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

    British town drops 'narrow' pavements designed to stop romantic walks

    British town drops 'narrow' pavements designed to stop romantic walks
    An English town where romance was banned because it upset an 18th century wealthy spinster is finally planning to welcome cupid onto its streets....

    British town drops 'narrow' pavements designed to stop romantic walks

    Brain network behind superior reasoning skills identified

    Brain network behind superior reasoning skills identified
    Scientists have found mounting evidence that helps explain how humans have excelled in "relational reasoning" or superior reasoning....

    Brain network behind superior reasoning skills identified

    Top Holiday Gift Ideas for the Foodie in Your Life

    Top Holiday Gift Ideas for the Foodie in Your Life
    Whether you're shopping for your barbeque-loving father, wine-obsessed aunt, vegan-infatuated sister or the hostess with the mostest, you can’t go wrong with these great kitchen-themed gifts that last all-season long. Here are our top holiday gift suggestions for the foodie in your life:

    Top Holiday Gift Ideas for the Foodie in Your Life

    Want a better deal? Try monkey as your shopping partner

    Want a better deal? Try monkey as your shopping partner
    Monkeys are smarter than humans when it comes to shopping as they do not confuse the price tag of a good with its quality, an interesting study from...

    Want a better deal? Try monkey as your shopping partner

    Reading animal emotions key to their better welfare

    Reading animal emotions key to their better welfare
    Understanding how animals express emotions during mildly positive or negative situations could lead to their better welfare, researchers say....

    Reading animal emotions key to their better welfare

    Where Whisky And Whiskey Are Worlds Apart

    Where Whisky And Whiskey Are Worlds Apart
    There is a world of difference between what India, the world's largest whisky drinking nation, cheers with and what connoisseurs call the American 'whiskey' spelt with an 'e', for starters.

    Where Whisky And Whiskey Are Worlds Apart