NEEO Remote

[Travis Ballstadt]

Anyone else hop in the NEEO Kickstarter project? After 2 1/2 years, it finally arrived last week. I haven't spent a ton of time on setup yet, but so far, it's the only universal control I've kept for more than a couple days.

The hardware itself is phenomenal. It's really well made, well designed, and well thought out. The software seems pretty good too (iOS/Android only), though with zero owners manual provided, it takes a bit to get an understanding of their terminology and how the device is actually thinking.

Setup was simple, to get all my equipment into it. Power on and operation is flawless. I'm still trying to perfect the power down process, since I have a projector. Trying to get it to delay long enough, or figure out exactly what it's sending to the projector. Overall, even if I have to pick up a second remote to power down the projector on my way out of the room, it's still worth it.

https://neeo.com
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1227115988/neeo-the-thinking-remote/comments
https://planet.neeo.com

 

[GFOviedo]

I was thinking about buying one of these, but the wife pretty much shut it down. I've used other universal remotes via apps and Harmony, and my wife and I keep going back to the original devices remotes. For some reason or another with the Harmony remotes they keeps forgetting the sequence or timing of turning devices on/off. Or it turns on/off some devices and not others. We just gave up.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

I just got a message overnight from NEEO support that they have updated the driver info for my projector, so I'll be anxious to see if they were able to get things timed out correctly when I get home tonight.

@GFOviedo I get exactly what you're saying, I've basically done the same. It's only been a week, but the NEEO already feels different, like it's thought out better. I don't know. I'm optimistic.

 

[GFOviedo]

Well, let us know how it works out for you. I went to their website, and it appears their prices will be going up as well. If their prices go up, I'm going to pass on giving NEEO a try. Not really worth spending that kind of money for what I do.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

They nailed it. The remote works just as I'd hoped at this point. Now it's time to start customizing things.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Interesting device. What's the cost?

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

It was $229 when I backed it on Kickstarter for the remote and the brain. I believe retail is $299 when it's available for sale to public.

 

[GFOviedo]

Interesting device. What's the cost?

It $370 dollars for the remote and smart hub. However, the price will be going up soon. So if you are interested you'll need to buy soon.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

It $370 dollars for the remote and smart hub. However, the price will be going up soon. So if you are interested you'll need to buy soon.

Wow, that's higher than I thought. Glad I got in when I did.

 

[GFOviedo]

Wow, that's higher than I thought. Glad I got in when I did.

I hope NEEO does well. They are probably targeting the higher end HT enthusiasts with their device.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

I hope NEEO does well. They are probably targeting the higher end HT enthusiasts with their device.

I think they're actually targeting more of the DIY home automation crowd. I'm really underutilizing the power of this remote. It's definitely heading toward whole-home automation, though.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Just wanted to pop back in on here and update. I'm still extremely pleased with my NEEO remote. We're a few software updates in, now, and it's working very smoothly. I finally did an install of the IR extender so it will now also hit my light switch. It's really a simple solution now.

Before I go downstairs, I open the app on my phone, open the NEEO app, and select either Oppo or AppleTV, depending on if I'm going to be streaming or watching a disc. When I get downstairs, everything is ready to go - lights on, projector on, XMC-1 on and set to the correct input, chosen source fired up. I just need to pop in a disc if need be.

When I pick up the physical remote, it's already set to the proper screen which has the extended play/pause/skip transport screen, and I've added a lighting screen to each source as well. So I sit down, select "PLAY" on a disc menu, or select something with the Arrows-Enter, swipe to the next screen and tap one button to dim the lights. It's really simple.

For those who still use cable/satellite, you can program custom screens with channel logos of your most watched channels - as many screens as you want, with (I think) about 10 channels per screen. Swipe between screens. Even if I'm watching "TV" in the theater, it's streaming, so all I need is the Arrows-Enter. When I still had my TiVo connected down there, it was OTA-only, so I had a screen of basically all the channels I watch and it worked great. 1-button access to all of them.

I rarely need/use the extended transport controls.

NEEO is working on adding the functionality of my light memory settings to the play/pause functions (dim when I hit play, raise when I hit pause/stop), so I won't even have to swipe for that.

A single button-press (hard button) shuts everything down except the lights, which I touch the switch on my way out of the room.

Clicking the home button will give you quick access on the screen to get to any of your component's individual remote.

The entire system and all the custom settings took about 15 minutes to set up, all within their app. I've used various harmony remotes, I had a programmable Rotel back in the day, and have dug in and tested a lot of the iRule-type systems, and the NEEO blows them all out of the water. I'm barely scratching the surface of what it can do, and so is NEEO. They're continuously updating and adding more features.

 

[GFOviedo]

That's great. I have see a few of these remotes on sale at the AVS Forum.

 

[GFOviedo]

I just notice that Amazon is rolling out with their own voice activate remote control device https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBTFNV...aicenter&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325. I wonder how well it will work compared to the Neeo.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Cool!

Just so I understand, you can use this remote to operate gear located in another room?

 

[GFOviedo]

Cool!

Just so I understand, you can use this remote to operate gear located in another room?

I am not sure as to what extend you will be able to control AV devices. According to their description it appears that it can control anything with HDCP capabilities. It also comes with an IR extender so you might be able to control devices that do have HDCP capabilities. I'm thinking of pre-ordering and giving it it a try since I was thinking of buying a Harmony HUB + Echo, which would be a little more expensive than buying this unit.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

You can control the F out of AV devices. It's basically a really nice Harmony type universal remote with a vast array of IoT capability as well, so you can control everything.

The remote and app both connect to the brain. The brain then sends out wireless signals in pretty much any and every type that your various devices may receive. There is also the wireless IR extender, which I have to use in my room because my light switch is picky and won't grab the signal from the brain, which is along the same wall as the switch.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Well, you may have heard that NEEO sold out to Control4 awhile back. And they left owners with one final firmware "update", which in my opinion was designed to kill off all NEEO devices in the wild.

Since the announcement and corresponding "update", my device has gone from being a really, REALLY nice universal remote that did everything I needed it to do, to a device that constantly reboots itself and brings up incorrect device control after starting up the system. It's frustrating to say the least.

So yesterday I begrudgingly ordered a Harmony Elite. It's going to be very hard to get used to a plastic remote after holding the NEEO for a couple years. The NEEO hardware was second to none.

 

[GFOviedo]

That's one way big corporations kill their competition.