I understand this - which is why I would like
to interface the iPronto to products like the
GC-100 or CharmedQuark that can.
Please don't think I'm knocking either you or the iPronto - I have a limited amount of access to a couple of people within Philips (and have had for a year or so) and believe me I do try as hard as possible to feed back any reasonable or sensible requests that are fed back to me from customers and also - to a degree - from here (even though I know too that representatives of Philips do look up here pretty regularly too).
I did buy the iPronto expecting a lot of things.
There was a white paper on the Philips site (no
longer there I see) that talked of interfaces
to other third party software for control of entertainment
throughout the house. I did check all of the
avaiable technical information before purchase.
But you are right in that I did gamble that a
company like Philips would fullfill its marketing
promises.
Unfortunately I aquired a healthy distrust of anything that marketing material has listed as "For future expansion". But that's me being my usual pessimistic self.
The current web site still has under Technical
Specifications
" Future upgradable multi-media card slot and
USB port (accessable through future software upgrade)".
Well as far as I'm aware there is something being worked on for the card slot at the moment but given that I can't remember who it was that told me then I'm not going to say any more than that - it isn't however anything like a "killer application" that we're all looking forward to.
I could go on. The impression in all the Philips
advertising was that the iPronto would be the
center of a complete home automation system.
Again from their web site:
"iPronto, complete control anywhere in your home.
Looking for benefits without hassle? Fun without
fuss? It’s now within your reach! With iPronto!"
*sigh* Yup ... I do see your point.
I am just sad that this is a good product that
has failed to meet its expectations. I understand
that its not the fault of the product team - if
they have no money, they can't do anything.
It just seems that they're not being allowed to develop the product. There's been a few times that I've actually managed to get into conversations with the ProntoTeam themselves and they do seem like they are enthusiastic about the product themselves however it just seems like their enthusiasm which could drive the product on is being reigned in by company policy elsewhere.
To be fair - the iPronto is probably the best
and most expensive programable IR remote control
that you can buy. If thats what you require fine.
There are more expensive remotes - the Lexicon tabletop monochrome thing still sells for £1,500 over here (or it did the last time I looked) and that's a pile of poo next to the iPronto. The iPronto looks good (and impressive) on a coffee table and does serve a purpose.
But the extensibility to control other hardware
and software over the wifi network is just not
there.
I agree - it isn't there and I really would like it to be too.
Phil
