Monday, March 6, 2006
DesignTechnica: A Remote Control that Tells the Future?
Posted by Jason Dunn in "ARTICLE" @ 03:00 PM
"While not officially positioned as a "living room PC," the new Mac Mini is Apple's first intentional foray into this space. The new platform features a variety of entertainment-specific goodies, including a six-button remote, Apple's Front Row/Bonjour media software package (beefed up to support shared music, photos, and video), a dedicated TV output, a built-in WiFi access point, four USB ports, and S/PDIF audio output. Just to make sure you don't confuse this with a home office PC, Apple doesn't include a keyboard or a mouse - just a remote control."
An interesting opinion piece worth reading - the author feels that Apple's approach to creating their remote control is a window to the future of how Apple will make their play into the living room. I for one value simplicity a great deal, and share his frustration at how complex most consumer electronics devices are. I bought a Harmony Remote to "simplify" my TV room experience, and I still haven't finished configuring it - I gave it a go once a few months ago, then the remote went defective on me, and when they sent me a replacement I let it sit on the shelf. There are functions on my Pioneer digital amp that I still can't figure out, and woe is me, I'm the one among all my friends and family who's the techie, so I don't even know anyone that I can turn to for help.
I disagree with one part of this article though - I find that the Windows Media Center remote is actually quite simple and elegant compared to the remotes I have for my TV, DVD player, etc. It has probably half the buttons, and everything is clearly labeled and easy to use. People also forget that by Apple not having to integrate PVR functionality, buttons on the MCE remote such as Record, Guide, channel up/down, Live TV, and the entire number pad can be dropped. It's not a fair comparison, and when Apple does take the plunge into PVR land, you can bet this is not the remote control that will lead the charge. They'll release a new one with a few more buttons, and everyone in the media will applaud and conveniently forget they wrote stories such as this one.
An interesting opinion piece worth reading - the author feels that Apple's approach to creating their remote control is a window to the future of how Apple will make their play into the living room. I for one value simplicity a great deal, and share his frustration at how complex most consumer electronics devices are. I bought a Harmony Remote to "simplify" my TV room experience, and I still haven't finished configuring it - I gave it a go once a few months ago, then the remote went defective on me, and when they sent me a replacement I let it sit on the shelf. There are functions on my Pioneer digital amp that I still can't figure out, and woe is me, I'm the one among all my friends and family who's the techie, so I don't even know anyone that I can turn to for help.
I disagree with one part of this article though - I find that the Windows Media Center remote is actually quite simple and elegant compared to the remotes I have for my TV, DVD player, etc. It has probably half the buttons, and everything is clearly labeled and easy to use. People also forget that by Apple not having to integrate PVR functionality, buttons on the MCE remote such as Record, Guide, channel up/down, Live TV, and the entire number pad can be dropped. It's not a fair comparison, and when Apple does take the plunge into PVR land, you can bet this is not the remote control that will lead the charge. They'll release a new one with a few more buttons, and everyone in the media will applaud and conveniently forget they wrote stories such as this one.
