The Acoustic Research XSight Touch AARX18G (with cradle) may give Harmony a run for its money.
(Credit: Acoustic Research)Acoustic Research (a brand of Audiovox) has unveiled two new universal remotes that users can program directly (using a built-in code library) or via a PC. Both new models--dubbed "XSight"--look to be worthwhile contenders to our current favorite universal remote, the Logitech Harmony One.
The XSight Color AARX15G is the ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
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(Credit:
Logitech)
When Logitech released the Harmony 1000 in 2007, we were disappointed that the tablet-style remote wasn't easily customizable and that the response time of its 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen wasn't quite as zippy as we would've liked. Two years on, it looks like Logitech has finally taken those criticisms to heart. The new Harmony 1100 includes the ability to customize the on-screen buttons, and its ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
On Sale Now: $319.95 - $449.00
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Philips Prestigo SRT9320 universal remote mixes touch screen with hard keys
(Credit:
Philips)
The Philips universal remote line has a new top dog. The Prestigo SRT9320 combines a 2.8-inch color touch screen on the top half with hard buttons on the lower portion. The screen handles both channel favorites (replete with familiar icon logos) and customized commands. The SRT9320 can control up to 20 devices, and it's completely programmable as-is--including learning modes and multidevice macros--without the need to connect ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
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You could be forgiven for thinking that Logitech's Harmony line has all but taken over the universal remote market. But--just as the iPod isn't the only choice for portable media players--there are still plenty of alternatives out there. One of the latest is the URC Digital R50. (URC is short for "Universal Remote Control," the aptly-named company that also makes remotes under the Home Theater Master brands, as well as many of the "generic" remotes that are packaged with cable boxes and other devices.)
The Digital R50 is a $150 clicker that includes a brilliant color screen and plenty of programmable hard buttons. It eschews Logitech's PC-programming approach and instead includes thousands of built-in codes--all accessible with an on-screen wizard interface--which can be used to control up to 18 separate devices. CNET got an early look at the R50, and put it to the test versus similar offerings from Logitech and Philips. Read the full review--and watch the video--to see how it stacked up.
Read the CNET review of the URC Digital R50.
What do you think: Would you consider the R50 as your primary remote? Do you prefer Logitech's models? Or do you think $150 is just too much to spend on a glorified clicker?
(Credit:
Universal Remote Control)
Don't expect to see Universal Remote Control's MX-6000 on the shelf at Circuit City or Best Buy--it's strictly intended as part of a custom solution that a professional installer would set up. Thankfully, the $1,500 touch-screen unit does offer quite a few bells and whistles that take it beyond mainstream consumer remotes such as the $200 Logitech Harmony One.
An update to URC's previous touch-screen model, the MX-3000, the MX-6000 is the company's first wide-screen (480x272) remote. Beyond standard device control (infrared and RF control), the MX-6000 adds Wi-Fi to the mix for access to networked PC home entertainment--according to the company, cover art, artist name, and other metadata will be aggregated from your combined media libraries and displayed on the remote's wide-screen display. It also includes built-in modules that when connected to the Internet can display personalized weather reports, stocks, and news, which can be customized within the remote's interface. Also of interest to digital media fans is the companion PSX-1, a networked iPod dock that the MX-6000 can control--dial up iPod-based music and videos on the remote, and have the content play back on your receiver or HDTV (the PSX-1 has component video output for optimal video quality).
So what do you think: If you had unlimited funds, would you be interested in a $1,500 touch-screen remote? Or is this sort of product overkill, even for the Rolls Royce crowd?
The Philips SRU8010 can display customized channel lineups for up to six users.
(Credit: Philips)The household battle for dominance of the remote control is a launching pad for a thousand bad stand-up comedy routines--and even some more scholarly examinations. But the new Philips SRU8010 may be the first universal remote control that acknowledges gender viewing differences with prominently placed HIS and HERS buttons to access customized channel lineups. In fact, the SRU8010 can be programmed for up to six different users, each of whom can add more than 100 favorite channels to the remote's brilliant color screen--and the channels are all icon-based with the familiar network logos. The SRU8010 uses built-in wizards to guide users through the process of programming up to 10 separate devices--no PC hookup is required. Best of all, the SRU8010 is available now for around $80. While I have some qualms about the button layout--the video transport controls should be toward the center, between the directional pad and the numeric keypad--it's great to see a full-service Philips remote that includes a built-in color screen at such an affordable price point. We'll have a full hands-on review in the coming weeks.
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