4. Competitive Landscape
As remote controls have evolved, four basic categories have emerged. Here is a look at the categories, distinctions, key players, and pros and cons of each type:
Category | Popular | Pros | Cons | |
| Brands |
|
| |
Dedicated | All electronic | • Buttons reflect the specific | • Many components equals | |
component- | remotes | functions of the device it | many remotes; living room | |
specific |
|
| comes with | clutter |
remotes |
|
| • Inexpensive (comes with | • Not programmable |
|
|
| components) |
|
Standard | • Kameleon | • Can fulfill most functions of | • Difficult to find the right codes | |
universal |
|
| several component remotes | • Many lack widespread |
remote |
|
|
| compatibility |
controls |
|
|
| • Inability to truly control all |
|
|
|
| important functions – users end |
|
|
|
| up reaching for individual |
|
|
|
| remotes |
|
|
|
| • Rely on component database |
|
|
|
| on embedded chip, which |
|
|
|
| becomes obsolete; no way to |
|
|
|
| update with new components |
|
|
|
| • User needs to press an |
|
|
|
| elaborate sequence of buttons to |
|
|
|
| launch any Activity |
|
|
|
|
|
• | Phillips | • Powerful, complete control | • Expensive | |
programmable | • | Sony | of entertainment systems | • Programmed by a professional; |
remotes with | • | Universal | • Include | a change or addition in the |
touch screens | Electronics | buttons on touch screens that | entertainment system would | |
| • | Home | send sequence of commands | require a house call |
| Theater Master |
| • Rely on limited component | |
| MX |
|
| database on embedded chip; no |
|
|
|
| easy way to update with new |
|
|
|
| components |
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced | • | Harmony | • Powerful, complete control | • Why didn’t I think of this? |
universal |
|
| of entertainment systems |
|
remotes |
|
| • Include |
|
|
|
| buttons that send sequence of |
|
|
|
| commands |
|
|
|
| • USB programmable by user; |
|
|
|
| easy to add another |
|
|
|
| component and update; |
|
|
|
| simple to program buttons |
|
|
|
| • Internet community helps |
|
|
|
| online database of |
|
|
|
| components remain the most |
|
|
|
| thorough and current in the |
|
|
|
| industry |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Logitech Harmony 880 Remote Reviewer’s Guide
Summer 2005
Page 12