Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
Interesting

How Many Remotes Do You Have? New Single Touch-Screen Device Controls TV With Just A Tap

The Canadian Press, 18 Feb, 2015 11:21 AM
    SAN FRANCISCO — How many remotes does it take to watch television, stream Netflix or record your favourite show on DVR?
     
    The Ray Super Remote wants to declutter your coffee table and become the central nervous system of all of your home entertainment systems.
     
    The touch-screen device, released Tuesday, is designed to control TVs, cable boxes, DVRs, video game consoles and Internet streaming players such as Roku and Apple TV. What's more, it runs on software that learns viewers' preferences so it can list programs suited to personal interests.
     
    "As we looked at ways to reimagine TV, it seemed like the remote control needed the most help," says David Skokna, CEO of New York-based Ray Enterprises. "We think we have a big opportunity to do something magical."
     
    Priced at $199, the remote won't be released until May or June, but pre-orders are being accepted online at http://www.ray.co . It requires a Wi-Fi system and pay-TV boxes to work properly.
     
    This isn't the first attempt to build a smarter remote control. Logitech and a few other electronics companies have been making universal remote controls for years. More recently, a variety of mobile apps have been offering ways to turn smartphones and tablets into multipurpose remote controls.
     
    After nearly three years developing his device, Skokna is counting on the Ray remote's versatility and intelligence to stand out from the other options on the market.
     
    The Ray remote controls more than 200,000 devices and can run applications that will enable it to control other Internet-connected home appliances, such as Google's Nest thermostat. The search and recommendation features are set up to eliminate the need to spend a lot of time looking for content. Users can tell the remote what kinds of programming interests them, such as soccer or comedy, so shows fitting those categories are automatically highlighted on the nearly 5-inch screen.
     
    The remote's battery lasts for about 10 days, and can be easily recharged in a power station that doubles as a holding tray.
     
    The biggest question facing the Ray remote may be this: How many people are so frustrated with juggling multiple remote controls that they will be willing to spend $199 on another device?

    MORE Interesting ARTICLES

    Hilary Swank Co-hosts Star-studded Thanksgiving TV Special To Help Rescue Dogs Find Homes

    Hilary Swank Co-hosts Star-studded Thanksgiving TV Special To Help Rescue Dogs Find Homes
    LOS ANGELES — Oscar winner Hilary Swank is unleashing some serious star power to help rescue dogs get adopted by families who want to make a difference on Thanksgiving — or those who just want to watch terriers instead of touchdowns on TV.

    Hilary Swank Co-hosts Star-studded Thanksgiving TV Special To Help Rescue Dogs Find Homes

    Control genes with your thoughts

    Control genes with your thoughts
    Inspired by a brain game, researchers have developed a novel gene regulation method that enables thought-specific brain waves to control the process....

    Control genes with your thoughts

    Even doctors struggle to identify obesity

    Even doctors struggle to identify obesity
    Most people, including health care professionals, are unable to identify healthy weight, over-weight or obese people just by looking at them, says a research....

    Even doctors struggle to identify obesity

    No Need To Rush Beet Harvest; Just Pull Them As Needed From The Ground

    No Need To Rush Beet Harvest; Just Pull Them As Needed From The Ground
    Red orbs are rising out of the soil in my garden, demanding to be pulled. I will pull them, but not all at once. Beets can remain in place for weeks — even months — to come if leaves or straw are thrown over them to insulate them against frigid temperatures.

    No Need To Rush Beet Harvest; Just Pull Them As Needed From The Ground

    World's first drone-filmed porn video goes viral

    World's first drone-filmed porn video goes viral
    The world's first drone-filmed pornographic video has gone viral on social media even though its creators say that it was more of an art project....

    World's first drone-filmed porn video goes viral

    How solitary cats find mates

    How solitary cats find mates
    Cats rely less on smell to hunt than dogs but they have genes related to an alternate form of smell that help them find mates, an analysis of the cat genome reveals....

    How solitary cats find mates