Let's see if we can all convince URC to release one final, stable version of MX Designer and throw in a few simple enhancements. If that's not possible, maybe we can at least get them to open source the software. Greg has graciously acted as our liason in the past, but maybe if we all act together we can get URC to respond this time.
If nobody has a better idea, I think all MX-1000 owners should send an e-mail to John Davis, the president of Universal Remote Control, Inc., at
[email protected]. Below is a copy of my letter to Mr. Davis. All of you are welcome to copy any part of it to include in your own letters. I think we should entitle our e-mails with the exact same words to show that we are acting in unison. My suggestion for the title is "Another Concerned MX-1000 Owner."
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Dear Mr. Davis,
About a year ago, I purchased Universal Remote Control, Inc.'s top-of-the-line remote, the Home Theater Master MX-1000. While the hardware is excellent, the newest version of the companion software--now more than a year old--leaves much to be desired. It contains numerous bugs and is literally unusable with many common operating systems and PC configurations. I myself am forced to use two computers to program my remote with MX Designer. Even though I was quite disappointed with the software, I decided to keep my MX-1000 because I fully believed that URC would promptly correct these problems and gradually enhance the remote's features. Your company's website does state the following:
"The MX-1000 remote control can't become obsolete - as technology advances, so does the remote control!"
"...In addition, we periodically update the MX-1000's Operating Program (software), which can be downloaded from our website, to your PC and into the remote control. This connection makes it possible to download new audio and video component codes as they become available from their respective manufacturers."
Now more than a year after MX Designer's release, I and other MX-1000 owners remain hopeful that URC will produce a new, stable, feature-enhanced version of the program. However, a year is a very long time to keep hope alive. We have taken a back seat and watched as your company brought the newer MX-500 to market and quickly responded to its problems. We have also watched vicariously as URC developed another new remote, the MX-700. Recently there have been serious concerns expressed at Remote Central's Home Theater Master forum that URC will make no further efforts to improve MX Designer--in effect, abandoning those customers who decided to take a chance on URC's top-of-the-line remote.
If this is indeed URC's stance, I hope that your MX-1000 user base--and the precariousness of their overall attitude towards your company--can convince you to reconsider. Releasing one final, stable version of MX Designer with slightly enhanced functionality would go a long way towards restoring the faith of your MX-1000 customers and demonstrating to everyone else just how dedicated URC is to all of its customers.
To see a list of suggestions from your customers on how to improve MX Designer, please click on the following link:
[Link: remotecentral.com]If, for some reason, URC is unable to do this, I think most MX-1000 owners would appreciate it if your company would at least "open source" the software, making it possible for others to correct its problems, enhance its functionality, and elevate the MX-1000 to "classic" status in the remote world where it certainly deserves to be.
Sincerely,
John Corkery
A concerned MX-1000 owner
