Boxee

Remote control enhancement requests

Details

  • Type: Improvement Improvement
  • Status: Reopened Reopened
  • Priority: P2 P2
  • Resolution: Unresolved
  • Fix Version/s: Product
  • Component/s: Remote Controls
  • Labels:
    None
  • Severity:
    Major
  • Version:
    1.0.2.16619
  • Operating System:
    Boxee Box
  • Number of attachments:
    0

Description

There are many, relatively simple enhancements that should be added to the current Boxee control implementation. This improvement request is a list of these desired enhancements, which will greatly improve Boxee playback experience.

1. shortcut key (user defined or hard coded) on remote control for step-through of audio and subtitle tracks in a particular file.
2. shortcut key on remote control for menu/chapter list access for the title (rather than having to navigate OSD).
3. change keyboard/remote button press function during playback. For example, if a title has chapter position markers, redefine the forward/back function keys to function as chapter skip keys automatically. This should be user configurable.
4. Ability for user to redefine remote commands/functions. This will be welcome for users that have universal remote controls and control Boxee Box through use of USB IR extender (MCE6 type) or other IR extenders.
5. Graphical pairing simulation. The current hardware pairing method for the Boxee Box is confusing for users. There should be a graphical "pairing" screen that will walk users through the pairing process, including instructions to power off other Boxee units in the home prior to pairing a unit. During pairing procedure the Boxee Box would temporarily suspend normal input for a period of 10 or 15 seconds during which user is instructed to hold down correct button on the Boxee remote control. If the hardware functionality is possible then present the user with a graphical success display showing that pairing has completed properly.

Activity

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Rafael Mizrahi [Boxee] added a comment -
This issue is awaiting review from Boxee Product Management.
If you are keen to have this feature implemented, please Comment and Vote for it.
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Rafael Mizrahi [Boxee] added a comment - This issue is awaiting review from Boxee Product Management. If you are keen to have this feature implemented, please Comment and Vote for it.
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Warren added a comment -
I thought something like the shortcut keys enhancement for subtitles, audio and video may have already been in place. After all it is such an opportunity with the whole keyboard at your disposal. Pressing 'S' to see current subtitle selection then keep pressing it to cycle through subtitles, or 'A' for audio, etc seems like a perfect way to make this functionality so quick/easy to use. Or maybe pressing 'D' to change the duration of the skip length when left or right is pressed, I know some people have issues with the set values at the moment, preset value will at least give options. The only one I have found so far is the ability to enter an exact time code and jump to it, which is a great feature.

Anyway I think using the Boxee Box keyboard to make functionality easier when watching local content is a great opportunity (and for Music, Photos in the future).
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Warren added a comment - I thought something like the shortcut keys enhancement for subtitles, audio and video may have already been in place. After all it is such an opportunity with the whole keyboard at your disposal. Pressing 'S' to see current subtitle selection then keep pressing it to cycle through subtitles, or 'A' for audio, etc seems like a perfect way to make this functionality so quick/easy to use. Or maybe pressing 'D' to change the duration of the skip length when left or right is pressed, I know some people have issues with the set values at the moment, preset value will at least give options. The only one I have found so far is the ability to enter an exact time code and jump to it, which is a great feature. Anyway I think using the Boxee Box keyboard to make functionality easier when watching local content is a great opportunity (and for Music, Photos in the future).
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Bart added a comment -
+1 for point #4
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Bart added a comment - +1 for point #4
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Warren added a comment - - edited
I like the new 'z' for zooming and 'i' for file info... good work :)
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Warren added a comment - - edited I like the new 'z' for zooming and 'i' for file info... good work :)
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Kennet Haunstrup added a comment -
What Warren said, or something similar.
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Kennet Haunstrup added a comment - What Warren said, or something similar.
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Rich added a comment -
Yes, some shortcut keys would definitely make things easier.

S= Subtitle on/off/scroll throug
H = Home screen

The ability to map shortcuts to the keys.
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Rich added a comment - Yes, some shortcut keys would definitely make things easier. S= Subtitle on/off/scroll throug H = Home screen The ability to map shortcuts to the keys.
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allen kacarik added a comment -
Also
A = Audio, for changing different audio tracks in videos
alt+>= Next Video
alt+<= Previous Video
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allen kacarik added a comment - Also A = Audio, for changing different audio tracks in videos alt+>= Next Video alt+<= Previous Video
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mjewl added a comment -
point #1 and #4 would be great!
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mjewl added a comment - point #1 and #4 would be great!
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James Campbell added a comment -
Love my boxee box, but all those keys on the remote are screaming for uses! the number keys for playback speed, for instance. Also, and this has been driving me nuts: please provide a method of remembering change in aspect ratio! Every time I change it for an older video, it just defaults back to 4:3.
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James Campbell added a comment - Love my boxee box, but all those keys on the remote are screaming for uses! the number keys for playback speed, for instance. Also, and this has been driving me nuts: please provide a method of remembering change in aspect ratio! Every time I change it for an older video, it just defaults back to 4:3.
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Michael Rose added a comment -
see http://jira.boxee.tv/browse/BOXEE-8206 for the response. :-/
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Michael Rose added a comment - see http://jira.boxee.tv/browse/BOXEE-8206 for the response. :-/
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Colin added a comment - - edited
This would be great to see so that they could be translated to a harmony remote- an issue that was just closed as indicated by Michael. I have properly labeled buttons on my universal remote it would be nice to be able to assign commands to them. Hopefully this bug will not be closed with users being told that they are happy with the current functions like the last one was.
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Colin added a comment - - edited This would be great to see so that they could be translated to a harmony remote- an issue that was just closed as indicated by Michael. I have properly labeled buttons on my universal remote it would be nice to be able to assign commands to them. Hopefully this bug will not be closed with users being told that they are happy with the current functions like the last one was.
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allen kacarik added a comment -
Completely agree with the above statement.
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allen kacarik added a comment - Completely agree with the above statement.
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Roel Klein added a comment -
Volume control on the BB remote itself would be great.
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Roel Klein added a comment - Volume control on the BB remote itself would be great.
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darcilicious added a comment -
>>Volume control on the BB remote itself would be great.

It's available now for apps/sites that can respond to it. You enable it in the settings somewhere... probably in the audio section.
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darcilicious added a comment - >>Volume control on the BB remote itself would be great. It's available now for apps/sites that can respond to it. You enable it in the settings somewhere... probably in the audio section.
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Adam Green added a comment -
Can I add other controller improvements?

Pressing the play/pause button when selecting a movie/tv show should start the movie immediately from the beginning (i.e. skipping the second, annoying, pop-up window).

Pressing play/pause should pause all video across all apps (e.g. Netflix)
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Adam Green added a comment - Can I add other controller improvements? Pressing the play/pause button when selecting a movie/tv show should start the movie immediately from the beginning (i.e. skipping the second, annoying, pop-up window). Pressing play/pause should pause all video across all apps (e.g. Netflix)
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Rafael Mizrahi [Boxee] added a comment -
Thank you for the information. I have forward your feedback to Boxee Product Management.
Issue closed as Incomplete. Issue will not fix now, but may reevaluate later.
Show
Rafael Mizrahi [Boxee] added a comment - Thank you for the information. I have forward your feedback to Boxee Product Management. Issue closed as Incomplete. Issue will not fix now, but may reevaluate later.
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Permalink
Rafael Mizrahi [Boxee] added a comment -
This issue is awaiting review from Boxee Product Management.
If you are keen to have this feature implemented, please Comment and Vote for it.
Show
Rafael Mizrahi [Boxee] added a comment - This issue is awaiting review from Boxee Product Management. If you are keen to have this feature implemented, please Comment and Vote for it.
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thEvaiyillai added a comment -
Dedicated button for next chapter, previous chapter, cycling through available audio is very much necessary. I just bought by BB a couple of days ago, and the lack of prev/next chapter feature is very frustrating. Please add this feature ASAP.
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thEvaiyillai added a comment - Dedicated button for next chapter, previous chapter, cycling through available audio is very much necessary. I just bought by BB a couple of days ago, and the lack of prev/next chapter feature is very frustrating. Please add this feature ASAP.
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Jason M Page added a comment -
ASAP? Prepare for disappointment.
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Jason M Page added a comment - ASAP? Prepare for disappointment.
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Rui Jorge added a comment -
This is also a "must-have" feature for all Boxee users.

Also a away to Power Off Boxee via remote (ex: hold-press the same key used to Power On) ...

Please consider this for next version.
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Rui Jorge added a comment - This is also a "must-have" feature for all Boxee users. Also a away to Power Off Boxee via remote (ex: hold-press the same key used to Power On) ... Please consider this for next version.
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matthew sidran added a comment -
VOLUME CONTROL PLEASE ON THE BOXEE BOX REMOTE! THIS IS A MUST!
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matthew sidran added a comment - VOLUME CONTROL PLEASE ON THE BOXEE BOX REMOTE! THIS IS A MUST!
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Andy Spivey added a comment -
please make the buttons (text) glow in the dark.
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Andy Spivey added a comment - please make the buttons (text) glow in the dark.
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Christopher Scott added a comment -
+100 for point #4 - I know that the Boxee dev team has dropped 3rd party remote compatibility as a non-issue (see BOXEE-8206) but, in this day and age of multi-device home theater systems, having a seamless way to incorporate the BB into their remote setup is KEY.

I'll say it again: KEY. I'd wager a guess that anybody savvy enough to use a BB is also savvy enough to prefer multidevice remotes (like the Harmony or the iOS-based Dijit/Beacon combo).

PLEASE - pull together a tight spec for Boxee-unique codes and then spam it out to all of the 3rd party remote makers out there.
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Christopher Scott added a comment - +100 for point #4 - I know that the Boxee dev team has dropped 3rd party remote compatibility as a non-issue (see BOXEE-8206 ) but, in this day and age of multi-device home theater systems, having a seamless way to incorporate the BB into their remote setup is KEY. I'll say it again: KEY. I'd wager a guess that anybody savvy enough to use a BB is also savvy enough to prefer multidevice remotes (like the Harmony or the iOS-based Dijit/Beacon combo). PLEASE - pull together a tight spec for Boxee-unique codes and then spam it out to all of the 3rd party remote makers out there.
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Fabry DC added a comment -
I agree, the current remote could use some improvements' one could be an illuminated kboard (LEDs?), perhaps a Bluetooth chip to connect a larger kboard and a bt mouse. I suggest the bt in the remote, otherwise the whole box would nee to be replaced.
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Fabry DC added a comment - I agree, the current remote could use some improvements' one could be an illuminated kboard (LEDs?), perhaps a Bluetooth chip to connect a larger kboard and a bt mouse. I suggest the bt in the remote, otherwise the whole box would nee to be replaced.
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Un Known added a comment -
There are a number of improvements I'd like to see, but my most important requests for enhancements to the boxeebox remotes are:

1. ANY way to unpair the remote and return the boxeebox to factory default. As of now, you can use multiple remotes with a boxeebox until you pair a remote...and then you can never unpair it and use multiples again, and there''s no way to reset the box to undo the pairing--even if you're willing to lose all data with a factory reset. Ticket #12271 claims that this won't be done since multiple remotes "might" interfere with each other, but this should be the users' choice; eg I had no problems with multiple remotes until I started pairing them, and now the functionality has been permanently taken away with no way to get it back.

2. Add the option to officially allow pairing of multiple remotes per boxeebox. Of course some form of visual feedback would be helpful, as well as the ability to unpair a remote.

3. As everyone else says, backlighting for the keyboard is critical!! Or even at the very least, manufacture the remote keys with bright white lettering rather than dull gray that looks almost the same as the rubber keys. The numbers are much easier to see than the letters--which I can barely see even when the lights are on.
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Un Known added a comment - There are a number of improvements I'd like to see, but my most important requests for enhancements to the boxeebox remotes are: 1. ANY way to unpair the remote and return the boxeebox to factory default. As of now, you can use multiple remotes with a boxeebox until you pair a remote...and then you can never unpair it and use multiples again, and there''s no way to reset the box to undo the pairing--even if you're willing to lose all data with a factory reset. Ticket #12271 claims that this won't be done since multiple remotes "might" interfere with each other, but this should be the users' choice; eg I had no problems with multiple remotes until I started pairing them, and now the functionality has been permanently taken away with no way to get it back. 2. Add the option to officially allow pairing of multiple remotes per boxeebox. Of course some form of visual feedback would be helpful, as well as the ability to unpair a remote. 3. As everyone else says, backlighting for the keyboard is critical!! Or even at the very least, manufacture the remote keys with bright white lettering rather than dull gray that looks almost the same as the rubber keys. The numbers are much easier to see than the letters--which I can barely see even when the lights are on.
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Duane D Morris added a comment -
Having a customizable UI for remapping Remote fx would satisfy all these requests. I love the Boxee Remote but love having One remote for everything more. If I could remap buttons on my universal remote, it would really enhance my user experience.
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Duane D Morris added a comment - Having a customizable UI for remapping Remote fx would satisfy all these requests. I love the Boxee Remote but love having One remote for everything more. If I could remap buttons on my universal remote, it would really enhance my user experience.
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kevin kelm added a comment -
Please add a tcp/ir command to jump to movies, tv, files, settings, toggle vpn and to launch customizable applications. I want to set up buttons on my universal remote to jump to these sections. I can't even make reliable macros because there is no home button.
Thanks
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kevin kelm added a comment - Please add a tcp/ir command to jump to movies, tv, files, settings, toggle vpn and to launch customizable applications. I want to set up buttons on my universal remote to jump to these sections. I can't even make reliable macros because there is no home button. Thanks
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Jesse Snow added a comment -
Boxee, when are you going to address this, I mean, one of the members (Twisty) has already done most of the work for you. Is it just that you want to mess with all of us that use universal remotes, or are you one of those company's that maintain "if its not our idea we won't look at it". The competition is getting better guy's, if you don't get on the ball your going to wake up without a user base soon.
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Jesse Snow added a comment - Boxee, when are you going to address this, I mean, one of the members (Twisty) has already done most of the work for you. Is it just that you want to mess with all of us that use universal remotes, or are you one of those company's that maintain "if its not our idea we won't look at it". The competition is getting better guy's, if you don't get on the ball your going to wake up without a user base soon.
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bigthinker added a comment -
I think we are forgetting some very important missing features for the BB remote.

1. Lighted buttons. Just a simple back light for use in the dark when watching tv.
2. Motion Control for 1. easier web browsing and 2. Games



Also. The Netflix button should not be dedicated to solely netflix and should be customizable for other services.
I would prefer triple A battery's ... their cheaper than the watch battery's
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bigthinker added a comment - I think we are forgetting some very important missing features for the BB remote. 1. Lighted buttons. Just a simple back light for use in the dark when watching tv. 2. Motion Control for 1. easier web browsing and 2. Games Also. The Netflix button should not be dedicated to solely netflix and should be customizable for other services. I would prefer triple A battery's ... their cheaper than the watch battery's
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Trent Mackness added a comment -
#4 - This really would be awesome. Universal remotes such as iRule would have more responsive and easier control, over boxee. Just clicking a picture of a tv show on your iPad and the folder is opened...
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Trent Mackness added a comment - #4 - This really would be awesome. Universal remotes such as iRule would have more responsive and easier control, over boxee. Just clicking a picture of a tv show on your iPad and the folder is opened...
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Chris Dale added a comment -
I would like to see some enhancements as well:

Lighted keyboard would be great, I have my boxee in my bedroom and like to have the lights off as to not wake my wife while watching late night Boxee

Also a better mouse tracking system on the remote would be sweet,(perhaps a hot keyed click and hold dwn key that would be a point n shoot style arrowed mouse would be easy to input into the already functioning remote...) I'm voting yes for enhancements please...

also agree w/ the triple A batts cheaper route
thanks
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Chris Dale added a comment - I would like to see some enhancements as well: Lighted keyboard would be great, I have my boxee in my bedroom and like to have the lights off as to not wake my wife while watching late night Boxee Also a better mouse tracking system on the remote would be sweet,(perhaps a hot keyed click and hold dwn key that would be a point n shoot style arrowed mouse would be easy to input into the already functioning remote...) I'm voting yes for enhancements please... also agree w/ the triple A batts cheaper route thanks
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kevin kelm added a comment -
Please implement the suggestions from this wrongly closed ticket
http://jira.boxee.tv/browse/BOXEE-8206
https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/twistedmelon.com/ccc?key=0AlXVOBl0er7tdEZlVmE2NllpNGZTLVBpZzl3SkltUUE&hl=en&authkey=CODAo8sH#gid=0
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kevin kelm added a comment - Please implement the suggestions from this wrongly closed ticket http://jira.boxee.tv/browse/BOXEE-8206 https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/twistedmelon.com/ccc?key=0AlXVOBl0er7tdEZlVmE2NllpNGZTLVBpZzl3SkltUUE&hl=en&authkey=CODAo8sH#gid=0
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SBMongoos added a comment -
I agree. Many of the points made here would be very valuable. Especially if I have a universal remote.
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SBMongoos added a comment - I agree. Many of the points made here would be very valuable. Especially if I have a universal remote.
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Bobby Ramirez added a comment -
I also have to agree with many points made here, especially when it comes to the extended IR enhancements for universal remotes. Many people have been asking for it, most of that work has already been done by Twisty (Bruno), and it seems like very little additional work would need to be done on the part of Boxee to get it implemented. I really don't see why this has been met with such resistance from Boxee. All this would do is add up to an even greater Boxee Box experience for those who want it (and there seems to be many that do), and it would be completely invisible to those users who are happy with the standard RF remote. Please reconsider. Thanks.
Show
Bobby Ramirez added a comment - I also have to agree with many points made here, especially when it comes to the extended IR enhancements for universal remotes. Many people have been asking for it, most of that work has already been done by Twisty (Bruno), and it seems like very little additional work would need to be done on the part of Boxee to get it implemented. I really don't see why this has been met with such resistance from Boxee. All this would do is add up to an even greater Boxee Box experience for those who want it (and there seems to be many that do), and it would be completely invisible to those users who are happy with the standard RF remote. Please reconsider. Thanks.

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  • Assignee:
    Unassigned
    Reporter:
    Jason M Page
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  • Created:
    Updated: