Backlit Remote

[demizer]

I like the remote and the keyboard is great, but it really needs to be backlit. I can't see it in the dark. Is there ever going to be a backlit version? Also, all the keys on one side would be nice. I am willing to buy a new remote to fix this problem.

[scottct1]

Its impossible to see in a darkend room and still hard to see in a room with lots of light.

I hope they come out with a different remote.

[ripper2982]

I like the remote and the keyboard is great, but it really needs to be backlit. I can't see it in the dark. Is there ever going to be a backlit version? I am willing to buy a new remote to fix this problem.

I agree with the backlight thing. It's a guessing game when trying to type in a dark room and I usually end up hitting delete more than half a dozen times becuase I hit the wrong key.

I'm also curious about the new remote coming out when Netflix is launched with a dedicated Netflix button. I would be willing to pay for that if it included a backlight option and some other improvements.

[dialing_wand]

The remote is awful.

Oh the promise was there, but:

- Backlit. No kidding. I can't even see it properly in my reasonably lit living room.

- Whoever thought moving the lower row over one key to the left was good idea? Kind of defeats the purpose no?

- Forcing users to learn to pay attention to remote orientation when moving back to the frontside. Say what you will about the apple remote and it's ridiculous simplicity, I don't have to stare at it to make sure it's the right way up!

[stevo81989]

I like the remote and the keyboard is great, but it really needs to be backlit. I can't see it in the dark. Is there ever going to be a backlit version? Also, all the keys on one side would be nice. I am willing to buy a new remote to fix this problem.

Big win right there! Although i will say that the remote is probably the best part of the whole setup. I think it is the best remote to ever feature a full keyboard!

[demizer]

Orientation is difficult to master. I constantly find myself flipping the remote. If it weren't for the boxee icon I would be in trouble. All the buttons on the same face would be great. Also, landscape mode for text input kinda sucks. Palm/blackberry devices have awesome keyboards.

[JasperKJ]

Maybe DLink will offer one as an extra purchase or a 3rd party manufacturer will come out with one if the Boxee is successful enough.

I like the fact the remote has a keyboard. Having it backlit and making it a bit bigger would have been nice but I think they did a good job on the remote.

[demizer]

I like the fact the remote has a keyboard. Having it backlit and making it a bit bigger would have been nice but I think they did a good job on the remote.

I agree, it beats a full-size keyboard and mouse for this type of stuff.

[nothsa]

Seriously? Some of you guys are having trouble "mastering" a double-sided remote? I can understand a bit of a learning curve, but your comments are coming across like "Damn you young whipper-snappers and your new-fangled technology!"

It's something you're not used to. Give it more than two days and you'll be fine. The pros far outweigh the cons.

(I agree that Backlit would be nice.)

[darcilicious]

It's something you're not used to. Give it more than two days and you'll be fine. The pros far outweigh the cons.

(I agree that Backlit would be nice.)

Ditto on both counts. (though I too don't always get the orientation right when flipping back and forth). Overall it's very close to the mark -- though I'd buy a backlit version in a heartbeat :)

[dialing_wand]

Seriously? Some of you guys are having trouble "mastering" a double-sided remote? I can understand a bit of a learning curve, but your comments are coming across like "Damn you young whipper-snappers and your new-fangled technology!"

It's something you're not used to. Give it more than two days and you'll be fine. The pros far outweigh the cons.

(I agree that Backlit would be nice.)

No, it's simply not as well thought out as it could be. As I noted it has promise. It's v1.0. Fair enough. v2.0 should be spectacular.

A slightly asymmetrical shape of the body would have been great.

At this point one has to learn to feel where the logo is and flip accordingly. It's not the end of the world and of course we'll learn to flip in the right direction, just there were other ways to deal with that issue from a design perspective, that's all.

Backlight in 2.0 for sure... or at least white for the primary letters instead of the alternates.

I think one thing that's going to be a big change is that boxee has gone (in many of our eyes) from something we got "for free" and treated as such to something we "paid for" and have some expectations compared to other "home theatre" experiences.

As always early adopter expectations should be "tempered." My own included - I can live with that and I'll try to remind myself of as much when posting.

[darcilicious]

As always early adopter expectations should be "tempered." My own included - I can live with that and I'll try to remind myself of as much when posting.

Best comment posted on this entire site in the last 48 hours. Thanks for that :)

[dialing_wand]

Thanks for that :)

I'm genuinely sorry for my tone in a couple of my early posts; going from the Boxee I loved (and that worked so well on my old ATV) to the Boxee Box was a shock... ultimately none of it is worth getting worked up over. Talked about maybe, obsessed about, no.

Again, sorry and thanks for being polite about my lack thereof.

[pcm2a]

Two decent work-a-rounds for the time being could be:
- Your all in one remote that is back lit. For this you will need a MCE USB to IR plug. I bought a MCE remote with the USB to IR plug for $14 on Amazon. It works perfectly with the Box (and with the PC version)

- Your Android or iPhone/iPod Touch. There is a Boxee app for both the iPhone and Android phone. You can use it over wifi to control your Boxee. I've tested it on both the Boxee Box and the PC version. When you type it will even bring up the keyboard for you to type on (works in the dark).

[dialing_wand]

- Your Android or iPhone/iPod Touch. There is a Boxee app for both the iPhone and Android phone. You can use it over wifi to control your Boxee. I've tested it on both the Boxee Box and the PC version. When you type it will even bring up the keyboard for you to type on (works in the dark).

A good point.

For us, especially my wife, the WIFI sleep/wake time of the iPhone hampers the app's usefulness. There's a prolonged period of "waking up" after just a couple of minutes - not how a remote in a home theatre needs to be. However, this is not an issue with the app - it's an iPhone issue.

Having said that, I always really liked the gestural control setup of the Boxee Remote app. Very smart and so easy to use once you figure out to "do what you want" to do and not "what you think it wants you" to do.

Maybe that's remote 2.0 right there... a gently led-backlit QWERTY keypad with a flat touch surface on the flipside that can be used gesturally in any orientation since it has an accelerometer.

FIXED. ;)

[timbudtwo]

2 complaints with remote.
1. Caps should be a shift key and not a caps lock. CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL
2. Holding a button to input numbers is probably the worst idea someone has ever had. You have to hold the remote with two hands and buttons are input with thumbs. Unless you have 8 inch thumbs this is downright awkward.

Other than that the relocation of keys wasn't that big of a deal. Enter should submit the form instead of loading the on screen keyboard. But all these things are just something that takes getting used to.

[gulagosphere]

I prefer the long life, lightweight RF remote to backlit.

Sure, appease both groups. Sell another 'official' remote. win win

Consider selling an keyboard-shaped remote control ;)

[rpmiles]

it is an awful remote. the qwerty is a great touch, but the 2 sided is clumsy, the alt hold to add numbers is absurd, it is way too small, the center button should be raised higher and of course it needs backlit



:mad:

[sithknight1]

I'm loving my new Boxee Box and I love the remote as well. That's until lights go off. Then I find myself yearning for a backlit version. (True movie lovers watch movies in the dark. ;))

If Boxee comes up with a "premium" remote that is backlit and with a craddle to recharge (It has to be rechargeable. Otherwise the batteries would be drained in no time) I would be willing to pay up to 50 bucks. Maybe a little more depending on the improvements made and the difference vs. the standard remote.

If they were to go one step further and instead of it coming with a cradle to recharge, it were to come with a mat like the one pictured here, http://bit.ly/cN9D7G I would be willing to pay even more, since placing your remote on top a mat is way easier and faster than placing it on a craddle, let alone that a mat on your TV stand where you put your remote blends way easier with a horizontal surface than a cradle. I totally agree with "dialing_wand"'s post above about the need of accelerometers, so it behaves kind of like my harmony remote, that lits up as soon as I move it. That would make the new remote simply perfect.

But the lack of a mat won't be a deal breaker for me. That's just food for thought for the people in charge. What's important for me, and makes or breaks the deal is simply back lit keys and the ability to recharge instead of having to waste money on batteries.

[bigspoon11]

Agreed !! I usually use an old iPhone to control Boxee through a Mac Mini... but now that I've switched to Box, I definitely like the IDEA of the remote.... but no Backlight is horrible. I'm not a huge fan of shifting and holding for numerical entries either. I will probably buy a different remote, or get an ipod/iphone cofigured again when I can.

[gmd024]

I agree with the backlight thing. It's a guessing game when trying to type in a dark room and I usually end up hitting delete more than half a dozen times becuase I hit the wrong key.

I'm also curious about the new remote coming out when Netflix is launched with a dedicated Netflix button. I would be willing to pay for that if it included a backlight option and some other improvements.

If you are willing to pay for a different remote - check out the backlit Rii (w/a trackpad) - I got one from pandawill.com a few months ago for the Boxee beta app - and as I mentioned in another thread - the Rii, the Lenovo N5901 (w/track ball--no back lite) and the BBox remote can all be run on the BBox at the same time -- I also have the 2 extra remotes' USB dongle plugged into a 7 port USB Hub which is plugged into one of the USB ports on the BBox, leaving 6 unused USB ports open on the BBox

[FrankieShakes]

I can't believe nobody's suggested the most simple solution: glow in the dark keys. It seems like it would have been the most logical (and cost effective) feature to include from the get go.

Curious why nobody at Boxee would have thought about that. It hit me the moment I tried to use the keyboard in the dark.

Would love to see that in the next revision.

[gmd024]

;)
I can't believe nobody's suggested the most simple solution: glow in the dark keys. It seems like it would have been the most logical (and cost effective) feature to include from the get go.

Curious why nobody at Boxee would have thought about that. It hit me the moment I tried to use the keyboard in the dark.

Would love to see that in the next revision.

Maybe an after-market-glow in the dark stick on keypad overlay would be a great idea for an entrepreneur ;)