Easy to Install and Fast to
Learn
NoviiRemote supports both Palm and Pocket
PC devices. To install NoviiRemote software, make sure you
read the documentation and install the version that works
with your PDA. Along with the driver software, you will find
a list of pre-programmed device codes that cover many pieces
of equipment. They are listed by type of devices: TVs, cable
boxes, Satellite receivers, DVD/CD players, VCRs, Audio receivers/Tuners
and TiVo; and under the types, you will find a list of brands.
If you can find the type and brand of your entertainment
equipment, install these pre-programmed codes and you are
ready to use your PDA as a remote control.
What about the brands you can't find? I
found codes for every piece in my entertainment center except
the TV set in the living room. Now the fun part begins. For
anything that isn't covered by the pre-programmed list, the
software can learn all the functions on your remote control
for that piece of equipment. The learning process is simple
and fast. Line up the IR ports of your remote control and
your PDA, start the learning process on the PDA, then you
are ready to match the functions of your remote to your PDA,
button by button. The very good news is that there isn't
anything this software can't learn as long as you have the
remote control for the equipment.
Familiar Interface
There are two screens of virtual remote
control buttons available for each entertainment device and
the interface is easy to understand and should pose no learning
curve. There is a list of device types on the right hand
column that includes TV, Cab/Sat, DVD/CD, VCR, Audio, and
PVR. You will need to select one of these devices before
taking other actions. The interface is slightly different
for each type of devices to provide the functions that are
specific to certain device. Yet the application maintains
a common theme for such things as number buttons, navigation
buttons and etc. The NoviiRemote virtual button layout is
simpler than the layout on the physical remote control since
it eliminates some rarely used function keys. As a result,
the interface looks quite clean.
As it is impossible to have buttons that
match every remote control on the market, NoviiRemote provides
four additional Function buttons for you to assign any function
that might not be included in the default interface. However,
you cannot change the names of these Function buttons. So
you will need to remember what function F1 represents after
you've trained it. Many people have entertainment units in
different rooms. NoviiRemote allows you to create multiple
entries for each type of devices so that you can cover everything
in each room of your house. In addition to the virtual on-screen
remote layout, you can also map the hardware buttons on your
PDA to trigger certain remote control functions.
Range and Performance
The IR driver of NoviiRemote seems very
strong compared to other IR software drivers. At 10-15 feet
range we can get great performance without any hardware enhancement.
The performance has been very smooth and consistent in our
extensive tests with a large selection of equipment. There
is a small-animated icon on the NoviiRemote interface that
helps you see if the IR signal was sent to the device, and
in general you will need to keep your PDA's IR port in the
line of sight of your entertainment device. One downside
of a software program is that it's at the mercy of the hardware
IR power. While most of the new PDAs have pretty strong IR
power, some of the older models might not be as good.
NoviiRemote supports a large number of
Palm and Pocket PC devices, but there is a short list of
PDAs this software doesn't support yet. Make sure that you
check the requirement list on Novii.tv web site.
Some Tips for the best experience
-Make sure your entertainment devices can
see your PDA's IR port.
-NoviiRemote works quite well with most
entertainment devices, but if you have a device that keeps
giving you trouble, try using the Double Mode for the learning
process.
-Make sure that you see the IR icon animating
when you click on a button.
-If you can't find the codes that came
with the NoviiRemote and you have lost your original remote
control, you can send in a request to NoviiMedia. They will
even help you find the codes.
Price: $24.99
Web Site: www.novii.tv
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