Great concept - your results may vary
Written: Aug 23 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Convenient replacement for multiple remote controls
Cons: Lengthy setup time
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| pushijima's Full Review: Pacific Neo Talk Omni Remote (Palm Pilot) |
OmniRemote is an application for handheld devices that run Palm OS. This includes the Palm (Pilot) series of PDAs as well as those from Handspring and TRG. The software uses the either the built-in infra-red port of the device or an optional add-on infra-red transmitter/receiver. For most Palm-based handhelds, this add-on clips into the bottom of the device. For Handspring Visor users, the add-on IR port comes in the form of a Springboard module. Springboards are the proprietary expansion modules that only Visors can use. You'll want to use the add-on port if you seriously plan to use your Palm OS handheld as a remote control. Read on to see why.
The Software
The software works as advertised. You draw buttons on the screen and after arranging the buttons you record the infra-red signals from you conventional remote. This software does not use codes like many low and mid-priced universal remotes do. In fact, this software will not work for those of you who are looking to replace lost remote controls because you must record the signal from your old remote for the software to function. The process of designing the remote control button layouts is tedious and not as user friendly as one would hope. But given the flexibility that you have in designing the button layouts, this complexity is necessary. Buttons can be given text or icon labels. They can be set to bring up other button layouts. They can even be assigned a macro - a recorded series of different button presses - to automate complex setup functions. Up to sixteen different button layouts can be created which should be more than enough space to create buttons for all your remote control needs. Layouts are accessed via a menu in the upper-right corner of the screen or through buttons that are assigned to switch you to a different layout - this is good if you're used to traditional multi-function remotes. Overall, I would rate the software as good.
The Hardware
By default, OmniRemote uses the built-in infra-red port of your Palm OS device. This port has an almost useless range of about seven feet, give or take a few feet depending on the make and model of your device. I therefore recommend using an OmniRemote module which has a much further range of about 25 feet. Note that these modules do not replace the functionality of the built-in infra-red ports. They are only used by the OmniRemote software but they have no adverse effect on the use of the built-in port for beaming of data. It would be nice if you could use the add-on modules to beam data more than seven feet though. The modules are fairly priced considering their functionality. The combined price of the software and hardware module are still much lower than competing dedicated programmable universal remotes with touch-screen LCDs. That's not counting the purchase of the Palm handheld though ;-)
Conclusion
I would recommend this software only to true home audio/video aficionados. You're average consumer will not want to spend the time to design and program all the buttons necessary for operation of three or more components - TV, VCR/DVD, Stereo. But if you do have a lot of components and need more space on your coffee table and are willing to take the time to program your Palm device, dive in. It works well once set up.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
pushijima
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Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 41 members
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