Hi everyone

The new 9600 is now out of beta testing. As you have probably guessed, several of us from Remote Central were involved in the beta testing over the past ten weeks.

I'd like to thank Philips for the opportunity to be part of the beta testing team, testing both the 9600 and the 9400 WiFi Extender.

Both of these products are definitely great.

I should also add that Lyndel did a fantastic job of rigorously testing the software.

Great news! Sure wish I had a grand laying around... :-(

Me too, but if I had an extra grand laying around I would probably replace my stereo instead of my remote. But if I had two grand laying around...

I do have a grand laying around, now where can I get one!?!?!?!?

Bear

I will be selling them and I am taking advance orders.

Drop me a line or give a call.

Dave

I'd like to say a big thanks to Philips for allowing me to test the 9600 and the 9400 extender. I spent lots of time analyzing many problems. I'm very happy to report that I had no issues installing/uninstalling software. Furthermore, the software is very solid (built on the PPENG foundation). I had no UAE (unrecoverable application errors) to speak of during the entire test. Lowpro, Peter, myself, and several others whom I got to know via telephone this past month worked really hard to get a good product to you folks out of the gate.

I firmly believe that Philips is committed to building on this platform going forward. They were very open to suggestions during beta testing.

Here's something really cool. I have my own home-brew media server that I've been using for a few years and controlling with SuperNudelist. But, the TSU9600 supports Escient Music servers. Could I make my media server look like an Escient?

I downloaded the Escient protocol document from the Escient Website and implemented this protocol first in a test Java program (which has been sent to Philips for further testing of the Escient Interfaces) and then finally in my Visual Basic Media Server with an Access database.

What's really WAY COOL is that my Media server now talks to my 9600 as if it were an Escient Fireball and serves up jacket pictures. The only thing I had to do outside of my Media Server program was to install IIS or other suitable webserver to serve up jackets to the 9600 as the remote downloads jackets via http.

I look forward to the future for this remote. I personally found the extra firm key to be a big help, along with a hard Power button.

I've dropped hints along the way about having to redo graphics. For you 6000/7000 owners, plan to redo all of your graphics as they are not resized on import. Also, you will want to monitor the Philips website as they will be opening up an FAQ page with lots of good info.

Regards,
Lyndel McGee

One other thing to note. The TSU9600 IR codes and transmission are damned reliable. Lowpro had some issues with X10 equipment where he actually had to put delays between some IR codes because the 9600 was able to send the codes lickety-split. I personally was able to remove delays from my sony codes.

and from all my testing...

The 9600 software did not corrup any of my IR code data.

LOL. Peter, you know that I did have more posts on the Beta forum than the Pronto Team user account.

Can anyone comment on how pick-up sensor activation of button backlighting works on the 9600? Did they address the issues that the 7000/7500 still has? Thanks!

Did anyone test the TSU9600 with Lutron? If so, what was your configuration

Dave

The hard buttons backlight anytime the screen activates or a hard button is pressed. Also so you know, the firm keys on the TSU9600 do not have backlighting at all.

I thought that the Lutron required the serial extender which has not been tested as of yet.

Carlton, can you please be more specific as to the issues you are addressing on the 7000/7500? I'll try to answer but I'm not quite sure where you are going.

Lyndel

Lowpro: Thanks for the info. It's good to hear that most of the buttons are illuminated automatically. Too bad there are no lights on the 5 firm buttons, but at least they have raised bumps on them so you can identify them by touch. So it sounds like the problem that was ignored on the 7x00 has been pretty much addressed.

Lyndel, here are some threads covering the complains with the 7x00 button backlight. I kept submitting requests to get it fixed but it never has been. Basically, there is no pick-up sensor activation of the button backlight (also no activation when pressing the buttons). You have to use the backlight button, and it only illuminates the buttons for 5 seconds.

[Link: remotecentral.com]
[Link: remotecentral.com]
[Link: remotecentral.com]
[Link: remotecentral.com]

You are correct, I finally found the answer.

Question
Is there a way to put the "Settings" button on the home page and not on the System Page?

I do like the change in the Page Up and Page Down actions, they only move within a device

Dave