Color touch-screen remote to control, share and distribute content

January 26, 2005

Philips is applying its Connected Planet vision to the area of home entertainment content control with the introduction of the RC9800i color touch-screen remote control, enabling consumers to easily manage where and how they consume content on audio and video devices.
The unique Philips RC9800i provides an easy-to-use touch-screen platform for controlling both networked and legacy audio and video devices in the home. With just a few clicks, the RC9800i enables full control over all media content in the home, using Wi-Fi connectivity and the UPnP networking protocol to access, control and distribute digital audio, video and photos from PCs and the Internet to Wi-Fi enabled AV devices.

Not much bigger than a paperback novel, the RC9800i features a 3.5-inch (9cm) LCD color touchscreen, providing a fully interactive interface for controlling and consuming content. Photos stored on a PC can be previewed on the RC9800i’s color display while Philips’ Digital Media Manager software enables the remote organization of media content on a PC. Online TV listings can also be quickly accessed via a broadband connection, with the RC9800i even being able to automatically cache the latest electronic TV guide information.

Quick and easy setup and control

For added convenience, the RC9800i features a quick and easy set-up through an intelligent setup wizard, ensuring trouble-free installation. Users simply inform the device of what equipment they want to control and how it is interconnected, or the RC9800i will create its own macros for turning on devices and selecting the right inputs. The RC9800i leverages an advanced control concept called Activity-Based Control. Instead of operating components one by one, Activity-Based Control blends the most frequently used functions into activities, such as watching DVDs or listening to CDs. The RC9800i’s touch interface then matches the activity with buttons that trigger smart macros, enabling users to watch DVDs with the touch of a button.

From the moment it is first switched on, the RC9800i is a remarkably easy-to-use device by means of an activity-based user interface. It is also remarkably flexible, with a side USB connection creating possibilities for service and feature upgrades. The RC9800i is also upgradeable via software downloads, ensuring that the device is well future-proofed.