I don't think the URC line is "protected" as much as it's just distributed differently. The R5 and R7 seem to simply be more successful, due to their price points. If you look at the price points of the URC line, they are much higher. I also think the margins were lower for the URC products. When you try to put a $149 remote next to the $29 remotes in big box stores with low margins and mainstream customer segment - that's a tall order.

As far as creating PC programmable remotes, it was great for the MX-500, but now the MX-700/800/850 are a good bit less than before ($500 for an MX-700 back then, now $249). Anyone can just get one of those with native programming capabilities for $249. If you have a $149 URC remote and then need to spend $100 to make it PC programmable, that just doesn't make sense. I can understand why they don't want to put the resources into developing a new version of IRClone. I am very happy for the success they had, but I can understand their current position. There's just more risk to develop a new version.



Thank you,
Damon DG
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