ATI, the popular maker of computer video cards, has today announced a new stand-alone product for controlling computers from afar, the Remote Wonder. This is essentially the same remote as comes with their All In Wonder 8500DV and All in Wonder 7500 multimedia cards, but enhanced to work with any hardware or software. I've already received the hardware to review, but must wait until they can provide software that's closer in functionality to the final release. The Remote Wonder is essentially an RF remote control along with a small USB plug-in receiver. The original press release follows.

Take Control of Your Computer with ATI's REMOTE WONDER™

New remote control enables multimedia computer access from anywhere in your room, house, stage or classroom

Monday April 15, 2002

MARKHAM, Ontario - ATI Technologies Inc. (TSE:ATY, NASDAQ:ATYT) today announced the new REMOTE WONDER™. Available through ATI's website (www.ati.com) for (US) $49.99, the radio-frequency (RF) remote control provides access to all the multimedia functions of the ATI RADEON™ series graphics cards and other Microsoft Windows-based computer programs.

Designed for full multimedia control, the wireless REMOTE WONDER works through walls enabling users to maintain computer access while roaming through their house, stage, boardroom or classroom eliminating the need to point the remote directly at the receiver. REMOTE WONDER creates a home entertainment environment by providing wireless access to ATI's popular Multimedia Center features enabled on RADEON-based video cards.

"Our research has shown that traditional infrared remote control devices don't offer the freedom and truly mobile functionality offered by RF-based remote controls," said Andrew Morrison, Product Manager, Digital Multimedia Products, ATI Technologies Inc. "Customers have been demanding a remote control to complement our ATI RADEON series graphics cards and we've delivered with REMOTE WONDER. In addition, the new wireless RF remote control integrates with the incredibly popular ALL-IN-WONDER® features to create a solution that meets consumers' entertainment, presentation, and web needs."

With full built-in mouse control and programmable macro buttons, REMOTE WONDER provides added entertainment value to RADEON-based video card with the wireless freedom to easily play a variety of media via ATI's DVD, CD and VCD players. ALL-IN-WONDER users get full control of the TV features when using REMOTE WONDER for a truly unique entertainment experience. The versatile REMOTE WONDER works with any PC-based computer to access Windows-based multimedia applications.

For more information visit http://www.ati.com.

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StreamZap's new PC Remote
In related news, StreamZap recently launched a PC remote control of their own - called the PC Remote. Like the Remote Wonder, the PC Remote utilizes a USB plug-in to receive signals from the remote. But unlike the ATI product it uses the infrared standard. A future software upgrade promises compatibility with any universal remote.

Other features include 33 keys with macros, 40 foot IR range, easy software setup, plus current support for Winamp, Microsoft Media Player, RealPlayer, RealJukebox, Microsoft PowerPoint, MusicMatch Jukebox, QuickTime, Sonique, Cyberlink PowerDVD, InterVideo WinDVD, ATI DVD Player, Ravisent CineMaster DVD, Mediamatics DVD Express, Creative PC-DVD Encore, Lotus Freelance, FreeAmp, RealMagic DVD, SonicFoundry Siren Jukebox, Hauppage WinTV & WinTV-Radio, Xing DVD Player... with more programs added regularly.

For more information, visit http://www.streamzap.com.

CardonWare continues to expand UltraMote product lineup
UltraMote is a software package designed to add universal remote control capabilities on PDAs, pocket-sized computers. Currently supported are the Compaq iPAQ H3600, H3700 and H3800 series of PDAs, along with the UltraMote Extender - an IR booster designed for those same models. CardonWare has recently announced that they are also now supporting the HP Jornada 56x series. The original press release follows, while previous releases can be read here and here.

UltraMote UNIVERSAL REMOTE SOFTWARE FOR POCKET PCS NOW AVAILABLE FOR StrongArm-Based HP JORNADA 56x SERIES

CardonWare Makes Skin Templates Available for User Customization

April 10, 2002 - CardonWare's award-winning UltraMote universal remote software for Pocket PCs now is available for the HP Jornada 56x series, one of the leading Pocket PC platforms. UltraMote software, which supports most brands of TVs, VCRs, DVD players and other equipment, combines remote functions into a single, user-definable program on the Pocket PC. UltraMote provides wide compatibility and superior range through its patent-pending signal processing algorithms enabled by the StrongArm processor in the Jornada.

UltraMote software lets users set up multiple macros to combine a series of commands for a function, such as "watch DVD." Users also can customize screens with their own graphics. Up to 10 device screens can be programmed for each of up to 10 different locations and/or users.

With UltraMote, users can take advantage of the Jornada's 65,000 onscreen colors and rich graphic capability to create unique buttons and screens for using any PC graphics program and file, including original artwork, photographs or clip art. Templates for customizable screens for the Jornada and the Compaq iPAQ 36xx and 38xx Pocket PCs are available now at the UltraMote website, along with instructions for using the Paintshop Pro templates to quickly create custom device screens. To view, go to http://www.ultramote.com/skins.php.

UltraMote remote control software is available at the UltraMote website, www.ultramote.com. Pricing is $20 U.S. There is a free 14-day trial period available for the software, so users can ensure compatibility with their equipment.

For more information visit http://www.ultramote.com.

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