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Topic:
Future Pronto software & further Musings...
This thread has 18 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Friday December 4, 1998 at 22:10
Clay W.
Historic Forum Post
Hi,
Jan van Ee provided some hint of things to come with future Pronto software but a question remains about what the software will do. Jan, could you confirm if my understanding is correct?

Currently, you can't have a macro button (multiple IR codes) on a device template page. The Pronto is currently arranged to segregate all the macro buttons on one set of pages. Jan's stated there is no inherent difference between macro buttons and regular buttons in the Pronto OS. I understood that to mean that future software would likely allow the user to arrange a Pronto configuration to have macro buttons and regular buttons on the same page. At least, it would appear there is no Pronto OS limitation that would prevent that.

By the way, until I had the chance to use a Pronto (I had to buy one first), I was a bit fuzzy about exactly how the Pronto OS was arranged and how I would be able to program it. That is why I took the time to provide what I hope was a detailed and clear description of my Pronto setup after I had a chance to work with mine.

After I learned the Pronto OS, I was to arrange my Pronto so controlling my home theater was simple even for someone who did not setup the remote (my wife). Don't get me wrong, she is very intelligent, but understanding how our previous remote control was programmed was less than clear. The Pronto, with its excellent (but improvable) labels, eliminates most new user difficulties.

Prior to buying the Pronto, I had been using a Mitsubishi X-255i. There is a good photo and a fair description of that remote in last month's issue of Equip magazine (a photo on the cover of a woman in an easy chair holding a Marantz RC2000II). The X-255i (about $140USD) has a small LCD display (to indicate the current active device) and all hard buttons - 19 buttons and 3 rockers on the front, and an additional 23 buttons and 3 rockers under a sliding cover. I was able to program that remote to adequately control my theater and used it for several years. However, the user can't label the buttons and you can't program ANY macros. This made it nearly impossible for my wife to use. Now, with the Pronto, we can both quickly and easily control the home theater.

In comparison, the only other system controller that comes close to the Pronto's ease of use is the Lexicon 700t ([Link: lexicon.com]). It is not user programmable and cost about $2000USD without programming. An A/V dealer near me estimated simple programming cost to be about $1500USD. I have used the Lexicon at this A/V dealer and it is truly great (Crestron and AMX also have controllers similar to the Lexicon, but they cost even more). My completely subjective opinion is that the Pronto achieves at least 90% of the Lexicon flexibility for only $400USD. When the software becomes available for the Pronto, it, too, will be truly great at a fraction of the price. As it is, I think the Pronto is clearly the best system controller for under $1500USD and I heartily recommend it to everyone who has a Home theater that cost less than $25,000 (at that price, the cost of a Lexicon controller becomes almost moot).

Hope this helps.

Clay W.
==================================
Received from Philips today....

Clay-
The software will be available in January of 1999, four short weeks away. This software will enable an enduser to configure, clone and store
Pronto files on a PC. This software basically mirrors the software that is "inside" the Pronto, but gives it a PC GUI. This is all done via an RS232 serial connection.

Philips Digital Group
====================================

OP | Post 2 made on Saturday December 5, 1998 at 01:28
jack schultz
Historic Forum Post
Clay,
Well I guess it's official per the above message from Philips PDG.
The software is more than one may expect and has been written very well. I have played a bit on beta so far and find that one can experiment as much as one likes, get comfortable and experiment some more.
Font size is adjustable, icon size is also adjustable. Many many features, too may to list.
My techs have had a few quick looks and they too could only say "cool". As fas as your macro question, no problem at all. How many do you want on the page, or for that matter on that device? I don't believe there's a limit. I would also guess that some may want the same macro on lots of menus, like ALL OFF?
OP | Post 3 made on Saturday December 5, 1998 at 10:15
George Mills
Historic Forum Post

I like Jacks's description better than the Phillips PDG rep. :-)
OP | Post 4 made on Saturday December 5, 1998 at 11:55
Timothy Morris
Historic Forum Post
So I guess Jack that ATM we cannot:

1. Change the order of the screens in each template

2. Create custom/edit current templates more than just editing size. Adding new buttons or designing new templates from scratch would be nice.

3. Create custom icons (to put into a 4th keyboard or otherwise)

with the version of the software you are testing now.

Certainly desirable for me, probably essential for others.

Tim.
OP | Post 5 made on Saturday December 5, 1998 at 13:14
Clay W.
Historic Forum Post
Jack,
Sounds awesome! I have been so pleased with the Pronto already (bought without physically handling the unit first) that I want to get the software as soon as possible. Can't wait to try it out. Any word on price and do you know when Philips will have an official complete software description?

Clay W.
OP | Post 6 made on Saturday December 5, 1998 at 14:20
jack schultz
Historic Forum Post
Where does one start?

More icons on any screen, no problem.
It's a drag and drop scenario.

Order of screens in a template, no problem.
I presume that frag and drop also solves this.

Custom icons, not sure yet about this, other than I have been told I could have an icon the size of an entire page if desired.

I will be doing much more poking around tomorrow and will advise further of results.

At the moment the software addresses everything that I could want. Easy to use also.

Jack
OP | Post 7 made on Saturday December 5, 1998 at 23:05
Troy
Historic Forum Post
Jack, Aside from the software issue (price, custom icons, etc.), I'm concerned with memory...my unit says that it currently has 30% available. How much more can it handle with more components, macros, icons, templates, etc.??? Furthermore, will there be an opportunity to increase the RAM size so that the unit does not become obsolete with the addition of components/functions to one's hometheater??? Thx for any input!
OP | Post 8 made on Saturday December 5, 1998 at 23:37
Darin Butcher
Historic Forum Post
the memory on my Pronto was at 44% when I got it this conserned me. But I read in the manual that the remote stores all deleted devices untill the memory gets tight then it defrags and deletes the un used info. It looks grim but If it get tight it should free some up. I've only used 15% and replaced every button on five remotes.
QUESTION:
Where is the serial number on or in the unit to match the one on the box??? You know for warranty
identification.

Thanxs to Jack for your help!!!!
youdaman:-)
OP | Post 9 made on Sunday December 6, 1998 at 03:44
Andy
Historic Forum Post
Just as a reference, mine started at 45-50% free
memory as well. With a ton of screw'n around
on macros and device panels, I got the free memory
down to 15%. So just for curiosity sake, I
intentionally added/deleted devices until all
free memory was exhausted. After the memory
purge was completed, I ended up with 34% free
memory. My current approximate configuration
is 8 devices (about 3-4 pgs each) and 25 macros
(about 5-10 commands each), all at a cost
of 10-12% memory available, so I wouldn't worry.





OP | Post 10 made on Sunday December 6, 1998 at 23:58
Jan van Ee
Historic Forum Post
Troy,

Something else to keep in mind is that the Pronto configuration file also stores all template devices (the hidden devices that are listed in the 'create new device' menu). If you only add devices on your PC, you can delete these template devices from the Pronto configuration file and make more room for 'real' devices.

Regards,

Jan
OP | Post 11 made on Monday December 7, 1998 at 00:16
jack schultz
Historic Forum Post
Troy,
Another great note is that Pronto also only stores one copy of an icon that's used multiple times and simply creates an internal reference when it's needed....again a memory saver.
Based upon using the software today, iy would appear that the the default buttons are all bitmaps. This too takes large amounts of memory and as Jan states, removing unused portions will free up memory.
OP | Post 12 made on Tuesday December 8, 1998 at 15:14
Patrick J. Quairoli
Historic Forum Post
Understanding that the release date for the Pronto software is January 99. Does anyone know th MSRP and/or ship date?

I agree a discount to existing Pronto Customers would be awesome!....Philips?

pjq
OP | Post 13 made on Tuesday December 8, 1998 at 19:44
Don Coleman
Historic Forum Post
Why not offer the software FREE to existing Pronto owners? When you come down to it current owners in the vanguard actually are beta sites, offering input to Philips in improving their product. Philips must have originally planned to make the software available since the product carton contains a slot in the styrofoam for the RS232 cable.
--Don Coleman
OP | Post 14 made on Tuesday December 8, 1998 at 19:51
Andy
Historic Forum Post
Speaking of that cable, will it be packaged with the software, the manual says it is packed with the docking station. Or is it something also
available at a third party supplier?
OP | Post 15 made on Tuesday December 8, 1998 at 23:48
jack schultz
Historic Forum Post
RE: Cable

It is molded at both ends so it would seem to be a "standard" assembly of some sort. As far as software distribution, that's still in the air at this time although I would expect some "public" announcements upcoming...perhaps worth tuning into mmm.hometheater.com once in a while for an update. If I were Philips, I would probably be thinking on similar lines to the thoughts previously posted as well as thinking about overall logistics to "roll out" as smoothly as possible.
In my oppinion, Philips stands to become very dominant with Pronto based upon what I've seen and done with the software on our Prontos in house, so with this in mind, careful trodding is in order.
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