JP1 Remotes

Actually, they both come from the Detroit Free Press. One's from back in August and the other is from this month, but I only just noticed them when doing a Google search for JP1 stuff.

The August article:
http://www.freep.com/money/tech/newman13_20030813.htm

The October article:
http://www.freep.com/money/tech/newman8_20031008.htm

Heather Newman wrote:JP1 programming started because the folks who made remote controls wanted to give themselves a way to quickly load in configurations in their new remote controls and upgrade them if necessary.

Smart geeky types quickly figured out that if they added the plugs to compatible remotes, they could do their own reprogramming.

yeah, thats us alright. she has us pegged. she really nailed it.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

Smart geeky types quickly figured out that if they added the plugs to compatible remotes, they could do their own reprogramming.

She's one to talk. I've heard her on NPR (on the late, lamented Todd Mundt Show). She's the poster-girl for smart and geeky if ever there was one.

And I mean that as a complement.

Heather Newman wrote:Spreadsheets that have been created by the company and by other enthusiasts have the configurations you need to plug in devices not normally supported by your remote.

Company

Alain

jetstar52 wrote:She's the poster-girl for smart and geeky if ever there was one.
And I mean that as a complement.

I think we should get her to do an interview with The Robman. Help to get the word out. There are lots of geeks out there who would love this stuff but they don't know it exists. Another good place to get the word out would be TechTV's "The Screen Savers" or "Call for Help." Patrick Norton who co-hosts the show likes to get into the guts of things and he has written several reviews (here and here) on the the subject of remote controls including a link to remotecentral, but from his reviews it would appear he does not know JP1 exists.

jetstar52 wrote:She's the poster-girl for smart and geeky if ever there was one.

Hmmm... then this must have slipped by her editors:

which is the 24-pin female plug that most older computers used for printers

"which is the 24-pin female plug that most older computers used for printers"

hehe i noticed that too. I was thinking, uhh, I just bought the wrong connector then.

1) The other error "Spreadsheets that have been created by the company" was more serious than the one digit typo.

2) Step back a moment and think about what normal people would think about a group in which those two errors can be commented on with just a quote. No one thought any of the rest of us would need to be told the corrected information, and of course I don't think so either, but I think it may make the whole group the poster example for "get a life". (OK, even my wife knows the number of pins in a printer port connector, but I'd bet less than a third of my co-workers do, and I work in a software company).

johnsfine wrote:it may make the whole group the poster example for "get a life"

May...

Most of us fit that classification already

johnsfine wrote:it may make the whole group the poster example for "get a life"

I resemble that remark

The funny thing about this particular hobby is that most of us got into it with the goal of reducing the number of remotes on our coffee tables down to one, and in that respect, most of us where successful, however this success is greatly offset by the number of remotes now in our basements!

OOps, I generally have 20+ either on or within easy reach of my desk
Another 15 in a closet, and another 12 or so stashed in the Living room, and that doesn't count the 1 which sees heaviest use in the bedroom.

Jim