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Hardware Software Linux

Philips iPronto Does It with Linux 207

Posted by michael 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.
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Philips iPronto Does It with Linux More

Philips iPronto Does It with Linux

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  • OMG! This looks like the coolest thing ever. Pop a web browser in there and I've got a new item on my Christmas list! It already has some kind of wireless Ethernet connection, what looks like to be a nice color backlit display (even if its less than 16bit color), touch screen capability, rechargeable batteries... wow!

    I wish companies would figure out what I want in a tablet pc. All I want to do is to be able to read /. in the bathroom on a decent sized ultra lightweight screen. They can even call it a PADD

  • For $1,700.... (Score:2, Funny)

    by jkrise ( 535370 )
    I'd rather expect to get a Windows version.
  • When are we gonna have the chips implanted in our brains so that we cna just think the tv on and so for or just have the signal beamed right into our head. The physical remotes are just too clunky. Just look at this thing sure it runs linux but its huge and expensive. I am gonna stuck with kick the tv to change channels for now.

    • I used to think that being cyber (like Johnny Mnemonic, etc.) and having a port behind my ear would be the ultimate in coolness.

      But given what the RIAA, MPAA, and BSA have shown themselves capable of doing... no thanks. All I need is some punk-ass Hollywood lawyer telling me my brain is violating DRM and shutting me down.

      "Attention: your synaptic processing unit has executed a forbidden instruction or unauthorized code base. Reboot will take place in thirty seconds. If you are driving a vehicle or utili

    • Re:not another gadget (Score:4, Funny)

      by Marco_polo ( 160898 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @10:21AM (#5743983) Homepage
      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..
    • Chips in our brains?

      I'm worried about chips in our stomach. One buffer overflow vulnerability, and half the world will instantaneously vomit...

  • whoa (Score:3, Funny)

    by xao gypsie ( 641755 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:20AM (#5743223)
    after a quick glance of the title, i suddenly became very scared that Linus T. was starring in mexican porn...wow, that was an uncomfortable 6 seconds....

    xao

  • sheesh (Score:4, Insightful)

    by _RiZ_ ( 26333 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:21AM (#5743227) Homepage
    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.

    • Pronto Neo (Score:4, Informative)

      by Black Perl ( 12686 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:41AM (#5743370)
      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 [800stereo.com]

      Customized screen examples [philips.com]

      Amazon $169/free shipping [amazon.com]

      BlueDo.com $149 [bluedo.com] (where I bought mine)

      I really like it.
      • I had one. For a little bit more you can get a Pronto TSU-2000 and a charger. That has a lot more features, a much nicer screen, and a bigger screen for more buttons. You also get to enter discrete codes and download FAR more pre-done configs off the web.

        I really don't recommend the Neo.
        • Personally, I like having some hard buttons. For example, the directional control is a pain on a touchscreen--you have to keep looking down, whereas the hard buttons can be operated in the dark by feel.

          The new TSU-3000 [dmartstores.com] is a good compromise though.

        • Re:Neo Sucks. (Score:2, Informative)

          by Black Perl ( 12686 )
          I forgot to mention that you are wrong about the discrete codes. I have entered them into my Neo. In fact, theres a Pronto2Neo app that lets you convert standard Pronto discrete codes to Neo discrete codes.

          As far as pre-done configs, who wants 'em? Nobody has the same setup as you--they're never quite right. With NeoEdit you can create your own pretty easily.
    • I have a Marantz RC-5000i, which is the Pronto TSU-2000 in the Marantz form. The MX-500 would not run my system...nor several of my friend's systems.

      We make heavy use of macros. I have high-def cable and a non-HD TiVo so I do a lot of input switching on the TV and the receiver. You also end up usually switching TV stretch modes.

      Then...there is the TiVo. None of these semi-programmable remotes do well with a TiVo. They dont' have the right buttons and I don't really care to make "Function 4" my main T
      • "The MX-500 would not run my system...nor several of my friend's systems."

        I don't see why not. While it's a bit of a geek thing to do, you can program it with discrete codes using the JP1 method.

        There's also the new IRClone solution which let's you program it quite easily from your PC basically like you do with the Pronto.

        I looked at the Pronto, and while it's neat I didn't find it practical to use. The MX-500 has a much nicer interface with the user.
        • The problem with the MX-500 I have is that someone that doesn't know it can't just sit down and use it. My Marantz is set up so well that you can. They don't need to know to hit the FAV button to choose a channel. It's spelled out for them on the display. They just press the channel logo they want. While the MX-500 may work fine for the single geek, it probably wouldn't with a family that didn't want to learn the ins and outs of the remote. That was my goal.

          I'm also not a fan of set remotes. I like
          • I guess I'm just not a big fan of soft remotes. I want to be able to change the channel without looking at the remote. The Pronto is not easy to use in that regard.

            The point is, I can program the discrete codes into my MX-500 to switch the system over to DVD mode, or television watching mode. From there, the rest of it is just controlling the devices.

            I just wanted to get away from having six remotes on the table. The MX-500 accomplishes this, at about 1/3rd the cost of the Pronto. It is more difficul

  • Cool but... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Anonymous MadCoe ( 613739 ) <maakiee@NoSpam.yahoo.com> on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:22AM (#5743235) Homepage
    How practical will it be...

    Philips has a long history of making stuff that's cool but just won't well because it's not what people want.

  • WWOD (Score:5, Funny)

    by stankyho ( 172180 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:22AM (#5743236) Homepage
    Could Ozzy figure out how to use this one?

    • Re:WWOD (Score:3, Funny)

      by FyRE666 ( 263011 )
      :-) That's the first image that came into my mind when I saw it! Ozzy stabbing away at his LCD remote control, looking aup at the TV every now and then shouting "Fucking thing.... need a fucking degree in... computers to change the fuckin' channel" or something like that anyway. Classic moment!
  • (Mandatory mention for every article about remote control)

    The world's greatest remote [theonion.com].

  • ProntoLITE (Score:5, Informative)

    by pherris ( 314792 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:24AM (#5743251) Homepage Journal
    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 [philips.com] (registration required).
    • Sorry, forgot to mention that.
      • And an IR power enhancer. As mentioned, the IR power of a Palm is anemic. OmniRemote [pacificneotek.com] makes a hardware doohicky that attaches to the Palm and increases the range of the Palm's IR beam. They also make customizible remote control software for the Palm.

    • Remote Control via PDA (Score:4, Informative)

      by gunnk ( 463227 ) <gunnk@mail . f p g . u n c . edu> on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:59AM (#5743467) Homepage
      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.
      • (Please excuse my hanging of this question off your thread.)

        Anyone know what the effective range is like on your typical mobile phone?

        I've been playing with the T68i Sony Ericsson Clicker/Romeo w/my Mac, and thinking how great it would be if I could use Bluetooth to control the Mac, and the IR port to control all the stereo/TV stuff. Now that would be really handy.

        [ralph]
        "That's unpossible!"
        [/ralph]

      • The prontolite faq does say that the range will be
        worse on the older palms.

      • The remote-control-via-PDA is a great idea, except that the range on the IR beam from most PDA's is terrible.

        Easy to fix. The OmniRemote [pacificneotek.com] has a hardware widget that plugs into your PDA to extend the range. You can download a demo [pacificneotek.com] version to futz around with your existing hardware, but -- as you pointed out -- the range sucks rocks.

      • I've been testing it on my PEG T615C Clie and it works great, SONY have this enhanced IR port built into the little devil.
    • .. and if you're worried about the range, you can always buy a $20 IR device that'll increase the range. The HP 5450 series is also WiFi and bluetoothe enabled, so its only a matter of writing an app to "network-enable" your remote.
    • Did anyone notice that this device is a really a tablet PC? Not the Microsoft definition, but a tablet all the same. It might be the first practical application for one :-)

      Bruce

  • all in one (Score:5, Funny)

    by syle ( 638903 ) <syle.waygate@org> on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:26AM (#5743261) Homepage
    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.
    • 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

      If it's designed for one handed operation, they'll make a killing

    • Re:all in one (Score:5, Funny)

      by Black Perl ( 12686 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:45AM (#5743387)
      They don't call it the ipr0nto for nothing!
    • Get a grip!

      Uhm... no... not that kind of grip. I meant a grip on reality.

      You do realise that sex can be an interactive experience? It's not just something you see on the internet...

      For $1700 you don't need porn. For $1700 you wine and dine just about any girl into bed. Alternatively, if even getting her drunk isn't going to get you laid (this is /. after all), then you can allways use the money to buy sex. That's what prostitution was invented for. :)

  • Battery Eaters? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by clbyjack81 ( 597903 )
    The article states that this new device will replace all of those little battery eater remotes.

    Excuse me, but doesn't a 6.4" Color Touchscreen and an Intel XScale processor use more juice than a simple IC with an IR LED attached? I know it will have a LiIon battery, but still, they don't quote any runtimes between charges here.

    Sorry, but $1700 is a bit much for a remote. Especially one that probably will only get an hour or two of runtime between charges!

  • Eek... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Bvardi ( 620485 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:30AM (#5743293)
    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.
  • A Universal Remote (Radio Shack, $13) for almost $200... but it runs LINUX!

  • well i guess this would be must-have item in the wired home, but for me the biggest problem is that it is too big. for what it offers, yes it is a good unit.. but what if DON'T want to browse the web on my remote? i think that the PRONTO TSU3000 [philips.com] would be a better choice, simply because it's smaller, does only the remote functions and can be carried in a pocket (MUCH easier to lose under the sofa cushions)

    Suchetha
    (of course i won't be buying one until there is a MASSIVE price drop)
    • You'd think. However, think things through before you get one of those LCD things... Think. How often do you have to look down at your remote to use it now? Because when you get one of these, you'll have to look at it every time. Just something to consider.

  • Startup time?! (Score:5, Interesting)

    by jraf ( 652354 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:40AM (#5743361) Homepage
    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 [remotecentral.com] 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..
  • They are going to throw in a widescreen TV and hi-fi for that. Aren't they?
  • ... the stupidest product name I see in months. "iPronto", in Portuguese, translates directly to "iReady" or "iDone".

    Could be anything from a baking oven to a toaster... sheesh (and a fscking EXPENSIVE toaster!)

  • Marantz RC-2000 (Score:3, Informative)

    by samdu ( 114873 ) <samdu@@@ronintech...com> on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:49AM (#5743414) Homepage
    The iPronto looks like a monster. For my money, my Marantz RC-2000 is the greatest remote control ever made. It is the only one that I've owned that has literally replaced ALL of my other remotes completely (it does every function that the others do). It has a lighted LCD display, but physical buttons so you don't have to frickin' look at the thing to use it. As I said - greatest remote ever made.

    • Re:Marantz RC-2000 (Score:2, Informative)

      by bsmoor01 ( 150458 )
      AFAIK, Marantz remotes are all OEM'd products that are nearly identical to other products on the market. For instance, the RC3200 and ProntoNeo are identical, save for aesthetics. So if anyone's inspired to go get a remote, check the equivalent products before making a decision. One may be cheaper than the other.

      Plug: My wife just got me a ProntoNeo, and I have to say it's quite cool. I've finally been able to get rid of the three remotes I had to use before.
      • They never OEMed the RC-2000 (or RC-2000 MKII). Marantz was the only brand of this remote you could get. Google it for the plethora of great reviews it got.
    • RC-2000 is a fine remote for most things. My Tivo remote gets used prolly 90% of the time, followed by the RC-2000 8%. Final 2% is my DVD player, which cannot be programmed into the RC-2000.

      I tried the Pronto Neo, but it just didn't work right for me. The TSU-3000 may be what I finally end up with. No need for color, and I will never get rid of the Tivo remote -- just too functional!
      • I'm actually quite amazed that your DVD remote can't be sent to the RC-2000. I'm running:

        An old Magnavox VCR
        A new Hitachi VCR
        Sony 27" TV
        Sony DirecTV
        Playstation 2 (DVD features)
        and a Technics Receiver

        all on the RC-2000 with all the functions intact with no problems. There's also an RF module that's (was?) available so that you could control non-IR components (home security, etc...).

  • For that kinda money, I would just but a bunch of nice TV's and scatter them around my living room at random distances.
  • The device also has a built-in microphone and stereo speakers which Philips says will allow users to listen to MP3s streamed from the Internet

    Great, instead telling my PC (via the remote) to stream my mp3's directly to my $5,000 stereo I can listen to them on the remote through crappy little $10 speakers. Makes the listening experience so much better. ;-)

  • I sometimes wonder if humanity is pushing itself to a Matrix-esque existence all by ourselves. With more and more devices like this, we're becoming (or expected to become) lazier by the minute. Does anyone really need to get email and see websites from their remote control? I fully understand that that the answer to this question is "no", and that if this product generates a profit, it will only be due to the cool-gadget factor.

    That being said, I can picture a day, maybe sooner than 100 years fro now whe

  • For $1700 (Score:5, Funny)

    by teamhasnoi ( 554944 ) <teamhasnoi@yahoo.cLIONom minus cat> on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @08:59AM (#5743465) Journal
    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!

    • With this one, you can actually watch TV on the remote. Great for those days when you just can't get up the energy to face the right direction. Hey, and you don't have to pause it when you go into the kitchen for a snack; just bring the remote...

      Someone needs to write a program to channel surf for you, though.
  • (Psst: there are even hints of future automotive applications.)

    That was an interesting one liner in the text of the article. What are they hinting at? Car Diagnostic apps? GPS maps? Life sized RC cars? Driving, reading email, and shaving, while on my cell phone in rush hour?

  • Hmmm... lets see... (Score:5, Informative)

    by esconsult1 ( 203878 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @09:02AM (#5743481) Homepage Journal
    Fancy "Linux Remote" for $1,700. Instead I could buy:

    Yamaha 400 Watt Dolby/DTS Receiver [bestbuy.com] ($299.99)

    Yahama "natural sound" 5 disc CD Changer/ MP3 Player [bestbuy.com] ($150.00)

    Sony Progressive Scan DVD Player [bestbuy.com] ($250.00)

    GRaphic Equalizer [bestbuy.com] ($99.00)

    Sony Surround Speaker Set [bestbuy.com] ($499.00)

    Oh yeah... Home Theater Universal Remove with LCD Display etc. etc. [bestbuy.com] ($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.

    • ... if you had $3,400.00, then you can get everything there AND an iPronto.

      Yeah, I'd rather buy an big-ass projection TV, and get some exercise trying to find the remote than buy something like this.

      Hell, I bet you I could build a machine, get some IR unit attached to it, and have it do more for under $1k.
    • Fancy "Linux Remote" for $1,700. Instead I could buy:

      # Yamaha 400 Watt Dolby/DTS Receiver [bestbuy.com] ($299.99)
      # Yahama "natural sound" 5 disc CD Changer/ MP3 Player [bestbuy.com] ($150.00)
      # Sony Progressive Scan DVD Player [bestbuy.com] ($250.00)
      # GRaphic Equalizer [bestbuy.com] ($99.00)
      # Sony Surround Speaker Set [bestbuy.com] ($499.00)
      # Oh yeah... Home Theater Universal Remove with LCD Display etc. etc. [bestbuy.com] ($229.00)
      # With the change left, hmmm.. 10 DVD's? Monster cable? Taxes for the equip
    • You work for bestbuy, don't you?

  • mislabelled (Score:5, Insightful)

    by SuiteSisterMary ( 123932 ) <{slebrun} {at} {gmail.com}> on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @09:12AM (#5743537) Journal

    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.

  • REAL Critieria for a Handheld Remote (Score:3, Interesting)

    by cmehta1 ( 88375 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @09:21AM (#5743596)
    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
    • I would not want to have to manually back up the coinfiguration. That's one thing I absolutely hate about my Palm. It should just use flash memory and keep the settings even when there is no power.

      Otherwise you're constantly having to backup the device any time you make any change to the settings. This is one of those things where updates are somewhat rare, but not so rare that you could just do a backup and forget about it.

      I hate my TV remote that loses all it's settings when the batteries die (or mor

    • Re:REAL Critieria for a Handheld Remote (Score:4, Informative)

      by CDS ( 143158 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @12:04PM (#5744643)
      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.

  • Interesting development for Philips (Score:3, Interesting)

    by jackalope ( 99754 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @09:33AM (#5743674)
    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.

  • Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @09:35AM (#5743692)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • I case you haven't noticed, /. ain't the NY times.

      Ever get Popular Science(magazine)? There's always an area up in the 'front' of the magazine that hilights nifty new toys. This article is similar to one of those.

      There's a fine line between advertising and reporting sometimes. How do I tell you about something new from X company without accidently advertising it (given the purpose of advertising is to inform the public about a new product)?
  • buy $200 sony clie's for everyone in the house, plus one or two to leave in the living room, and buy registered OmniRemote for them all.

    It's still cheaper. That's wrong.

    [unless you have >6 ppl in your house :P]

  • So how do I fumble for it? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by thatguywhoiam ( 524290 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @09:41AM (#5743732)
    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.

    • Or, as another posted out, have the kid you hired (for the same money) run out of his little cottage and do it for you, and get you a beer while he's at it.

      -Zipwow
    • I'm not as familiar with this as I am the rest of the pronto line, but the previous top of the line fully programmable remote, the Philips ProntoPro TSU6000 featured not only a fully customizable touchscreen, but a number of hard buttons as well. It also was the size of a rather largish PDA rather than a small dog. Still runs for $1,000 or so IIRC.

  • A great compromise (Score:2, Interesting)

    by ubergoober ( 151136 )
    I think this is an incredible step in the right direction for getting this stuff into the residential market. I can't imagine your basic end-user running out and purchasing an AMX or Crestron (http://www.amx.com and http://www.crestron.com)system, because its not designed for out-of-the-box use.

    That these systems are moving away from needing a $50/hour installation tech to incorporate sounds great to me. I WANT that corporate board-room feel in my living room, and the power that comes with being able to r
  • How about an iPAQ. Cheaper and with linux can have all the same functionality.

    If you want to spend that money buy 2 or 3.

  • Laptop remote (Score:2, Insightful)

    by jjjefff ( 525754 )
    It seems like these people often forget two things that are key to a good remote:

    1. It should be comfortable to hold in one hand
    2. It should have buttons you can feel
    Do you really want to sit there with a laptop screen in your lap, and look down every minute or so to see where that channel up "button" is again?

  • To be useful it needs to have the following, which it lacks, or at least doesn't claim to have. (I don't need any compensation for these ideas, being able to get them is enough)

    It needs to figgure out what machines I have in my enertainment system and interface to them automaticly. I don't want to have to point a remote at it and program each button as that takes too long. I don't even want to have to figgure out if I have a RCA model 364526z or 36532f. It needs to figgure that out. (I'll accept som

  • Not a "touch", but a "hunt and peck" screen (Score:3, Insightful)

    by sjonke ( 457707 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @10:53AM (#5744171) Journal
    Touchscreens and remote controls do not mix. A remote that requires you to look at it to use it, as a touchscreen does, is annoying/inconvenient. It's bad enough to spend $20 on a product that proves annoying... I can't even imagine spending $1700 only to be annoyed. I have tried a couple remote control programs for PalmOS and while I find it useful for controlling my TV for which the remote has gone kabloey, I would much rather have a decent learning remote with real buttons. Indeed I'd rather just have my old TV remote working again and deal with 4-5 separate remotes.

  • Saw one months ago at philips (Score:3, Interesting)

    by UnConeD ( 576155 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @11:21AM (#5744350)
    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 $10000 on a home cinema system anyway (that's what the devs told us). We also saw the lesser pronto's, which are basically tough, pda-sized (though thicker) smart remote controls with a color touchscreen. They are just remote controls (unlike this mini-computer), but they do come with software for designing your own button layouts and such. Apparently it's still a worthwhile market in the US. Lots of rich people DO buy this sort of stuff. The iPronto is basically a tablet-computer for your living room, which just happens to also be a remote control. My main gripe when trying out the various pronto's was the touch pad which was inaccurate and seemed to respond badly... and that was without greasy fingers from crisps or popcorn.
  • What kind of crazy setup you'd need to justify such an expensive remote. I went to the Sony store and grabbed a learning remote for 60$ CAD. If I wanted macros (one touch on button would be the only benefit over my non-macro one, which does have a macro for turning everything off), that would only be another 20-30$ CAD.

    For very nearly 2800 CAD, I think you'd be better off buying a laptop.
  • So I wonder how long till someone puts Lin- er Windows on it...

  • i need something simpler (Score:3, Interesting)

    by u19925 ( 613350 ) on Wednesday April 16, 2003 @12:41PM (#5744927)
    I have always wanted a simple remote control which can just download a code-file for a given model. Here is how it should work

    To program your remote to Yamaha-5550, you will download a file for this on your computer. Then use whatever port you like and connect your remote to computer and download the file to your remote. Viola! you got Yamaha-5550 in your remote. To do this, some industry consortium needs to come up with standards and then all new devices will come up with such a downloadable file.

    I know programmable LCD remote controls exist, which can do just like this. But here are the shortcomings:

    1) LCD Based: Needs too much battery power.
    2) LCD Based: Hard to operate without backlight. Even then, you must look at it. I operate almost all my remote by touch feeling without lookint at them. No good non-LCD remote available which can download files from internet.
    3) No industry standard. Not many manufacturers make such directly downloadable files. So no guarantee that your equipment is listed.
    4) No industry standard. Each remote has its own version of code-file.
    5) LCD Based: Too expensive.

  • Why, you could change the channel on all the TV's in the house at the same time while browsing the internet and checking your mail!
  • As much respect I have for LinuxDevices, they didn't actually review the iPronto. They're just reiterating Philips's propaganda.

    Consider: "What's an iPronto do? As described by Philips...". Or "While we haven't opened one up to look inside...". More like you haven't even touched one. Heck, even the article's title gives it away: "Device profile:...". Not device review.

    I'd love to see this thing really reviewed. But this isn't it. It's a poorly worded press release at best.

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