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Are PDA's dead as remotes, NoviiRemote?

post #1 of 7
6/28/10 at 1:54am
Thread Starter 
I've been living with the TimeWarner Cable supplied remote for a decade or so, too many things changing, all the fussy bits to program on cablebox DVR, made me too lazy to change. Now I am starting an AV upgrade with a new HTPC and I have the itch for a powerful remote control, and that used to be at least something like the Noviiremote, a slick icon based interface that ran on my old Palm Pilot.

All the old software is still out there, but no upgrades in years, are PDA's dead as remotes?

As I remember the only real hitch used to be that the PDA wanted head to head learning of each code, not just entry of 4 digits per device, but I think a big database of known devices exists now.

Link for the curious.
http://www.novii.tv/palm/deluxe/
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post #2 of 7
6/28/10 at 5:30am
I've been using NoviiRemote on a Asus 632 until recently, when I bought a Harmony 525.
NoviiRemote was/is working fine, although a little uncomfortable to hold and press buttons.
I still keep the PDA around, and I am still used to learn the codes of any new remote control that gets into my hands
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post #3 of 7
7/1/10 at 9:17am
I think the real answer is that "PDA"s as you refer to are dead and have been replaced by the iPhone, iPod, iPad and/or Android, Blackberry or WinMo phones. Apple obviously has the largest AppStore of those mentioned so they also have the most remote control apps available. There are low cast solutions ($70) that involve attaching an IR transmitter to your iPod & downloading a free App (see New Kinetix Re, I Got Control IRB1, New Potato FLPR and even the Power A case). There is also a Wif solution with a free App from RedEye and a host of other WiFi solutions that use a hub from Global Cache, BitWise or other (see Total Control App, iRule, Bobby Remote and more)

The category is stronger than ever and has evolved greatly from Novii and the old Nevo solutions. The devices have just changed.
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post #4 of 7
7/1/10 at 1:09pm
Thread Starter 
As a burned out former Mac person I am highly "i" resistant, but something in an Android or tablet is very appealing. Where do I find good product discussions? (I will be googling most of the terms from your message too, thanks)
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post #5 of 7
7/2/10 at 12:30am
Thread Starter 
Wow, I am so not ready for an Android phone. $180 with a $600/year contract for two years, OUCH! I barely spend $100/year on my cell (Tmobile prepaid).

I think I will start with Noviiremote on an old Palm M515 I have stowed away, and take progress slowly.
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post #6 of 7
7/2/10 at 8:48pm
The Android platform is not as mature as the iPhone yet but is catching up. The remote control products and Apps are also very new to market so expect it to change rapidly and the prices to follow. The ThinkFlood RedEye Mini will be coming soon for the iPhone but since it is an IR transmitter based off the 3.5mm headphone jack rather than the proprietary iPhone charging port there is huge potential for that to be the first affordable Android solution. If you're not looking to pay the cell phone and data plan than I'd hate to tell you that an iPod touch would be your most affordable option.
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post #7 of 7
7/3/10 at 1:13am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by remoteshoppe View Post

If you're not looking to pay the cell phone and data plan than I'd hate to tell you that an iPod touch would be your most affordable option.

That has crossed my mind.

Next weekend my HTPC will likely finally leave the test area on my desk and join the AV system and I will start trying some things. The old M515 running Noviiremote, a cheap Diamond media center remote, and I will get a feel for whats missing.

Thanks for the information.
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