Ok, I am a huge fan of the philips, but I just came accross this

[Link: the-gadgeteer.com]

and

[Link: home.att.net]

Its hardware/software add on for your Palm pilot or Palm III.

Very amazing, I like this alot, it appears to have all the features of the Pronto, but with the additional features of a regular Palm Pilot.

If any one has experince with this, please let me know Id love to hear your comments.

Jesse

Hi,
Just two comments....

1. The effective range of the palm pilot IR transmitter is severely limited and may not reliably control your components at normal viewing distances.

2. It does not appear to have the ability to program hardkeys for the remote (like the Pronto and the HK take control).

Clay W.

I considered this approach as well.

There are several versions of this.

One adds a powerful transmitter.
Another uses the UPGRADE version of the Palm II
because the added IR transmitter is stronger
than the built in one of the Palm III.

The problem with all these is that the Palm Pilot
really requires the use of the plastic Pen.
Using your finger is note great.

Since what ever you get will be dedicated why not
get what will work best. I think these units exclusively designed for the purpose of IR
remotes will be better. Like the Hard buttons
for for Volume, Channel and the docking
station that still allows the unit to work
etc. will make it more pleasurable to use in
practice.

IMHO, get the Pronto or the Take Control.

I was wrong about the Palm Pilot not allowing "Hard Buttons". In theory it has some hard buttons that could be used for Volumn, Channel etc.
I don't know if these packages actually do.

Assuming that the pilot II/III can work well as a remote (the add-on IR modules seem to make that true)...

Does anyone have experience with this and the OmniRemote software? If so, I have some questions.

1. Does this work with X10 commands; especially Dim/bright? Anyone come across remotes it doesn't work with?

2. Can you make a (soft) button do something other than send an IR command? For example;

Can a button switch you to another menu?
Can a button be set to display a text file
(such as a list of CDs ;-)

I'm thinking that the pilot is sooo programable, that it might make a good wall mounted touch keypad for controlling my audio system (provided I create a frame case for it, and install IR receivers/emitters). My idea would hide all the "unattractiveness", is lots cheaper than alternatives, and I could store hundreds of CD titles in it. My wife could call up the list, then punch in the number.