This page contains a reference index of Philips Pronto NG TSU3000, TSU3500, Pro TSU7000, TSU7500, Marantz RC5400 & RC9500 universal remote control PCF and other files available on Remote Central.

For full details and to download these files for free, please visit the interactive file area.

Title & Author Description Details Contest Entry #01: Perforated Metal From: David Beck For: Philips ProntoPro NG RUNNER UP! I have put a lot of thought into the layout of my PCF design and I think it makes good use of the Pronto NG’s color capabilities without being gratuitously flashy. I wanted to give the design a sense of spatial depth and for it to have an industrial feel, like it was actually made of materials that would be used to construct an RC device, but I also wanted it to have a slightly surreal quality to make it fun to use. The design incorporates both “activity” and “device” concepts. The “cinema” pages, for example, execute macro events where audio, video and lighting adjustments will automatically be made. If however you wish to make an adjustment to the picture or sound qualities during these macro events, the “remotes” button will allow access to individual device control. While the file is large (please be patient while loading!!!) and the design contains a number of hidden and (seemingly) redundant pages, these were necessary for proper navigation. For example, when selecting the “TV” button on the “remotes” page to access the TV remote, the appropriate “source” button (DVD, VHS, etc…) on the TV remote page will be dimmed depending on which video source is currently active. I have animated many of the buttons so that motion takes place on the touchscreen outside of the finger-press area, giving a visual indicator that the proper button has (or has not) been selected. If a mistake is made, the “system reset”, “lit globe” , and “browse back arrow” (intuitively patterned with the “lit globe” design) will return the user either to the “splash” page (where all devices reset to default settings), or last page visited. Other animations are included in the design, which simply add to the overall visual interest. (Check out the flip-up panel on the TV remote pages and the flame animation on the CD-R remote page…it’s subtle, but my favorite. I had a lot of fun thinking of ways to make the Pronto NG an interesting and unique user-experience. I hope you enjoy using it. File: entry-1.zip Size: 9.12mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #02: For Ever Blue From: David Shaw For: Philips ProntoPro NG RUNNER UP! This PCF is a modified version of the one I use on my remote. It has continued to change and be enhanced almost every day for two months! Most of the buttons have been redone several times to look right on the actual remote. Things you might miss a first glance are: Buttons that blend into the background (on the side and top bars). Shadows on some buttons and text. On the actual remote the home page buttons actually seem to float above the background. In the “Power Center”, rocker switches that seem to work when pressed. All buttons have a “pressed” state. “Filmstrip” Dish Network TV icons on the favorite pages “Visual” independent lighting control for the Home Theatre. Password protection lockout sample on the home page; click on the padlock. Animated countdown timers runs in macros, giving user feedback to wait. Magnifying glass on help page. A tools “mini remote” page for the basic TV and AV receiver functions from most devices. Cursor buttons on the screen as well as the hard buttons. My wife likes the soft buttons and I like the hard buttons. One remote does it both ways! Full screen usage with most major devices only one button press away, or go to the Home page for a larger selection. A consistent flow pattern throughout all devices. Things you won’t find are background graphics that “compete” with the buttons and ‘cosmetic” animations that get very boring after seeing them every day. Nothing has been done with beep sounds as I am hard of hearing and don’t even know they're there. File: entry-2.zip Size: 2.00mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #03: Simple Theater From: Brian Hauer For: Philips ProntoPro NG My approach to developing the user interface for my ProntoPro NG was focused on practicality and function. The PPNG's utility, in my opinion, comes from its many hard buttons--allowing a user to issue commands without looking down at the remote. My design therefore tries to use the hard buttons for the most common operations: arrow navigation, chapter advance, home page, the "TiVo" button, and so on. I believe the most practical user interface for an entertainment system is one that focuses on activities rather than devices. The design I've implemented hides the devices that are merely providing "output" (namely the receiver and the television). The activities are roughly analogous to "input" devices (DVD player, DirecTivo, GameCube, and music). However, the user interfaces for these activities are often sparse--limited to only those remote control features I have ever utilized while engaged in an activity. If I'm playing GameCube, I only care about controlling inputs, adjusting the volume, and switching the television aspect. Where possible, I have tried to keep buttons that provide a given function across multiple activities in roughly the same place. For example, a "Go" button that enables an activity even if the remote's UI is already set to that activity is always located at the bottom-right. Keeping the interface limited to buttons that I actually use allows me to avoid paging and the device overview pages. Therefore these two screens retain their factory look and feel. The graphic design is intended to mimic the section color-coding style that is so typical on web sites. Each background is a photo of my entertainment system fired up to the activity in question. The home page is a composite of slices from these photos. File: entry-3.zip Size: 1.25mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #04: Clean & Simple From: Dave D'Arche For: Philips ProntoPro NG I have developed a very clean, simple and neat Activity-based configuration, which is also fully functional. It features simple custom graphics and custom-labeled buttons. In addition, it includes my first attempt to develop a transport graphic which was derived from a digital photograph, from one of my OEM remotes. My configuration features 100% .png graphics which all utilize a transparent background, for that custom look. My .pcf features 10 devices on 42 pages. The Yamaha device contains some 30 + discrete codes. File: entry-4.zip Size: 1.69mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #05: Digital Lifestyles From: Wesley Mullings For: Philips ProntoPro NG This remote features for the user: Inviting splash screen introduces the location of the remote, the designer, and features inviting background art. Color-coded functionality, allowing easy discernment between video and audio functions. The user may simply glance at the remote to find where they are. Directions are provided on pages that may need instructions to continue use. Subdued background art demonstrates the selected function without overpowering displayed buttons. Latching source buttons that glow to let the user know exactly where they are. Pages are titled to further assist the user in navigating through the remote. Sides of the touchscreen and hard buttons are reserved for consistent mode buttons. The center of the remote is the active use area. Maximum icons are used to minimize required reading. Text is provided only when icons will not suffice to explain the button’s function. Well-placed and sized buttons allow a wider variety of finger sizes to use it. Button placements are consistent, regardless of the function, source, or mode selected, allowing less required reading for the user during normal use. Always-available online help is a ready tutor for the first-time or forgetful user. Hard button programming help is easily retrievable for familiarization. A tutorial preface is available from the Home page to explain the remote’s general design and focus. The designer may offer their contact information here as a reference for future work requests. Video sources may switch to ‘Movie Mode’ which assumes that the lighting will dim to create a movie house feel. Movie Mode is also color-coded to minimize distractions from the remote, preventing temporarily blindness by the remote’s backlighting during prolonged use. Maximum use of hard buttons makes for logical programming arrangements according to the selected source. Macro programming and arrangement makes for easy system reset if the system ever becomes out-of-sync. Features for the designer: Maximum width function tree design allows for more efficient navigation. Device and page groupings are logically ordered for easy programming and adjustments. Centralized IR codes and macros make for simplified and faster programming. Simplified IR and macro pages makes for easy code and sequence additions and deletions. Standardized hard button use makes for easier debugging. Arrangement is arranged to allow easy and quick component additions (devices, pages, IR codes, and macros). IR pages feature all available IR codes for components for debugging, calibration, technical support, and synchronization. Macro programming and arrangement makes for easy system reset if the system ever becomes out-of-sync. File: entry-5.zip Size: 2.15mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #06: Giraffe From: Adam Bursey For: Philips ProntoPro NG This layout is an evolution of my TSU3000 layout. It is activity-based and makes heavy use of macros to control my two zones of equipment and home automation. The layout of hard and soft buttons for each device follows a pattern, making it fairly simple to learn to use. It also contains a fairly extensive help system. This look is the result of my wife asking me to do a layout that matched her favorite purse! File: entry-6.zip Size: 713kb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #07: The Works From: Jens Roever For: Philips ProntoPro NG The result of my design: 134 custom-made buttons (not counting spacers & labels)! My favorite button is the volume toggle in the lower right page. Here's what's unique about my configuration: Consistent frame-based GUI with three button groups in frame: TOP: device selection with trinary button states - pressing a pressed button in the main page of a device executes a setup macro with auto-power-on, etc. LEFT: device specific buttons, e.g. TiVo: Favorites, Thumbs Up/Down, Slo-Mo BOTTOM: “orthogonal” (e.g. X-10 & Amplifier are always needed independent media devices), or common functions (Keypad) Modifier buttons, when pressed once, lead to an extra screen – when pressed again they lead back to same device Eye pleasing “soft” design with fairly correct lighting (shadows, etc.) and well balanced colors Simplicity – one page operation with most common functions No confusing clutter (I put in time, date & battery for completeness only... I actually prefer it without those items, but it's easier to erase them than to integrate them later) The activity signal is still visible, though barely taking up any space now Background is defined on the System page only, for easy changing if one gets bored (alpha transparancies are great!) No start page is needed – from any place to anywhere in one button press! Intuitive buttons with a nice big Power Off button in the upper-left corner. File: entry-7.zip Size: 1.04mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #08: Redrock From: Adam Bursey For: Philips ProntoPro NG This layout is an evolution of my TSU3000 layout. It is activity-based and makes heavy use of macros to control my two zones of equipment and home automation. The layout of hard and soft buttons for each device follows a pattern, making it fairly simple to learn to use. There is a help screen for each device. The skin is based on a pattern that matches the paint of our living room. File: entry-8.zip Size: 862kb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #09: Pick a Theme From: Jared Meiners For: Philips ProntoPro NG Ever get tired of the same old graphics on your Pronto? My design is theme based: each user can have their own theme! Or, a user can change themes every week or month. The button colors and backgrounds change, but the button placement is the same for all themes. My design has elegant buttons, a simple navigation system, and can be easily customized for any user. File: entry-9.zip Size: 6.52mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #10: Trek7000 From: Keith Michaels For: Philips ProntoPro NG This PCF design is based on LCARS (Library Computer Access and Retrieval System), the graphical computer interface seen on certain Star Trek TV series. There are control pages for a TV, DSS receiver, TiVo, ReplayTV, Receiver, DVD player, LaserDisc player, 2 VCRs, CD player, tuner, tape deck, video games, lights, and curtains. A few of the standard system items have been replaced to take advantage of the whole LCD and create a complete design: The activity icon is now a Star Trek phaser and pops up while the Pronto transmits. The battery gauge is a functioning LCARS-style battery gauge. Pressing and holding the circular blue logo for 3 seconds takes you to the Pronto's setup pages. Additional Info: To go to the Home page at any time, press the lower-right "Home" hard button. I tried to leave all device functionality as generic as possible, hopefully allowing most people to use this PCF in their own system without much customization beyond programming their device's IR codes. To simplify programming, a "Codes" page under each device contains buttons with the IR codes for that device. The actual device buttons link to these buttons for their IR codes. File: entry-10.zip Size: 1.46mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #11: OS 2k4.0 Pro From: John Sollecito For: Philips ProntoPro NG This design is straight forward and flexible and takes advantage of the advanced graphics capability of the TSU7000. The interface was designed to be user friendly for all who may use it. In most cases, each component has one screen containing the most used buttons that keeps ‘screen flipping’ to a minimum. Furthermore, the user can switch from any component to another from any screen in the interface. For example, if you are watching TV and want to switch to the DVD, all you need to do is tap the DVD icon on the top of the page and the TSU7000 will turn off the TV and switch on all components needed to watch a DVD. What makes this design unique is the presence of the ‘splash’ screens. Splash screens are the ‘animated’ screens that appear while the TSU7000 is performing a lengthy macro. For example, when the TSU7000 is sending the commands to turn on a component, there are many steps it needs to perform. In the 5-7 seconds this takes to complete, this interface will flash through screens updating the user on the status of the task. NOTE: All hard keys will be used to control VOL+/-, CH+/-,MUTE and DIRECTION PAD for each component interface. The first screenshot is of the home screen, which starts each new session. All components available in the home theater can be turned on from here. The home screen allows for personalization. The actual home theater that is being controlled can be inserted as the background. The second shot is of a ‘splash screen’ that appears while the TSU7000 is performing the task of turning on the DVD. Since this is not an immediate process, the ‘splash screens’ were inserted to make the process more fluid and update the user on the status. The third shot is of the DVD interface. The interface was designed to present the most used buttons on one page, which will keep ‘page flipping’ to a minimum. Also, notice the Switch Device template at the top of the screen. This allows the user to switch to any of the controlled components while using the DVD player. This template appears at the top of all control pages within the interface. If need be, this interface can be expanded to more than one page. This is true for all of the control pages within the interface. Finally we have the favorites page within the DirecTV interface. This page allows the user to setup a graphical one-touch button to their favorite channels. This is expandable to allow as many icons as desired and can even be edited to show a categorization of channels in addition to favorite choices. File: entry-11.zip Size: 3.53mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #12: Gizmo-Man From: Nas Gabelli For: Philips ProntoPro NG This is my attempt to design a unique configuration for the ProntoPro NG. I like to design devices that look similar to the original remote, so others could operate the remote with ease. The TOOL, DEVIVE and PAGE# labels have changed cosmetically. HARD-BUTTON 1 through 4 are reserved for instant access to frequently used devices. HOME and HARD-BUTTON 1-4 also function as page down when pressed again. For additional info, press the [?] button, where available. Note: Some buttons (lights and scene) are not programmed since there are many different ways to send X-10 signals. Also, toggle lights (in the SCENE section) does not work on current version of emulator(1.0.10.0), but works when downloaded to the ProntoProNG. Please download the PCF file and take a look. Unleash your creativity and copy, modify, add and edit to your liking! File: entry-12.zip Size: 1.62mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #13: The Infrared Interstate From: Brad Ledford For: Philips ProntoPro NG RUNNER UP! This is a completely custom PCF, with an emphasis on navigation and simplicity. The top area of the design remains consistent from one screen to the next, making operation of the remote fairly intuitive. An "All Devices" button on every screen gives the user access to a given device within two button presses. I've avoided duplicate buttons (like having 4-way toggles on screen) that might confuse novice users. All graphics (with the exception of the Favorites show icons) are 100% original. File: entry-13.zip Size: 1.48mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #14: White Plastic From: Adam Bursey For: Philips ProntoPro NG This layout is an evolution of my TSU3000 layout. It is activity-based and makes heavy use of macros to control my two zones of equipment and home automation. The layout of hard and soft buttons for each device follows a pattern, making it fairly simple to learn to use. It contains a fairly extensive help system. The look borrows from the plastic look of some of the Max OS X widgets. File: entry-14.zip Size: 485kb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #15: One For All From: David Shaw For: Philips ProntoPro NG If you're looking for animations and wild colors, then this PCF is not for you. It was designed with the older generation in mind, with nice big buttons, large text and a simple but effective layout. All buttons have a pressed and released state image. As on all of my PCFs, I have included the cursor buttons on the screen as well as the hard buttons. XaraX was used entirely for the design. File: entry-15.zip Size: 970kb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #16: Mostly Chrome From: Ralph Martinez For: Philips ProntoPro NG I like chrome so most of the layouts are that. For the CD I used a copper layout. For the Tuner and DV Cam I used transparency. From the Home page, short transaction animations are used. On the Devices page you will find more stuff including the VCR and the DV Cam. I like my 5.1 speaker balance page which you can get to from most devices by pressing the 4-speaker button. You just select the speaker you want to adjust and use the left or right arrow keys. If you click the "RECEIVER SETTINGS" button you'll get to a page where I was experimenting with nature buttons. Looks like it could use some cloud buttons! File: entry-16.zip Size: 1.89mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #17: Theater Style From: Mike James For: Philips ProntoPro NG My PCF is a device based design split into parts for two rooms of the house. It is set up to keep all devices in sync regardless of whether discrete codes are available. Each device maintains a theme of stylized rounded buttons using a conistent layout to make it easy to find controls which are common between devices. Each page has a 'Master Off' button which will turn off all equipment related to the device and take you back to the main home page. I have demonstrated the use of the ProntoPro's translucent capability by using see-through menus for selecting audio, device, D-pad, and lighting settings. For the cable box device, the menus slide out from the bottom or sides showing simple animation techniques. It works great on the remote, but the simulator causes the screen to flash when changing pages, making the animation less smooth. Delays were added to slow it down in the simulator. These delays are not necessary on the actual remote. I hope you enjoy the graphics and layout design. It was a lot of fun to work on. File: entry-17.zip Size: 3.15mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #18: Syd7 From: Scott Harris For: Philips ProntoPro NG This PCF has all original graphics that make use of the transparency and colors available. Each device has a uniquely colored background for all of its related pages as well as a help screen to identify the functions of the cursor and its surrounding buttons. The layout is quite intuitive to use. The soft buttons are well sized and spaced to help avoid pressing the incorrect one. File: entry-18.zip Size: 2.06mb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #19: Big Sky From: Adam Bursey For: Philips ProntoPro NG This layout is an evolution of my TSU3000 layout. It is activity-based and makes heavy use of macros to control my two zones of equipment and home automation. The layout of hard and soft buttons for each device follows a pattern, making it fairly simple to learn to use. It also contains a fairly extensive help system. This look is the result of me playing around with transparent buttons. File: entry-19.zip Size: 781kb Date: 03/11/04 Contest Entry #20: Blasenkammer From: Ari Sinisalo For: Philips ProntoPro NG This ProntoPro NG layout is named 'blasenkammer' after an inspiring picture of bubble chamber experiments I found some times ago in the net. (Blasenkammer = bubble chamber auf deutch.) Parts of that picture, heavily edited, are used as background in this layout. The usability model of my layout is action or mode based and it originates from my ProntoNEO layout that I have found practical among users of different ages (5 - 77). Use of the hard keys at the bottom of the screen (Firm1-Firm4) differs from almost all of the layouts that I have seen. The middle ones are used in all modes to power up, configure and switch down the whole system. I call these buttons green and red buttons (in fact I painted the hard buttons on my ProntoNEO green and red accordingly). Leftmost hard button is used to accees menu functions for main device in current mode. Righmost is used to go back to home page and to re-select the mode. To start up the system select first from the home (mode) page what you want to do: watch TV (actually DVB or Digi TV), watch DVD, watch VCR or listen to CD. The selected button takes you to mode pages. Note that the system is not automatically turned on. In order to do this press the green button. This may sound unnecessary, you could easily link the macros to do the both actions just in one press. There is however a catch that I noticed with my ProntoNEO. If the system powering and configuration is done in two phases: first select the mode and jump to mode pages and secondly press the green button to actually send the power on and configuration IR commands, you can use the remote as in device mode: when in some mode press the mode button and select new mode and you may command the devices in that other mode without intervening hte main used mode. I use this mostly for commanding VCR recording when watching DVD or TV. The action/mode based approach for multi device system is best for general purpose use but sometimes you need the device controls as well and my approach seems to solve both of these issues neatly. In the upper part of the sceen you can see buttons that are used to select pages inside modes. You can use the left side hard butons as well but these show the page you are highlighting the button borders of the particular page. The rightmost button takes you in every mode to amplifier sound effect setup page. I seem to like those for some reason. Graphics/backgounds are dark because my remote is used mostly in dim room and I do not want the backlight to dazzle. The buttons are lighter color and will be brighter than backgound for ease use. A graphics design theme in this layout has been to use slightly transparent panels where buttons are inserted, and of course: the bubble chamber. I like that PPNG has the transparency channel support. Some less used controls for display, amplifer and DVD player are hidden in mode pages, just go and find them. The infrared activity icon is replaced by a green led at upper left corner and battery indicator at upper right corner will turn red when battery is empty. File: entry-20.zip Size: 5.83mb Date: 03/11/04

Return to the main index...