Acoustic Research intros new WiFi universal remote

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.

[MeNotYou @ Sep 6th 2007 4:05PM]

Hmmm. Wonder if this will finally be the Harmony killer. Nah. Probably not.

[LikesGadgetsWillTravel @ Sep 7th 2007 6:44PM]

Anything with better controls than the 550.

[Rickie @ Sep 6th 2007 4:13PM]

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).

[James Ryan Worrell @ Sep 6th 2007 4:22PM]

Yay another really really expensive remote control.

[brett.chandler @ Sep 6th 2007 4:23PM]

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.

[LikesGadgetsWillTravel @ Sep 7th 2007 6:44PM]

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 :)

[Shane @ Sep 6th 2007 4:26PM]

Now THAT'S a remote...At least it is more practical and will probably cost less than the B&O unit announced earlier...

[engadget @ Sep 6th 2007 4:49PM]

The wife will still loose it.

[RIFRAF @ Sep 6th 2007 7:50PM]

Hell, I'd still lose it. I'm still looking for one I lost in my couch back in '98.....

[Paul @ Sep 6th 2007 5:13PM]

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.

[madnutz @ Sep 7th 2007 1:47PM]

How about the fly in "the fly"?