Nyko introduces BluWave PS3 remote, ships PS3 Charge Base

by Christopher Grant { Jun 22nd 2007 at 9:53AM }

If you're wary of spending $25 on Sony's Bluetooth remote control -- after all, it won't work with your old-fashioned infrared devices -- then you may want to consider Nyko's BluWave remote for the PlayStation 3. Instead of using pesky radio waves, it uses good old-fashioned infrared (not 'blu') light waves to tell that little USB dongle what it wants your PlayStation 3 to do ... like "INITIATE BLU-RAY DISC PLAYBACK." Unfortunately, this device doesn't appear to be a universal remote so, like Sony's product, this is PS3 only. But at $20, you'll save enough to buy yourself a sandwich.

Nyko also announced that they're shipping their PS3 controller Charge Base for $40, good for those of you with an aversion to recharging cables. We understand.

Tags: BluWave, ChargeBase, infrared, Nyko, RemoteControl

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

sheppy @ Jun 22nd 2007 9:58AM

They are FINALLY shipping the charge base? By the time next week, I'll have a peripheral I was in desperate need of within a week of PS3s launch. Seriously, what took so long?

JodyAnthony @ Jun 22nd 2007 9:58AM

so you save $5...whats the point? so you have an infrared remote and have to have a silver USB dongle sticking out of your console, have to point the remote at the system to make sure it catches the IR signal, and then it doesn't even work with other IR devices?

shirizaki @ Jun 22nd 2007 9:59AM

No, but those Logitech Harmony remotes with adaptive programming can be programmed with all of this remotes function.

Roundabout way, but all we needed was an IR dongle.

Brandon @ Jun 22nd 2007 10:14AM

Why not just pay the extra 5 for the official remote that has more features. And besides the bluetooth means you could be pointing away and under the bed and still control your ps3. I don't know why anyone would do it, but you could.

5 dollars doesn't seem worth saving for a remote with half of the buttons wiped off.

horngreen @ Jun 22nd 2007 10:20AM

So now the trend is to make remotes that only control ONE device? This is just what we need Sony, another remote lying around.

C. Grant @ Jun 22nd 2007 10:21AM

shirizaki: Dead on. All folks need is that USB dongle.

NuttyKev @ Jun 22nd 2007 10:43AM

They should sell the dongle by itself for $5

Dustin @ Jun 22nd 2007 10:48AM

That's one of the ugliest remotes I have ever seen, it looks like one of those $5 Universal remotes they sell at Walgreen's. If you make a remote for a $600 device, maybe it should look nice and maybe lite up? Just a thought...

Greg @ Jun 22nd 2007 10:48AM

New from Nyko! $20 USB dongle! Includes remote-shaped dog chew-toy!

Logitech needs to sell a $10 dongle to add PS3 connectivity to their existing Harmony remotes.

AirIntake @ Jun 22nd 2007 10:49AM

The Nyko remote for the 360 that I have is universal. I even programmed it to adjust the temperature on my air conditioner. And it only cost me $20 canadian.

WhackMushroom @ Jun 22nd 2007 11:09AM

ive had the charge base for over a week .. you guys really need to get offline every now and then

Rishard @ Jun 22nd 2007 11:24AM

If its not backlit then they f'ed up and its not worth it.

C. Grant @ Jun 22nd 2007 11:24AM

WhackMushroom: offline? Explain more, my computer doesn't seem to know what you mean. =)

Justin @ Jun 22nd 2007 11:25AM

10. The Nyko remote for the 360 that I have is universal. I even programmed it to adjust the temperature on my air conditioner. And it only cost me $20 canadian.

Whats your point, idiot? Is this about the 360? No.

Maurice M @ Jun 22nd 2007 11:28AM

I have a Harmony remote too, so all I'd need is the IR dongle. Good to hear somethings out there for it.

Martez @ Jun 22nd 2007 12:19PM

Sandwiches FTW!

John @ Jun 22nd 2007 12:38PM

oddly enough, I almost bought a PS3 the other day, but didn't just because my haarmony wouldn't work with it, and I don't want to use multiple remotes.

JodyAnthony @ Jun 22nd 2007 12:51PM

i would rather have 2 remotes than spend $200+ for one of those harmony ones

Admiral @ Jun 22nd 2007 12:59PM

If you have an A/V receiver, DVD player, gaming system, TV, TiVo, then prepare to have up to 5 remotes.

Then the Harmony remote becomes more attractive...and the Harmony 880 is $139, not $200+.

umm...hello?? @ Jun 22nd 2007 1:41PM

IR and NOT universal? Pass. I love my PS3 remote w/bluetooth--no need for line-of-sight so I can put the PS3 on the floor or behind a pair of wood doors in my entertainment center and STILL be able to use the remote control...sure, it adds another remote to my system, but what's another remote in addition to all the controllers I have for my PSWii60+oldersystems going to hurt?

KingOfGods @ Jun 22nd 2007 2:18PM

@JodyAnthony
"i would rather have 2 remotes than spend $200+ for one of those harmony ones"

The Harmony remote for the 360 cost me $80 and if you do some comparison shopping you may find it on sale around $60 - $90 (regular price $130).

It works like all the other Harmony remotes except it has the 4 360 face buttons on the front that you can program.

JodyAnthony @ Jun 22nd 2007 2:46PM

but my cable box came with a universal remote for free.

I'm not saying those harmony remotes are bad or that people that buy them are stupid, I'm just saying they aren't for me.

sheppy @ Jun 22nd 2007 2:56PM

I have a ton of remotes, hasn't bothered me yet. So no biggie. There is a convenience to a unified one, but that's a convenience I'm not willing to pay for.

Knoxximus @ Jun 22nd 2007 5:07PM

My question is: But even with the charge base, doesn't the controller still have to be usb'd to the PS3 to sync it every time you turn it on (I'm not a PS3 owner BTW....nor a basher...just curious)? Is that still the case, or did a recent FW update take care of that?

icruise @ Jun 22nd 2007 7:42PM

Knoxximus: As far as I know you never had to have the controller plugged into via USB when you turned on the system (at least I got my PS3 shortly after launch and it didn't require anything like that -- could be the first firmware update took care of it). The only time you need to connect the controllers via USB is to charge them or when you're doing a firmware update.

Kevin @ Jun 23rd 2007 8:04AM

You'd need the IR dongle AND the remote to teach your Harmony the IR codes. Harmony's database has device IR codes, for which the PS3 obviously has none, it doesn't have "remote codes".

ascian @ Jun 23rd 2007 8:52AM

Actually on a lark, I saw that Amazon has this for $13.99. Too bad 300 isn't available for preorder, I'll have to find something else to get free shipping.

OrganicShadow @ Jun 25th 2007 9:47PM

WILL WE EVER MOVE BEYOND USB DONGLES??

Seriously....I would pay an extra $10 to NOT have to have the dumb dongle sticking out of the front of my PS3. If it's USB I can just synch it with the PS3 from my couch, but with the dongle I have to go get up, unplug my eyetoy or headset, and plug it in because my other ports are full.

This is getting ridiculous. There aren't ANY third party devices that will connect with PS3 via Bluetooth. The BT Logitech keyboard even needs a dongle... isn't it supposed to be BT??

TJ @ Jun 27th 2007 5:37PM

I'll wait for Harmony to come out with a Bluetooth/IR remote that doesn't require a dongle. I can always give my fiancee my current Harmony when they do.

j @ Jul 30th 2007 11:23AM

I just oreder the Nyko Bluwave PS3 remote. This does not solve the problem of programming with the Harmony 1000. There is not a power button on the Nyko Bluwave remote. This has to be the first remote I've ever seen that does not power on or off the device. Unbelievable.