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Intel's response to the Apple 6 button remote: 0 Buttons!

news.com.com — "Who's got the easist device to use?" Oh how Intel can wish. Watch Intel demonstrate how their 0 button remote is "better" than Apple's 6 button one in this video.

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  • ani-pockdotnet, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6FTA: "We've set the bar for 0 buttons on a remote control, so we'd like to see that be bettered for anyone that would like to take us up on this challenge"
    • jeromegn, on 10/12/2007, -9/+5Hmm, what can be better than 0 buttons? I'd like that on everything... like domotics in my whole house!
    • ani-pockdotnet, on 10/12/2007, -5/+30If Intel makes it, I'm going to lose my voice over things like "Turn off the lights"...
    • pwill, on 10/12/2007, -15/+9??
      Mac OS X has had voice support fince 1999 (I think)
      and with the Mac Mini Media Center, this is the same thing. No digg.
    • fyre2012, on 10/12/2007, -2/+31There was certainly more than 0 buttons on that remote...
      they had to push one to turn on the speech listener, firstly.

      It was like a normal remote otherwise (in terms of the number of buttons)
    • zirtbow, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13Who is going to want to make something so crappy you have to repeat yourself several times for it to understand you. I probably would eventually end up throwing the darn thing and easily switch over to a normal 'button' remote.
    • alej744, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3oooooo, im challenged
    • PSPothead, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2In this case (as people have said about Tuttle [google it if you dont know what I'm talking about]), less really is less.
    • PhysicsTheory, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6People dont seem to understand that this is not a product, it was a conceptual demo. Yeah it didn't work 5 times, but that isn't the point. I was at that IDF (which was over a month ago, why is this on digg today?), and what the article fails to mention is after that demo, Don Macdonald said, this is merely a challenge to the industry and tongue-in-cheek "challenge" to Apple. Don wanted to show that if it is done right, we can even further improve the HCI aspects of computers in entertainment. Anyways, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple responds, "okay" and builds it in as a properly working feature of Frontrow when Leopard hits. I guess we'll have to wait and see... :)
    • coolshoes, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12What idiot decided the number of buttons is the only way to measure ease of use for a remote?

      Making a user talk into the remote...you basically have a remote with a command line interface. How the hell is Joe Sixpack going to know what they can say into the mic? Waaaay easier to look at a few buttons and click the one you want. Back to the drawing board, Intel.
    • 500freestyle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I could better that. Negative one buttons...
    • monobrau, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If it really had 0 buttons, then you wouldn't need to find it when you lose it --- just yell a lot.

      (hint: its in the couch)
    • Mac2492, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I believe you forgot the invisible microscopic text that reads, "Note: The remote must work."
  • Ireland, on 10/12/2007, -11/+56If it's connected to the internet you can always ask the remote: "where can I buy a Mac?"
  • penguinix, on 10/12/2007, -32/+7The problem is it doesn't work yet. There was a video on cnet a while back where Intel was demoing the remote and it did a VERY bad job recognizing any voice commands. Also who can or wants to remember all the voice commands needed to operate it.
    • ani-pockdotnet, on 10/12/2007, -5/+18Uh hi, please click on the story link and then hit yourself with this hammer. *Give penguinix a hammer*
    • packynix, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4hahahaha ani you just made my day
  • Broadway, on 10/12/2007, -2/+52Didn't he have to press a button to activate the voice control?
    • dimplemonkey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18Yeah, no kidding, I thought he pressed a button several times before he got this thing to work?
    • TheShrike, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Yeah, not joke. If you look when he holds it towards the camera, you can obviously see what looks like a standard remote control, complete with keypad and all. It also appears that the press of a button on the side activates the speech recognition.

      What would be nice is if there were some sort of clip-on mic that would transmit to your media center via bluetooth. Kind of like the communicators on StarTrek TNG. If it's gonna have all the regular buttons a normal remote would have, why bother? Surely the sound from any playing program would interfere with the voice recognition, and you'd have to pick it up and hold it close to talk anyway...
    • jon3k, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0You mean like Vocera? http://www.vocera.com/
    • bvinson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1if they are going to install VR why do you need a remote at all. My computer has a key word it is always is listening for. ounce It hears it, its ready for VR commands I use it with my media center now works about 75% of the time If I am allow 50% if there are others in the room. Not to metion is the media center hears its self say the keyword. *shakes head* I think the best thing to remeber is a optional toy. Nothing important
  • DoGoodDrugs, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7voice recognition has been on computers for a while.. this implementation was terrible to say the least... why wont this work? people dont want to talk to their TVs and computers.
    • frem001, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3yeah it is quite awkward talking to my mac even when it answers back, now imagine talking to your media centre and all you hear is a r2-d2 beeb.
    • Shinglor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"people dont want to talk to their TVs and computers."

      Exactly, maybe one day it will be normal for certain devices but right now it's just awkward and a waste of time.
    • FlyingLlama, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1and what if i have to keep quiet, for whatever reason. someone is on the phone, or sleeping etc. I don't want to be forced to speak at my remote! I think buttons will always have some presence until we can find something better, which i think can only exist in telepathy.

      Until we have telepathy, buttons will have to remain, no matter how retro and futuristic Intel or any other company wants to gloat about. And it will have to have at least 5 buttons to be usable.

      Besides, i really don't have any problem with six buttons, i mean come on...
  • Ireland, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Seriously though the real funny part was the fact that he had the cheek to say to the audience to clap louder becuase he put in so much effort! Isn't that the point, he put in too much effort!!!
  • Nanx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Cool idea, but five tries? Really?
  • Terc, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13Yeah, thanks but no thanks. I think Apple wins this time.
    • harshbarj, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Seeing it's in a noisy conference hall and it's still in development I'd say that was impressive. It chose to ignore a command till it was sure it could understand. Something voice command on computers still have yet to achieve.
    • foobario, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1"I think..."

      There you go exaggerating again.

      How is it that Apple 'wins' this time? They win by coming out with a mouse that has many buttons, after years of one-button interfacing with their Wonkaputers?

      Intel dropping the ball != Apple scored a touchdown.
    • powerhaus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1this is about apple's rf remote control for the Intel iMacs and MBP's. not apple's mighty mouse.
    • dioscaido, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I think once Apple gets a little bit more than their 0.00001% of the media-center market share, then we can say they've "won".
    • ronaldpoi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yes, Apple have voice recognize on Mac OSX, also, their remote control for media center is great for anything from Front Row to iAlertU... what i want from a remote is practicity... if i already have the remote in my hand, i can easy push some buttons, it's all there... there should be no need to push a button, then move it close to my face and also speak to it to do something... that's not practical at all...
  • spy1325, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5its a one button remote... attached to the side of a regular remote, i bet this will be used just as much as cell phone voice activation is used. people will find it novel at first but find that simple button presses are just more efficiant
  • imightbewrong, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1most impressive....kinda
  • spartan018, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i hope it recognizes (and ignores) curses, i wouldnt be surprised if i became especially enraged after trying to get BSG to record 20 times.
  • tacos4me, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It looks like it has quite a few buttons..
  • Laughingman234, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1old...funny...but very old.
  • digitallysick, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0haha that guy spoke into the remote like 10 times before it worked, and it still has alot of buttons , dumb!
  • BlueStarr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2It doesn't work! hahaha After six attempts the thing finally decides to get up off its lazy ass to do a little work. Imagine if you had to press a button six times to get it work..... ;)
  • rot97, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Are you guys that lazy that you need this product?? I think this is crap.
  • paragonconcept, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3until they make a remote that plugs into my brain - i will not be impressed ......
  • MaxwellTD, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3im not sure but i think it takes more mucles to speak then to press a button :P
  • phuibonhoa, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I want a remote that reads me thoughts...
  • timwizard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This discriminates the dumb.
  • phuibonhoa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2on second thought hold off on that, it'll prolly fill my DVR with tons of porn
  • salsaman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It looked like there were other buttons on that remote control too... a bunch of them... He was accidentally pressing the "Magic 8-Ball Voice Interpreter" instead of the "Voiceiver Plus" button. Any MS folks reading this-- here's the mantra to succed in slickness: "USABILITY TESTING!" Say it a few hundred times a day-- spread it around. I want to see good stuff out of MS, once and for all-- they can do it, there are too many smart people there, but their management can't seem to execute properly.
  • chrism1128, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I think you could beat that by having any number of buttons that actually do SOMETHING.
  • alexgreggs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Voice activated anything is useless, when most people use it there will be some background audio going, in this case most likely the current channel will be on.
    • smokester, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That's easy to fix, just have it lower the volume when you activate the mic

      External noise isn't so easy to fix, like being at a conference, but that level of background noise in your living room is unlikely
  • stoney27, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Well reminds me of when Mr. Scott went to the mac and said computer, speaking
    into the mouse :) Then of course, ah keyboard how quaint.
  • CaptanAwal, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4old+dupe=no digg
  • tidu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think he did about three times the walking needed to get up and press a button on the TV and sit back down.
  • JubbaG, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The guy seemed rather excited when it worked.
  • Knoton, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I shall beat them, my remote will have negative 2 buttons, even fewer than zero. It shall accomplish this the same way things work in Soviet Russia, buttons push YOU!!
    • alky, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1My remote will go around removing buttons from other remotes! That gives it way less than negative 2 buttons!
  • oyourmom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4This is so old. I saw it like a month ago.
  • DtectiveGFriday, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8What time is Family Guy on TV? [beep]
    What time is Family Guy on TV? [beep]
    What time is Family Guy on TV? [beep]
    What time is Family Guy on TV? [beep]
    What time is Family Guy on TV? [Family Guy TV schedule] Hey! It actually worked for once! Whoa!
    • fourzerofour, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Actually it's: Wot time is Family Guy on TV?
    • bking, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2You forgot "god, please let this work" after the second one...
  • idarkiswordi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Today, 0 buttons, tomorrow, -10 buttons.
  • kalphegor, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3Intel 1
    Apple 0
    • piecewise, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5hahahaha. I love sarcastic comments like this.
    • ThinkBox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Dont you mean...

      Intel: 0
      Apple: 6

      haha
  • ledmatrix, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Quite frankly, I prefer buttons. God, how lazy are we going to get!
    • kalphegor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3or stupid...
    • sandwichpants, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1When we have a bluetooth connection from our cell phone to our remote control because we're too lazy to lean over to the other side of the couch to pick it up?
  • Judman, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3What the flip this story is 39 DAYS OLD! +old.

    http://digg.com/technology/Video:_Intel_tries_NO_buttons_on_remote(Apple_s_6_vs_40_button_remote_)
    • smokester, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6WHAT! your comment is ten minutes old?!

      *doesn't read*
    • Amplix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1smokester.. that was brilliant hahaha
  • Spal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3wasnt he pressing a button everytime before he talked into the remote???
  • munboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2XFD

    Seriously, i've always hated voice recognition anything. Ever called Sears parts and repair? WORST. IVR. EVER.
  • charge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'd feel like such a ***** moron talking to my remote control. That, and it really takes more effor to hold the thing up ot your face and talk then push a button.
  • Tom_Riddle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So with all that walking and talking and pushing the side button and everything.

    I'd rather just push the damn button.
    • smokester, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's not as simple as that though, you'd have to navigate to the listing search page (easy enough on a remote, I'll give you that), and then enter 'Family Guy', it's this last bit that voice recognition would make alot easier if it worked perfectly, which it doesn't
  • dotpage, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2UAHuuaUHAuHA
    1 out of 5!!!
    WoW! Windows is getting better, it use to be 1 out of 123243523453
    My Linux box can do alot better, and it works for FREE!!!
  • darkvam, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yea sure it may not have any buttons besides the voice activator but that thing is huge compared to the apple remote.
    Six buttons isnt even that bad.
  • gmwatkins, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I can only imagine how many buttons I could have pushed in the amount of time it took that thing to work. lol, what a piece of *****
  • josephacote, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Okay, cool... but who cares about voice recognition? It's easier to just hit the center button to select. EVERYONE knows how to use the iPod controls, so why not use a remote that any guest can easily figure out. Not to mension parties, what if there's background noise? Voice recognition is no good with excess noise.

    I say good try Intel, but Apple already made a well designed remote. Stick to integrating VIIV into people's existing systems, and leave the basic stuff to Apple.
  • twitndiggfan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2if it worked, in a box the size of the apple remote, it'd b sweet, but as of now, the apple remote is still the best remote in the computer industry.
  • whiteV6, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Good Thing it work after the first 5 tryes, and you need to push a BUTTON to do it. So Much for the
    "Zero Button Remote"
  • noeljohnhoward, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1uhh how hard is it to just press some buttons on a remote?
  • SmeRndmGy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Once they get it working it looks like it would be great. My mom has something similar on her car and it is VERY convenient. Although technically it has 1 button. You hold down a button while you talk to it, so it isnt just listening to all your conversations and changing radio stations and setting the navigation system to go to japan or something. I've been looking for a cheap USB remote, and while this certainly will not be cheap, it is interesting to see how the technology is evolving. I didnt even know that apple made a remote though. While I usually dont like apple products, a remote might be decent. I would be VERY surprised if it worked with anything other than mac OSX running on an apple computer though.
  • twisterX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This is so old. The video came out like March 8th
  • danpsmith, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1What a stupid goal. Real TV remotes are just fine with the amount of buttons they have, and so I would think that a computer controlled TV type device would be fine with the exact same amount of buttons or less. My beef with the MS remotes isn't the number of buttons, but rather the fact that only a limited number of the button's functions actually get passed onto the windows API at any given time. I'm not sure why they aren't given to all applications, but it seems that media center is the only thing that really works with the remote, besides simple buttons like play, next song, last song, the number pad and the volume controls. But whatever...
  • iMatt711, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2talking takes too much effort, anyway voice commands wont work i mean if i cant understand that chinese guy say herro how will a computer
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