In their demonstrations at the CEDIA EXPO in Indianapolis, Philips did show a working version of ProntoEdit utilizing the database. We will be able to use hard coded codes within ProntoEdit.

However, the new 2megabyte Pronto has a much more powerful feature. With the remote by itself, you can add an entire device with the default Philips artwork pre-arranged for you. They have automated the insertion of all of the device IR codes into all of the buttons in one swoop.

When programming with the PC and ProntoEdit, you will have to manually add each code to each button. So, PC programming will be considerably slower than remote standalone programming. The developer suggested that users will add devices in the remote (thereby adding all codes at once) then upload to ProntoEdit to make graphical changes.

The IR database from Universal also takes away a fair amount of free memory. Instead of the RC5000i's 1304kb, the new pronto will ship with 960kb of free memory.

By the way, they showed the color Pronto with a new interface. Although it is a 256 color screen the user will use a 216 color web-safe pallette in a screen of either exactly the same size or very close to it (240 x 220 were the developers words). So, Dale and Daniel are you ready for 216 color interfaces?

The Home Device and Macro bars have slightly different styling, and although there was some discussion about eventually opening up the entire screen to user edits, they have opted to delay that. I suggested that they at least offer a Home group only option (with a limit of 255 screens) and they said that that would be one way to do it. He did mention that there really wasn't any reason to limit to 255 screens currently.

The color ProntoPro (thats the working name) has improved styling, 4 hard buttons in a row at the bottom of the screen instead of 2. It also has a new charging base (a large molded cradle). At the show that was a passive mockup. The ProntoPro was a working prototype. I held it in my hands and was delighted!

The new Pronto default graphics are sexier than the old. They have opted for a very subtle use of color, with blue outlines and shadows. The contrast doesn't appear to be appreciably better or worse.

In their prototype interface, they showed vivid colors with a panel or two of channel logos. Really stunning! There was no mention of RF (I forgot to ask).

Hey Eric,

I was at the show but, I did not make it to the Philips booth. It sounds like Philips is listening to what some people want.

It would be very disappointing, if they were to spend so much time on how the new remotes look and to not add RF capability, at least as an option.

Thanks,



Greg Brown
Entertainment Technologies

They told me that a Dual RF/IR pronto is in the works should be about 8 months, 2 MB unit in November color unit 1st quarter 2001.

By the way I just commented on anther forum about a link I added on my site do to a tip from the Phillips product development guy (name withheld for his protection). It deals with the Dish Network, RF to IR conversion. It’s very simple. Check out
[Link: homeautomationnet.com] for details


Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

Eric,
The pronto guys told me they would never do an RF remote because it will cause brain cancer!!!!!!!!
They also were very offended by any suggestions that I had about the pronto.(rf,joystick for sat and tivo navigation,and everything else I could think of)
10 to 1 they miss the boat(like most BIG,BIG companies)

I was told the color ProntoPro would available January 2001 with be 8(!) meg, but they could not tell me how much of that would be used for general overhead vs. the .CCF.
They did have a couple of very nice looking full screen bitmaps just to show the general quality of the display. I bet I can find enough bitmaps to use up most of the new memory.
The new case is also a huge improvement-think Checker Cab vs. Jaguar, Roseanne vs. Elizabeth Hurley, etc. Between the new cosmetics and the color screen, this is really going to be a very good looking remote.

I was at the show and asked the development guy about RF. He seemed as though he was afraid that if they were to do that, they would move into a new category of remotes such as Lexicon and Crestron. I didn't quite understand that reasoning since they could probably make it for quite a bit less than those remotes. He said that if they made it RF, other manufacturers would target them. I'd say from a lot of other remotes that I saw at the show, they're already doing that. He also gave me a loose estimate of $1,000 for the ProntoPro, although I wouldn't be suprised to see it for less.

I talked to 2 different Philips people on 2 different days. The first said the ProntoPro would RF ONLY. The second said he was positive it would be both IR & RF simultaneously.

I am absolutely sure of what I was told, that they do have a IR/RF model in the works. I am an engineer and have worked in development, this discussion line is what lead into the dish network mod conversation. The guy was the regional sales manager for Phillips Pro A/V. I was told they are targeting $795 for the pro.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

The new Pronto 2000 has 960kb of free memory. A typical CCF has the larger part of the memory used for bitmaps. Currently 2 bits are required per pixel - the color Pronto will require 8 bits. Thus the current 960kb B&W is roughly equivalent to 3.5 Mb of color. Even if the current 1 Mb for OS/app/IR database extended to 2 Mb in the color version, this leaves around 2 Mb for more CCF memory and/or more application.

The real question is what type of RF? If people are looking for an RF solution that will talk directly to RF only devices, I wouldn't expect this anytime soon, if at all, merely because there are no standards between dish providers and it is therefore a constantly moving target. If we're looking for a proprietary RF solution that will deliver commands that can be stripped off the RF carrier and converted back to IR at a base unit of some sort, I would hope to see this sometime in 2001. The question is whether or not some "state" management would also be useful in such a base unit to create an if/then/else environment for equipment that only has power toggles available.

As for communication directly with RF equipment, don't ever expect it... there's no standard, so you'd need to spend a lot of time getting it to work correctly with each and every RF device out there or that ever comes out. It seems they're still pushing for RF to a basestation. When speaking with Philips today, I again emphasized the need for this... and USB... and a joystick. :-)

Four buttons in a row at the bottom?

So that will be useful for....? Oh, maybe fastext in the UK. Thats about it.

How difficult is it to implement a simple joystick with press to select? Everything is menu driven these days - TiVos, DVD players, Digital STBs, TV menus.

The simple addition of a joystick would have made me seriously consider the ProntoPro - colour I could care less about, but its a nice gimmick.

I think the RF market was directed at the high end DSS receivers, At least that was what the rep was dicussing with me. These guys have these units and understand our frustrations.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

On the four buttons in a row thing...

In my discussion with the developer leading the ProntoPro team he indicated that they may permanently program the extreme left and the extreme right buttons for scrolling. So we may end up with 2 programmable hard buttons and 2 hard scroll arrows.

I think before they dedicate the two buttons to scrolling, if they do, they need to look at the community of users they've got. The High-end CCF's I've seen don't allow scrolling to begin with.