Omni Remotes launches "perpetual" remote control

[TheLostSwede]

Omni Remotes, a global leader in home control solutions, today announced a new remote that requires no battery replacement or recharging over its entire product lifetime. The solar-powered Model P has the potential to significantly reduce the use and disposal of alkaline batteries. Leveraging Omni' low-power hardware platform, Model P supports standard voice commands as well as Bluetooth and infrared keypresses, while drawing virtually no current while in standby. Coupled with advancements in solar harvesting, Model P can essentially operate in perpetuity, given 8 hours of daily indoor lighting. Even in complete darkness, its built-in power reserves can sustain 4 months of regular use.

Designed without a battery compartment or charging port, Model P measures just 10 mm thick. Its solar panel is seamlessly designed into the rest of the remote, defying the utilitarian look of conventional solar devices. Currently offered to leading pay TV operators, it is compatible with Android TV, RDK and other popular set-top box systems.




"The humble remote control is often overlooked, but is one of the few truly ubiquitous devices," said Jean-Paul Abrams, President of Global Sales, Omni Remotes. "As an industry leader, we hope that Model P points to a greener way for the millions of remotes made each year."

Model P is part of the "Omni Greenovation" program, a broad-ranging sustainability effort that includes implementing ink-free manufacturing processes, using recycled and ocean-bound plastics, and adopting paper-based packaging.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[amarthar]

So, if it doesn't require recharging and uses a solar panel for power, then it doesn't work at night or on a cloudy day. If it works at night or with no sun, then it indeed requires recharging. More marketing BS.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

motion charging is next, or just hold the remote working of body heat or whatever.

 

[Vayra86]

A solar panel remote is now 'green'?

But doesn't that mean all those other remotes made unnecessary are replaced with yet another product?

Reason >< Madness? It can't be about those 2 AA cells we save every two years, can it. They have those in rechargeable version btw.

 

[Chomiq]

So, if it doesn't require recharging and uses a solar panel for power, then it doesn't work at night or on a cloudy day. If it works at night or with no sun, then it indeed requires recharging. More marketing BS.

Even in complete darkness, its built-in power reserves can sustain 4 months of regular use.

 

[Leiesoldat]

Motion charging would not be that hard. Automatic watches have been doing that since the 1770s. As for charging at night, the article lists that the remote would need 8 hours of indoor lighting which seems pretty doable in most environments considering how many people are working from home now.

 

[awesomesauce]

look like Apple remote with ads on it

 

[Prima.Vera]

This remote seems...empty.
No play/pause/rewind buttons. No numeric pad...pfff

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

So, if it doesn't require recharging and uses a solar panel for power, then it doesn't work at night or on a cloudy day. If it works at night or with no sun, then it indeed requires recharging. More marketing BS.

I had a solar powered keyboard by logitech that worked great. Charges off artificial light. You dont need the sun.

 

[Wirko]

A thick remote is so much easier to pick up and nicer to hold in your hand(s).

 

[TheLostSwede]

A thick remote is so much easier to pick up and nicer to hold in your hand(s).

I guess you've not used a Fire TV stick then? They managed to make a really nice remote for it, as the back is rounded, so still easy to pick up, yet small and flat.
Who wants a chunky remote? There's really no need for it any more.

I had a solar powered keyboard by logitech that worked great. Charges off artificial light. You dont need the sun.

Seems like a lot of people here have never used "solar" powered calculators.

 

[silentbogo]

This remote seems...empty.
No play/pause/rewind buttons. No numeric pad...pfff

It's a slightly fancier version of MiTV remote (which I assume is also made by them or vice versa, cause it looks identical).
It's meant to be used with Android TV/XBMC etc, e.g. you are not switching channels, but scrolling through content.
D-Pad (or a touch wheel), volume rocker and a couple of buttons is all you need nowadays. You don't have to memorize numbers for your favorite channels anymore. Just look at the new AppleTV remote - its even more bare.

I had a solar powered keyboard by logitech that worked great. Charges off artificial light. You dont need the sun.

There's a bit of a difference here: Logitech KB uses their proprietary low-power RF, it's a low-bandwidth HID device, and it's barely using any power in standby. A single fully charged 200mAh cell will last you several months, so charging or lack of sun isn't really an issue for it. Even LED or fluorescent lights can charge it.
This thing, on the other hand, is not just a BT remote, it's a voice remote. In case of Xiaomi variant it's detected as a multi-endpoint BT device (HID and headset, so no magical BLE HID here).
Not only does it use more power while operating, it also consumes a lot more while on standby. Mine eats through a pair of AAA batteries every couple of months, even if not used at all, so I only put batteries in when I need it for something (maybe once or twice a month). It's even more power hungry than my old PlayStation Bluray remote, which uses much-much older Bluetooth revision.

 

[skizzo]

I got one of these rechargeable (solar powered) remotes with a Samsung QN90A I got over the summer. it's the remote that comes with the TV. I feel like it needs literally direct sunlight. I always leave it flipped upsidedown to expose the panel on the rear but it doesn't seem to ever charge up. At best it just stays where it is. It was 77% when I got it. it's now about 65% after several weeks trying to get it to charge at a normal spot next to the TV or coffee table for example. So indoor lights seem to do jack shit and the natural light from outside doesn't have a good enough line of sight I imagine. It does however charge if I leave on a windowsill where it will get direct sunlight for a at least a few hours a day but that is not how they advertise it to work. Good concept, but I bet the majority of these types of remotes have the same challenge. Mine at least has a female USB-C port to charge directly if needed.

 

[Wirko]

I guess you've not used a Fire TV stick then? They managed to make a really nice remote for it, as the back is rounded, so still easy to pick up, yet small and flat.
Who wants a chunky remote? There's really no need for it any more.

I haven't. Amazon says Fire TV remote is 16 mm thick, though.

 

[Ravenmaster]

That is one fugly looking remote.

 

[deu]

So, if it doesn't require recharging and uses a solar panel for power, then it doesn't work at night or on a cloudy day. If it works at night or with no sun, then it indeed requires recharging. More marketing BS.

im pretty sure an internal battery can charge more battery from sun during a seldom sunny day to power its use during night for days/weeks. remote signals require almost nothing. I have used logitechs keyboard with a 2x8cm solar area and it has kept up with my workuse (alot of writing etc.)

 

[TheLostSwede]

I haven't. Amazon says Fire TV remote is 16 mm thick, though.

Still very flat compared to all other remotes I have. Maybe not as flat as this one, because it still uses AAA batteries.