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Post by thrillcat on Jun 6, 2018 8:07:18 GMT -5
I'm going to pop in again and mention the NEEO, in case it was missed first time around... Build quality is the best there is. Made of aluminum with a higher-than-Apple Retina-Quality display. "Programming" is overkill for what you do. More like "configuring." neeo.com
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Post by millst on Jun 6, 2018 10:25:02 GMT -5
Needs more physical buttons, IMO.
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Post by Bonzo on Jun 6, 2018 10:59:04 GMT -5
Needs more physical buttons, IMO. I would love for these to be hard buttons for sure: Volume Mute Channel Recall Left-Right-Up-Down-OK Guide List Menu Exit Power Light (as in remote control light) And whether they are hard or not, I certainly want super fast easy access to each individual component, as well as macros. Neither super geek full access or ultra dumb macro only are acceptable to me. There is such a thing as over simplification by using all soft buttons, and it simply doesn't work as well. As evidenced by Honda returning to having more hard buttons back in their cars because too many magazines and customers complained about having all soft key screens and scroll down menus. There are certain buttons that must be direct access and have physical tactile feedback to work well. I would love to see a new modern version of my old Sonys (I currently have 4) that would be updated with a modern fully "customizable" screen, have computer / internet / head to head program-ability, have wifi / bluetooth / Z-Wave compatibility, be both RF and IR capable (it's current IR transmitter now is very good being super wide and very strong), all back lit hard buttons, and be built tough. Hard button wise it's close to optimum (although I don't use the Timer button at all). Some people would prefer the shape be changed and I could live with that. We have discussed this before. It would be awesome if Emotiva would build such a beast, but I doubt they will.
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,223
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Post by novisnick on Jun 6, 2018 11:11:47 GMT -5
Needs more physical buttons, IMO. I would love for these to be hard buttons for sure: Volume Mute Channel Recall Left-Right-Up-Down-OK Guide List Menu Exit Power Light (as in remote control light) And whether they are hard or not, I certainly want super fast easy access to each individual component, as well as macros. Neither super geek full access or ultra dumb macro only are acceptable to me. There is such a thing as over simplification by using all soft buttons, and it simply doesn't work as well. As evidenced by Honda returning to having more hard buttons back in their cars because too many magazines and customers complained about having all soft key screens and scroll down menus. There are certain buttons that must be direct access and have physical tactile feedback to work well. I would love to see a new modern version of my old Sonys (I currently have 4) that would be updated with a modern fully "customizable" screen, have computer / internet / head to head program-ability, have wifi / bluetooth / Z-Wave compatibility, be both RF and IR capable (it's current IR transmitter now is very good being super wide and very strong), all back lit hard buttons, and be built tough. Hard button wise it's close to optimum (although I don't use the Timer button at all). Some people would prefer the shape be changed and I could live with that. We have discussed this before. It would be awesome if Emotiva would build such a beast, but I doubt they will. The Harmony 650 & 700 have hard buttons for all of your requests. That one of the many things I love about these remotes. the light illuminates each button when motion is sensed.
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Post by thrillcat on Jun 6, 2018 11:53:58 GMT -5
I would love for these to be hard buttons for sure: Volume Mute Channel Recall Left-Right-Up-Down-OK Guide List Menu Exit Power Light (as in remote control light) And whether they are hard or not, I certainly want super fast easy access to each individual component, as well as macros. Neither super geek full access or ultra dumb macro only are acceptable to me. With the NEEO, the hard buttons give you: Volume Mute Channel LRUD-Enter Menu Home (main NEEO screen) Exit (back) Power I have mine in the theater. Before I go downstairs, I open the app on my phone, open the NEEO app, and select either Oppo or AppleTV, depending on if I'm going to be streaming or watching a disc. When I get downstairs, everything is ready to go - lights on, projector on, XMC-1 on and set to the correct input, chosen source fired up. When I pick up the physical remote, it's already set to the proper screen which has the extended play/pause/skip transport screen, and I've added a lighting screen to each source as well. So I sit down, select "PLAY" on a disc menu, or select something with the LRUD-Enter, swipe to the next screen and tap one button to dim the lights. It's really simple. For those who still use cable/satellite, you can program custom screens with channel logos of your most watched channels - as many screens as you want, with (I think) about 10 channels per screen. Swipe between screens. Even if I'm watching "TV" in the theater, it's streaming, so all I need is that LRUD-Enter. When I still had my TiVo connected down there, it was OTA-only, so I had a screen of basically all the channels I watch and it worked great. 1-button access to all of them. I rarely need/use the extended transport controls. NEEO is working on adding the functionality of my light memory settings to the play/pause functions (dim when I hit play, raise when I hit pause/stop), so I won't even have to swipe for that. A single button-press (hard button) shuts everything down except the lights, which I touch the switch on my way out of the room. Clicking the home button will give you quick access on the screen to get to any of your component's individual remote. The entire system and all the custom settings took about 15 minutes to set up, all within their app. I've used various harmony remotes, I had a programmable Rotel back in the day, and have dug in and tested a lot of the iRule-type systems, and the NEEO blows them all out of the water. I'm barely scratching the surface of what it can do, and so is NEEO. They're continuously updating and adding more features. Edit: Added Mute to the list of hard buttons. Forgot it had that one, as I've never pressed it.
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Post by 509Paul on Jun 6, 2018 21:30:38 GMT -5
I really like my NEOO remote!
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Post by knucklehead on Jun 6, 2018 22:53:26 GMT -5
My first universal remote was the Harmony 1100 - a tablet shaped remote. I had it for 3-4 years IIRC. If it weren't for the stupid shape of that remote I'd still have it. AFAIK Harmony hasn't repeated that error. Their remotes all look like remotes! I have a Harmony 650 now, been using it for probably 5-6 years. One thing I don't program the 650 for is activities. I can still remember how to turn on whatever gear I want to use for whatever 'activity' I decide to engage in. My main gripe with Harmony (Logitech) remotes is the need to download a program onto my computer in order to program their remotes. Years ago they had a browser based remote capability. Why they discontinued that is beyond me. If it weren't for that one niggling fact I would not need to keep a Windows 10 partition on my hard drive (480GB SSD) just so I can reprogram the damned remote! There is software 'out there' that will emulate the Harmony program on Linux based computers. I've tried to load it up, but without success. I may give it another go one of the days. It'll have to wait for winter, golfing weather is not to be wasted! The Harmony 650 goes for cheap these days, and it can control up to 8 devices. $33 bucks? How can you beat that? You can control more than 8 devices if you're clever! And it can be programmed off line if you have the remote(s) available for a tedious (for me!) one button at a time programming session. I'm sure the URC remotes are the cats ass, but I'm a cheap old bastard!
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Post by RichGuy on Jun 7, 2018 1:13:35 GMT -5
Make and model suggestions for the remote? Thanks - Boom OK Boom, here is customization for you.
Yes this is your Emotiva avatar page being displayed as the Home page on the LCD display of my MX-990 remote.
I can program it to display exactly what I want, exactly how I want, as well as make it do exactly what I want, exactly as I want. Complete customization and complete control ability, URC can do what no other remotes can.
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Post by boomzilla on Jun 7, 2018 1:20:46 GMT -5
Hi RichGuy - I admit that the URC is a more flexible remote. But the URC is an Accura and I only need a Honda.
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Post by RichGuy on Jun 7, 2018 1:45:10 GMT -5
Hi RichGuy - I admit that the URC is a more flexible remote. But the URC is an Accura and I only need a Honda. Nope it's more like a Maserati, I could do my animated avatar as well or basically anything I want. I can make my remotes LCD display look however I want it to down to the slightest detail and make the remote perform however I want. There is not another brand remote that performs as well and as simply to operate even the most complex of systems. The build quality is also excellent when I retired and sold my 10 year old MX-850's they were still like brand new.
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Post by ÈlTwo on Jun 7, 2018 7:24:18 GMT -5
As I said, even an older model could satisfy your needs. Here's a picture of my perfectly working MX-850 (you could go with a 900). Attachment Deleted
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Post by thrillcat on Jun 7, 2018 8:06:43 GMT -5
Hi RichGuy - I admit that the URC is a more flexible remote. But the URC is an Accura and I only need a Honda. This is the wrong way of thinking about a remote, IMHO. Of everything in your theater, the remote is the one piece you interact with the most. Don't cheap out, don't settle for a lesser experience, or you'll have to deal with something you're not completely happy with every single time you use your room. When you're talking about an extra $100-150 to upgrade, considering how much you'll use it, and how much you've invested in the other part of your room, get the Maserati. Get the Range Rover. Steer clear of the Accord and the Taurus.
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Post by boomzilla on Jun 7, 2018 8:20:49 GMT -5
Guys - you're beating a dead horse. I've given you my reasons, and although your priorities are different, I think that the Logitech 650 will work for me. Ordered from Amazon yesterday - arriving today. I'll look it over & try it out. Not adequate? I can return it & then buy the URC. What's the main criteria for acceptance? WAF If the boss isn't happy, then nobody's happy!
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bootman
Emo VIPs
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
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Post by bootman on Jun 7, 2018 8:29:42 GMT -5
I currently use a Harmony but have in the past tried a URC and even the Sony one pictured above. The best feature of the Harmony is the "help" button. It gets others in your family back on track 99.9% of the time if HDMI switching feels like its not cooperating today.
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Post by RichGuy on Jun 7, 2018 8:35:47 GMT -5
Guys - you're beating a dead horse. I've given you my reasons, and although your priorities are different, I think that the Logitech 650 will work for me. Ordered from Amazon yesterday - arriving today. I'll look it over & try it out. Not adequate? I can return it & then buy the URC. What's the main criteria for acceptance? WAF If the boss isn't happy, then nobody's happy! Actually a well programmed URC remote could be the most wife/family friendly remote. It could even be designed to work special and completely different for every family member if wanted. It can be made to be the easiest remote to use for anyone. Someone could click on their name or picture or any image they personally wanted and be brought to a simplified or complex design just for them. The possibilities are nearly unlimited.
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Post by thrillcat on Jun 7, 2018 8:38:12 GMT -5
The NEEO has sensors on the bottom that will eventually be used for user hand recognition, so you can customize the screens/commands and give everyone their own level of control. Just sayin'.
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Post by boomzilla on Jun 7, 2018 8:45:52 GMT -5
Wow - I had no idea I was starting a religious war. Devotion to one's own programmable remote brand is obviously not just a matter of features or pricing, but a matter of profound and devout faith.
So let me try to explain again - I'm an agnostic. Period.
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Post by RichGuy on Jun 7, 2018 9:12:16 GMT -5
Wow - I had no idea I was starting a religious war. Devotion to one's own programmable remote brand is obviously not just a matter of features or pricing, but a matter of profound and devout faith. So let me try to explain again - I'm an agnostic. Period. I'm not trying to convert you, just saying although I love my Emotiva gear I'd switch it out for another brand before I'd switch out my remote. Been using URC remotes since 2005 and there has been no other brand remote that I'd switch out for since and it is the only remote I have ever found that could do everything I wanted it to do, how I wanted to do it and not leave me wishing it could do something it couldn't. Also I don't only control my HT/music system with my remote I can control every light in my home and other home animation such as fans/AC as well. P.S. a couple of well dressed people will be coming to your door with pamphlets soon.
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Post by chaosrv on Jun 7, 2018 9:32:13 GMT -5
The Harmony 650 is a great entry-level universal remote. I think you'll enjoy it. It has does a learning function if you bring home any esoteric gear that is no in Harmony's database.
I have one in a drawer somewhere as a back up.
I now have Harmony Hubs in all of my rooms that would otherwise require multiple remotes. The one in my office is controlled by the Harmony keyboard (which is also connected to my PC) the living room uses a Harmony Companion remote (dedicated home automation buttons), and the bedroom has a Harmony Smart Remote (same as companion but lacking the automation buttons)
The reason I upgraded to the hubs was to be able to control the various Roku devices in each room. The 650 could only control the older Roku 3 (IR input) but not the streaming stick nor the premier plus (wifi).
In a pinch (meaning a remote is lost in the cushions, behind the bed, or under a sleeping dog) the hubs can be controlled via smartphone or tablet as well though the interface is a bit lacking.
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Post by Bonzo on Jun 7, 2018 9:44:50 GMT -5
What's the main criteria for acceptance? WAF If the boss isn't happy, then nobody's happy! Now you are just fibbing us. Your wife is not a James Bond villan.
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