Bluetooth only for PS3 remote -- toss that universal remote
by Nick Doerr 
{ Oct 12th 2006 at 3:30PM }
So, when we announced the PS3 peripherals, a couple of people wondered if there was still going to be an IR port so you could keep using that handy universal remote. The verdict is in and, no, you may not. Bluetooth is the only format being supported, it appears. Sad, but true. The PS3 is blue, blue, blue... Blu-ray, blue laser diodes, Bluetooth, likes the Blues, Bluegrass... you know. Now you get to handle an extra remote if you so desire buying the PS3 one -- or just use the SIXAXIS. It's not terribly difficult, but it's still an extra "remote". What think you, readers? How aggravated are you that there's no IR support? It's fairly annoying, but we've little choice. It's time to juggle those remote controllers.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Foppe @ Oct 12th 2006 3:42PM
Why do people want remotes?
My controller do the work perfect.
If people want remotes, then let them buy the official remotes instead of complaining.
AmgKmpsR @ Oct 12th 2006 4:52PM
Yeah I agree with Foppe, the PS2 controller handled dvd functions just fine unlike my 360 (which pisses me off that I can't press one button to pause a movie!)
Too much Hype @ Oct 12th 2006 5:42PM
Simple fix. IR devices that plug into the USB port like they do for a normal PC. You know, keyboards, mouse, my Windows XP:MCE wireless controller.
ndoerr @ Oct 12th 2006 5:49PM
@ Too much Hype -- genius! A clever fix. Thanks for that.
testerg35 @ Oct 12th 2006 6:00PM
The thing is that Sony is pushing this as a hi-def player for your home theatre. Sorry, but the siaxis or whatever its called is not same as a real remote. Then by not including IR, you can't use most of the universal controllers out there.
goody24 @ Oct 12th 2006 7:09PM
I spent a boat load of money on a logitech universal remote to control my whole home theatre. With one button i have the whole thing set up to watch a dvd, play a game, watch regular tv, etc.
Except for PS3??
Jason @ Oct 12th 2006 9:14PM
Universal remotes are either total crap or more expensive than my stereo tuner.
IR ports are decades-old technology now. How many times have you been frustrated because someone was standing in the way of the TV or your foot was blocking your path to the IR receiver? Bluetooth doesn't have that problem, folks. It's not a directional signal, so it'll work as long as you're within the proper radius. I'd call this decision a good one. Thanks, Sony.
B1gC72 @ Oct 12th 2006 10:20PM
im with Jason. Bluetooth is a good decision. IR is annoying alot of the time, at least for me, since it never seems to work and I end up doing the reception dance (which is reserved for my cellphone...). You guys dont have to worry though because thats what the third party guys are for, they clean up the manufacturer's mistakes and oversights. Im willing to bet that not too long after launch there will be either a USB IR receiver, like the ones mentioned in earlier post, or a universal remote with both Bluetooth and IR support, with the later more than likely being the best option, and more than likely coming from Logitech. Everybody is getting all worked up for nothing. Worse come to worse, just use your SIXAXIS, i mean it is wireless.
Alexander @ Oct 13th 2006 3:10PM
I'm pretty sure that third party IR-to-BT remote converters (little boxes that resize near your PS3 translating IR signals into Bluetooth commands) will be available.
Elric @ Oct 13th 2006 11:35AM
Let's hope so, Sony seems to think a lot of people are eager to jump five years and ditch all their current home technology for theirs. I personally don't see this happening. One step at a time? sure... but my remote was 200 bucks and I'm not getting rid of it.... ever, it's lovely. Funny thing... it's a Sony Integrated Remote Commander..... controlls Air conditioning, blinds everything, except 1 Sony product.
tom @ Oct 13th 2006 5:40PM
Oy. Yet another forced adoption of technology that nobody's asking for. Thanks Sony! I don't need ANOTHER remote in my collection. I was this close to buying one of those Logitech remotes, but I'll have to wait for them to make a bluetooth/IR combo version. That shouldn't be pricey. -_-
Taha @ Oct 14th 2006 1:08AM
While I thought the idea of using bluetooth for the controllers was great, im really not happy that they aren't using IR at all.
I have a Logitech Harmony 880 remote and I dont want to use a controller or the PS3 remote to control it when watching Blu-Ray movies, I want to use my universal remote. The whole point of getting it was to be able to control everything with it.
This just seems like a cheap way of making people buy their remote and its really stupid of Sony to do so when they're aiming the PS3 to be some mega multimedia system.
ared @ Oct 14th 2006 9:38AM
Blutooth technology is general does have other problems though.
You have to train items to work with bluetooth and you can loose that connection and have to retrain it again. There's also open or encrypted communication. If the former, anyone can record your actions, kinda like unencrypted wireless. If the latter, it's not supposed to happen, but again, this is something that must be setup.
With IR this wasn't a problem, because it's not strong enough to travel outside your house. Also I've never had to retrain IR, unless you change remotes/equipment.
I've also found that some wireless items can interfere with bluetooth and break your connection.
I don't know how any of this affect the PS3 or if it affects the PS3 at all, until we get our hands on it to test.
ron hern @ Oct 14th 2006 11:17PM
my PS2 remote came with an IR reciever (even though it didnt need it) can I just use that?
Roofus @ Oct 16th 2006 12:00AM
#7 that is ludicrous. You don't design a way of remotely handling system functions based on whether someone may be standing in front of your tv. If they are, there is a simple fix. Use your mouth to tell them to move. And if your "stereo receiver" is less than a Logitech Harmony 880, then you don't need to be speaking in reference to "home theater" at all.
#5 hit the nail on the head with this one. Sony has advertised this thing as "an all-in-one" device, and is pushing it as a media center piece. It is supposedly just as much a stand alone Blu-Ray player as it is a stand alone video game system. Yet no one with a moderate to expensive home theater setup wants a second remote sitting next to their expensive and advanced universal macro enabled remote, and no one wants a game controller sitting there either.
This was a terrible decesion by Sony. And if they didn't include IR because it is "old tech" (which if it really is, why are 99.99% of tech manufacturers still using it), then they could have included "RF" and we could have hid the thing in our closets our let our friends stand in front of it and we would have been fine.
alienclay @ Oct 17th 2006 2:20AM
.... so, my question is this sony,...
what else is using bluetooth? what high def TV? what upscale reciever?
making the ps3 a long term "future prof" system is one thing (the ps3 will be the first BD player with BD live download capablity and hdmi 1.3) but this shouldn't be done at the expense of inexpensive current tech compatablity. an ir sensor would have cost what, 25 cents to a dollar include in each ps3? everybody else using bluetooth for remotes is still a long way off, and is in no way as cheap a solution as IR.
(honestly, i was about to buy the rm-ax4000 remote,... oh well, i can wait. for something better but this is very irritating.)