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Topic:
NeoEdit Sucks
This thread has 16 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Monday December 10, 2001 at 16:50
cgreen
Founding Member
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December 2001
9
Sent today to Philips customer support:

Hello,

I own the original Pronto TSU1000. I was initially excited to see the Neo, a more "wife-friendly" remote with extra hard buttons. However, this quickly passed once I saw the NeoEdit software. Why is there no UPLOAD functionality? This negates the WHOLE POINT of the software. You can't ADD A DEVICE later without losing all the programming! You can't change your mind or add features either! Please, please direct this correspondence through the proper channels so that Neo's marketing team sees this. I understand if they wanted to get the hardware out in time for Christmas and then release the software later. But I will not understand if the software isn't improved and FAST. I'll sell it, its junk unless you fix the software. You're going to blow it with a whole new set of potential customers when they buy this thing from Best Buy and realize they got a half cooked product.

Sincerely,
Christopher Green
Post 2 made on Monday December 10, 2001 at 21:33
bootz
Founding Member
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December 2001
26
I'm sure they'll fix the software if enough people complain about it...that makes two of us!

Me thinks that didn't have much time to spend on software and wanted to get it out for holiday shopping season (read: before Turkey day!)

OP | Post 3 made on Tuesday December 11, 2001 at 11:40
cgreen
Founding Member
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December 2001
9
bootz, thats what I was thinking too. However, a few people in the other forum wrote in to them and got responses saying they didn't intend on adding the Upload feature. This is what prompted me to write them.

Here is their response:
-----Original Message-----
From: Philips URC Support Helpdesk [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 3:36 AM
To: Chris Green
Subject: Re: TSU500 - ProntoNeo


Dear Sir,

Thank you for your enquiry.
The ProntoNEO is a remote control somewhere in between the Universal Remote 880
and the Pronto 1000.
It is meant to keep it simple.

Please download the latest version of ProntoEditNEO that is available on the
web.

In any case we will pass your information on to Philips Head Quarters.

Kind regards,
Harry Schut

Philips Pronto/URC helpdesk

p.s. Please keep the message complete when replying



Here is my reponse back:
Thank you for passing my message on. In response to your reply all I have to say is that by crippling the software you have made the remote incredible difficult to use, not SIMPLE. I understand more expensive models should have a value-add, better features and software. But the upload functionality for this remote does not fall in to that category. This is a integral feature, without it the software is pointless. So how are we intended to use the software? Are we supposed to DOWNLOAD, then program the remote codes, then never use the software again? Because if we ever DOWNLOAD a second or third time you have to reprogram the whole thing. You knew that right? And you're telling me this was done on purpose? What if I change my mind or buy a new CD player?


This message was edited by cgreen on 12/11/01 11:41.09.
Post 4 made on Tuesday December 11, 2001 at 12:38
Joel Warren
Founding Member
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July 2001
1,487
I don't have a Neo, but I was interested in your comments anyway. It seems to me that the biggest problem is AT FIRST, because you can't use the UDB, get your devices set, and then upload for tweaking and customizing. But after that, if you save each version you download, is there really a need to upload? I seldom upload my 2000 CCF.

A bit more work, possibly to have to program the buttons through the remote, but I don't see it as a really major problem. Am I missing something?
OP | Post 5 made on Tuesday December 11, 2001 at 12:53
cgreen
Founding Member
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December 2001
9
Okay, just so we're staight (maybe I'm using the wrong terminology?) you DOWNLOAD to the Neo means you're transfering your setup from the software to the remote. And an UPLOAD means you can move your setup back from the remote to the software. That understood here is what you're missing:

You can't program the remote codes via the software.

That means you create your layout, download it, then program the remote codes. Without upload functionality there is no way to import the remote codes back in to the software. So the next time you download from the software to the remote all your remote codes are lost.


This message was edited by cgreen on 12/11/01 12:56.55.
Post 6 made on Tuesday December 11, 2001 at 17:04
mlbsr11
Founding Member
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December 2001
2
I am going to query the folks at Philips also about the missing UPLOAD functionality. This is very important unless you are prepared to do the setup once and NEVER make any changes. And what about being able to backup your changes on the remote to your PC. If this is not in their immediate plans then this is one remote that will be returned...
Post 7 made on Tuesday December 11, 2001 at 17:58
Jim Cruickshank
Founding Member
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Posts:
August 2001
9
Personally I don't plan on purchasing any new components ever so I don't need the upload functionality.

Yeah right. I'd love a new remote with more buttons than the Regular pronto design - but I won't purchase the Neo until it gets good software.
Post 8 made on Tuesday December 11, 2001 at 22:27
Joel Warren
Founding Member
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July 2001
1,487
On 12/11/01 12:53.41, cgreen said...
You can't program the remote codes via the software.

A-HA!! That DOES make a difference. So every time you download a new look or change one button, you've got to re-program every sigle button?? Well, what a bunch of crap!!!

Oh that's simpler all right! So is getting up from your chair every time you want to change a channel or turn the volum up or down. I hear that feature is going to be on Philips next remote!!

And for that, they list it at nearly the street price of the 2000? Now the only question is: what is the possible attraction of the Neo?
Post 9 made on Wednesday December 12, 2001 at 07:27
dshmel
Founding Member
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October 2001
102
One more clarification: After "downloading" your .ncf file to the NEO you will ONLY need to re-learn the IR commands that you had to learn because they were not in the "built-in" database, you will not have to re-learn EVERY command. The degree of inconvenience of this depends on how many custom commands you learned in the first place. For my set-up (for NOW) it is about a dozen or so. The more custom commands the more hassle. For this reason, the utility of the NEO will reach a plateau unique to each user - in other words - you will program it to a point and stop, because each new device or change in the layout causes you to go back and re-learn custom commands. My NEO is sitting on the shelf waiting for Philips to fix the "freeze after jump" bug.
Post 10 made on Wednesday December 12, 2001 at 14:48
spearhead
Founding Member
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Posts:
November 2001
3
I had the NEO for one day. Since it could not work with my Sony preamp, TA-9000ES, it was worthless. The inability to upload would seem to imply that it will never be there. ANyway, I found the TSU-1000 online for less.
Post 11 made on Wednesday December 12, 2001 at 16:48
Hammy211
Founding Member
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November 2001
89
Maybe we could send Philips the NEO and the 2000 forum in a month or so and they could see the difference in discussion. We'd all be talking about the extra pages we were creating so we could learn the codes to those buttons each time we downloaded so all our links would disappear. It's just silly. I will be able to make this thing work but since the remote doesn't have all my devices preprogramed I have to do all kind of crazy stuff in NEO edit. For example, my preamp codes have to be learned. Since when you learn something to the remote it wipes out all your jumps and links I have to learn the code for DVD onto a button I'll never use. Then I make the DVD button that I use link to that button so I can program it with the links and jumps I want. You have to sit there and think if you will be adding any commands to a button before you do anything because if you have to learn anything to it they will all be gone. What a hassle. And when I get to putting some cool bitmaps in it I'll have to go back and relearn all the codes. As a matter of fact I haven't even used the remote yet. All this custom stuff is new to me so ever time I figure something new and cool out and download it I have to relearn some 40 or so codes that arent included in the NEO database. Never had a 2000, but I'm guessing that upload would solve this. If so don't buy a NEO till it gets it. It has the potential to be awesome but without upload programming it is a nitemare.
Post 12 made on Wednesday December 12, 2001 at 19:59
bootz
Founding Member
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December 2001
26
I think it will take an informative review of the Neo showcasing its advantages and shortcomings (ahem!)

When Philips sees that the lack of the feature hurt the sales of the product, that is when they will act.

How about, Remote Central?

:)

Post 13 made on Thursday December 13, 2001 at 15:13
BBrandeb49
Founding Member
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Posts:
December 2001
3
Here is the proof. Tomorrow, my wife is taking a personal day to do her Chrismas shopping for me. Tonight I was going to tell here exactally what I wanted (Proto Neo). I like all of you assumed that you could "update/archive" everything on the remote. After reading this, I will not ask her to buy it. IT is as simple as that. They put out a crappy product, and I am not buying. It is listed at $249 at BestBuy, and I have seen the TSU-2000 for $229 online. Any reason I shouldn't get the TSU-2000?
Post 14 made on Thursday December 13, 2001 at 16:55
Kevin_Sorenson
No Longer Registered
I originally purchased the NEO from BestBuy and was at first happy with it. I then found this forum and read what the TSU-2000 could do.

I returned the NEO after 31 days (no hastle) and ordered a 2000 and base charger. I've been very happy with the 2000 as uploading and using discrete codes has become very important.

There is no reason why you shouldn't get the 2000. Far fewer headaches and far more people to help you if you get stuck.
Post 15 made on Friday December 14, 2001 at 10:04
mbbaker
No Longer Registered
The problem of not having an upload feature for me is that the NEO database didn't have a lot of my devices even listed and the ones that did, didn't have all of the buttons I needed or the IR command in its database didn't work my device. So, after building my panels, I had to remember which buttons on which panel to "re-learn".

And then I wanted to change buttons, move things around for ease of use, download and have to remember which panels and which buttons to "re-learn".

Then added a device, built a panel, downloaded and had to remember which panels and which buttons to "re-learn".

I have a Pronto Pro, but wanted to use the NEO for the kids. I finally got tired of "re-learning" and returned the NEO.

FWIW, I really liked the form factor of the NEO for the kids and wifes use, but leaving out a major feature like upload does not make a simpler device. When I emailed Philips about this, their response was they will "NEVER" include the upload as it was not in the hardware. According to them it is not just a software issue.

But, like they say, never say never.

Mike B
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