Aurora Remote Rises To 'Component Level'

By Staff On Aug 22 2005 - 6:00am

The Universal Remote Control Aurora “complete control” remote, model MX-950, which combines PC programming resources with advanced multizone IR/RF “through-the-walls” remote control technology, began shipping this summer, along with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery/charger and an “activity-based” multicolor LCD screen.

The Aurora is offered with a “simple and logically arranged” set of the most important button functions, plus 10 buttons labeled by an advanced multicolor LCD display. This allows custom programmers “unprecedented” customization of button labels and gives users what the company calls “find-by-feel” functionality. The custom button labels are back-lighted in any of six different programmable colors and the display automatically lights when the Aurora is picked up.

The remote is said to not only automate a complex home theater system, but also has the capacity to act as the “master” remote for an entire house. With up to 255 devices, each capable of displaying up to 255 pages of custom-labeled buttons, the unit can be programmed with an interface for each room in the house, thus automating A/V operation from wherever it is used.

The Aurora, which began shipping in mid-summer at a suggested $699.95, comes with a base station, model MRF-300, at a suggested $199.95 retail, which can send commands through walls, doors or even from outside.

Other features of the remote include 16MB of flash memory for user configuration and the ability to be programmed via a window PC equipped with a USB port using proprietary Aurora Editor software. A programming cable is included.

The company will be featuring a demonstration of its entire Complete Control products lineup at CEDIA. This includes the Aurora MX-950, MX-3000 color touch screen, Aeros MX-850, Omega MX-650, Osiris MX-350 IR/RF remote controls and the MRF-300 multizone and MRF-250 single-zone RF base stations.