Remote Controls

Remote Controls

Mistake : Too Many Buttons

Device(s): TV, DVR Remote Controls

Call it Benj's Law: The number of buttons on the average TV remote control doubles every 15 years. Let's take a look at the button forecast:

1950: four buttons
1965: eight buttons
1980: 16 buttons
1995: 32 buttons
2010: 64 buttons
2025: 128 buttons
2040: 256 buttons
2055: 512 buttons

The current Time Warner Cable DVR remote control (circa 2009) already sports 62 buttons (yes, really), most of which no one ever uses. As silly as the above forecasts seem, they might be a bit too relaxed: with the way things are going, TWC might upend Benj's Law and release a remote with a button for every single channel next year.

There's simply no need for so many buttons, be it 62, 128, or 1000; many modern remote functions could be simplified through clever use of on-screen menus. My favorite TV remote of all time, for a Daewoo TV set, boasts a mere 22 buttons. You could add four for DVR functionality: record, start/stop, fast-forward, and rewind. There you go: the perfect remote has only 26 buttons.

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Ganesh Muthiah

Top 5 Olympic Sites for Following the Games

Top 5 Olympic Sites for Following the Games

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Dell Mini 5

Dell Mini 5: we have it (update: new pics and video!)

That's right! After all those quick and dirty appearances, we've finally got our own Dell Mini 5 (aka "Streak" or "M01M") prototype for a more in-depth look. Got a question about this mysterious beast? Drop us a line here and we'll try to answer all your queries in our forthcoming impressions post.

Update: We've just added a bunch of new pics!

Update 2: And now we have a quick video after the break. You're welcome.

Dell Mini 5 in-depth hands-on

Dell Mini 5 in-depth hands-on -- part ii

SONY PSP

Designer Tai Chiem has come out with the PSP 2 design. This concept comes with OLED display that can be rolled up when not in use. It features an electric charge powering the display, stereo speakers on either side double as a jog wheel and camera control. Nice work but I'm sure that it is not going to happen, for PSP I mean, could be useful for other devices maybe to come in that shape. More pictures after the break.

Sony just barely updated the PSP but designer Tai Chiem is already thinking about the next iteration. His design calls for a flexible OLED display that can be conveniently rolled. An electric charge powering the display stiffens it while providing near bezeless prime real estate for gaming. Stereo speakers on either side double as a jog wheel and camera control. He also envisages Sony finally implementing two joysticks. Pipe dream or not, it's sexy and lives up to its name; it don't get any more portable than this.

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Ganesh Muthiah

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Good Morning...
 
Every right implies a responsibility;
every opportunity, an obligation;
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Regards, 

Ganesh Muthiah
 

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Kerala Awaiting Dubai Internet City's Response

Kerala Awaiting Dubai Internet City's Response

With new offers for the proposed Rs.15 billion Smart City in Kochi coming its way, the Kerala government is awaiting a final response from Dubai Internet City (DIC) officials on the project.

Joseph C. Mathew, IT advisor to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, told IANS, "We have made it very clear to DIC that under no circumstances would the land given for the project be made freehold.

"Almost 10 days back we informed them that the government was not interested in giving a freehold on the land. The land would only be given on a leasehold basis and we are not insisting on the period of leasehold," said Mathew.

The total land to be leased for the project is 248 acres at a cost of Rs.1.04 billion. A pet project of the previous United Democratic Front government, the Smart City project involves the setting up of an IT park in Kochi.

The DIC team was here for discussions in the last week of February, following which Achuthanandan had announced that a final decision on the project would be taken before the assembly session began March 2. But things did not go according to plan, as DIC insisted on freehold rights to the land.

"They have agreed on all the other terms and it is only on this aspect that the project has been delayed. We have decided to would wait for some more time and then send them a final letter asking for their decision," said Mathew.

Reports indicate that the Achuthanandan government is insisting on giving only leasehold rights because two other players - the Hong Kong-based JB Group and the local giant Muthoot Papachan Group - have submitted proposals that are far more attractive than the DIC proposal.

"Yes, two companies have announced their interest by meeting the chief minister and also holding press conferences. There are several others who are waiting in the wings to set up the project fully on our terms," said Mathew. hat lets people transform their top sites into nine visual bookmarks that are available in any new tab

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Ganesh Muthiah