It's very unlikely that you'll find any backgrounds tailored to the MX-780 screen size. I'm pretty sure that what Duct Tape is doing here is finding backgrounds he likes, scaling them to the appropriate size, then cropping out the exact pixel size he needs.

In any case, MX-780 backgrounds don't work the same way as backgrounds for MX-3000, MX-5000, or most other MX remotes, because the smaller processor doesn't support alpha transparency. It's possible to tinker with 780 graphics, of course, but it's not something URC really intended, so it's not as easy as it is with other MX remotes.

Dale-

What about the MX1200???

MX-1200 is somewhere between a 780 and a 5000 in terms of how much you can customize. Making 1200 quicker to program also made it harder to do custom graphics. We've learned that the vast majority of installers only ever use the default graphics, so we cater to the majority rather than the smaller group. However, you CAN do some custom graphics on 1200... it's just not quite as simple as on 5000.

Dale-

So what CAN you do, and how CAN you do it?
Seems like the MX980 is a whole lot more capable out of the box, with a smaller price tag...

It kind of depends on what you call "capable." To most installers, "capable" means "can be programmed quickly to accommodate nearly any potential home theater setup." That's what this remote was designed for. But if to you "capable" means "I can customize the look and feel of the UI in any way I want to," then the MX-1200 isn't that product.

There's a lot of market precedent for us to do it the way we did—look at the iPhone: the big complaint about it at launch was how you couldn't tinker with the basics much. But like it or hate it, the iPhone is one of the most successful products in the history of business.

As far as exactly WHAT you can do... well, a forum like this is really the best place to go for that. We didn't design the 1200 to have totally freeform graphics like some of our other remotes, just as we "locked down" the 880. But that hasn't stopped people from figuring out ways to get the products to do more than we designed them to do. The simple, corporate answer to "what can it do" is "what we say in the manual." But the REAL answer is always, "I don't know... what can you GET it to do?" (Which, incidentally, is also what the iPhone jailbreak community is all about.)

Programming my first MX-780 today. I do like the physical remote - nice size, feel, and it's great to have RGBY hard buttons.

I don't like the lack of graphics support. I don't want or need 1000 channel icons for favorites, but 50 might be nice. ESPN, all the major broadcast networks, HBO, the big cable news players, etc. would be a great addition.

Yeah, the 780 wasn't designed to have graphical channel favorites. If we ever add that, it would likely be in a new model.

it can be done.  i posted the icons and instructions over at the URC Control Room.  it is similar to adding graphics to an MX880

Oh, I know it can be done. I'm constantly amazed at what you've been able to get our little devices to do, Duct! I've had dealers ask me how to do this, and I've pointed them to your posts!

I knew you knew that.  :)

I'm always happy to be of service to the URC community.  

Has anyone figured out how to set up the MX-780 to control Roku devices? I have the new "BT" remote on the Roku XS, but I understand it should still be receiving IR codes if programmed correctly. I could go the "borrow a remote and learn" route, but I'm hoping there is an existing code set in the CCP that works. I've tried several so far to no avail.

scirica,

I had found the missing roku codes for my mx-700 and had posted them here:

[Link: files.remotecentral.com]

Let me know if you have any issues. I had to change the repeat for the back command to 1 otherwise it would jump back to the roku home screen when pressed.

As for my thoughts on the 780, I just programmed it for the first time last night. It replaced a mx-700 that finally died after 8+ years of abuse.

So far, I'm not convinced I like the 780 over the 700. I feel the 700 was more comfortable to hold and I liked the positions of the vol +/- and the skip buttons on either side of the 4 way pad on the 700 better. The select button on the 780 is superior, though. The 700 felt more solid to me. Time will tell if it will survive the kind of abuse my family seems fond of dishing out to our remotes.

The bottom line is I guess I need to get used to it. Part of me wants to find a 850, but it seems that the 850 is a dead end so I should just suck it up and learn to love it.

A lot of people have issues going from the older legacy remotes to the newer lines. The MX700 and the other remotes with that "chassis" were tanks and great remotes. What I can say is give the 780 a chance. It is a great remote for the price, and the added program power it offers over the older remotes makes it worthwhile. One thing that still bugs me when I come across an older remote I have to program is being limited to only two main screens. It makes it harder with a larger system and the programming ends up looking a bit cluttered. It is much easier to create a nice clean program with the newer remotes. Would like to hear back from you when you have had a chance to use it for a while and give your opinion once again. Good luck with it.

goldenrulz,

thanks for the advice. I looked around at replacing it with a 850, but the prices for those are ridiculous. I don't want one that badly.

I'm probably going to keep the 780 unless my family strongly objects to it. it has only been in use for a day so it is too early to tell.

now that I've spent more time hacking it than actually using it, it has kind of grown on me.

I enjoy modifying a device to do something the creators didn't want you to do. :)