In addition, a significant update to the Pronto NG’s firmware improves performance, battery life, adds new features and much more. The information below is taken from the official “What’s New” notice from Philips (click here for the original), combined with my comments.

Pronto NG Firmware Changes (v3.1.13)

Editing Timers

Timers (NEW!): The Pronto NG now includes full timer support, which allows macros to be run automatically at predefined times. Timers are configured on the remote by selecting the day and time at which it should run. Timers can be turned on and off, and can be set to repeat daily or weekly.

Improved code learning: The new firmware implements a brand new IR learning module which makes the Pronto NG less sensitive to learning distance, learning time, etc. It is also better capable of recognizing “problematic” IR codes, such as those from Kenwood, Somfy, B&O, Yamaha, Onkyo, Grundig, Thomson and Echostar. In addition, cursor keys can now be learned correctly on the remote.

Faster macro execution: The quickest speed at which macros transmit is now 35-50% faster than before, depending on the IR commands contained in the macro.

Quicker IR transmission response time: The IR transmission module has been optimized so that codes are sent quicker when a hard or soft button is pressed – up to 50% faster than before!

Lower battery consumption: The high power utilization observed in previous firmware releases has been identified as being caused by undefined (floating) microprocessor lines, unreliable battery status measurements and non-optimal battery level settings (especially when operating at a low battery level). These issues have all been addressed, and the remote’s average battery life has been significantly improved.

Improved LCD contrast control: Smaller incremental settings now allow for better user control over adjusting the screen to optimal contrast levels. Screen calibration has also been changed to a new four-point method.

Clearer user interface: A new default user interface has been tailored to the screen’s capabilities, with changes focused on improving overall readability. The new interface is very much like the one found on the ProntoPro NG.

Old Interface

New Interface

LCD screen activation: The Pronto NG now has the same operational characteristics as the ProntoPro NG in how hard buttons will activate the LCD screen. To clarify, the volume and channel hard buttons will no longer activate the LCD screen, and the 4-way cursor keys along with the 2 surrounding buttons on the right side will now transmit IR on the first press.

Multi-language support (NEW!): The Pronto NG now includes onboard language selection of English, Spanish, French German or Dutch.

ProntoEdit NG Software Changes (v2.0.6)

Punchthroughs (NEW!): Now, hard buttons can have commands defined on a system level and, when the configuration is download to the remote, these codes will be copied to the hard buttons of all other devices. If a device already has commands associated to specific hard buttons, they will NOT be overridden (which means that this operates exactly like the original Pronto).

PNG file support (NEW!): PNG files can now be imported and used in your layouts. Note that the Pronto NG does not support PNG alpha transparencies, and PENG cannot import PCF files created in ProntoProEdit NG (PPENG).

Label Editing

Multi-line labels (NEW!): As ProntoEdit NG (PENG) v2.0.6 is based on the ProntoProEdit NG core, it now supports multi-line labels with full alignment control (top/middle/bottom, left/center/right).

Improved code learning from editor: PENG has been optimized so that it is ready to capture IR codes within 1 second. This, combined with the improvements to the on-remote learning module, will make teaching codes much easier and more reliable.

Advanced hex scrubber: Improves the reliability and accuracy of imported infrared hex codes. Corrects some bugs where “normal” IR codes would were changed to “specific” IR codes.

Improved editing interface: Programming is faster with extensive right-click menus.

Improved file merging: Makes it easier to use templates to create system configurations by merging different PCF files together.

Various bug fixes: Crashes on multi-object selection and uploading; refresh problem when dragging objects; learned IR code name is lost after copy/paste action; memory leaks.

Note: Files created in this version of ProntoEdit NG cannot be opened by the current version of ProntoProEdit NG. So, a “PCF Converter Tool”, available as a separate download, has been created to allow PPENG users to open PENG files.

Contest re-draw...
Due to a non-response by two winners in our previous contest (so much for Hotmail addresses), I’ve been forced to re-draw two winners, and they are as follows:

Erik Torgerson from Washington, USA has won a JVC MX-5 mini system valued at $199!

Michael Harris from Georgia, USA has won a MiVoice DMR-704S digital voice recorder valued at $79!