Pronto is Dead...... long live....???
Discussion
So it would appear Philips have pulled the plug on the Pronto range, despite all the announcements at CEDIA, and have implied/said that no one has come forward to buy the IP, let alone the facilities.
So sods law, I've been caught napping again - first I buy one of the last Kuro monitors shipped to Europe which arrives just in time for Pioneer to announce Kuro is dead, and now I am gearing up to buy lots of Pronto controllers and back end, only to find that's dead too. I sense a pattern emerging!
Thing is, it's one thing having an "unsupported" telly, it's quite another to go buying into a home automation system that no longer exists as it'll be nigh-on unexpandable at a later date (barring Ebay), and whilst EU law requires them to continue to support it, that's in terms of parts not system updates / new features / WM or Android support etc etc...
Thus it begs the question: where now. I want something that will integrate with lighting, CCTV, access control, security, and multi-room A/V, all of which the Pronto seemed to be able to do in spades. Had the added bonus that I could wire 90% of it myself, just relying on our beloved A/V guru to do the final config and sign-off.
LivingControl? VERY pricey and seems to be closed system.
Control4? Seems clever, but again fairly closed and difficult to find local dealers.
Crestron Prodigy - aha, cheap Crestron.... sorry, ahem, I said "cheap".... >faints<
Heeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllp!
So sods law, I've been caught napping again - first I buy one of the last Kuro monitors shipped to Europe which arrives just in time for Pioneer to announce Kuro is dead, and now I am gearing up to buy lots of Pronto controllers and back end, only to find that's dead too. I sense a pattern emerging!
Thing is, it's one thing having an "unsupported" telly, it's quite another to go buying into a home automation system that no longer exists as it'll be nigh-on unexpandable at a later date (barring Ebay), and whilst EU law requires them to continue to support it, that's in terms of parts not system updates / new features / WM or Android support etc etc...
Thus it begs the question: where now. I want something that will integrate with lighting, CCTV, access control, security, and multi-room A/V, all of which the Pronto seemed to be able to do in spades. Had the added bonus that I could wire 90% of it myself, just relying on our beloved A/V guru to do the final config and sign-off.
LivingControl? VERY pricey and seems to be closed system.
Control4? Seems clever, but again fairly closed and difficult to find local dealers.
Crestron Prodigy - aha, cheap Crestron.... sorry, ahem, I said "cheap".... >faints<
Heeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllp!
How about an RTI, does pretty much all the pronto will do, and imho much better built. http://www.rticorp.com/products/default.html
Logitech Harmony:
http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
A bit fiddly to setup initially, but they just work
http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
A bit fiddly to setup initially, but they just work
furtive said:
Logitech Harmony:
http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
A bit fiddly to setup initially, but they just work
I'm afraid I want to do rather more than just turn the telly on and off. http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
A bit fiddly to setup initially, but they just work
Just started using ControlFX as an iPad/phone/touch app that will spit out commands to RS232 and IR boxes to control hardware.
Just finishing a project with to rooms controlled via two ipads and macros including TV control and a component video matrix.
Software is not quite there at the moment about 90%, but the client front end looks good and very flexible.
V.
Just finishing a project with to rooms controlled via two ipads and macros including TV control and a component video matrix.
Software is not quite there at the moment about 90%, but the client front end looks good and very flexible.
V.
iPod Touch is what £189.00
Basic iPad is £399.00 unless you have friends/travel in the USA
So that is a lot less than your basic Pronto requirements, just need to add control hardware (again cheaper than Pronto) Licence and programming.
Even so, it still comes in considerably less than a pronto solution.
The only thing, as someone mentioned is the lack of hard buttons! Which I can understand, but having used it in anger it doesnt seem to be that much of an issue to me.
www.controlfx.co.uk
V.
Basic iPad is £399.00 unless you have friends/travel in the USA
So that is a lot less than your basic Pronto requirements, just need to add control hardware (again cheaper than Pronto) Licence and programming.
Even so, it still comes in considerably less than a pronto solution.
The only thing, as someone mentioned is the lack of hard buttons! Which I can understand, but having used it in anger it doesnt seem to be that much of an issue to me.
www.controlfx.co.uk
V.
I have just bought a global cash itech wifi to ir controller and the irule software app and licence for my iPad and iPhone it does take some programming but it works very well. I have used both philips and marantz pronto controllers and think they are great but now the gc itech and iPad work well. As for harmony I have one it's ok just ok the pronto is still miles ahead
I also have a friend who works with crestron amx and control4 and is now finding the iPad and iPhone etc are being used more more
I also have a friend who works with crestron amx and control4 and is now finding the iPad and iPhone etc are being used more more
I have just bought a global cash itech wifi to ir controller and the irule software app and licence for my iPad and iPhone it does take some programming but it works very well. I have used both philips and marantz pronto controllers and think they are great but now the gc itech and iPad work well. As for harmony I have one it's ok just ok the pronto is still miles ahead
I also have a friend who works with crestron amx and control4 and is now finding the iPad and iPhone etc are being used more more
I also have a friend who works with crestron amx and control4 and is now finding the iPad and iPhone etc are being used more more
RedLeicester said:
furtive said:
Logitech Harmony:
http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
A bit fiddly to setup initially, but they just work
I'm afraid I want to do rather more than just turn the telly on and off. http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
A bit fiddly to setup initially, but they just work
Mr E said:
RedLeicester said:
furtive said:
Logitech Harmony:
http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
A bit fiddly to setup initially, but they just work
I'm afraid I want to do rather more than just turn the telly on and off. http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
A bit fiddly to setup initially, but they just work
Mr E said:
RedLeicester said:
Am I missing something? All I can see on that page is a bunch of remotes?
High end stuff is RF, not IR. And can therefore be made to talk to anything that receives a RF signal. Not plug and play the way the pronto is, granted, but flexible.RS232 is still king with IP control becoming more prevalent.
Pronto is far from dead, the initial reports were strategic and legislative in pretty much equal measure.
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