Not me.

Way back when the MX-1000 first came out, myself and two or three other individuals were working on reverse engineering the MXOP file format. We got quite a ways into it (was able to come up with a rough discrete code translator from Pronto to MX-OP), but version 2.25 came out and our efforts were rendered useless because of the file format change. The data I have (somewhere around here) is still applicable I'm sure, but without the protocols to retreive and store the macros, etc, our efforts are certainly limited to the most basic functions.

There are individuals who probably could find time, not necessarily myself anymore, who would be willing to work on it.

IMHO, opening the source code to the actual operating system probably won't happen due to it's relative proprietary nature. There are probably aspects of the OS code that are re-used in many of their products.

I think a decent compromise would be for them to make the final OS changes, and release the format and protocols for manipulating the IR codes, macros, etc. This would allow independent developers to improve MX designer to encompass some of the user interface features, perhaps even mimicking some of the reported MX-700 designer features.

Jason

Dear MX-1000 victims:

FYI, my letter was a little more candid about my URC experience and assessment, but I appended John's thoughtful and polite community letter.

= Joe =

Dear Mr. Davis,

I have written URC a variety of times over the past years to no avail.
My mx-1000 has been collecting dust indefinitely since your software for
it is so buggy. As a software developer, I am extremely disappointed in
the quality of the software (though the hardware seemed a good value
when initially released). Frankly, your software is so poor, and the
support so unforthcoming, that as far as I'm concerned, URC defrauded me
with an incomplete and buggy product. If the mx-1000 software had
worked well and reliably, I would have been delighted and purchased one
or two additional remotes. Instead, I'm writing you requesting you open
source the software (since I personally believe URC is internally
incapable of developing professional quality application software based
on your track record and unresponsiveness). I'm not holding my breath.

If you do choose to take action, please do so immediately as time is
depreciating the value of the MX-1000 rapidly (even to the point where
I'm not sure open sourcing the software will be timely at this point).
You have wasted too much time already. Make an executive decision to
support or bail, and at least have the courtesy to come clean to the
community with your final decision. (IOW, don't string us along with
additional false promises.) I look forward to your public response, and
good luck with URC.

Sincerely,

= Joseph Grace =

P.s., the following is the community letter promoting some sliver of a
hope for the software support (from you) to complete the MX-1000
product.

-=-

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

I just received one of the emails alerting me to this thread, and I have already sent my email to URC. Thanks to whoever searched out the email addresses of MX-1000 owners. This letter is a great idea, let's just hope it has some effect.

-Mark

No Problem Hobbes! Though John Corkery deserves most of the praise.

John has done so much hard work already towards the MX-1000 cause, that I thought everyone interested in the MX-1000 should know about it. Searching out the emails seemed like a good way to rally the troops, as it were. Took a while though!

Now lets just hope that it has some sort of effect (positive or negative). There were about 112 email address's found (by me) and John added some more to that number, so lets hope that some of them send an email to the director as well!

Yes, thank you very much for your hard work, Harvey (hord)! Let's keep our fingers crossed...

A LITTLE HUMOR brought to you by HTM

The banner at the top of my session linked to HTM and their spring special, so I jumped over to see if the MX-1000 is selling on firesale for $100 yet. Instead, the spring sale has the MX-1000 for $289 PLUS (woo-hoo) purchase an SL-9000 for 1/2 price. Wow, what a deal!

Buy a fully programmable remote whose software is supposed to allow you to clone functionality effortlessly, and then (instead of buying additional MX-1000's) buy an additional half-baked remote, the SL-9000.

Am I the only one who feels HTM is unclear on the concept of their own remotes? If they're still selling an officially unsupported product (MX-1000) for full price $289, can't they at least let purchasers buy an additional MX-1000 for 1/2 price (not some SL-9000)?

Yes, my humor is rather dry, but I do find the HTM spring sale nonsense amusing.

= Joe =

Let's keep this on-topic, please. This thread is designed to help in our quest for an update to MX Designer software.

Thank you.

... Greg

This message was edited by GregoriusM on 04/20/02 20:53.19.

Hey guys, Did anyone get an answer at all from HTM?

I just sent my email this morning and I think they really should reply to John or to this thread regarding this matter. -Ken


Dear Mr. Davis,

I am a big fan of your company's remote control products. In the last two years I have purchased three MX-1000's and I plan to purchase the MX-700 as soon as it it released.
Let me say that I have been very satisfied with the MX-1000 hardware and for the most part with the software.

However, recently I read with interest on RemoteCentral's Home Theater Master forum, the thread by John Corkery which deals with a grass roots campaign to get your firm to provide a final undated MXDesigner software version. As a regular forum reader and contributor at RemoteCentral, I am somewhat confused as to what the future status of the MX-1000 software may be. While some folks have alluded "yes" there will be one final update, others have said "no way". I, and many other would like to know the correct answer!

Mr. Davis, would you or someone from your company please clarify for us, once and for all, if there are any further plans for the development of the MX-1000 or MXDesigner software?

Sincerely,
Ken Heard

Well I for one have still not received a reply as yet. I have this feeling that I never will! A BIG Dissapointment from a Customer service point of view!

I have had another idea to get action though! We all need to dress up and pretend to be MX-500 remotes and be sent back to URC (a common occurance) with a label stuck to us refering to a "thumpad" problem. Then once we are inside the complex we mass together and hold the MX-500 returns department hostage (using non-violent nerf weapons) until our MX-1000 demands are sorted out!!!

With their precious MX-500 under seige I think we would see some very fast progress on the MX-1000 Software! If nothing else we can see for ourselves just how Carefully/Efficently/Lovingly URC looks after their MX-500 Customers (Add Jealous comments here....)

Any other suggestions?

As expected, I have yet to receive a response as well. What can we do to get a response? I resent my email today and was considering sending it every day until we get a response (from many addresses, so they can't just filter me out). I have also been sending all emails to a number of urcmx addresses (not just My Davis).

Unless someone gets a response, my next step is to compile all the reasons to NOT buy a remote from URC, and daily bring it to the top of this forum. I'm definitely not interested in starting a "smear campaign"... but I am very interested in letting potential buyers know what kind of a company they are dealing with. Yeah, they are good for some support issues (when it strictly relates to hardware)... but they fall WAY short in terms of supporting software, updating software, and openly and honestly communicating with their customers.

Can you tell I've had a bad day?

sigh

-- robm

P.S. hord: roflol... it just might work!

This message was edited by robm on 04/23/02 00:39.45.

A united effort to get a final software update is productive.

Bombarding the company with letters, including sending them to email addresses of people who have nothing to do with the decision-making, and having those emails come from spurious addresses, is highly counter-productive and is certainly not in the spirit of "MX-1000 owners unite!". It's just silly.

... Greg

Greg,

You're right. URC has definitely brought out the worst in me. To date, none of the sensible and reasonable efforts have produced ANY response from URC.

Please tell us how we can get a simple official response from URC.

-- robm

This message was edited by robm on 04/23/02 15:11.53.

The writing campaign, in my mind, is a good idea.

I can't force an official response from URC, however, approaching the company sensibly and professionally stands the best chance of soliciting that response.

I sent my letter, I am still optomistic about getting a response.

Mark