ESPN Ultimate Remote is now shipping, inexplicable packaging comes free

Just in time for Father's Day, ESPN's tvCompass-built WiFi Ultimate Remote is finally available, and rapidly making its way into the awaiting, Cheeto-stained fingertips of a couch potato near you. It still costs $300, and with a good number of laptops retailing for that price these days, it's certainly hard to justify, but forget all that... who on earth thought this packaging was a good idea? It kind of looks like a dumbbell, but not. We're really at a loss for words here. It's almost like ESPN wants to fail.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 15th 2008 7:53PM]

So uhh..
Who wants one?

[KurtHuber Posted Jun 16th 2008 11:58AM]

That packaging was probably specifically designed so that people, on seeing the $300 pricetag, can justify the purchase by "actually holding" the remote and getting a feel for it. to me, it's ingenius, because I returned 6 different "universal" remotes because they sucked, in layout design and feel, before deciding the one that came with my A/V Receiver was decent enough for the job. Granted, the plastic that covers the remote would definitely obscure the feel of it, but I guarantee that this is the reasoning behind the "dumbbell" shape.

[jjsevdt Posted Jun 16th 2008 8:59AM]

This looks very similar to the Harmony 880, but less ergonomical. Why would anyone consider this when the Harmony One is better and cheaper.

[mcnasta Posted Jun 16th 2008 1:33PM]

Recycled solution for all the old phone stock they couldn’t sell? Looks to be the same screen size.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 16th 2008 4:00PM]

It is incredable remote I have ever seen .I read features on ESPN and I got moer information.This machine has everything that what we want.And also ESPN most watched channel on cable.This is very good marketting idea.They produce remote for only their channel and also cable.... We love ESPN but there is one realty ... This machine more expensive than new iPhone ... I am student and I will save money to get new iPhone ... I don't spend that much money for only remote. Ok I like ESPN or I really like this remote's features but price influenced my choice.

[mdurwin Posted Jun 18th 2008 11:26AM]

The large base in the packaging is actually designed to hold the charging stand and the "wall-wart" plug. The narrow middle was indeed designed to give potential buyers the ability to hold the remote to help decide if they like the feel of it.
By the way, you can surf the web, check weather, ESPN news, follow scores for one game while watching another and have custom favorite channel lists for multiple users. Of course it easily synchs to all of your electronics like most universal remotes.