It's the official PS3 Remote or Nothing

[Zeus]

Due to the fact that the PS3 has no IR port on it, you will either have to use the official PS3 controller or remote to navigate through the PS3's media player functionality. This appears to have got alot of consumers with 'universal' remotes rather cheesed off.



I'll have a Blu-Ray player, so I may as well make the most of it. Luckily, I won't need to buy the PS3-branded remote, because I have a nice universal remote. Of course, the PS3 has an IR port. Right?

Nope. The remote is actually Bluetooth; the PS3 has no IR port. That means that you're stuck either using a Sixaxis controller or the special PS3 remote if you want to use the PS3 as your movie player. That's ridiculous. If Sony wanted the PS3 to integrate into my home theater, infrared should have been a no-brainer. I hate having multiple remotes, and using a controller feels tacky to me, but it looks like I won't have a choice. This is pretty old news to some, but it just struck me that without the support of universal remotes, I'm stuck with Sony's ugly mess.


News Source: <A href="http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2006/10/10/5571" target="_blank">Arstechnica</a>

[Trashcat]

Wow bluetooth remote $ony will do anything to screw consumers and 3rd parties, but im sure chinese won't take long to make their own remote for the half price.

[metalgod]

is the remote in high def, cause if it is all is forgiven :D

[high]

dosnt bug me that i need to use there remote. but could just be me ;-)

[whackawookie]

dosnt bug me that i need to use there remote. but could just be me ;-)

it bothers the hell out of me. I have a 250 harmony remote that controls anything and is regularly updated via web by logitech. Way for sony to make people hope they never lose there remote

[JimmyHACK_KH]

id rather have the remote be BT instead of IR
my one harmony remoted crapped out recently so i should search for some that supports BT i guess

[AceMilo]

id rather have the remote be BT instead of IR
my one harmony remoted crapped out recently so i should search for some that supports BT i guess

There aren't any remotes afaik that support bt. This is just another way for sony to gauge customers. I wouldn't be surprised if this remote costs upwards of $100 either.

[kronikdaddy]

So the PS3 won't have an IR port, Big deal. The PS2 doesn't have a IR port in it either so you just buy one extra. The PS3 could make use of an IR dongle if someone made one.

It is a lame move on sony's part though, Not well played.

[faceless]

So the PS3 won't have an IR port, Big deal. The PS2 doesn't have a IR port in it either so you just buy one extra. The PS3 could make use of an IR dongle if someone made one.

It is a lame move on sony's part though, Not well played.
actually, from v8 up, the PS2 does have an IR port

[Kenban]

So the PS3 won't have an IR port, Big deal. The PS2 doesn't have a IR port in it either so you just buy one extra. The PS3 could make use of an IR dongle if someone made one.

It is a lame move on sony's part though, Not well played.

It might have been added after launch but my PS2 has an IR port on it. Its between the power and eject buttons.

[whackawookie]

id rather have the remote be BT instead of IR
my one harmony remoted crapped out recently so i should search for some that supports BT i guess

there are no bt remotes for a reason, because tv's and stereos and anyother home entertainment device runs off ir. It would be worthless for a company to make a universal remote with bt if it ran but one device.

[Murc]

BT has advantages over IR...like you dont have to point it at the IR reader...and you can have things in its path...even a wall, and it will still get threw.

But I can understand why a lot of people are pissed, I would also be if I spent several hundred for a "do all" remote.

[vancitypimp]

Get with the times people. BT is way better than IR. If you cant keep up with technology, then dont support it, or complain.

[ZildjianKX]

Bluetooth seems like a horrible idea for a remote.

Won't it kill battery life since the remote always has to be paired, if not it would go into sleep mode, then there is a delay as it re-pairs?

Plus you probably couldn't have a BT Universal remote, since it couldn't be paired with all the different A/V devices.

[Havok154]

For anyone that thinks BT is a good idea or even necessary for a remote is just saying so because Sony says it's a good thing. First, I've never had an issue with any of my 30+ remotes that all use IR, I don't see any reason not to be comfortable with using IR. Second, Sony is doing this for a couple reasons. Price cutting and accessory profits are the biggest reason. By using BT they don't have to pay for a IR port and controls on the system since they have BT already in it. They are (as we all know) losing a lot of money on the PS3 hardware, so to make some of that back, they need to sell a lot of low production cost accessories for high profits. With their remote being Bt, only one company will be making it, Sony, which means they can charge whatever they want, especially since it's "advanced" due to BT. This, along with the composite cable are just reason to cut costs and push extra accessory sales which are a lot of profit for the company.

[xlink1234]

You should read what i wrote about the av cable. Its not just for profit gain, but for other reasons also.

3rd party companies will beable to create a bt remote( I dont know why not sony doesn't own blue tooth.) I really don't care either way, but i do think that sony is getting cheap here.

If i had a universal remote with a nice system (sorround sound sterio, Hd-dvd, ect.) I would be very pissed off. Isn't the PS3 sosposed to be toward the people that have this type of stuff? It is going to be mostly rich people who have a bunch of gadgets that buy the PS3. Changing remotes is a hasle and finding them is another hassle.

But like someone stated the PS3 might have something added if this is a big problem and cost comes down.

[indierocker]

Get with the times people. BT is way better than IR. If you cant keep up with technology, then dont support it, or complain.


so you find it perfectly fine that sony calls this a "universal" remote?

[unwanted]

so you find it perfectly fine that sony calls this a "universal" remote?
what do you mean? it isn't universal? didn't you know it'll control your neighbours systems too! thats why Sony call it a "universal" remote, and everyone else just calls it **** ;)

[legendofphil]

Someone will come out with a BT, irda and whatever else is used (if any) universal remote. This should maintain being universal for the foreseable future.

[snafro]

why use bluetooth for remote ? ir is enough for a remote unless you want to use it from another room or if you put things between the ir sensor and the remote..

why use wireless on a desktop pc if your network cable works just fine ?

[taiki]

so you find it perfectly fine that sony calls this a "universal" remote?

It'll probably interface with your PC or other BT enabled devices that allow for external controls via blue tooth. I know someone who used their phone as a PC remote via bluetooth.

I'm Really REALLY upset that this thing is going to be expensive.

I'm really REALLY excited that this thing could probably control my (Hypothetically BT enabled) toaster from another room. While it is probably expensive(i'll laugh if the thing is announced to be 20 or 30 bucks), I am a fan of rube goldberg, so...

[Retroboy]

hold up a sec, isnt this stating either Remote or PAD!!!!!!!!

How many people here use the PS2 pad to navigate through the systems menu, also to control the dvd player options?

How many people use the 360 remote to navigate through the menu/dvds?

I know i dont, i use the pad.

So i dont see how anyone can slate sony here its not as if you have to use the remote.

[kayjay]

a BT remote should be great. i hope it uses standard BT that is compatible to BT dongles. imagine controlling your pc with that.

what sux though is the fact that the ps3 wont come with HDMI cables. but that makes sense there are more HDTV sets that support composite than there are hdmi anabled hdtv sets.....

[swisstony123]

Big Deal another extra remote!?? I'de much prefer a BT remote. I find the IR on the 360 frustrating at best. This really is just picking small holes for the hell of it!!

[snafro]

Big Deal another extra remote!??

no its no big deal, cause i only have 2 remotes in my room, but i would be pissed off if i have more remotes and maybe one of it being universal remote.

but.. this will be fixed by some hacker or some 3rd party peripheral, so no real problem, but its annoying.

[thePANICHIOteam]

Big Deal another extra remote!?? I'de much prefer a BT remote. I find the IR on the 360 frustrating at best. This really is just picking small holes for the hell of it!!

Its Stage 2 anger, let them get it out of their system.

Everyones moaning because they know they will end up buying a PS3.

From the looks of the controller it just looks like theyve made a PS3 controller into the shape of a standard remote, it will do more or less the same thing. Whats the big deal. If you can lose that huge controller chances are you will lose your wireless "six-axis" controllers also. There may even be a cheaper third party version. If you cant use your one4all remote, its tough sh*it isnt it.

[whackawookie]

My remote has macro programming so if i program gaming mode it turns on my switchbox and changes it to the proper selection, turns my tv into component 1, turns on the home theatre system and if its for the 360 even turns that on. Now I can do all of that except now i have to use the bt remote to control the playback of the ps3 but switch back to the other remote to control sound. People are honestly easily fed bs and lead to believe its not an issue. BT has no place in the home theatre world because there is no problem with ir. If your having an issue with ir then you have dropped your remote one too many times.

[swisstony123]

My remote has macro programming so if i program gaming mode it turns on my switchbox and changes it to the proper selection, turns my tv into component 1, turns on the home theatre system and if its for the 360 even turns that on. Now I can do all of that except now i have to use the bt remote to control the playback of the ps3 but switch back to the other remote to control sound. People are honestly easily fed bs and lead to believe its not an issue. BT has no place in the home theatre world because there is no problem with ir. If your having an issue with ir then you have dropped your remote one too many times.

Yeah i understand what your saying but still if you take a step back from all this it's a small inconvience lets not lose site of the fact thats it's just another remote! It really is'nt a "big deal" if it is then it really shows how lazy mankind is getting (please dont take this as a pop at you personally because it really really really isnt);)
I've always found the IR crap on my 360 (but it's not because i like Sony more than microsoft) it's just because you have to point it directly at the machine and even get the angle right! Never dropped the remote to my knowledge!?!? dunno if anyone else has the same problem?

[Retroboy]

but why use a remote if the pad does the same job, sony aint forcing you to buy this remote?

[whackawookie]

but why use a remote if the pad does the same job, sony aint forcing you to buy this remote?

im not a fan of using the control as a remote. I like knowing what is stop play pause, chapter skip, rewind, zoom, subtitle and yadda yadda. Big reason i never used the ps2 for dvd playing. I always hit a button like the dpad that jumps scenes or hit the analog and zooms in, I just rather have a remote for viewing and a control for playing.

@swisstony, its not a matter of being lazy its an inconvenience. I could show you the mounds of remotes i've gone through only to finally find the perfect one. I have a bin full of them. Not everyone has gone through what I have so I understand not having the same point of view but when you push a system as more then just a gaming system then it should be in your best interest to make sure it goes hand to hand with the rest of your home system. For the record though, my 360 runs great with ir, i haven't had any problems with it that weren't battery related.

[swisstony123]

im not a fan of using the control as a remote. I like knowing what is stop play pause, chapter skip, rewind, zoom, subtitle and yadda yadda. Big reason i never used the ps2 for dvd playing. I always hit a button like the dpad that jumps scenes or hit the analog and zooms in, I just rather have a remote for viewing and a control for playing.

@swisstony, its not a matter of being lazy its an inconvenience. I could show you the mounds of remotes i've gone through only to finally find the perfect one. I have a bin full of them. Not everyone has gone through what I have so I understand not having the same point of view but when you push a system as more then just a gaming system then it should be in your best interest to make sure it goes hand to hand with the rest of your home system. For the record though, my 360 runs great with ir, i haven't had any problems with it that weren't battery related.

Yep i see what your saying it's not a great move on there part!?!? But it's a difficult one as i wish all my remotes where BT even my yamaha amp remotes IR is terrible i dunno maybe i smoke to much and it's getting in the way of the signal lol!!

And i tried the obvious "Battery going flat" scenario!?!?

Just out of intersest (sorry for going off topic) But is your 360 on its side or upright and do you have it on the floor or at sorta sofa height if you get what i mean!?! I would like to get to the bottom of this:confused:

[Retroboy]

im not a fan of using the control as a remote. I like knowing what is stop play pause, chapter skip, rewind, zoom, subtitle and yadda yadda. Big reason i never used the ps2 for dvd playing. I always hit a button like the dpad that jumps scenes or hit the analog and zooms in, I just rather have a remote for viewing and a control for playing.

Its simple.

L1 Back Chapter
R1 Forward Chapter
L2 Rewind
R2 Fast Forward
X Start/Pause
Square/Triangle Stop

It is piss easy, it saves money as you get the controller free with the console, so why pay for a remote that is rarely used.

Why people moan when both the pad or remote can be used, its the anit sony people here moaning saying sony are forcing.

[whackawookie]

Its simple.

L1 Back Chapter
R1 Forward Chapter
L2 Rewind
R2 Fast Forward
X Start/Pause
Square/Triangle Stop

It is piss easy, it saves money as you get the controller free with the console, so why pay for a remote that is rarely used.

Why people moan when both the pad or remote can be used, its the anit sony people here moaning saying sony are forcing.

but if ir was used you wouldn't have to purchase a remote if you had universal remotes, thats the whole point.

[indierocker]

my samsung TV works through wall and with things in the way...and its IR.

i even took it on a little test once, i covered it with my sleeve, and pointed it right up against the wall opposite of the tv, and it still worked.

[{{909}}]

why would you need to control your PS3 through walls anyway? u cant see the screen! Sony obviously needed to cut corners and not include IR in the console and at the same time can charge extra for a bluetooth remote. It does look rahter nice that being said. How much is the BT remote set to be?

They should have made the remote BT and IR, and then make it so you could program it to work as a univeral remote.

[Retroboy]

well lets see, infra red has its flaws.

You have to point towards the receiver and doesnt have a far reach.

BT can be anywhere and its using BT becuase the PS3 is using new everything, new console, new media format, new controller/remote connection.

Infra Red is lame compared to BT, hell if your moaning about the PS3 having it, why not slag all the mobile phones that have moved from IR to BT.

[{{909}}]

its needed in mobiles because you need to move large files, such as mp3s and you dont want to have to point phones at eachother for extended periods to do that, in a tv remote you only press it for a split second to change channels etc, theres just no need for it to be any better, Unless you want to milk your customers with an expensive remote ;)

[whackawookie]

if you are downing ir simply because the ps3 uses bt then you are beyond a fanboy. Ir is a standard and perfected in every device used throughout the home that has a remote. Im going to guarantee you don't change your tv channels manually or turn it off manually. To down a basic use in everyday living simply because your beloved console is going a different route is just retarded.

[thePANICHIOteam]

This is the most ridculous pissing and moaning i've ever heard. Use the "six axis" or buy the remote. You can still use your universal remote for everything else.