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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GhostDoggy @ Jan 6th 2008 10:17AM
Shape: "Why would anyone tailor their remote to just one IR-less device? Sony is the one that dropped the ball, here, by not conforming to the home theater standard."
Shape, can you direct me to a standard's body that stated IR was going to be 'the standard' or even 'a standard' and then point me to where it suggests that Bluetooth shouldn't be used as one of the common in-home communications technologies?
BTW, IR sucks donkey. :) While I am not advocating Sony or the PS3, I have to give credit to the Bluetooth implementation in the PS3, from remote/device registration to the console to its ability to not having to POINT' the remote at something to get it to work (ahem, like IR).
And the nice thing about Bluetooth in my personal experience is that it appears to work better than traditional RF when one has their components in a closet of closed rack. So, unless you have all your junk sitting out illuminating the theater room instead of allowing the movie to do that (lol), maybe Bluetooth is worth consider in a 3rd party remote for more things than just the Sony PS3.
Shape @ Jan 6th 2008 10:57AM
You are saying that IR *isn't* the standard remote technology? What home theater devices out there don't come with IR inputs? I can name one, the PS3. Yes, there are different IR variations, but all of them can by synthesized easily with a $1 microprocessor and an IR LED.
Bluetooth is more expensive than IR. I'm not even certain that you can sync one device with multiple hosts, which may make it a poor choice for a universal remote. You are also assuming that Sony will allow other companies to sync any bluetooth device with the PS3. So far, there aren't even any bluetooth devices (including controllers) that use bluetooth with the PS3. The wireless guitars all have dongles, for example.
When bluetooth is used as a remote technology for a majority of home theater device, then perhaps it can replace IR as the standard. But even Sony only uses it on one device, and that was only because they were too cheap to include an IR input on it.
kastonie @ Jan 6th 2008 11:43AM
A big standard in the home theater control arena is RS-232 and sony did not add this connection method on their system either. Also, its a ton easier to implement ir to rs232 instead of sonys bluetooth protocol. And maybe in your low end home theater the ps3 is the centerpiece of your setup, but go talk to the cedia guys and tell them you think the ps3 is a home theater component and they will laugh at you...
Vidikron (FU) @ Jan 7th 2008 10:52AM
@kastonie
Well, talk about whatever overpriced snake oil products that flood the HT market you want, but the PS3 is indeed a fine BR player. It may have a couple of flaws (most of which are fixable with firmware updates), but considering it's the only profile 2.0 capable player on the market it has a leg up on anything else out there.