HDTV Almanac - Philips HDTV Comes with Solar Powered Remote

[alfredpoor]

The new 42PFL6805 LCD HDTV from Philips boasts a “green” feature that you won’t find on the screen; the set’s remote control has solar panels on the back so that it can recharge using the light available in the room. In my experience, we get a year or two from a set of batteries in [...]

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[stevekaden]

Well if we want to really be green, and save some cost - maybe remote controls should be an extra cost item - an accessory. Then for all of us that use Universal remotes, we might not need to buy these "to be ignored" remotes - to only toss them later.

I understand the need for custom items on the remotes - but that could be eliminated by some industry cooperation or a very basic ~5 button (arrows and enter) as the universal interface for the menus.


We have gone through a lot of things that we thought we must have but find we don't miss. Like manuals for software, and crappy cables with our devices (how many billions of 3 wire AV cables are out there left in the box!), and fancy tool kits for our cars...etc.

[alfredpoor]

I'm right with you, Steve. American consumers seem to place value on the quantity of items in the box more than the quality or utility of those items. I really like your suggestion of no remote in the box, but then customers will scream and moan that it's a conspiracy to make them buy extra stuff (and the store will come up with some $150 monstrosity as their "entry level" universal remote.) (Oh, and programming will be available at an extra fee.)

Alfred

[gustavogoodman]

The new 42PFL6805 LCD HDTV from Philips boasts a “green” feature that you won’t find on the screen; the set’s remote control has solar panels on the back so that it can recharge using the light available in the room. In my experience, we get a year or two from a set of batteries in [...]

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I have been using these panels for a while and they are very effective.. Efficiency is good and more important solid build for long lasting