ESPN unveils The Ultimate Remote, is WiFi worth $300?

ESPN's unleashing The Ultimate Remote, developed by tvCompass, complete with 2.2-inch QVGA LCD screen and 802.11 b/g WiFi stuffed in a 6.5 oz package. It's certainly a serious contender with the Harmony One -- and priced like it, at $300. The marketing info claims no PC is required for setup, recharging via USB, an internet browser with real time access to scores, fantasy info and TV listings for broadcast, cable and satellite from click365's wireless partners. There's even a messaging feature for texting from remote to remote, email, or to a cellphone. We got a glimpse of it at Microsoft's booth during CES, and while it claims "Advanced Microsoft Windows operating software" it's not talking about SideShow. It reminds us a lot of the Ricavision VAVE100 MCE/SideShow remote, but with a slightly different feature set. Father's Day is coming up and suddenly walking over to the computer (or keeping a laptop or PDA/phone on the couch) is sounding like a lot of unnecessary work. Check after the break for a bigger pic with keypad breakdown, or head to Amazon to preorder.

[Via Electronista]

[Jon @ May 20th 2008 8:26PM]

no WMC button?

[Mike10010100 @ May 20th 2008 9:06PM]

*Is WiFi worth $300?*

Inner Geek: BUTTONS! SCREEN! WIFI! HOLY CRAP! WHERE'S THE WALLET?

Small Percentage of My Brain Devoted to Practicality: But, $300? We could buy a new graphics card for that. Or food, food is good.

IG: BUT THERE ARE BUTTONS!

*Buys Remote*

[MeatyPi @ May 20th 2008 9:22PM]

@Mike
"is WiFi worth $300?'

Sure, on an eee PC or iPod Touch, but on a tacky and cluttered remote from ESPN of all brands, The answer is

Hell No!

[Mike10010100 @ May 20th 2008 11:00PM]

Oh......wait. It's from ESPN????????

Never mind. Inner geek shudders at the thought.

But still, the buttons..........

Maybe next time from another brand, my heart still belongs to the Logitec Harmony.

[aaron @ May 21st 2008 1:04AM]

I would say it is worth $300. Check out this video and more info on it!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNK2XUA9M3BMWXP4

[ishism @ May 21st 2008 3:26AM]

If it was a slide out phone, hell yes.

[slarity @ May 21st 2008 8:40AM]

New graphics card.. yes!
Food... No, not if your a mage and conjure it...

Omg that was horrible

[Joe @ May 21st 2008 4:41PM]

@aaron

It was looking cool until I watched that video. Now I have lost the will to live.

[Richie Crews @ May 20th 2008 8:26PM]

Looks sexy but I am wondering if it will beat the harmony... oh yea BT would be nice so I can trash my PS3 remote!

[CUBSWILLWIN @ May 20th 2008 9:07PM]

with all it's knock out features, it'll beat the hramony dead. It's feature rich for the price.

[aaron @ May 20th 2008 10:02PM]

I have the Harmony 880 and like it a lot, but I like these features more. Sure wish I could see some video of it being used(weather, scores, etc...)

[Mykola Ostrovskyy @ May 20th 2008 8:28PM]

But can it switch channels?

[AC @ May 20th 2008 8:43PM]

no, but it comes with a finglonger to change them.

[Eric @ May 20th 2008 9:25PM]

Why would anyone who buys an ESPN branded remote ever change channels?

Oh yea, Fox Sports Net.

[TomTom2007 @ May 20th 2008 8:31PM]

man, you must really LOVE television to spend $300 on a remote...

[Cory @ May 20th 2008 8:58PM]

Or just be a guy who really doesn't like having to get up.

[SweetSauce @ May 21st 2008 1:11PM]

"man, you must really LOVE television to spend $300 on a remote..."

...says the guy with a picture of not just Homer, but an xray of Homer.

mmm... doughnut.... : )

["Friend" @ May 20th 2008 8:36PM]

Skype or voip would be awesome.

[creepinshadow @ May 20th 2008 8:40PM]

Way overpriced, considering that u can get a Eee PC for that price, or a iPod touch....

This thing is just a remote.... i wouldn't buy it if i were a Millionaire, this is just waste of money!!! It doesn't even server beer. (Ultimate Remote from ESPN that doesn't server beer during Baseball? Thats a big nogo!)

[austin @ May 20th 2008 9:25PM]

with that grammar, its apparent why you arent a millionare.

server beer?

[Abuzar @ May 20th 2008 11:11PM]

It's ironic because your grammar is not the best either. Maybe it was on purpose.

[portwineboy @ May 20th 2008 8:43PM]

I would have figured it to be another peanut shaped remote.

[FAUguy @ May 20th 2008 8:45PM]

With all this red, it looks like a Verizon remote!

[Jeff @ May 20th 2008 9:39PM]

If it was a Verizon remote it would be locked to only allow you to change to Verizon tested channels :-)

[happy_penguin @ May 20th 2008 8:46PM]

Less is more. This has too many buttons. I like an intuitive design like the Tivo remote. The Tivo remote is the easiest remote I have ever used. I don't even have to look at it.

But if it's about flash and content, it looks like this has it. It looks sharp as hell.

[Jeremy W @ May 21st 2008 2:14AM]

I hope you were being sarcastic with your praise of the Tivo remote, because it's by far the worst remote I've ever used. I can't even count the number of times I've turned off the TV or switched inputs when I meant to do either a replay or a skip, because of the awful placement of the TV power and input buttons. It's just a piece of crap.

[Armoured @ May 20th 2008 8:47PM]

WOW what a waste!!!!! Useless!

[d @ May 20th 2008 8:48PM]

Since when was ESPN a tech company? I know they've also had cell phones and a few music players, but they're never successful and are not what ESPN is about - sports news, commentary, and games. At least this one controls the TV.

[Reader @ May 20th 2008 8:55PM]

Steven Spielberg has a video game, and Ferrari has home speakers. ESPN putting their name on a remote isn't too odd.

[Wazabi @ May 21st 2008 3:00AM]

Where do you think they will put all the shareholder dollars?
Same reason eBay bought Skype I think :)

A 300 bucks remote justifies it nicely. Does it not?

[initialxy @ May 20th 2008 8:49PM]

for a moment i thought it was a crazy cell phone

[Carl @ May 20th 2008 8:50PM]

This is a perfect companion to the ESPN website: bloated with things I am not interested in, wrapped in an interface so cluttered I can't find what I want.

[Chris @ May 20th 2008 8:50PM]

"Boring. Call me when she rolls over."

[Rick @ May 20th 2008 8:54PM]

Put that in your front pant's pocket and get the sports-interested ladies excited.

[gabe @ May 20th 2008 8:54PM]

i love PTI!

[steve @ May 20th 2008 8:59PM]

looks very close to the Harmony 880/890 remotes. i still say to buy a remote from a reputable company, not tvcompass..?

[Maestro @ May 20th 2008 9:10PM]

The 4 people who subscribed to ESPN Mobile think this is a fantastic idea.

[Kevin @ May 21st 2008 3:50AM]

I had ESPN Mobile. That was the greatest thing ever. However this remote seems like nothing I can't already get on my HTC phone. And there's not even any mentioning of what else it can control besides your set top box.

[El Taco @ May 20th 2008 9:23PM]

I would totally buy this, except for the fact that it is ESPN-branded. I don't know why, but that is a huge turn-off.

[Yevon @ May 20th 2008 9:47PM]

Hi, I liked your avatar so much, I made you a better version without the pixely-ness. This is the crap I do when bored. It's a curse, I know.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26772607@N05/2510340804/sizes/o/

[El Taco @ May 20th 2008 9:50PM]

wow, thanks!

[Yevon @ May 20th 2008 9:28PM]

'Cause when I think remotes, oh yeah, I think ESPN.


Srsly, wtf?

[Steve-o @ May 20th 2008 9:31PM]

Does it play Doom?

[crow610 @ May 21st 2008 12:03AM]

Damn you! I was gonna say that.

Now you must suffer:

YOUR MOM PLAYS DOOM

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 20th 2008 9:37PM]

Is it just me, or does this remote look like a typical Windows Mobile 6.1 powered cellphone? I'll bet this is just as difficult to use.

It sure doesn't look like an iPhone, for once. Well, maybe the side view does.

[Quikboy @ May 20th 2008 11:40PM]

Hmm, I don't know of any WinMo phone (or any phone for that matter) with this many buttons. This remote is just button-crazy.

And if any current WinMo 6.1 phone did come with this many buttons, I guess you got what you paid for when you experience this "difficulty". I have an HTC Shadow, and there's definitely no difficulty in using it. Even someone with a small brain could figure it out. There's only 6 buttons on the front, with a circular touch wheel, and a slideout-keyboard.

If you can't figure that out, then I guess the iPhone is probably more for your type. :P

[Dear Leader @ May 20th 2008 9:44PM]

Wifi and browser, huh? Yep, with a firmware upgrade, you'll be able to watch TV from the remote next.

"But honey, I need this sub-remote to control my TV remote..."

[TavisJohn @ May 20th 2008 9:54PM]

With the right software my LifeDrive does the EXACT SAME THING... (So could any PDA!)

[mattworldwide @ May 20th 2008 9:58PM]

I love remotes and this looks like something I would buy, but I think I'll wait for a HTC Android phone to come out and run this awesome Android program to use as my remote:

http://www.hometheaternetwork.com/autoHTN.php

[aaron @ May 20th 2008 10:33PM]

You do realize that the majority of phones/PDA's have a very short IR beam don't you?