Re: IR universal remote program for Zoomer

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Message-id: <9311111341.AA22744@trantor.harris-atd.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 93 08:41:52 EST
From: starnet!apple!trantor.harris-atd.com!chuck (Chuck Musciano)
To: zoomer-list-1993@grot.starconn.com
Subject: Re: IR universal remote program for Zoomer
X-Sun-Charset: US-ASCII
Content-Length: 1391
Status: OR

> While casually following this recent thread of discussion on
> how to combine hardware and software on a Zoomer (or similar)
> device to create a universal appliance (TV, VCR) remote control,
> I've seen every angle covered except one:  Why would you want
> to do this?
> 
> [ mentions physical affordances, no backlighting, turning on/off, 
>   expense, speed as drawbacks ]


    Well, how about this:  You tell the Zoomer the shows you like to 
watch [in my case, Seinfeld, Frasier, Coach, NYPD Blue, Bob] as well as
content indicators [comedy, docudrama, etc].  Via your wireless pager
PCMCIA card, the Zoomer gets the TV listings on a realtime basis from
some information vendor.  Using those listings and your choices, it
automatically switches the TV and VCR to meet your needs.

     Of course, this only works if you sit the Zoomer in front of the
TV.  Beyond thatm the Zoomer could block out your schedule to make sure
you have time to watch your favorite shows :-)

     On a separate note: will Palm be publishing the format of the various
data files?  I'd like to write apps that use data in the address book, date
book, and note book.  Can I get to that data?  Is there some way to drive
the Palm apps via some form of IPC?  The nice thing about the Newton is that
anyone can access the soups and use the data.  Is Palm making their stuff
"closed" or "open"?

Chuck Musciano