Remote Control

January 6, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CES -- Motorola, Inc. today announced an accessory for its popular VIP series of IPTV set tops that eliminates the hassle and expense of replacing batteries and helps consumers locate misplaced remote controls. The new rechargeable remote control and its base station are armed with RF (radio frequency) "find" functionality. A press of a switch on the base station triggers an audible tone and flashing light on all remote controls to help lead consumers to a missing unit.

"We're constantly listening to consumer feedback to help us develop new functionality," said Kevin Wirick, vice president of marketing at Motorola. "Losing a remote control is an issue that many end users find infuriating. With this product we're not only addressing this frustration but we've created a platform to extend the utility of the VIP set tops and remote control units by adding a USB or Bluetooth-connected accessory to the set top architecture."

Powered by wall sockets or through the set top via USB, the high performance rechargeable remote control and base unit eliminates the need for replacing single-use batteries and keeps the remote ready for action at all times. Performance is enhanced as the remote does not suffer from the reduction in range and response times caused by single use batteries as they near end of life.

Capable of learning functions, Motorola's VIP remote can replace multiple controls for most consumer electronic devices. The base station also includes a digital clock - a feature that has been lost as IPTV set tops have become increasingly streamlined in size.

For more information visit www.motorola.com.

SOURCE Motorola, Inc.

January 6, 2009 -- Say goodbye to complicated lists and long explanations about how to use your home-entertainment system. Today at the Consumer Electronics Show, Logitech introduced the Logitech Harmony 1100 advanced universal remote control, delivering powerful home-entertainment control through a customizable, 3.5-inch full-color touch screen. Logitech’s newest remote provides a touch-screen interface that lets you put the commands you want, where you want them. The Harmony 1100 remote has received the CES 2009 Design and Engineering Award: Best of Innovations in the Home-Entertainment Accessories category – the second consecutive year a Logitech Harmony remote has been honored with this award.

“The Harmony 1100 is a natural extension of the Harmony promise – to simplify today’s complex home-entertainment systems,” said Ashish Arora, vice president and general manager of Logitech’s Harmony business unit. “As more and more people get the bulk of their entertainment at home, the Harmony 1100 will help people get more out of their home-entertainment experience – for a fraction of the price of traditional custom-installed remotes.” Read more

September 4 - 7, 2008 - Universal Remote Control, Inc. (URC), the pioneer in control technology, introduces Universal Remote Control Lighting by Lutron, a new line of easy-to-install single-room lighting control products that URC dealers can offer as compelling add-ons to their installations.

Lighting control is a natural extension of the home theater experience. It can set a mood, improve viewing conditions, and even help the viewer avoid injury when making a mid-movie snack run to the kitchen. URC expects its new lighting products, which are directly controlled by its numerous radio frequency (RF) remotes, will offer its dealers an easy way to offer this value-added home theater feature to their customers.

"As many custom dealers wrestle with decreasing price points and margins in some of their key product categories, gross revenues per project and the resulting profit dollars are harder to maintain as prices drop," says Mitchell Klein, director of market development and education at URC. "Universal Remote Control Lighting by Lutron will enable our dealers to diversify their offerings with a reliable, easy-to-install and easy-to-program add-on solution for single-room lighting control, with native control by URC remotes and backed by two of the most trusted brands in the business: URC and Lutron." Read more

September 4 - 7, 2008 - - Universal Remote Control, Inc. (URC), the pioneer in control technology, introduces its revolutionary new Complete Control MX-6000 Two-Way Touch Screen at this week's CEDIA EXPO. The MX-6000 brings unparalleled simplicity and automation to home entertainment, and embraces digital media in a unique and powerful new way. Through this single coffee table device, an installer can provide an end user access to all components in a home theater, as well as media on PCs, iPods and other content storage devices in the home. The user never again needs to learn a new interface for every entertainment choice because all components share a consistent logic. The MX-6000 also eliminates menu pollution from the TV screen; users perform all control functions and navigate menus and metadata on the MX-6000 screen while others in the room enjoy TV programming uninterrupted.

"The MX-6000 puts menus and cover art in the user's hands instead of cluttering the TV screen-and it gives any PC an intuitive, friendly A/V server interface," said Jon Sienkiewicz, director of marketing for URC. "On the technical side, this is a breakthrough product because it uses dual RF transmitters-802.11b/g WiFi for network control, plus narrow band RF (radio frequency) for traditional control-to ensure that home theater components don't suffer the agonizing delay of waiting for the remote to join the home network." Read more