Acoustic Research intros new WiFi universal remote
By Steven Kim 
posted Sep 6th 2007 4:02PM
posted Sep 6th 2007 4:02PM
Acoustic Research announced a universal remote at CEDIA today, dubbed the "Acoustic Research Wi-Fi Universal Remote." Of course, it has a WiFi radio built in, which the ARRU449 uses to gather data for the electronic program guide, news, weather, and sports info displayed on the unit's color LCD display. Acoustic Research has partnered with tvCompass and its click365 technology to tailor and target the data to you specifically. The activity-centric remote also uses WiFi for configuration assistance -- tell the remote what component you have, and it can download the correct codes and activities. Sorry, kids, no mention of a browser on this piece of kit. But if your remote is feeling a little content-light compared to your TV, this may help even things out.
Hmmm. Wonder if this will finally be the Harmony killer. Nah. Probably not.
Anything with better controls than the 550.
I'm still waiting for a consumer level one that's RF based and has bluetooth for the PS3 (no flamers please, i also have the 360 and Wii).
Yay another really really expensive remote control.
The "killer app" for remotes will be 2-way communication, and this is sort of a step.
What I want is a remote that knows whether my cable box is on or off. HDMI-CEC almost works the way I want, but we're still not entirely there.
Yes, let's get Bluetooth (or ZigBee?), and build stuff that actually plays nice with others.
I'm a few days from turning one of the leftover Nokia N770s into a two-way remote. I already got an IR interface that's operated from a hacked router, and I can turn the receiver on and off, and change inputs. How would you like a touchscreen, full-color, wifi remote with ability to browse the internet and receive email... all for less than $200 retail :)
Now THAT'S a remote...At least it is more practical and will probably cost less than the B&O unit announced earlier...
The wife will still loose it.
Hell, I'd still lose it. I'm still looking for one I lost in my couch back in '98.....
I'd like a remote that lets out a weak yell of "help me, help me" (like the fly in Beetlejuice) when it gets lost between the cushions.
But in real life, I'd like an mp3/video/wifi portable device that could double as a remote control and to which I could transfer movies/tv shows wirelessly from my DVR if I didn't have time to watch them at home. And before you say it, I live alone, so I wouldn't be leaving anyone in the lurch.
How about the fly in "the fly"?