On Jul 21, 7:16*pm, David Moyer <dav...@world.com> wrote:

> you'd be shocked to learn how much content you can control via appetv,
> so someday you'll see what i'm talking about.

You'd be shocked to learn that isn't what we were talking about.

We were talking about whether or not a device without IrDA can act as
a universal remote for the devices people have in their entertainment
center right now. Hey, by the way - guess what technology the Apple
remote that comes with the MacBook etc. uses. Hint - it's still
electromagnetic radiation, but the wavelength is shorter than radio.

I fully agree with you that someday every piece of entertainment you
enjoy will be delivered on an IP network, but we're not there yet.
And furthermore, even when we reach that point, it has nothing to do
with what txcvr will be required to talk to the remote control input
of consumer equipment. IR is cheap to Tx (one LED and a
microcontroller) and cheap to Rx (one photo-FET, an RC notch filter,
maybe an op-amp, and a microcontroller), it works across the world,
and it has no regulatory hurdles (no type approval is required).