Has anyone tried to create an empeg specific remote overlay? I was thinking it might be possible to do this with creating the overlay in a graphics program. Then printing on sticky back paper. It would probably need a coating over it to avoid wearing away. It also may need a slight lift off the main surface to account for the button thickness. I have access to a color laser printer and a tektronics wax printer. Any suggestions?

Alex Lear

I'd thought about doing this as well. But a paper sticker would just get all cruddy and worn-out, especially on the buttons. You could cut out holes where the buttons are, but that presents a set of its own problems. It's easier just to memorize the functions.

And, if I remember correctly, the guys@empeg said they're working on getting their own custom remote made.

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Tony Fabris

Yes, we're working on the custom remote; we should have some samples by the end of the month (we will post pictures :) ) but I'm not sure what the actual production lead time will be.

Hugo

Is it still going to be the existing Kenwood remote with new labels or are you going for something different all-together? I would love to see an empeg-unique remote! But I'd also like the other option too.

DiGNAN
13653

It's empeg-unique, though the same size and form factor as the Kenwood. The plastic on our current sample is silver, unlike the black on the kenwood.

Hugo

It's empeg-unique, though the same size and form factor as the Kenwood. The plastic on our current sample is silver, unlike the black on the kenwood.

I gotta say it: You guys RULE!

DiGNAN
13653

What does same form-factor mean? Does that mean the same button layout in terms of number and function?

DiGNAN
13653

What does same form-factor mean?

Same size and shape.

Buttons would be approximately the same size, shape, and position, but the actual electronic functions of the buttons could be completely rearranged to Empeg's whims. The new remote would also use a completely different set of IR codes (although the Kenwood ones would be still work with the players for backwards compatibility).

And, of course, everything would be labeled properly.

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Tony Fabris

If it's not too late: can you add some "mark" to the body of the remote so that you can actually feel (without having to look) if you hold it correctly, with the IR LED facing away from you, or with the LED facing towards you? This should probably have gone to the Wish List forum, but it just fitted in this thread here....

Daniel


---
"My software never has bugs. It just develops random features."

If it's not too late: can you add some "mark" to the body of the remote so that you can actually feel (without having to look) if you hold it correctly, with the IR LED facing away from you, or with the LED facing towards you?

This has been discussed before. If I think about it, I can feel for the battery hatch, but often I don't do that and end up pressing 1 and 4 instead of the volume up/down buttons. That's how I know I've got it upside down: Nothing happens when I press the buttons. Others use a piece of tape or velcro placed asymmetrically on the bottom of the remote.

You're right, though, that if it's possible to do it, that would be a nice feature. I'm not sure it would be possible or not since they're pretty much contracting the work on the remotes from someone else (as I understand it).

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Tony Fabris

Why not just replace the one that ships with the Empeg with this one?

And Doug thought thermal photos of the Empeg were geeky?

George

Or, even better still...

http://www.marantz.com/db/?MIval=h_product_full&prod_id=414

Funny you should mention the RC2000. Just got a Marantz AV9000 and MM9000 and it comes with the RC2000! Great remote...

Yes, I'm a geek!

- Jon

The RC2000 is OLD technology. The best remote ever made
is the Philips Pronto (and there is a Marantz-branded version too,
Philips owns Marantz). I have both, and there is no comparison.
http://www.pronto.philips.com/
Pronto is fully programmable through a PC, you can make custom
screens for it, and fully customize it to your needs. RC2000 pales
in comparison. You need to be a geek to program the Pronto, but you
can make it simple to use, so you don't need to be a geek to use it.
Check it out, you'll never go back to the RC2000.

-gbeck

Still waiting #145xx.....

Dang! I gotta get me one of them!

You know, ebay has seven of them on auction right now... not cheap, though!


tanstaafl.


"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

Actually, I've seen the LCD remotes and am planning to get one. The only problem with using it with the empeg is that you can't FEEL the buttons to know which one you're pressing. You actually HAVE to look at the remote in order to use a touch screen... unless of course, you can tell how far each "button" is from the side of the remote simply by moving your finger the precise amount required to get to the desired button. Are you that good? Seriously, I love those LCD remotes... but for the empeg? It's not gonna work well. You actually need buttons that you can feel are physically different from one another.

George

..The main problem that i have with lcd-screen remotes is that I like the feel of the buttons too much! It's the same reason that I don't like glidepads on laptops (I prefer the middle-button mouse..); there's just something about being able to feel what you're doing:)
-mark

...proud to have owned one of the first Mark I units

Yeah, I really like that remote, too. I'd bid on ebay, but I just don't trust the people selling stuff on there. (No offense to anyone who does from here and it legit, but I'm just not comfortable with it... been burned before.)

George

We can't add a raised mark (as far as I'm aware) but we are arranging the layout so that the 1 and 4 keys don't do anything in normal playback mode - so if you hold it the wrong way round and try to change volume, nothing annoying will happen (apart from the lack of volume changing!).

The sample also has an activity LED in one corner, but I'm not sure if that will be present on the production models.

Rob

Have a look at the Marantz5000 instead, it REALLY rocks....


TommyE

Who you calling a geek?

I've got a Phillips Pronto. The ultimate in Geek Chic... I am an artist (okay, "art-geek") and was swayed by the ability to import graphics for the LCD.

Personally, I miss the tactile nature of old-school remotes, but nothing beats the power to program the pronto. You can set it up to hide all the scarey stuff so your girlfriend can use it! (without messing with your settings in the process...)

If the 1 and 4 key don't do anything why not have them work as upside down volume



Mark
wait for mk III with a USB Host/slave
(USB->GPS)(USB->Bluetooth)(USB->You name it)

If the 1 and 4 key don't do anything why not have them work as upside down volume

Won't work: the remote will be pointing in the wrong direction

Henno
mk2 6 nr 6

Hey, I was the one who originally requested that the 1 and 4 keys be left alone.

It was pointed out to me that if I had the remote control upside down, that it wouldn't work no matter what keys I pressed, since it was pointing the wrong way. Seems logical, except I tested it, and in my car it still sometimes works. Reflecting off of the interior windows, I suppose.

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Tony Fabris

Greetings!

Hugo mentioned a while back that the new remote is currently in design. I don't suppose that there are any
mock-ups or photos of the planned empeg branded remote that are available for viewing. More curious than
anything else, but you might get some useful feedback on the planned design changes / button layout.


Paul G.
R# 15189
(in queue for a 36GB Mk2)

I was the one who originally requested that the 1 and 4 keys be left alone.

Yeah, most of us remember that, but . . .

in my car it still sometimes works

. . . . why would you need to leave them alone if they sometimes work?

Henno
mk2 6 nr 6

why would you need to leave them alone if they sometimes work?

I'm not sure if you were joking with that last comment. If not, re-read my original reasoning for not assigning default functions to the 1 and 4 keys.

And FWIW, I just tested it again on my way to work this morning, and the remote still activates the functions in my car almost all the time when it's facing the opposite direction.

___________
Tony Fabris

Henno
mk2 6 nr 6

Okay... this is another thread I remembered as I was driving tonight with my empeg for the first time (review forthcoming.. probably over the weekend). Anyhow, am I the only one who can tell by feel whether the remote is upside down (right side pointing up) or not? I actually went to far as to roll it around while I was driving at night and then pick it up and attempt to figure out which way was up. I haven't gotten it wrong yet. If you hold your thumb on the lower left corner, touching the left side and the bottom with the edges of your thumb, you can tell that the bottom of the remote is SLIGHTLY further from the bottom to the first button, as well as SLIGHTLY closer to the left side. Again, this is an very slight measurement difference, but it is noticeable... at least to me it is. Try it! You might figure it out, too!

George

I've just got a piece of tape on the bottom of the remote, near the IR transmitter. Works for me.

The tape happens to say "Roger's Remote" on it, but that's just so that it doesn't go missing in the office if someone picks it up to do a demo.



Roger - not necessarily speaking for empeg