Last night at an event in New York City, Universal Remote Control showed off their new flagship consumer model, the URC Digital R50 ($149). Convenience is key with the URC Digital R50, which even hockey moms and Joe Six-Packs can program using only the on-unit buttons and backlit two-inch TFT LCD color screen. Grab a shoebox because you could wind up retiring the original manufacturers' infrared (IR) remotes from as many as 18 different home theater components.
Neither computer nor internet connection is required to program the URC Digital R50, which instead arrives with the built-in "ProPerfectDatabase" benefiting from the in-the-trenches experience of professional installers. These thousands of pre-programmed control codes for TVs, receivers, DVRs, DVD, Blu-ray and even iPod docks greatly expedite the setup process. And in the unlikely event that a code for a particular device is missing, the URC Digital R50 is a learning remote that can be custom-educated to mimic the controls of just about anything that works on IR.
A self-explanatory setup wizard with tips and step-by-step instructions combined with clear graphics make a paper manual obsolete. Onboard memory notes favorite channels (with logos!) and helps execute macro commands containing up to 255 separate steps. Additional user-friendly features include smart volume control and sleep timer for an entire system full of gear and "Sofa Mode" which prevents battery drain if a button is pushed for a long time, as when trapped between the cushions. Speaking of battreries, it runs on four of them, in the common AA size, which are included in the box.
Designed for comfort and ease-of-use, the URC Digital 50 has buttons which are LED backlit and very deliberately arranged and grouped for intuitive access and operation. Look for a full hands-on review from Big Picture Big Sound Editor Chris Boylan in the weeks ahead.
Where to Buy:
More information at: www.universalremote.com
