The “Break it Down” Blog

Tvcompass has announced a Windows-CE based WiFi enabled universal remote that can sync/install device codes and back itself up using 802.11b & g.

The device seems to be more of a platform for universal remotes (to be sold with cable STBs and services) than it does seem to be an end user product.

Tvcompass is marketing the interchangable, pluggable design to vendors in a similar fashion to how HTC pitches their cell phone designs as fully branded solutions to the different networks (e.g. T-Mobile Dash).

The functionality of the remote is pretty awesome, sporting some nice specs:

• QVGA (320 x 240) color display
• 802.11b/g wireless networking
• Web browser
  • Optional J2ME
  • Optional Flash
  • Optional RSS news feed reader
• Optional PayPal micropayment transactions
• Alternative form factors from “Candybar” to “Tablet” with a full QWERTY keyboard

Something like this could completely invalidate Harmony all together, sort of how bundled DVRs invalidated TiVo. They were “good enough” for 80% of the people getting them, to not look for any other solutions.

Certainly universal remotes are the wave of the future as more and more people get more and more devices focused around their home theater experience. I think in a year with the higher end bundles from cable providers we may start seeing optional universal remotes available with the package.

In 2 or 3 years, I think universal remotes will become the normal with services, and Harmony will have to stick to the “high end” remote market as TiVo has done with the high end DVR market offering the additional features like media streaming and so on that cable companies don’t support with their throw-in DVRs.