Apple Universal Remote?

[MacRumors]

Appleinsider points to a recent Apple patent which describes a "wireless touch-screen remote control concept that would automatically discover and communicate with existing and future consumer electronics appliances as well as the personal computer"

The patent was filed in April 2002 and describes a device which "discovers" potential devices to be controlled by the remote. Each device (such as a DVD player or iTunes app) need only be discovered once. A special XML interface would provide the remote with the interface controls to each individual device. Such technology would allow the remote to be truly "universal" without needing any prior knowledge of the device to be controlled.

Such a system would require standardization amongst electronics manufacturers to incorporate this "discoverable" remote control system to become useful.

 

[qzak]

sounds cool. theres gotta be something more though, Apple wouldn't just release a remote control and thats it ?

 

[Roy Hobbs]

I would buy this in a heart beat!!!!

 

[BornAgainMac]

I hope next will be the Media Center Mac, two button mouse (at least), and Tablet Book Mini, downloadable HD movies, video iPod.

 

[mintlivedotcom]

It shall control our purchasing additional Apple products.

 

[Sharewaredemon]

A truly universal remote would be so great.


I'd buy something like that.

 

[alexeismertin]

doesn't matter what it is..

.. If its got an Apple logo on it the brainwashed will buy it

 

[HiRez]

Finally! Is this the next step for "Bonjour", to move beyond the PC? I wonder what OS this remote is going to be running on, to be rendering custom UI controls in real-time. Maybe Java? Interesting that Java (Micro) was the platform that was supposed to provide this kind of universal appliance communication technology, but it never really happened as envisioned. Perhaps Apple can finally make it work.

 

[G-Funk]

I hope that is would be a passage way to new an innovative technology from apple. as it always gave us 😎

 

[ibjoshua]

If they could get manufacturers on board then we would eventually be able to control these devices with any Bluetooth enabled computer, not just this foreseen remote.

i_b_joshua

 

[fratrow]

Now... does this sound like the return of Woz?... Remember CL9? Woz's universal remote control?

Hmmm...

 

[Atavusthe3rd]

.. If its got an Apple logo on it the brainwashed will buy it

God, I love that logo... 🙄

 

[m-dogg]

I like this concept, but what motivation would other companies have to change how their remotes currently work?

 

[michaelrjohnson]

Finally! Is this the next step for "Bonjour", to move beyond the PC? I wonder what OS this remote is going to be running on, to be rendering custom UI controls in real-time. Maybe Java? Interesting that Java (Micro) was the platform that was supposed to provide this kind of universal appliance communication technology, but it never really happened as envisioned. Perhaps Apple can finally make it work.

I agree. Apple invented Bonjour to make things like this possible, hopefully this is an actual in-progress product, rather than a "preventative" patent.

 

[Porchland]

iTunes movie store?

If there's an iTunes movie store in development -- and, come on, there is -- Apple is going to have to figure out a way to get it on your TV. When the rumors surfaced several months ago that Apple was going to buy Tivo, I thought (if true) it was part of Apple's strategy to get content on your TV.

Is this the remote for Apple's own PVR/downloaded movie player?

 

[kaada]

What's next...?

What about concentrating on making computers for a while... All I want is a kick ass portable... 🙁

 

[fratrow]

You'll have one... in the spring of 2007...

😉

What about concentrating on making computers for a while... All I want is a kick ass portable... 🙁

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

In order to automate discovery and the transfer of user interface controls from third party appliances to the remote, the designer, Alberto Vidal of Los Gatos, Calif., called for a combination of Bluetooth wireless technology, markup languages like XML, and protocols such as HTTP. In one example provided by the filing, interface controls would be delivered from the appliances to the remote via XML tags.

How many of you have Bluetooth enabled TVs, VCRs, HiFis, etc.?

This is a truly remarkable and fantastic concept, and would work with your Mac, but until Bluetooth (or another short range networking protocol using radio) has become some kind of de facto standard I don't see a widespread application for it (remember almost all remote controls today use IR, and IrDA is not suited for this kind of scheme).

But sometime, in the near future, it would be nice to replace all the remotes with one (that doesn't, like the current universal remotes, have "hundreds" of buttons) which also could control iTunes. 🙂

 

[xli_ne]

i doubt this will ever see the light of day anytime soon.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

You'll have one... in the spring of 2007...

😉

The portables are, probably, the first ones to make the switch (along with the mini and perhaps eMac) so that might be spring 2006... 😉

 

[kaada]

The portables are, probably, the first ones to make the switch (along with the mini and perhaps eMac) so that might be spring 2006... 😉

Yeah... but will it be a high-end portable (PB) or an iBook..? Either way it will probably be controllable by an eventual Apple Remote.. 😛

 

[kwajo.com]

maybe this will come along with a new airport express with remote control capability. or maybe they'll kick it up and get it to stream video somehow (though on current 8002.11g I see that being difficult)

 

[cubist]

There's the answer to the design patent, which everyone was so eager to call a tablet. Tablets, phooey.

 

[JGowan]

What about concentrating on making computers for a while... All I want is a kick ass portable... 🙁

I bought the first 17" PB... it's still Kick-Ass. If you need a computer, go buy one. They're really good.

Right now, Apple KNOWS that with the exposed info about their INTEL deal they need some stuff to keep generating the $$$ until the Macintels come out in Mid-2006. How about letting them?

 

[michaelrjohnson]

There's the answer to the design patent, which everyone was so eager to call a tablet. Tablets, phooey.

So you're thinking that what MR reported as a patent for a tablet computer, was just a patent for this remote? It was applied for as "Electronic device" not "Tablet Computer"...

Interesting. I suppose you may be right!