In your review, you say: "Some templates are designed with specific functions in mind, while others are simply pages of customizable blank buttons."

I have a few questions about that, if you have a minute.

1. You mention, using VCR as an example, that Pronto provides ten templates per device. Are these all pre-defined based on what device it is, or do you have some choice over which templates are assigned to those ten slots?

2. Is there a variety of configurations for the template pages that are just blank buttons, and if so, how many configurations?

3. Do the devices have to be assigned a pre-set device category (VCR, CD, etc.) or can you define devices that don't fit standard categories? (And give them their own label?)

In case my questions don't make any sense, what I'm trying to get at is how easy it is to program for unusual devices. I have a TV program guide called "StarSight" that has its own proprietary remote, and I'd like to know whether the Pronto is flexible enough to accomodate such devices.

Also, I would like to set up a "device" that is actually a collection of the buttons I use most from several different components.

1) The VCR component has 10 templates, but other devices may have more or less. The placement of buttons and order of templates is based on the device - for instance, when you select the VCR template tape controls are first, tuner second, menu third etc, while for the TV device the tuner is first, menu second, PIP third, etc.

2) Blank templates come with various configurations, some with large buttons, small buttons, etc. Some templates have functions like tracking up/down that could be used for other functions. The Preamp device has the widest range of unique templates, but let me say there's more than enough blank buttons in more than enough configurations to do whatever you want!

3) Device configurations are strictly for button types/placement. On our main page under features it mentions all built-in devices, which seems to cover almost every product out there. If you have something else you can simply modify the closest matching template with your own names, buttons, labels, whatever.

This is, so far, the most configurable remote I've ever seen. You can do almost anything, and Philips has provided a wide variety of templates that should meet any of your needs... As for a device with a collection of most used buttons, this is possible though you'll have to remember that there's only one transport control, one tuner control and one menu control per device. Everything else could be built up of blank buttons. But really, it's not hard to switch between devices.

Daniel, if it's possible, I think it would be helpful to put up all the templates and group them by device for everyone to see them. After all, a picture (or several templates) are worth a thousand words. :)

I'm afraid that isn't practical - there's **tons** of templates, and many of them have no button labels. Additionally, the only way to capture them would be to physically scan the remote since they aren't duplicated anywhere in the manual.

This message hit on a lot of things I've been wondering about, namely:

"1) The VCR component has 10 templates, but other devices may have more or less. The placement of buttons and order of templates is based on the device - for instance, when you select the VCR template tape controls are first, tuner second, menu third etc, while for the TV device the tuner is first, menu second, PIP third, etc."

a)You cannot rearrange this order then? (ie.
for some devices it would be great to take a
"blank page" and fill it with all the most used
buttons, including making up your own transport
controls (labelling with word if need be), etc

b)Are there any devices that the first page is
a blank button page? (if you cannot arrange the
button pages that is).

"3) Device configurations are strictly for button types/placement. On our main page under features it mentions all built-in devices, which seems to cover almost every product out there. If you have something else you can simply modify the closest matching template with your own names, buttons, labels, whatever"

.. But are you saying I cant rename the Device
name? ie. Lets say I have two VCRs, can I use
two sets of VCR templates, but call 1 of them 'VCR A' and 'VCR B'? Or am I forced to have two
templaces called VCR (or perhaps the remote automatically appends 1 or 2 after it)

I agree this sounds like a great remote, but there always seems to be a few great features
left out :-( Still sounds like a winner, though.

Andy K.

a) The order of the templates is set, so you can't move template #6 to position #2. You can, however, remove unused templates.

b) No, the first template always has some specific function (usually transport or tuner). However, there's no reason why you can't re-label buttons, remove ones you don't want, etc. Also, it's not exactly hard to scroll to another template.

c) You can relabel device names. You can change VCR1 and VCR2 (it numbers multiple identical devices automatically) to "VHS VCR" and "SVHS VCR".

My understanding of the Philips web site, is that the RS-232 interface will allow for complete control in the design of custom templates, much like the Lexicon, but at a more user friendly price!

Yes - I can see this as being the case. However, today on the market there's no cables to connect it with (it uses a custom plug on the Pronto end) never mind software. This will be for future expansion, not something you'll be able to use right away, or even 6 months time.

I'm sure that we could help with images of the templates, if you'd like. You're right, there are a lot, so it might take a little while to find the time to do it (we have day jobs, after all :-)

Let's just say someone associated with the project has a couple of StarSight receivers at home (Magnavox CB-1500 and Sony SLV-980HF). Rest assured all the buttons you will need are already on the TV template...

And the same person has a couple of 'unusual' A/V devices, and Pronto takes them all in its stride. Since there's a large variety of templates, and everything can be re-labeled (including static labels and device names) I doubt you'll have a problem accomodating almost everything. Whether your family will be able to use it once you've got _everything_ on there is a different matter :-)

Yes, you can mix IR codes from different devices on a page, Pronto just captures it, associates it with the button, and plays it back when you press the button. I've a 'Power' device with all the power buttons for my equipment on it, for example.

The engineers on this project did a *very* good job on this one. I very much doubt you'll be disappointed.

You wouldn't need to do all the templates... Just the ones that are "standard" on the remote, and you wouldn't have to include the ones that are unlabeled. I also imagine that some templates are the same for different devices, so you could show the template once, and below it have a list of the devices (and the page number that that template for that device is)... Just for those of us that haven't been able to get out grubby hands on one to get a feel for it.

"" a) The order of the templates is set, so you can't move template #6 to position #2. You can, however, remove unused templates. ""

so if you wanted template #6 to be the second page that you scrolled to, could you just delete pages 2-5? or when you scrolled would it show blanks for 2-5 until you got to page 6?

sirduke

Let me explain: When you're programming, you can see all available templates. Say there's ten available.

Say once you're done you've got buttons used on 1,3,6,9 and 10. When you actually go to use the device normally, they'll show up as pages 1,2,3,4 and 5 - there's no blanks shown.

ok, i think i understand, thanks for the explanation

sirduke