If you love watching Blu-ray movies on your PS3 but haven't picked up the official bluetooth remote, this could only mean one thing: having one too many remotes annoys you. There is, however, a solution to your cluttered coffee table woes, and it comes in the form of
IR2BT. This little palm-sized device allows a universal remote's infrared signal to be converted into bluetooth, which is recognized by the PS3. Having less remotes means less time switching between them; this is good for those who just want one remote to rule them all.
The device promises to transmit "all 51 Sony Blu-ray remote codes including the PS button for Power On / Off." It operates off two AA batteries, or a mini-USB connector. The device will set you back $55. That's pretty expensive as opposed to just getting the
official remote. We guess it's really just a matter of space over money. Which is more important to you?
[Via
Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Pete @ Mar 28th 2008 6:35PM
Ordered mine last night!
They are sold out now, but they will have another 100 available per week.
Popfrogs @ Mar 28th 2008 6:39PM
The writer is overlooking a valuable (BR) customer that I personally have seen more than once: people with universal remotes that control everything. The PS3 doesn't fit in well with all other entertainment stuff when it comes to this due to the lack of IR. Most solutions which allow one box to control another (MythTV etc.) rely on an IR Blaster to gain control, and the PS3 simply can't fit in here.
I hope this little device does the trick, I have some clients I've been recommending the PS3 to as a great home media hub/BR player but have been reluctant due to this big problem. If this solves it, I'll get a chance to make alot of money. Maybe I'll get one for myself and stash all the damn remotes I have sitting on my table.
Lilinka @ Mar 28th 2008 9:09PM
Well now they should be reluctant because FW2.20 breaks the ability to stream MPEG/AVC off media servers.
alienclays @ Mar 29th 2008 10:20AM
here's another option if you havn't heard
/www.schmartz.com
i let my ps3 fold most of the time so on off is not nessasary.
they have an onoff version but at $50 and the little sticker that's part of it i'll pass.
Andir3.0 @ Mar 28th 2008 6:55PM
$55 is a bit steep, and I bought an Eyetoy...
Hashbrown_Hunter @ Mar 28th 2008 6:56PM
"We guess it's really just a matter of space over money. Which is more important to you?"
Obviously money...unless you're OCD or something.
Mutsch @ Mar 28th 2008 6:58PM
Here is my cheaper solution that works as perfect.
http://playstation-disorder.com/comments.php?blog_id=1141&
Nevertheless, interesting concept though.
Pete @ Mar 28th 2008 7:21PM
No, it doesn't "work as perfect." The Nyko takes up controller slot 1, so you have to re-assign controllers to play a game because a lot of games only work with controller 1. The Nyko can't turn the PS3 on and off. This can. The Nyko sticks an ugly dongle out the front of the PS3. The IR2BT can be placed anywhere so long as it can see your remote.
This basically makes a Harmony remote work just as well as the PS3's bluetooth remote.
DA @ Mar 28th 2008 7:19PM
Sorry Mutsch, no power button no go. This IR2BT product does support the power button.
Dan Davis @ Mar 28th 2008 8:15PM
This is the solution I've been using for about six months now. So what if the power cannot be turned on/off... get your lazy asses up off the couch for 5 seconds. Or better yet, turn it on, put your disc in, then go sit down.
Mutsch @ Mar 29th 2008 2:47AM
You guys are of course right. But those caveats are not as big as you make them sound.
First of all my controller still sits there to turn on my PS3, no big deal for me. Most of the games work either way: controller 1 or 2. If this is an issue, simply turn off the controller and turn it on again. And re. the USB dongle looking ugly, well it's hardly visible on my configuration. But then again, where do you put this cigarette pack size box?
Ok, it almost works as perfect. Nevertheless I am sticking to it as it is anyway just my second choice in most cases. The PS3 is most of the time there to be played ;-)
Herby @ Mar 28th 2008 8:03PM
This is awesome news. Finally, I can use my Harmony.
Thank You
Kruegmeister @ Mar 28th 2008 8:15PM
If it works I'll get it. I have that Blu Wave USB one from Nyko which works but I cannot leave it plugged in permant because it messes with PS2 games and some PS3 games because it likes to be Controller #1... Plus it also works slowly with my Logitech 360 Harmony Controller.
Plus Powerbutton support. Yeah Boy...
$55 may seem like a lot but keep in mind most of us looking at it probably have a Remote Like a Logitech Harmony which is $100 minimum...
Count me In.
Rye21 @ Mar 28th 2008 8:44PM
Call me ignorant but I have never understood the need to have a Universal remote, I have never bothered with controlling all my electronics with one control and I am quite happy to use multiple ones. This to me seems like a waste of money, not that I have a problem with anyone getting it, it's just my opinion.
Herby @ Mar 28th 2008 9:02PM
Rye12 you have to beg, borrow, or steal a Logitech Harmony Remote for one month. Trust me you will love it. It is super easy to setup and use. The Logitech is going to be a split second slower than the normal remote though.
Rye21 @ Mar 29th 2008 6:03AM
Well I guess it wouldn't hurt... lol ok I will take you up on that offer, I have recently got a bonus so it wont break the bank lol.
Once I use it there will be no going back to the difficult task of using multiple remotes.
John @ Mar 28th 2008 9:03PM
What? That's not a picture of the PS4??????
Desi_D @ Mar 28th 2008 9:43PM
Harmony rocks with Nyko remote.
I also used to be one of those people that thought I didn't need a universal remote, 'till I got Harmony. Recently my Harmony ran out of batteries at unfortunate time, I was reminded what a pain it is trying to find 5 remotes with a two and half year old in the house.
Desi_D @ Mar 28th 2008 9:48PM
BTW, not being able to turn PS3 on/off is no issue for me, it's on most of the time. Nyko remote is like $12 bucks on Amazon and does everything else just fine.
Ether02 @ Mar 28th 2008 11:09PM
The Dual shock 3 controller works fine for me :)
Faar @ Mar 28th 2008 11:31PM
The PS3 controller is amazingly well suited to movie playback. All the important functions are directly mapped to buttons, unlike with the 360 where you have to fsck around in a fiddly on-screen menu with the controller for movie playback, just because MS wants to artificially inflate their IR remote sales.
The downside of using a controller as movie remote is of course the quite short battery life of the sixaxis...
This thing's nice for those who care about universal remotes I guess. I don't, I find Sony's BT remote to be quite handy since it doesn't require line of sight, but to each his own is my view. I just think that for over 50 bux you could have received a somewhat more professional-looking plastic box. That one looks very cheap and cruddy.
VeganTnT @ Mar 28th 2008 11:24PM
Has anyone actually received their ir2bt unit yet?
I want to know how much room the case has. I want to put rechargable batteries in it and wire it to recharge while plugged in with miniusb.
SMH @ Mar 29th 2008 12:11AM
I II got the IR2BT and if you go to ir2bt.com you will be all my comments about it.
SMH @ Mar 29th 2008 12:11AM
You can't use batteries and usb at the same time.
el swordo @ Mar 29th 2008 8:25AM
you can get 2 blue tooth remotes for that price.
George Arauz @ Mar 29th 2008 7:57PM
55 bucks for a friggin remote? hellz no
Truckondo @ Mar 29th 2008 8:32PM
I can't believe all the negativity toward this product. If you like handling 4, 5, 6 remotes, then this is not for you. I like having one remote that will do custom macros. The Ir2bt solves the problem with that. Most of my customers have Harmony or URC remotes. Most of them have the equipment in a closet or closed cabinet so the looks of the device really aren't important since we glue an IR emitter onto the product. Sony fumbled when they didn't put an IR receiver in the PS3. They fumbled again when they failed to come up with a solution like this one. Shame that they sold out. I would of bought one that day if I wasn't working.
Popfrogs @ Mar 30th 2008 12:20PM
You and I know people in a higher financial level than most. Some of my clients could use this since they have alot of equipment behind doors in their theater rooms or in a remote closet.
We see the value in it, I imagine alot of the people on the AVS Forums do too. Personally I want one just so I can put away my 4 remotes (HDTV, cable box, receiver, blu-ray) and replace them all with the Harmony. I'm still mad at Sony for not providing something like this for us yet. No IR on a consumer electronics item that is their most full-featured and future-proofed Blu-ray player? Come on.
Plus, if you have a MythTV box or some other media server, those things always want to use an IRblaster to control other devices, and if there's no IR available, well...you're screwed.
If this guy can actually get these built in volume he'll make a fortune. If he was really smart he might consider bundling it with one of the Harmony remotes (at least as an option).
The Sound @ Mar 29th 2008 11:59PM
Kinda sad that we'd have to pay $55, when Sony could've easily put a sensor in for like what? A dollar?
Oh well, I'm content with the Bluetooth Sony remote, so I can't complain.
ryansurfer @ Mar 31st 2008 12:05PM
You could just buy the Nyko Blue Wave remote that uses an IR usb dongle and that dongle will be conpatable with Logitech harmony universal remotes. I used this method with the xbox 360 Logitech Harmony remote and it works great except you just can't turn the PS3 on or off. (ie. no PS button but everything else works fine, you can even back out of movies and into the XMB)
Mark @ Apr 30th 2008 8:07PM
if anyone is interested and doesn't want to wait, there is one of these for sale on ebay