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Intel challenges Apple to simplify

updated 05:05 pm EST, Thu March 9, 2006

Intel challenges Apple


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.


by MacNN Staff

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  1. rtamesis

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Jan 2000

    0
    03/09, 05:17pm | report spam | Reply |

    Won't work

    Voice-activated stuff have been around for years, yet they haven't become popular at all. What happens if you've got laryngiitis?

  1. grossph

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2004

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    03/09, 05:17pm | report spam | Reply |

    Not a step forward

    So can someone tell me how you change the channel or turn up the volume or do anything without disturbing the other people in the room....Voice activation featurea have been over blown for years....plus how do you keep someone who yells something to you from across the room from changing the channel...

  1. GORDYmac

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Dec 1999

    0
    03/09, 05:23pm | report spam | Reply |

    Been there...did that...

    Apple had voice-acticated control back in the early 90's.

    Whatever.

  1. eldarkus

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2004

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    03/09, 05:23pm | report spam | Reply |

    well...

    lets see if it works. I have used voice activated remotes before (the technology is certainly not new) and they really sucked bad!!!

    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.

  1. marcuscorder

    Joined:

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    03/09, 05:28pm | report spam | Reply | delete

    I agree

    Voice activation is little more than a gimmick because it's simply not practical. Apple's remote is about as simple as you can get and still have complete functionality. I still like my Keyspan, though...

  1. Benton

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Jan 2005

    0
    03/09, 05:28pm | report spam | Reply |

    Failed first try!

    Auditorium blamed for failed first demo! Practice, practice and come back, later. Talk into remote, my eye.

  1. eswinson

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2002

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    03/09, 05:33pm | report spam | Reply |

    one button

    how about one button.. a click wheel like the iPod

  1. beeble

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2004

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    03/09, 05:40pm | report spam | Reply |

    voice activated?

    Great a remote that either only works with an american accent that you have to repeat things to several times, or a remote that you have to program with your own voice and then can't be used by anyone else in your house.

    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.

  1. zhemgang@gmail.com

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2006

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    03/09, 05:43pm | report spam | Reply |

    Simple

    I don't want to talk to my computer and I don't want it to talk to me. I think Apple's hit it just about right.

  1. hayesk

    Professional Poster

    Joined: Sep 1999

    0
    03/09, 05:45pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: one button

    The iPod thing could work too, since it is essentially many buttons.

    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.

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