Saturday, February 16, 2002
Remote IR
Posted by Tycho Morgan in "THOUGHT" @ 09:07 AM
It seems that most people are really interested in using their Pocket PCs (and Palms) as neat universal remote controls. It makes perfect sense: you have a great device that is properly equipped for the most part, and besides it would be just plain cool.
I must admit, however, that the idea doesn’t really appeal to me. I don’t watch enough television to really even use the non universal remotes that I have, and even when I do watch television I’m never more than 15 feet from the set, so long range remotes don’t really have any use in my household; but nevertheless, the geek in me is interested in the idea of the universal remote.
So of course I was quite interested when I found not one, but three messages in my inbox relating to the development of two different tools for using your iPAQ or other Pocket PC (I presume) as a Universal Remote. The biggest problems people are running into are limitations of memory (storage and usage of the right codes) as well as limitations of range.
The UltraMote software and accompanying software and hardware IR extender seems to make a powerful Universal Remote. Ultra Mote has support for macros, multiple devices, and with the optional hardware extender, up to a 50 foot range.
PDAwin, a company specializing in developing software solutions for the Pocket PC and other Windows CE based devices, is marketing the second generation of their TV Remote Controller software. This program runs on all StrongARM powered devices, without additional hardware, while still providing users with (what is in my opinion) a suitable range of nearly 20 feet according to one user and reader of this site.
Now that suitable options for using your Pocket PC as a universal remote are available, dare I ask ‘How good of a Universal Remote is a Pocket PC?’
I must admit, however, that the idea doesn’t really appeal to me. I don’t watch enough television to really even use the non universal remotes that I have, and even when I do watch television I’m never more than 15 feet from the set, so long range remotes don’t really have any use in my household; but nevertheless, the geek in me is interested in the idea of the universal remote.
So of course I was quite interested when I found not one, but three messages in my inbox relating to the development of two different tools for using your iPAQ or other Pocket PC (I presume) as a Universal Remote. The biggest problems people are running into are limitations of memory (storage and usage of the right codes) as well as limitations of range.
The UltraMote software and accompanying software and hardware IR extender seems to make a powerful Universal Remote. Ultra Mote has support for macros, multiple devices, and with the optional hardware extender, up to a 50 foot range.
PDAwin, a company specializing in developing software solutions for the Pocket PC and other Windows CE based devices, is marketing the second generation of their TV Remote Controller software. This program runs on all StrongARM powered devices, without additional hardware, while still providing users with (what is in my opinion) a suitable range of nearly 20 feet according to one user and reader of this site.
Now that suitable options for using your Pocket PC as a universal remote are available, dare I ask ‘How good of a Universal Remote is a Pocket PC?’
