Sony's BD Remote control for PS3

Here ya go kids, the Playstation 3 remote control. Oooo, ahhh, er, hmmm. Looks like just the PS2 remote all growed up and able to control Blu-ray movies over Bluetooth. Thing is, the PS3 is shipping in Japan on November 11th but the remote won't pop until December 7th for about ¥3,600 (about $31), a move that will surely live in infamy. No word on pricing or release for the rest of world.

P.S. -Oh, Sony released pricing on the PS1/2 memory reader and the SIXAXIS, as well: ¥1,500 and ¥5,000, respectively ($12.75 and $42.45).

[Deluxe @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:48AM]

Dedicated Play, Pause, Stop etc buttons are so much better than remotes that use the 4-way for both navigation and play control. I like.

Although I dont think I'll ever get the hang of using optical media fastforward-rewind speeds -_-, I always endup either rewinding it to the beginning of the movie or it going so slowly that it takes me longer to control it than watch it.

[Justin @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:53AM]

As console producers try to drive their platform as an important part of the home theater.. having remotes, etc will be necessary.

At first glance:
1. It looks to have everything you would need to function..

2. The design isn't innovative and to me the size is larger than it should be.

Justin
http://hatchedeggs.blogspot.com

[theChad @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:54AM]

For such a sexy console that remote is ugly as hell.

[Axel Aguado @ Oct 3rd 2006 11:20AM]

I agree. It is absolutely hideous.

[NorCal05 @ Oct 3rd 2006 2:07PM]

I think the console is pretty ugly as well...From overhead it looks very nice, but from the front it looks like an electric wok or hibachi

[Voltron80 @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:55AM]

Hmm... so the controlers look the same. The remote looks the same, and the console looks quite similar. Sony must have not have had money left over design after coming up with the cell and the blue ray.

[Wuju @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:57AM]

Surely the pricing is off and it should read �3600 ($31) and not �36,000
You'd think that for about 600 bucks they'd include it with the PS3 as a 'freebie'...

[Tom @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:57AM]

It doesn't bother me that the remote is coming out later. the wirelss bluethooth controler is essentially a wireless remote as well

[Tom @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:58AM]

It doesn't bother me that the remote is coming out later. the wirelss bluethooth controler is essentially a wireless remote as well

[joeschmoe353 @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:59AM]

Very ugly, looks cheap (which is won't be), too big, buttons too small.

[Samuel McConnell @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:00AM]

Ooh, a Bluetooth remote for just $30. I could definately see using this for my Linux Media Center as a cheap RF remote.

[Evelyn @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:03AM]

Anyone notice that its the same remote that the VAIO computer thats down the list, same everything, except black and says SONY instead of VAIO and Playstation 3 on the top.

[Bruno @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:10AM]

Great Sony. Another master stroke! A remote with poor industrial and tactile design like every other remote you've made in the past 30 years. And Bluetooth! How Y2K of you. This of course just ensured that the PS3 can't be controlled by standard IR devices and that this remote will not be able to be used for anything else. Brilliant.

[Daniel @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:14AM]

I sure as hell hope you can turn the console on/off with this thing, cuz I don't see a power button. Hopefully by holding the "PS" button??

anyone have any details on that?



also, kinda too bad it's bluetooth + not simply IR. I'm gonna need a IR-->BT adapter for it to work with my Harmony remote...

[NorCal05 @ Oct 3rd 2006 2:13PM]

The Xbox 360 is power cycled through the center xbox button, it will definitely be the same for the PS3

[jzzder @ Dec 25th 2007 10:11AM]

Hi Daniel. Did you ever get the PS3 to work with your Harmony remote? I'm looking at doing the same thing. I have a Harmony 880. I need it to control the PS3. Any input from you would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Patty @ Jan 26th 2008 11:53AM]

Daniel, where do you find an IR - BT adaptor so that this remote will work with your Harmony remote? We have the same problem. I'd be interested in such an adaptor. Thanks in advance for your reply!

[Jeremy @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:15AM]

The fact that it's not shipping immediately is not a big deal. Just like the PS2, it will be pretty easy to navigate a DVD through the PS controller.

Looks pretty nice. Not sure I'll need it, but it surely helps polish the unit as a BD player with one.

[Alex Padilla @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:16AM]

A fully functioning remote is necessary, especially since Sony is pushing their Blu-ray technology to be incorporated into consumers' home theaters. What would've been nice, though, is if they would've put motion sensitivity into the remote, so it'd be like their SIXAXIS controllers.

[Matt @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:28AM]

Wow, well it's a good thing Sony labelled the coloured buttons. Imagine how confused I would have been searching for the 'yellow' button had it not been labelled?
wii-mote forever!

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:46AM]

"Wow, well it's a good thing Sony labelled the coloured buttons. Imagine how confused I would have been searching for the 'yellow' button had it not been labelled?"

You apparently have never met anyone that is color blind.

[TheWorkz @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:29AM]

Anyone else notice that they are launching the remote on Pearl Harbor memorial date? Coincidence? Maybe! It does seem a little fishy that they can't get a remote out on the shelves the same day as the PS3 Launch. This is also by far one of the ugliest remotes I have seen for a next gen product. Microsoft's is pretty sexy, and even when you go universal remote shopping, the remotes out there look much better than this. A pitty..

[Rishard @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:35AM]

Another $30 sony is getting from people. I was wondering when they were going to finally announce this.

[Micheal Overton @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:42AM]

When following the link to http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20061003/sce.htm I noticed that they are also making a memory card adapter which hooks up bia USB.

[Tom Pacyk @ Oct 3rd 2006 10:57AM]

Now with 30% more useless plastic towards the bottom!

[Nate @ Oct 3rd 2006 11:04AM]

I wouldn't say useless plastic, it gives you something to grip when pressing the lower buttons, otherwise you've got to some pretty crazy gymnastics with your thumb, plus you need space for the batteries somewhere.

As for the rest of the design, well it looks good, it has enough butons to be useful, while having the (now mandatory on any remote) arcane button or two (red?, yellow?).

Anyhow, should I ever get a PS3 I'll never get the remote, as long as the controls are as good as the PS2's I'll have no problem navigating with the standard controller

[Billy Bob @ Oct 3rd 2006 11:40AM]

I am sorry but I hate the spiderman font. I don't think I will ever get used to it...

As far as the actual remote, I am hoping Logitec gets all the codes right away so I can easily program it into my Harmony 360.

So far I really like the Harmany 360 and I like the tactile feedback way better than the 880 for all of you dorks who are going to say thats better.

I have every game console and will get a ps3 and wii next month. I can't wait! (Seriously I can't wait in line for 1 day, im going to pay some homeless dude to stand in line for me) Rest assured I will have one on launch day.

[Matt Malone @ Oct 3rd 2006 11:51AM]

The eighties called: they want their remote back.

That looks like the remote off my cousins telly, which is like 90000000000 years old.

Its too big.

and bluetooth?!?! WTF?!?!?! if you aren't in line of site of the tv, and you are trying to do something like pause, you are an idiot. Whats wrong with infrared? Its reliable, cheap, doesnt use much energy, not very complicated. Bluetooth remotes are lame, except for maybe a mega high-end stereo, cos then you could leave the room and change tracks, but for a blu-ray player/ornament, theres no point. waste of money.

[Bruno @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:04PM]

You can't leave the room with BlueTooth. That's another problem. The range is a fraction of IR, even with obstacles. A high powered IR remote with multiple diodes can be pointed anywhere and still reach its target.

[Trooper @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:02PM]

Not only is there no power button, but unless I am just missing it, there is no volume button either. Is that right?

[Sean D. @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:05PM]

That looks like every other crappy Sony remote.

Hey Engadget, why didn't you mention the USB-to-PS2 Memory Card adapter also pictured on that web page with the remote? That looks a bit more useful to me, coming from a PS2 and not caring about playing movies from my game console...

[Korexz @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:26PM]

OH, by the way... you have to buy the premium PS3 to use your PS2 saves, because there is no media card slot on the base PS3...

BACKWARDS compatibility.... ?!?

no, just backwards!

[Marcos @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:14PM]

A Bluetooth controller for ~$30 sounds pretty good to me. I hope it can be paired up with devices other than the PS3 (FrontRow anyone?)

[Korexz @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:23PM]

Hey look kids, something ELSE Sony is shoving down your throat. So does this mean that I can control the volume and such from my PS3? I don't see a volume button... or will bluetooth remotes be available for the new Sony HD (1080p) televisions that you have to own to enjoy the "benefits" of Blu-Ray?

This is looking more like beta every day... and MiniDisc... and HD-MD... and ATRAC... and ATRAC-3... and the PSP... and UMD... and... need I go on?

OH WAIT XCP... there, almost forgot that one...

VHS,CD,MP3,DVD,DS...Wii

[eRAD @ Oct 3rd 2006 3:13PM]

>Korexz @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:25PM
>
>OH, by the way... you have to buy the premium PS3 to use your PS2 saves, because >there is no media card slot on the base PS3...

You don't need the premium system. All you need is a USB port and both models have it. Check the link below for specs.

http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/specs.html

[Twist @ Oct 3rd 2006 1:24PM]

And it still looks as if it isn't a universal remote. Yea just what I need another remote that only controls one device. An since it is Blutooth and not IR there is little chance of using some other universal remote to control the PS3. Great design Sony, seriously awesome work.

[Daniel @ Oct 3rd 2006 1:58PM]

"You can't leave the room with BlueTooth. That's another problem. The range is a fraction of IR, even with obstacles. A high powered IR remote with multiple diodes can be pointed anywhere and still reach its target."

wow, you couldn't be more wrong about that.

[EdZ @ Oct 3rd 2006 2:13PM]

I'm not sure why everyone is ragging on the design. I don't give a pair of foetid dingo's kidneys about flashy curves or touch sensitivity or chrome or whatnot. It has buttons. They work. It has a good layout (shift your hand up for the menu, down for playback, and use your other hand to operate the fine controls (numeric pad). It looks to be weighted towards the bottom (So it sits in the heel of your palm. Though a little moot as you don't have to point it at the TV anyway, but it'll still be comfortable to hold). If it's one thing Sony's got right throughout the years it's remote control design.

Plus if it's anything like Sony's other remotes, they'll bring out TVs with bluetooth controls, and they'll be interoperable (Plus it's freakin bluetooth! Eminantly hackable!).

[Adam Pflug @ Oct 3rd 2006 2:39PM]

And I shall call it the thrii-mote.

[Veritas II @ Oct 3rd 2006 2:58PM]

Any article on Engadget mentioning Sony = The Two Minute Hate

[Alex @ Oct 3rd 2006 3:21PM]

one problem.... it says hd-dvd at the bottom.... i thought they were blu-ray

[_habit_ @ Oct 3rd 2006 3:30PM]

XD Adam Pflung is right!



That is just plain messed up...

[_habit_ @ Oct 3rd 2006 3:31PM]

Whoops, I somehow managed to go back 1 too many pages, then saw his name, thinking it was Alex's post.

[Kyle @ Oct 3rd 2006 4:40PM]

Mmmm...over-priced remote to go with the over-priced system. Perfect.

[Drew @ Oct 3rd 2006 5:56PM]

You know you're in a Sony thread when people bring up Betamax even when the article is irrelevant to Sony formats! Yeesh.

And it's ugly? What do you expect from a basic remote control? You're expecting Harmony-remote features? You're not forced to buy it, just use your wireless controllers or wait for a 3rd party solution. Problem solved.

[npChaos @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:47PM]

LOL, scary how much that resembles the remote for a sony VCR I had once...

[James Stringer @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:13PM]

Well i'm going to be using my Playstation Portable for my Playstation 3 remote...

[paolo @ Oct 3rd 2006 7:34PM]

YES bluetooth remote. i can use this for my computer. for all you haters out there..

BLUETOOTH > IR

[Steve @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:04PM]

Bashing a REMOTE......this place is getting worst and worst

[D. Cole @ Oct 4th 2006 12:17AM]

for a beautiful system, the accessories are very pedestrian. it looks like my other Sony remotes. definitely not the best looking thing. hopefully Logitech comes up with a universal remote that can be used with the PS3. and hopefully, its more attractive.