Ron

To quote the review of the MX-1000:

I found the only solution was to employ the old "infrared impervious hand" technique, blocking the infrared emitters with your palm.

This should probably work for the MX-500 as well.

URGENT

Arjen, mroll, and others: I'm still confused.

1) If you program a macro to the power button, how do you turn on a single device?

2 )Also, if you program the system off button with a device-specific macro, am I to assume that you have to be sure to be in that device when you press the macro button?

3) And there seems to be some confusion as to the difference between "device specific macros" and "system wide macros". What do you people consider each to be?

I need the answers to these questions ASAP! Thanks!

... Greg :-)

Greg-
What I had in mind was a power macro to turn on whatever number of devices you want to when you're on the MAIN page. The "System off" would work the same way. When you're on a device page, the power button would turn on that device, or could be done as part of a macro when you go to that page. I would program the power macro to turn on the devices I want and probably go to the 1st page of the device most commonly used. The system off button would turn off those devices turned on by the Power macro, and return to the MAIN page so you're ready for the next time.

With the MX-1000, I program macros on the MAIN page buttons to go to and turn on the required device. When I'm done with that device, I turn it off and go back to the MAIN page where I have my System Off macro. Since the power button, for me, is useless on the MAIN page, that's where the power macro would come in handy.

I would think this is possible. Anyone else?

So, mroll, you are asking for device specific macros? Again, I ask, if you are not in the device when you want to push the power button or system off button, what happens? What controls which macro is used on these buttons, if you want more than one macro on the Power and System Off buttons? I can only see you having to actually being in that device for it to work.

I would think that that would drive a person nuts! Because for sure you're going to hit that power off button, not noticing which device you're in, and turn off/on the wrong components. If we could have the choice of two macros for the device buttons, that would be fine...... a power up the DVD related components, and a power down of the same components. But, we're lucky that HTM has given us one per device.

The only way you could do that on the MX-500 would be for the Power Button and System Off buttons to be device specific. Or am I missing something?

ASAP!! Please!!

... Greg

Maybe this isn't possible, but what I want are macros programmable to the POWER and System Off buttons that, when you're on the MAIN page only, can turn on and off whatever devices you want them to. When you go to a device page, the macros wouldn't work and the POWER and System off buttons would become device-specific, and only work for that device.

P.S. - This is how the One for All Home Producer works. When your on the "Theater" screen, the Power button can have a macro programmed to it. When you're on a device screen, it only powers up that device.

So, then, mroll, for your uses, the MX-500 as it stands is perfect? Correct?

As I see it (not absolutely sure, awaiting confirmation), the Power Macro works on the Main screen, and is the Power Up/Down button when in a device screen. Hopefully I'll know more today or Monday.

Thx!

Arjen and mroll: Please let me know if I can have your email addresses. If I receive no email from you, I'll know you don't want to let it out. If I do, I'd like to discuss some things on a more immediate basis via email. Thanks!!!

One other thing we need an Easter-egg in the MX-500. This would be the cherry on top...a little Pong, Space Invaders, or something to that effect. :-)

Greg-
Well, not perfect, but you've got the idea. I sent you an e-mail with my address.

Mark-
That would probably delay it's release until Easter!

Hi Greg,

All buttons (macro buttons, system off, power, etc.) must be device specific to get the maximum possible flexibility! Depending on which device is selected, I want to be able to program different commands/macros.

If I need a system wide command (a button that works independently from the selected device), I can simply program the same function for every device.

Device specific commands/macros are the only way to satisfy all customers needs because of the maximized flexibility. I hope you can get the HTM people to implement this functionality, because then this remote would really rule!

Regards,

Frasier

1) If you program a macro to the power button, how do you turn on a single device?

I think this was my point the entire time. :-)

2 )Also, if you program the system off button with a device-specific macro, am I to assume that you have to be sure to be in that device when you press the macro button?

I'd love to see Macros work on the MX-1000 and MX-500 just like the do on the Pronto (because it's the most logical). Program them on the MAIN screen. If you don't do anything different under a device, that single macro trickles down to all devices and pages. But if you DO program one under a device, it overrides the default FOR THAT DEVICE. Also, the volume buttons should work that way as well.

3) And there seems to be some confusion as to the difference between "device specific macros" and "system wide macros". What do you people consider each to be?

This seems fairly clear already... "one that is only available under a particular device" and "one that is available anywhere in the remote".

Daniel-

Your response to Question #2 is exactly what I've been asking for all along. Sorry if that wasn't clear in my previous posts.

People!

1) Well, there is the capability to have a macro on both the Power on and the System Off buttons, so I assume that you would have to hold down the buttons, just like holding the device buttons down to get a macro.

If you just want to control the device and turn it on, you just press the device button once, and the power button once.

2)That is exactly how the MX-500 works! To get to the device pages, you just press and let go. To have the macro send out a macro, you press and hold, FROM THE MAIN PAGE!

3) Well, it may be clear to others, but it wasn't to me. So then, Daniel, would you consider the "device macros", which are accessed from the MAIN page as SYSTEM WIDE macros? (Excuse me while I go and wipe the mud off my glasses!)

... Greg :-)

Oh, by the way, the CHANNEL and VOLUME buttons have been reversed as we asked.

Also, obviously, the MUTE and PREV. CH buttons have been reversed. (Same physical positions though - just label and function changed).

This nicely puts it in accordance with with the semi-universal standard for button positioning. And it also puts the CHANNEL control under the FAV channel button, where it should logically be!

Thought you might like to know!

Cheers!

...Greg :-)

Greg,

Sorry for my late reply....attached my email address this time.

Here's how the macros stuff for the power buttons would work best for me, based on how I currently programmed my T2.

I would like to be able to put device specific macros under both the Power button and the System button, meaning that I can program different macros to these buttons per device mode, as well as under the main page. It does not reduce functionality (you can always program a single on/off IR command in a macro), it just adds flexibility.

For example:

1. In the MAIN PAGE mode, I programmed all my buttons to operate the TV.
- If I push the Power button (short) it turns on the TV and sets the input to the Tuner.
- If I hold the power button, it turns the TV off. For the MX-500 this could be the Power Off button (now called System Off).

2. In DVD mode:
- If I push the Power button, it turns the TV and the DVD on, and sets the TV to DVD input.
- If I hold the Power button, it turns the DVD off and returns the TV to Tuner input, and selects the MAIN page.

3. In CD mode:
- If I push the Power button, it turns the CD, receiver and subwoofer on, and sets the receiver to CD input.
- If I hold the Power button, it turns the CD, receiver and subwoofer off.

Etcetera.

BTW, I see no reason for the name "System Off". It is much more versatile to call it "Power Off". That way the label is always descriptive: either when programmed to turn a single device off, or a series of devices.

Too much asked?

Arjen