Universal remotist finds fault with PS3, console lacks IR port

Has no-one considered that the remote might just have MORE than conventional remote functionality? What if it actually relies on the bidirectional data transmission? If that's the case, IR is 100% out, no matter how you put it.

People, tell me you are smarter than this...

All SONY did with this decision is doom the sales of the BD remote. If it will only control the PS3 and you have your PS3 wireless gamepad right there anyway, *don't* buy the remote. Big mistake on SONY's part if they were planning on selling any of these remotes.

David
If somebody is going to put their PS3 in an enclosed entertainment center they are going to have bigger problems than their remote not working. The PS3 is going to need some good ventilation, as shown by the xbox 360.

PLAYSTATION 3DO - PAY BEYOND(599 US DOLLA*)

*Non-universal remote sold seperately.

Who seriously gives a damn? I don't. The only reason I would *consider* getting a ps2 dvd remote is because the dualshock cord was annoying when watching a movie.

...The ps3 controllers are WIRELESS. You don't NEED a remote.

joystiq, you are silly, you are silly. Oh you are silly.

@ KAS

You are cracking me with your posts....I saw a few on another topic and was like what is that about and then I saw them on here and had to laugh....they are well timed....touche`......

Experience PLAYSTATION 3DO:
http://www.gameklip.com/v/719/

Kind of sucks if you have a universal remote set up to control your full setup. So now I need my current setup plus the Sony remote. Great - good customer thinking.

The 360 works with ANY media center remote, which is pretty cool actually. So the remote that came with my HP computer controls the 360 just fine.

As far as bluetooth being better-- yes and no. Yes, it's better with distance and non-line of sight, but with the bluetooth devices I've used (headset, mouse, keyboard), I've lost connection at times and/or had to renconfigure because of it. It's a real pain. I wonder if it's a secure bluetooth connection.

... Don't most expensive remotes use RF instead of IR anyways? Isn't it just an IR attachment to send signals to the old IR machines... Is it sooo improbable to believe the ps3 will have an usb IR attachment (like the controller IR attachment for the ps2) or even that the $400 Universal remotes will have Bluetooth attachments?

Its ok tho, people hate change, we understand. In a few years when none of this matters in the slightest, haters will be like, "Wow, I suck"

brim4brim, the problem isn't that the remote doesn't do IR and therefore can't communicate with other devices, it's that other remotes can't communicate with the PS3, forcing you to use its remote or no remote.

To people claiming that bluetooth is the future... maybe. Maybe not. Remotes don't need to be very high tech, and adding bluetooth to them will just increase the cost. Personally I doubt bluetooth will really catch on with the home theater crowd. It might for extremely top of the line stuff, but I can't see it ever trickling down. And people using extremely top of the line stuff wouldn't be caught dead using a console for playback.

Plus you can't really argue technology moving forward to people with costly receivers. The tech behind receivers doesn't change all that often. How many people do you think will want to replace their thousand+ dollar receiver simply to get bluetooth functionality?

Technical specs from a game site and only a pre order placed ... don't get me wrong but the writer of the original article has no hardware to look at.

Who says there isn't an IR port on the final console? Maybe Sony used Bluetooth for the remote because it has a d-pad and the [] X / O buttons, so the programmers don't need to include IR protocolls for some simpler games aswell.

Not one person has questioned why in the hell the PSP has infrared...

List of ways I feel ripped off by my two PSPs...

1) IR...that's like $0.03 of added uselessness!
2) UMD when carts/solid state make so much more sense for *portable devices*.
3) 'Analogue nub'. Limited range makes it all but useless.
4) Pitiful accessories that have never left the box they came in.
5) Spiderman. Never watched. Useless expense passed on to us...
6) Every game I bought and regretted. (MGA1, MGA2 being the only ones I don't)

YMMV!

I had the same concern before reading this post: I was able to justify spending $600 on a video game system knowing that it would double as a Blu-ray player, but if my Harmony remote will not be able to control it, that kinda ruins that for me.

There have been so many comments posted debating IR vs. Bluetooth, when that isn't even the issue. Having to buy another remote when you already have a universal remote is annoying, but that isn't even the biggest issue. The issue is that the one remote that controls 5+ other devices in your home theater setup will not be able to play, pause, reverse, etc. a Blu-Ray movie. Right now I can push one button on my Harmony remote to power on my TV, set my TV to the correct video input, power on my receiver, set my receiver to the correct input, and set the audio mode on my receiver for watching a movie, power on my DVD player, and start playing the DVD. With the PS3, that convenience will be gone.

I realize this probably seems insignificant to anyone who is used to having 5 remotes laying on their coffee table, or a universal remote that is so complicated to use that it's not worth it, but for anyone who uses a Harmony (or similar) remote this is a big deal. This is like trying to explain to someone who has never used a DVR, how you can't live without one once you get used to having one.

For those who still don't understand why this sucks...
I have a HDTV TV, Receiver, DVD player, DVR, and XBox 360 all nicely set up in my living room. I also have a Logitech Harmony remote which can operate my whole entertainment center. With one button I can turn on everything and also use the remote to navigate through the 360's menus. I love being able to do this. Now if I can't hook the PS3 up to my system and be able to control it from my universal remote, well that sucks. It's not a deal breaker, but after being spoiled with the 360, it's going to make me awfully grumbly as well as anyone else running a universally controlled entertainment center.

While on the topic of the PS3 here, I don't remember reading anything yet about whether or not you can turn the PS3 on/off from the wireless controller like the 360 can. Anyone hear if this is at least possible?

IR is just fine for remote control usage... It is silent (yes I am old enough to remember actual clickers)... Only drains batteries when used... and teaching a universal remote (assuming codes are not available online) just requires pointing devices at each other.

For very simple data transfer, like controlling home theater systems, IR is perfect.

Line-of-sight is really a non issue here. While watching your setup, you have default line-of-sight. As for music...CDs are becoming dated. MP3 players and direct connections to your computer are the norms now. Most people will not be using their PS3s for music playback. Please note: I know some of you will say you will...but your are not the norm.


As for the subject at hand... having a Bluetooth controller seems cool, but it is the epitome of over-engineering. The only reasons Sony went this route it A) cost and B) to push the remote.

I have a 360 and will never buy the remote because my Logitec controls the 360 just fine. I am sure MS doesn't really care because their remote is a Logitec anyway. Sony is trying to prevent this idea.

As for you clowns saying the controller will work fine as a remote... I would love to see you bring a date home and put on a nice romantic movie while holding the SUXAXUS...

Just my 1.75 cents

ok usually this site is full of anti-blu-ray people.. yet now everyone is complaining that they wont be able to use their $400 remotes with their "blu-ray player" that sony "forced" on them, when nobody wanted blu-ray in the first place. i know that doesnt speak for everyone but it has always seemed like the majority of people here were against having PS3 as a blu-ray movie player.

All I can say is I find it funny that people are saying not needing line of sight for a TV remote is a great advantage.

Ponder the irony.

Grant wrote: "Since I enjoy watching television through walls and floors, and I even occasionally watch tv on my sofa that sits 30 feet or so from my 40incher, this will be very beneficial."
******************************************************

So you need to watch your PS3 while you watch TV?

Guys, think... BT was included for the controllers, better than WiFi & IR. Do we agree here? Okay good.

Now, why add an IR port for a remote when you are trying to sell a TOP of the line gaming console.

When was the last time you have seen a new PC with a Serial (COM) port? Old technology, move on already.

This is hilarious. Just to put this in context, the same people who get excited about 'revolutionary' next-gen features like 'always on', 'stick man characters that sort of look like you in games', and 'gives weather forecasts', are now slamming Sony for YET AGAIN integrating another bleeding edge technology into PS3. I mean this is a legitimate, useful feature, not a marketing phrase attached to an existing, previously unremarkable capability (always on FTW!).

Maybe Sony should have just forgone the Cell processor, and used overclocked leftover PS2 chips like Ninty, and not allowed PS3 to play any video media, much less a next-generation format, and introduced a revolutionary feature, say.... oh I dunno, something like: 'Stays Closed When Reading!' for the disc drive. Finally, pack in a couple of 'shoot osama to win an ipod' type flash games to introduce users to the 'new gameplay paradigm'. Now those would be some features I suspect the Ninty fanboys could get excited about!

ninja... You are obviously challenged. Is IR old technology since Sony told you it is?

As I see it...IR is still very current...

aSSn... Nobody is complaining about the inclusion of Bluetooth... People are complaining about the exclusion of an IR port on the console.

Stop being an idiot already.

to #68 ninja

There's no point in upgrading technology if the technology gives no usable benifits. It's just like trying to sell a PDA for reading books, when you already have a perfectly sorted bookshelf.

I'm still wondering why people assume it's just a conventional remote, and not one with some "secrets" though, I don't think Sony is that foolish to save a negligible amount on the console just to make the remote itself more expensive (don't laugh, please). In fact, I'll say that this is proof that the remote is not a simple point-and-click remote.

@54 Rootbeer. "How do I use the Sixaxis controller to turn the volume down on my surround receiver, or change the channel on my cable box?"

You press "X" once or twice... put the controller down and control everything else with the same remote you are using to turn the volume down on your surround receiver or change the channel on your cable box right now.

@65 Roroco. "As for you clowns saying the controller will work fine as a remote... I would love to see you bring a date home and put on a nice romantic movie while holding the SUXAXUS..."

I have a feeling that someone who says "SUXAXUS" doesn't have to worry about bringing home too many dates. Even for those of us who might bring home dates or watch said movies with our girlfriend I don't think she would mind me pressing "X" on the controller to play the movie. You never have to touch the controller again. If she does care I don't think that's the kind of girl who's worth my time.

maybe they are gonna add a built in IR port later like with they did on the PS2. Think back people, or are all of you too young to remember that????

David... Your right... I don't need to worry about it as I am married.

And I call is SUXAXUS to show my distain at Sony clear lack of innovation with that thing. Sony's lack or risk taking in bringing innovation to the market place is appauling.

And those girls are worth your time... I didn't marry that type of girl...but I definately remember that type of girl

Who's to say that its not universal and Bluetooth?
PS3 might not be ,but the remote could be,

lol @ azn is so delusional as to consider Bluetooth bleeding edge tech. No wonder he's such a tool.

You cant make everyone happy can you. Sony is a company they want to cut cost. So having bluetooth already in the system it makes sense to just make a remote to use that technology. The controller is the remote and thats all i need, One of the reasons i didnt buy the 1st xbox was because i HAD to buy an extra remote to use the dvd player, remember? You are obviously bashing SONY when MS did the same thing.

I think the number of 'gamers' who desperately need to have a $400 unversal remote is small. I have a hdtv, 360, reciever, and all of that but im a gamer and i will gladly use the controller to play games and control the system. just like i do on the 360.
STOP CRYING and play games and watch BlueRay movies on the PS3. f'n babies

RoroCo...

Suxaxus is not original nor is it funny. It's starting to catch "attack the weak spot for massive damage" in overused Sony insults. It will never catch "riiiiiiidge raaaaacer" though.

I think Blu-Ray is a pretty big risk. If it doesn't succeed PS3 will have a hard time not finishing last in the console race. If it wins they will most certainly have a repeat of their PS2 glory days.

I too know those type of girls... they aren't the type you waste a romantic movie on... those are the ones you bring home drunk.

LOL xbox has a IR thing you plug in .PS3 will too!!!

So, what was that the fanboys were saying about Nintendo foisting tangental accesories on the consumer?

Anyone ever use bluetooth and loose connection to whatever they're using? Will that happen with the remote too?

62. ...teaching someone where to point based upon what they want to do is hideous.

Posted at 6:51PM on Oct 11th 2006 by otakucode 1 star

sure, it's out of context, and it's not that I disagree with you, Otaku, but consider that with respect to the Wii. it's a funny thing.

Old news, I already ranted about this here, or on engadget, I forget where...

But, for those of you asking:
http://www.bluetomorrow.com/content/section/230/342/
A look at what a bluetooth remote could do for you...from March of 2006...maybe bluetooth is the future... I've been wanting to upgrade my harmony 659 to the 890 for the RF...but, maybe wait, what, 6 months for Harmony (ahem, logitech) to come out with a bluetooth remote? Hey they came out with an XBox 260 remote pretty fast....I think it was available at launch and a certified MS product at that... Maybe there will be a comparable product for the PS3???

I'm betting by March of '07 there will be a new harmony remote with bluetooth,which they'll use for the RF type stuff for IR blasting (such as the 890 uses standard RF today).

"...are now slamming Sony for YET AGAIN integrating another bleeding edge technology into PS3."

"I mean this is a legitimate, useful feature, not a marketing phrase attached to an existing, previously unremarkable capability"
--aZn_1080p

How blind you are.

Bluetooth bleeding-edge? Bluetooth is in keyboards, mice, headsets, cell phones, and the list goes on. Bluetooth is far from bleeding-edge.

The problem here is not the inclusion of Bluetooth anyway; it's the exclusion of an IR port! Because Sony decided to exclude the IR port, current universal remotes are useless. And I'm not talking just $10 Wal-Mart remotes; the highest of the high-end remotes (Logitech, Harmon-Kardon, etc.) can't function with the PS3 because it lacks an IR port. This is clearly a purposeful exclusion by Sony to try to sell more accessories at the expense of the users' current home theater setup.

Just another item to add to the laundry list of reasons not to buy the PS3.

OMFG! You people are hillarious, if you weren't serious this would be one of the best parodies ever.

This is a product specific remote that comes as an optional extra and yet you're actually spewing hatred for Sony and their products because they are offering an *optional* extra.

Oh, stop the press it's blue tooth and not IR! Quick, call the president, we may need to call in the marines. What the hell is wrong with you? Are you really pathetic enough that you cannot cope with two remote controls?

Unbelievable. People stupid enough to say that the fact that there is a non-IR optional remote is sufficient reason to deter them from buying a PS#. Wow! You must really value your sofa time.

Unbelievable.

I have a rather high-end universal remote that cost about $150 and is made by Sony! So now it won't work if I (albeit in some purely hypothetical fantasy land) got a PS3?

WHY DO YOU HATE SONY, SONY!?!?

I work in a business of installing HD directv boxes, surround sound, mounting plasmas and installing home networks. People get PISSED when you tell them you have Hit TV On, on one remote. Then go get your DVD remote and press on. Hit TV Video on the other. Ohh when you are done grab the Direct tv and go back to tv and the list goes on. 5 remotes with 15 buttons to press. Some people HATE that. So what do we do? we go out and sell them the all in one touch screen for 200 + 100 to program it. And they Love there remote, 1 remote does it all. After I leave people are happy cause they already payed 1k's for all their theatre setup. Alot of them are casual gamers with a ps2 or xbox. Those are the people who would be pissed by this news due to Sony marketing a gaming + a HD movie player. They rather not have the ps3 than to go back and forth using 2 remotes. Some people are like that and keep in mind I service around 10 people a week and I end up selling between 5-6 remotes a week. People love those things. I have one at home and is great.

great....so now my 250 dollar logitech Harmony remote which can control anything from my ceiling fan, hdtv, home lighting....cant control a ps3....

The PS3 does have usb ports, so universal remote users down the road may have to get a usb IR receiver, which I am sure 3rd party accessories manufacturers will produce. Big deal.

For the record the universal remotes that use RF are actually sending RF signals to a base station that then converts these RF signals to IR and then relays to any equipment that needs controlling. There's no such thing as a home theatre-targeted universal remote that can learn any manufacturer's RF signals (for example, B&O, Bose, a bunch of fans and lighting systems).

These RF-IR systems are useful as you don't have to point, you get better range, the codes transmit more reliably and you can use the remote while reclining on your poolside deck chair in the full sun.

If the PS3 stays bluetooth-only for remote control (I think an IR add-on is extremely likely though) it'd be a very silly move. Philips, Marantz, Crestron, AMX, Logitech, RTI and Home Theatre Master are not going to stick bluetooth functionality into their universal remotes at the behest of a single AV device. IR might be old, but it's a proven standard and when you're trying to rein in ten different components from ten different manufacturers proven standards are more important than cute proprietary systems that let you see a little thumbnail of the album cover on a 3" LCD screen. The segment of the market keen for the BD playback is going to get annoyed or caught out by this as a fair share of them will already have some sort of universal remote solution in place (AV receivers start coming with IR learning remotes pretty early on the quality curve).

WHINNERS:

BLUE TOOTH WAS ADDED FOR THE CONTROLLERS - MUCH BETTER TECHNOLOGY THAN IR. ALSO, IF USING A MOTION SENSITIVE CONTROLLER, HOW WELL IS THAT IR PORT GOING TO WORK?

NOW, THAT BLUE TOOTH IS ADDED, WHY SHOULD SONY SPEND THE EXTRA $5,000,000.00 (based on 100 million units world-wide) TO HAVE OLD TECHNOLOGY INCLUDED IN A NEXT-GEN HD SYSTEM?

IF THE PS3 TOO HIGH-TECH OR RITZY FOR YOU, GO BUY THE WII OR 360.

I'm done with this thread.

Amazing how some people (ninja) JUST. DON'T. GET. IT.

Talk about dense.

um... who the hell paid 100$ for their 360 wireless adaptor? you got ripped off buddy!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220020351161&category=122517

Once again, Joystiq digging for any 'dirt' they can find. Hey, I have an idea! Why don't you find a Sony-hate website like you did a couple weeks ago, and put it up on your page? Maybe with a nice line like, "Anti-Sony person posts Sony hate website." That way you can get a bunch of people to see it, and you can treat it like it's news.

Oh, also please make sure that all Joystiq PS3 articles (that is, negative spin articles by default) come up as 'news' in Google news, but make sure that anything from your sister site ps3fanboy NEVER comes up as news on Google.

That way you can keep your contract with Microsoft up to speed.

BTW, read that article about the 8 million ready to buy. I'm sure you've seen it.

Umm,

Without IR how will it interact with the PSP? there is no other reason for the PSP having the IR interface being that it can communicate over wifi with other psp's.

That is one ugly remote.

>.>