megacrap that is today's television programming, I would suggest that this device should be subtly embedded in a baseball cap or something, and set to transmit every minute or so. That way you can turn televisions off just by looking at them, while your "alibi hand" is firmly grasping your "alibi beer" or something. :)

--
Tired of FB/Google censorship? Visit UNCENSORED!
Re:Boo hoo for you... by nizo · 2004-10-20 05:28 · Score: 2, Funny

I am guessing the murder rate would skyrocket if everyone didn't have the TV on to numb them into a senseless torpor.

--
I Am My Own Worst Enemy
How about Max Volume? by TrentL · 2004-10-20 05:33 · Score: 3, Funny

Hit a button, and the TV's suddenly ramp up their volume to the max. THAT'S a hack.
OT Remote story... by el-spectre · 2004-10-20 05:37 · Score: 4, Funny

Back when I was 18 and worked at RadioShack in the mall, there was a TV store across the way. This place had like 50 TVs running, most on mute, all day long. They went off at night.

My manager liked to take one of our universal remotes, and after hours turn the volume WAAAAAAAY up, then turn off the TV. He did this to all that his universal remote would reach.

The poor TV store manager (who was a friend of my manager) would come in, hit the 'on' button on HIS special remote and get blasted out the front door...

Fun with consumer electronics :)

--
"Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel." - A.B.
1. Re:OT Remote story... by DrewCapu · 2004-10-20 06:39 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I did the same thing back in junior high school. I noticed that the tv our class often got was the same exact model I had at home. My ploy was two-step. First I'd change the channel to something really far from channel 3. The TV itself only had Power / Channel Up & Down / Volumne Up & Down controls so if you put it somewhere in the 40s, they'd have a ton of channels to go through to get back to 3. The next step was to do a combination of channel up/volume up/channel down/volume up to my heart's delight and then switch it off. If you did it right the volume would go up, but you wouldn't hear it... Until it was first turned on again :)
  
  Of course I did it while the teacher was occupied with another student.
  
  I was always curious which class got the tv next :D
Re:Now all we need is a ... by Shky · 2004-10-20 05:40 · Score: 3, Funny

And we need devices to shut people up who talk too loud, or get rid of the fat people that sit beside you on the bus, or people who have coughing fits, or people who don't turn away when they sneeze. We need devices that will shut off the engines of airplanes overheard, because those things are just way too loud. I think we need a device that will get rid of any minor annoyance, then we'll all be happy, right..?

Who's with me? I sincerely hope nobody..

--
CC Licensed Serialized Story and Podcast: Ingenioustries
Waste of money... by Zerbey · 2004-10-20 05:43 · Score: 3, Funny

I don't think I've ever been in a public place with a TV on in the background and it bother me so much I want to turn it off. I avoid places that have loud music/TV's anyway. Much less antisocial than pissing off a bunch of people :)

Now, if they could invent a zapper that would kill the cell phone of the idiots who think they can drive and use one at the same time I'd be happy.
Re:Now all we need is a ... by iago · 2004-10-20 05:43 · Score: 3, Funny

No idea that this comment would get marked 5 Insightful. 70/30 Insightful/Funny. I meant it as a joke. I like this comment the best thus far, so I'll respond to it. I know its illegal to jam cell signals. And thats probably a good idear, but anyone who answers their phone in a movie theater deserves a swift punch in the nads.

Anyways, here's what I do. I figure that my space is my space so I just join in on a conversation when someone is being overly obnoxious on a phone in a public place.

Obnoxious Cell phone luser: "Oh my God, Neve, I can't believe he did that to you, did you tell Aurora, Skylar, and Hunter about this?"

Me: "Yes, I did and after that he went and gave my hamster the clap."

This typically makes them stop.

My name is iago. And I wholeheartedly endorse this message. My dog is also a slut.

--
Worst Sig Ever
Re:I can see it now... by gnuLNX · 2004-10-20 05:44 · Score: 3, Funny

Same reason all those damned red lights should be green when I get to them!

--
what?
Re:toggle? by slim · 2004-10-20 05:45 · Score: 2, Funny

Wouldn't the remote also turn on all the televisions which were originally off?

So if you don't fancy physically blocking the IR port, another defeating mechanism would be to have two identical TVs next to each other, one turned on, one turned off...
Better yet by Exmet+Paff+Daxx · 2004-10-20 05:50 · Score: 2, Funny

Steal his iPod. Tell him it's for his own good.

--
If guns kill people, then CmdrTaco's keyboard misspells words.
Re:I can see it now... by |/|/||| · 2004-10-20 05:53 · Score: 2, Funny

As much as I would like it to be so, I suppose you don't have the right to turn off someone else's TV.
Nevertheless, I'm happy to see such an invention. Right or not, if I can turn off tvs in my vicinity I'll do it. Think that's obnoxious? Not as obnoxious as a TV flashing in my face.
One of these, a portable cell phone jammer, and a can of minivan repellent and I'm set.

--
[javac] 100 errors
Great translation quote by AgentPhunk · 2004-10-20 06:06 · Score: 2, Funny

Here's a quick blurb from the google-translated version of the aforementioned site. Gotta love the mix of english, german, and onomatapeia.
They made it straight with Pilsette and Ziggies on your Terasse comfortably, disturbed themselves in the afternoon there the peace of the late by dull/musty rumbling and Grummeln: The regular Umm Umm Umm Umm Umm increases slowly to a kakophonischen Umm Tss Umm Tss Umm Tss Umm Tschicki Umm Tss Umm Tss Umm Tss, under from the exerted Troeten of a aufgemotzten small car engine
1. Re:Great translation quote by CreatureComfort · 2004-10-20 06:30 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  *AARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!*
  
  Funny, I always have that reaction to Vogon Poetry.
  
  --
  "Unheard of means only it's undreamed of yet,
  Impossible means not yet done." ~~ Julia Ecklar
Re:Ahh, the digital watch/remote control :) by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-20 06:20 · Score: 5, Funny

We actually had one of my teachers convinced there was a ghost in the room because of one of these one day! And the "over-emotional" girl in the class was freaking out. It was great.
Another great translation by mypalmike · 2004-10-20 06:28 · Score: 3, Funny

"If the victim scharrt afterwards in the sand and shits into the yard, the adjustment was wrong or the dose too high."

--
There are 0x40000000 types of people: those who understand 32-bit IEEE 754 floating point, and those who don't.
Agggghhhh...I know you mean.. by cubicleman · 2004-10-20 06:38 · Score: 2, Funny

I'm standing outside my mailbox yesterday and this punk-ass in a Hyundai rolls up with hip hop blaring out loudly, with his crappy cheap speakers overwhelmed by the bass... I'd love to have had an Uzi or Ak then and there and wiped him out..
Re:He...He...Hee...HERF Gun. by Lurkingrue · 2004-10-20 06:59 · Score: 2, Funny

Stops TVs, Thumpmobiles, Watches, Pacemakers...

I somehow doubt there's many pacemaker-users who'd be the "target audience" of this item...
Librarian Annoyer becomes TV DoS device by swb · 2004-10-20 07:11 · Score: 4, Funny

Back in the stone age (ie, early 80s) one of the electronics projects in our class was a "librarian annoyer" -- a small circuit that would run for a long time on a 9v battery and would periodically emit a shrill noise for a brief time and then go silent again. The idea was to put it in a hollowed out book in the library and the librarian would go nuts trying to find the source of the noise.

Why not combine this concept with the TV turner-offer? A small device that would periodically emit all the OFF IR codes for TVs. Make it unobtrusive enough that it could be stuck someplace where it wouldn't be seen, or camouflaged as something that belonged on the wall (many places have rectangular thermostat sensors all over -- small metal rectangle with no controls).

With the right power source and camouflage, you could really have some fun. It may also be interesting to not just send OFF codes, but to send random channel or input codes, mutes, volume up/down commands and so on.

A single IR command might be simpler to implement, but it'd still be a blast.
1. Re:Librarian Annoyer becomes TV DoS device by Smallpond · 2004-10-20 07:36 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  A friend of mine built a circuit that sounded exactly like a slow, periodic drip of water. Hidden near somebody's cubicle, it was almost impossible to find by ear, because of the long pause between drips. His victim hid a dead fish in his file cabinet, which was pretty effective revenge.
Re:Duct Tape over the receiver.... by Kethinov · 2004-10-20 08:04 · Score: 2, Funny

Is there anything duct tape can't do?
Duct tape can't mount a full-sized ATX case on your wall and keep it there for very long.

Trust me on this one.

--
You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
850+ comments ... by Simulant · 2004-10-20 09:31 · Score: 3, Funny

...of righteous indignation over televisions being turned off.

We are well and truly fucked folks.