peripherals-misc
03/09/2006, 5:05pm, EST
Thursday, March 9th
Intel challenges Apple to simplify
Apple recently released its remote control that works with the company's Front Row software, and now Intel has challenged Apple to devise a remote with fewer buttons. Intel vice president Don MacDonald's gave his keynote on the digital home during the Intel Developer Conference, offering Apple some advice. Intel is developing a voice-activated remote control with no buttons for use with its Viiv home media center, according to Macworld UK. "We set the bar with no controls on a remote, we'd like to see someone else beat that," MacDonald quipped. The VP pointed out that Apple CEO Steve Jobs criticized companies for making complicated remote controls with too many buttons as he unveiled Apple's own remote, which now ships with Front Row.
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Whatever.
And also: when I want to turn up the volume, do I have to say "volume up" 20 times? If my wife is channel surfing, do I really want to hear her say "channel down" 40 times? That would get annoying.
You really lose speed benefits of the remote. Anyone ever enabled voice commands on the mac? Does anyone think they are faster than a keyboard?
And what about the learning curve? Think of all the commands you'll have to use, outside of the basic, channel, volume, mute commands.
Personally, I'd like to see a remote with an iPod like wheel interface. It is so incredibly easy and intuitive. That way you only need a handful of regular use buttons like play, stop, etc.
Voice activated sounds great but we're a long way from Star Trek.
The Apple remote buttons are essentially the iPod shuffle buttons (they look and feel exactly the same), with the addition of a menu button to activate/deactivate Front Row.
But what I'd really like is developer specs for Front Row, or for the Remote - it'd be handy in other apps that Front Row doesn't support.