Home Theater Gear

Universal Electronics announced this weekend that they would debut the next generation of remote GUI at the CEATEC 2009 in Japan.

"New Remote Control Features Available for Demonstration

1. Future of Control Navigation

UEI will be demonstrating the latest navigation developments for control technology (codenamed "Glimmer"), including the ability to use fingertip slide navigation through on-screen lists. A wide variety of actions are available with the slightest finger movements, both sliding and tapping. This reduces the number of buttons on a remote without losing any of its functionality and provides an improved user experience.

Using virtual wheels, sliding moves the on-screen cursor up and down. Sliding is also sensitive to changes in the speed and strength of your touch. The system works with either IR or RF communication, and is designed for low-cost implementations that can be widely deployed with future and legacy equipment and user interfaces.

2. Quickset Revolutionizes Set Up

QuickSet is a built-in application that enables the configuration of universal remotes using a revolutionary new two-way communication protocol to walk users through the set-up process for their devices on-screen.

Note: Onkyo Corporation has announced that they will be the first company to include QuickSet in universal remotes shipping with their new audio-video receivers."

It looks as though the success of Apple's sliding GUI for the iPOD has had some influence here. Hopefully Nevo will include these features on it's next Nevo touch screen based remote controls.

Posted by 1touch at 03:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Crestron, the whiz-bang company that has 44 engineers working in digital video alone, introduces a really cool, new, color touchscreen remote control, the TPMC-3X. It's straight from the "It's really cool, if you can afford it" department. If you can afford the $1,800 cost of admission (that doesn't include the required back end control system or requisite programming), you'll be rewarded with a stylish, new hand held control center for just about anything you could imagine.

If you're one of those who wants to see who is at the door by having the front door video flash up on the remote control's screen (don't want to interrupt the show, you know) that is just one of the trick things you can do with this remote.

It definitely doesn't stop at streaming video. Since it is an interface to a Crestron control system, the amount of control si virtually unlimited. Metadata from an AM/FM tuner (w/ RDS), satellite radio, iPODs, media servers, and Windows Media PCs can all be relayed to the remote's touch screen so you can easily find the music or video you're looking for.

The display from a security alarm system can be added to the screen, so you can easily grab your remote off the nightstand to check the status of a late night alarm, or see if you forgot to close the garage door. You could do any alarm functions your installer programmed into the remote interface.

The TPMC-3X uses WiFi of the A.B, or G varieties for communication. It supports roaming, and is not tied to a single access point, as were some early WiFi enabled remote controls.

According to Crestron the remote is set up for seamless control. "To ensure the most transparent user experience possible, the TPMC-3X has been engineered to wake instantly at the press of a button, touch of the touchscreen, or by simply tilting the remote upright. Button presses are sent immediately just like an IR remote, so spontaneous actions like muting the audio, pausing the video, or changing the channel can be executed on-the-fly with just a single button press. Instant-waking also allows the remote to be put to sleep within seconds of putting it down, affording incredible battery life."

The extended battery life will be welcome to anyone who habitually forgets to put their remote back in the docking station. Other features on the TPMC-3X include:

• 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless communications
• Exceptional 2-way RF coverage and range
• Instant waking behavior with tilt sensor
• Stylish and ergonomic handheld design
• Sleek-looking tabletop docking station
• Elegant gloss black finish
• Optimized layout of 27 tactile pushbuttons
• White EL backlit button text
• 2.8" active matrix color touchscreen
• High display brightness and contrast
• Wide 150 degrees viewing angle
• 16-bit Isys i/O graphics
• 240 x 320 resolution
• Dynamic graphics & text capability
• Synapse™ Image Rendering Algorithm
• DNav Dynamic Menu Objects
• Windows® SideShow® enabled
• Wireless streaming video
• WAV file audio feedback
• Supports roaming between access points
• Long-lasting LiPo rechargeable battery
  

 If you're ready for such niceties in your home theater, the TPMC-3X should ship next month.

Posted by 1touch at 05:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)