Elan G Gets a Sleek Handheld Remote
By Julie Jacobson
Elan delivers first handheld remote control, the new Elan G HR2 ($760) with 802.11g for control and metadata feedback; touchscreen controls media, security, temperature, lighting, more

CEDIA 2010 may be the most important event in Elan’s 20-year history. For the first time, the company will reveal its complete line of Elan G home-control systems, including the brand new HR2 handheld remote.

The remote is a first for Elan Home Systems, which has always wanted to offer one, but never managed to do it.

“Every time we started looking at a remote control over the years, we were close, but then someone came out with something cheaper and fancier,” says chief technology officer Bob Farinelli. “We thought, maybe it it’s not our space. And maybe that was our mistake. Now remote control companies are coming into our space.”



The HR2 is a two-way Wi-Fi (802.11g) remote with IR control as well. A 2.4-inch OLED screen provides feedback from security, lighting and climate controls, plus metadata from supported A/V devices. It is expected to retail for $680 $760 (sans controller).

Like the rest of the products in the new Elan G line, which Elan president Paul Starkey calls "the biggest product introduction ever," the remote is programmed using Elan’s Configurator software. The user interface mimics that of the other G displays including touchscreens, OLED touchpads and iPhone/iPad apps.

Uniformity across all interfaces is a cornerstone of the G platform, which blends the best of Elan and HomeLogic, the little company acquired by Elan in 2007.

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