Tvcompass has introduced a Windows CE-based remote for home theater systems. The "SR 1500 Digital Media Remote" (DMR) boasts a color display, wireless networking, and Web browsing capabilities, and can be used to control more than two dozen different devices at once, according to the company.
(Click here for a larger view of the Tvcompass SR 1500)
The SR 1500 DMR is a "white label" design that will not be sold by Tvcompass directly. Instead, the device will be marketed by satellite and cable operators, content distributors, and OEMs, Tvcompass hopes. Previous Tvcompass remote control designs have been marketed by Acoustic Research, Audiovox, and SMK Electronics, the company said.
The SR 1500 is among several DMR designs offered by Tvcompass. All have a "display, keyboard/keypad, and motherboard [that] are completely interchangeable," according to VP of product strategy Jim Grotelueschen. This will allow vendors to customize the display size, keyboard type, and overall design -- from "candybar" to tablet to QWERTY keyboard form-factors -- he added.
In the SR 1500 incarnation, the DMR design resembles a cross between a typical smart remote control and a cellphone. Like many cell phones, it has a QVGA (320 x 240) color display, plus 802.11b/g wireless networking. There's also a Web browser, with optional J2ME and Flash capabilities, and an RSS News feed reader client. Another dedicated client is said to support PayPal micropayment transactions.
Many smart remotes must be connected to a PC to obtain infrared codes associated with new devices. The SR 1500, in contrast, retrieves codes from a branded portal, Tvcompass says. The company also envisions other features, such as:
* WiFi network location
* Creation of personalized TV guides
* Wireless updating of software for set-top boxes (STBs) or other hardware
* Remote backup of user-created device settings
* On-screen display of content related to TV programming
TV Compass did not provide pricing or availability information for the SR 1500.
// Erik (binkey.nl)