How is this simple feature not common yet?
- Thread starter Trekker4747
- Start date
Needless to say, the thing it went to was long gone.
Simple, but boring answer to "why this simple feature is not common yet"...
The incremental cost of providing it would not be recouped by the extra sales of TVs/whatever created by providing it.
People don't buy TVs because of the remote; they buy them because of the TV. The remote is an accessory no-one thinks twice about. While the cost of this upgrade is low, it is not zero, especially when multiplied up to an entire production run (not to mention R&D and other design costs). If that cost isn't recouped by an increased number of sales, it isn't profitable to incorporate it.
I don't think people would buy a TV just because of a "paging" remote, or at least not enough people would do so to outweigh the extra cost. Even if you designed a marketing campaign around this feature, I doubt it alone would be sufficient to shift enough extra sets to compensate for the costs. It's the same reason why "universal remotes" are an aftermarket product and models have their own specific remote systems.
Trekker's idea is a classic case of a marginally good idea that seems to be marketable/profitable in theory but would be totally unprofitable in practice.
However, it does have a more limited potential as an aftermarket product, say as an added refinement to an existing universal remote, where the company is selling the remote as a standalone product.
If I were you Trekker, if you wanted to take this idea further, they would be the people to pester about this, not the TV manufacturers themselves.
The incremental cost of providing it would not be recouped by the extra sales of TVs/whatever created by providing it.
People don't buy TVs because of the remote; they buy them because of the TV. The remote is an accessory no-one thinks twice about. While the cost of this upgrade is low, it is not zero, especially when multiplied up to an entire production run (not to mention R&D and other design costs). If that cost isn't recouped by an increased number of sales, it isn't profitable to incorporate it.
I don't think people would buy a TV just because of a "paging" remote, or at least not enough people would do so to outweigh the extra cost. Even if you designed a marketing campaign around this feature, I doubt it alone would be sufficient to shift enough extra sets to compensate for the costs. It's the same reason why "universal remotes" are an aftermarket product and models have their own specific remote systems.
Trekker's idea is a classic case of a marginally good idea that seems to be marketable/profitable in theory but would be totally unprofitable in practice.
However, it does have a more limited potential as an aftermarket product, say as an added refinement to an existing universal remote, where the company is selling the remote as a standalone product.
If I were you Trekker, if you wanted to take this idea further, they would be the people to pester about this, not the TV manufacturers themselves.
@Holdfast - I largely agree with your point as you're not likely to increase sales of a single model based on a paging remote feature. However, if it was added to an entire brand's product line I can see it helping sales. If a company like Sony or Panasonic could claim all their TVs had that feature it certainly couldn't hurt. Remote controls tend to be similar across product lines already.
I have an idea....if you're prone to losing your remote, tie a string to it.
Got kids? Know any friends that do? Kids tend to wander off with things or hide them in odd places.
Considering that a TV/DVD Player manufacturer would be buying thousands of RF-receivers and speakers at a time I'd guess that these components wouldn't cost all that much per remote. Being overly generous to it being "expensive" I would say fifty-cents.
Rii
Rear Admiral
You're right, the real answer is that Trekker4747 is far more intelligent than all those engineers at Sony, Philips, LG, etc. who've never considered this idea.
Nah, the radio transmitter, receiver, and speaker, along with some circuitry and programming would be more than 50 cents. It is feasible. It's just that no one has made the decision that it it would be profitable. That the increased sales would make up for the added costs.
Mr Awe
Surely someone could create a 3rd party device thats sticky on one side that you could just attach to your remote, keychain, or other items you tend to lose often.
Personally I solved the problem with strips of adhesive backed Velcro. I just trained myself to always stick the romote back onto the side of the dvd shelf beside my bed. Had the added benefit that most of the time I could just reach over and press the buttons without even having to pick it up.
Personally I solved the problem with strips of adhesive backed Velcro. I just trained myself to always stick the romote back onto the side of the dvd shelf beside my bed. Had the added benefit that most of the time I could just reach over and press the buttons without even having to pick it up.
TheLonelySquire
Vice Admiral
And is the ONE UNIVERSAL CONTROLLER that REALLY can operate every component? EVERY feature? please link me to it if anyone knows of one. I literally have seven remotes.
If you've trained yourself to put the remote in a certain spot then you probably don't need the velcro. Maybe that was like training wheels? They key is to be mindful and always put it in a certain spot then you always know where it is.
The kid thing does mess that up. We have a 4 year old and I'm training her on that! And, at this age, they often do what they see the parents doing.
Mr Awe
Well the velcro was more conventience than anything. I always watched tv in bed, so it was easy to just reach over and sticking it to the side of the shelf where it was in plain sight. Otherwise it'd be constantly falling behind or under the bed, getting mixed up in the blankets, or just falling on the floor and getting lost in the clutter.
Why would I need that? It's always between the couch cushions.
Yep, the Logitech Harmony remotes can do pretty much anything you need. And if it doesn't do it normally, 2 minutes of teaching it can make it do it. If it HAS a remote (or had one), pretty good chance the Harmony remotes can work it. Mine even controls a $10 fan I got at WalMart...
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