Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote Reviews

• Great Start but Missing Some Features

  
  By A3V6Z4RCDGRC44 on 2007-03-22
  Most PS3 owners enjoy not only the gaming abilities of their system, but also the built in Blu-Ray DVD player. The Sony remote control accessory lets you play those movies with great ease.
  
  The remote combines the regular buttons of our other DVD players with the funky look of the PS3. You have a red, green, blue and yellow button - labelled with their color names! You also get a circle, X, square and triangle to do a few things like brinigng up the options and back choices.
  
  The main buttons - play, stop, forward, back - are laid out reasonably nicely at the bottom of the remote with large buttons. There are small buttons up on top for the number keys, and a very tiny eject button.
  
  Missing completely is a power button!! You have to hit the PS button in the center and go through the regular PS3 menus to get the power to turn off. In fact, while I was writing this review, I accidentally hit a button on the remote and the PS3 turned on. We were watching regular TV, so now I have to wait until our show is over, switch over to the PS3 and use the buttons to turn the system back off again. That doesn't make much sense at all to me.
  
  Also, on our Oppo DVD remote, the buttons glow which makes it REALLY nice to use in the dark or dim light that most people watch movies in. This unit is completely black with black buttons. This makes it pretty much useless in low light conditions until you memorize all of the button locations. You would think by now that remote control makers would have their buttons backlit or at least glow-in-the-dark to handle this.
  
  The unit takes two AA batteries which makes it a bit heavy, but certainly within the normal range of remotes.
  
  It's easy enough to sync up the remote with the PS3. It's bluetooth powered, so you go into the PS3 menu and use the options there to indicate you have a new remote. Note that the base level PS3 will not handle this - you have to have a connection to the internet from your PS3 and run an update routine. If you don't have an internet connection for your PS3, you have to create an update CD on your PC to do this update.
  
  Well recommended - but it really could be much better to be great.
  
  

• nice Blu-Ray remote

  
  By A2NGUYX6A691YS on 2007-02-08
  Blu-Ray remotes are handy because they don't have to be pointed at the device. In fact, the device doesn't have to be in the same room to operate with the remote!
  
  The buttons are laid out fine, but the PS3 just doesn't seem to be designed with a remote like this in mind. There's no power button on the remote, so to turn the system on and off the PS button has to be used, just like the controller. Also, when the stop button is pressed the movie stops and goes back to the XMB (PS3's "dashboard"). And there's no backlighting on the remote, so in a dim room it's hard to tell the difference between the fast forward and skip buttons.
  
  All in all, I wish the PS3 had Infrared support so I could just program it with a universal remote... but this is an acceptable second choice. It is nice to have a remote that does everything the controller does and is clearly labeled.
  
  I wonder what the colored buttons do...?
  
  

• bluetooth remote is great!!!

  
  By A3LOOGDJ7S01LA on 2007-02-02
  A must-have accessory for your PS3 Blu-ray DVD viewing pleasure! I love that it works without having to point it at anything, thanks to being Bluetooth... you don't even have to be in the same room! (not that there is much application for the latter, but thought it worth mentioning). Anyway, it works perfectly and helps add to your PS3 experience. We have a nice universal remote also, but the "Bluetooth factor" makes this Playstation remote our family's favorite so far. I hope all remotes go that way eventually... much better than IR!
  
  

• Poor/Simple Design, Cluttered, but Works

  
  By A3TXQIOHXRCDFC on 2007-05-06
  I was a little miffed I even needed to get this because I already had a universal remote (Harmony).
  
  This remote works as advertised but the layout is less than stellar and they tried to map every single PS3 control button to the remote, so it's laden with buttons.
  
  Also, you have to treat the remote just like one of the controllers and use the PS button to turn it on/off. Honestly, I think this is just an elongated PS3 controller.
  
  The other issue is that when you haven't used the remote for a bit and it goes to sleep, and then you issue a button press like Pause or Stop, you have to do it twice, because the first time the button press won't do anything except wake the remote up, then the second button press will actually work.
  
  The obnoxious part about the remote is that it has *no* indicators of any kind on it. So you can't tell if it's on, off, asleep, synced or out of batteries. You just use it and if you push a button 3 or more times and it doesn't do anything, it's safe to assume it's dead.
  
  A simple LED on the top would have done the trick, but then they wouldn't be able to keep the $29 margin of profit they make on this piece of hardware.
  
  Overall it's a poor remote, some "throw in" you would expect with a normal TV and overly unacceptable as a remote for a nice TV (not even backlit).
  
  But it's the only way to control movies on the PS3 without using the controller, so if you need it, I guess you are going to buy it.
  
  

• Frustrating remote

  
  By A3JMQ363OSCWU2 on 2007-11-03
  I purchased a PS3 because it was the most affordable BlueRay player on market at the time. As players go, it's not bad. But this remote is sub-par. It eats through batteries and with no back-light you can't see the buttons in my home theater. I actually have a small flashlight next to remote so that I don't have to turn on the lights. The only reason to buy this remote is that it's your only option. And since Sony chooses to use Bluetooth instead of IR, you're stuck with it!
  
  
• Best Remote Yet!!!
  By A1SRBDKTRXMKB8 on 2007-01-11
  I bought this remote to use with my PS3, so that I wouldn't have to use my Sixaxis to control movies. This remote is actually the best DVD remote I have seen for any player. Buttons are layed out and organized nicely. It's not a universal, but if you use your PS3 for Blu Ray discs, or even DVD's (if your like me and decide to use the PS3 as your primary player) you can't go wrong.
  
  
• Way more complicated then it had to be
  By ADKA2MJQQCMTO on 2008-08-01
  I'd bought my PS3 about four or five months ago. I have a pretty nice HDTV and really wanted a Blu-Ray player to compliment it. It also didn't hurt that I had a bunch of PS2 games I still wanted to play.
  
  After everything was all set up and I started watching a couple of movies, it became apparent extremely quickly that I was going to need a remote for the Blu-Ray features. Using the controller was just overly complex to make it a real option.
  
  When I finally grabbed a remote, there were a few things I noticed immediately. Namely, the simple fact that it was a Bluetooth device meant that there was no chance that I was going to be able to use this with any of my other devices like my TV or my surround-sound receiver. Some people don't really care, but I hate having a thousand remotes lying around. I'd rather just have one and forget about it.
  
  Considering that the PS3 is the only device that the remote is able to control, I fail to see why it's covered with buttons. Outside the obvious 'Play/ Pause/ Stop' buttons, I don't understand the decision to make this look so much more complex then it has to be. I would have tried to make the button layout as simple as possible. If it's not going to be able to be used for another device, it (at least) could be easy to use. I would say that two-thirds of the remote's face, you'll never use.
  
  Another reviewer mentioned it, but it bears repeating. If you touch any button on the device, it'll automatically cue-up your system. The PS3 is a wonderful piece of equiptment and I like it a lot, but man that sucker kicks out a TON of heat. Having said that, I do try to make a deliberate effort not to keep it on longer then I have to. When I'm sitting and watching TV, however, I tend to have both my remotes next to me. I can't even tell you the number of times I've accidentally leaned a little too much to one side and booted-up the system. This is complicated by the fact that there's not just a 'power' button anywhere. I actually have to toss my receiver over to the PS3 device and manually shut the system off. It sounds like a small deal, but it's REALLY annoying after you do it a few times.
  
  I'm sure this was mentioned several times before, but I sincerely wish that the device was back-lit. I, like many others, usually watch TV in low-light. Between the (unnecessarily) complex button configuration and the simple fact that you can't read the thing, it makes simply watching a movie more of a chore then it needs to be.
  
  Not an outright "bad" piece and certainly a better option then the controller. It's also better then any of the third-party devices that I was able to find. All that having been said, however, I'd still say that Sony's remote wasn't very well thought out either. There's a lot of issues that the smallest amount of consideration should have been able to change.
  
  
  
• Must have for home entertainment system!!
  By A15Y99TDE9KSFU on 2007-01-02
  This remote control is a great addition if you are like me and purchased the PS3 as a cheap way to add Blu-ray capability to my home entertainment system. Remote great overall features, 3 second setup and controls all functions supported by the Sixaxis controller. At $25 (Circuit City) this is a great deal.
  
  
• You can turn your PS3 off with this remote - RTFM
  By A3JALEJ2D85CHF on 2007-11-10
  Not much can be said that already hasn't. It's an OK remote, on par with most typical remotes that are included with any stand-alone player. Sony really should have included this remote with the PS3, it just makes sense, especially with their renewed push for the PS3 as a Blu-Ray player with the release of the 40GB model.
  
  I can only give the remote 3 stars overall though. The buttons should glow or have backlighting. A few of the buttons could be labeled better or located more prominently. But as far as Sony remotes go, this is pretty good. The bluetooth functionality is great. It eats batteries like crazy.
  
  Many people are incorrectly reporting that this remote does not have a power button. In a sense, that is somewhat true. Any button on the remote will turn on (wake up) the PS3. This was a bad idea, they should have limited the wake-up functionality to the "PS" button in the center of the remote. This center "PS" button is also the "off" button. Simply hold the button down for about 3 seconds and the PS3 will ask if you want to turn it off, push the OK button, it shuts down.
  
  As more and more AV components migrate to bluetooth remote control, I'm sure we will see universal remotes (like the Logitech Harmony) come forth with bluetooth capability. This remote will tide me over for a year or so until that day comes. ...Hopefully before the PS3 has become obsolete.
  
  
• It's a remote... nothing special here, but needed.
  By AG1UJQEFD71J7 on 2007-01-13
  I'm giving this a somewhat low rating for a few reasons, firstly Sony should have put an IR receiver on the PS3 so any universal remote could control DVD playback. Those of us who invested 1000's into their home A/V setup and have every device ran with one remote dislike Sony's decision to use Bluetooth to control DVD playback. Secondly the remote is not lit, I guess I'm spoiled by my Harmony 880. I guess adding motion detection to the remote and lighting the buttons would cost a few dollars more, but something Sony should have done. But since I dislike using the PS3's controller for DVD functions purchasing this was a must for me.
  
  
  
  
• Nice layout, no more pointing and getting frustrated
  By A5JLAU2ARJ0BO on 2007-01-20
  This Blu-Ray DVD remote for the PS3 is just great. It's well laid out and the buttons are easy to hit. The best part is you no longer need to point the top of the remote in the direction of the PS3 since this is wireless. It makes Blu-Ray watching on the PS3 even more enjoyable. Some people complain about this not being a universal IR remote. Since I never cared for universal remotes, it's a total non-issue for me. $25 is not a bad price to pay for such a cool and useful accessory.
  
  
• Great Blu ray/dvd remote....a must have for the playstation 3
  By A4G51W9PC7TJL on 2007-05-14
  first of all this is a no brainer.. if you want to watch dvds or check out the awesome blu ray discs on your playstation 3...this is a must have.
  
  sure you can use the ps3's sixaxis controller(which i did for a few months)..but its not the same..sometimes the controls mess up the movie viewing..to put is simply its a bit awkward..
  
  this remote is well done..high quality and even comes with 2 AA batteries (great job sony)... first,you have to register it to your ps3 via update on your console..but thats no problem after that your good to go.
  
  the only things im not crazy about is that theres no backlighting for the buttons or a main power button on the remote...you have to have your ps3 on first..again not a big worry...but i know some people that really went off on the lack of these ..to them i say relax..there are other things more important
  
  i also have a xbox 360..and that systems remote isnt even close to this one.. but both blow the wiimote away.
  
  Bottom line..the remote does what it says...cheers
  
  
• I like it.
  By A18PPO1I28E1CR on 2008-01-16
  First off, when people complain there is no "power" button, they are just too lazy to push the down arrow and then the middle enter button. Whoopdee doo. It takes all of 1 second to power off the PS3 with the PS button so if you can't do that then you are extremly too lazy. Also, if you "accidentally" push a button and PS3 comes on but you don't want to switch your TV to see the PS3 menu, you can get up off your backside and hold your finger over the power button on the PS3 itself and it will turn off. The next complaint people have is with the Bluetooth part of it since they can't use normal IR universal remotes with the PS3. Well, I personally prefer the Bluetooth since you do not have to have line-of-sight with anything to use it like you do with IR sensors. If you like watching movies from your bed and you're all curled up under your blanket you can just keep the remote under there with you and push buttons, the PS3 still picks up the signal. As for it not having the "glow in the dark" buttons... how many of you really press all those un-needed buttons when you're watching a movie? At the most you need to know where "Play" "Stop" and "Pause" are. That's all you really need to memorize. You can easily feel for the big circle and I would hope you know up is up and down is down and so forth with "enter" in the middle.
  
  It's a great remote with every feature you really "need". If you watch a lot of movies from your PS3 then it really is a must have. Much easier to navigate menus with than the PS3 controller as well as knowing the button you're pushing does what it's meant to do. Anyone know how to pause the movie from the PS3 controller? I sure don't.
  
  
• Bluetooth control is nice but not ..
  By A3CTI496KXMB0K on 2007-08-03
  When plunking down $25 for a remote control, you expect something pretty nice.
  
  First the good:
  - Bluetooth connectivity allows you to not have to worry about sight lines with the console when watching movies.
  - Build quality is very good.
  
  And now the bad:
  - Bluetooth connectivity means you can't use the controller with an integrated remote, such as a Harmony. This means I have to pull out this remote anytime I watch a Blu-ray disc and swap between this and my Harmony for different controls.
  - Buttons are not illuminated or even glow-in-the-dark, which means you're going to have to either memorize the button layout, or not view movies in the dark.
  - Button layout is average and not very well thought out. The play, pause, and stop buttons are all the same exact size and shape and are laid out in the same position. I can't tell you how many times I've stopped playing a movie when I meant to pause it. By the same token, there is nothing to distinguish the fast-review buttons from the track-skip buttons. Once again, I've skipped tracks when trying to just fast-forward a bit, losing my place often.
  
  Frankly I'm surprised at the poor-design of this remote. I've owned many Sony remotes in the past, and have always found them to be well-thought out and a pleasure to use. I would've thought they would've provided something nicer for the PS3.
  
  After writing this review, I'm starting to think 3 stars is generous.
  
  
• Blu-ray remote is a must have for PS3
  By AIYQTYKIU8ILG on 2007-02-21
  This remote is a must have if you own a PS3. I do have a couple gripes but they are minor annoyances.
  
  1. I wish the stop button was not between the pause and play buttons. I inadvertantly hit stop on many occasions. I am getting better at this but this could have been avoided by swapping the locations of the stop and pause buttons.
  
  2. No Backlight. This would have been a nice touch.
  
  3. No power button. There should have been a power button. The way to shut off the system now is to hold down the PS button the same as on a game controller, and navigate the menu to "shut system off", then navigate to confirm that you want to do it. Not a big deal but sometimes I notice that I left the PS3 on and my TV is now on a different source so I have to either test my memory with a sequence of strokes on the remote or walk up to the PS3 and hold the power button to shut off.
  
  The positive things about this remote far outweigh the negative. There is no comparison between using this remote for blu-ray viewing and the gaming controller. Also although some people have marked this controller score down for using blue tooth instead of IR, it is the only option with the PS3. There is not IR receiver on the PS3. Why mark the remote down for that? Also the only people complaining about that are the ones who have elaborate universal remotes that they can't program to run their PS3. Nothing to do with the remote's rating. If anything that comment belongs on the PS3 rating.
  
  
• A must have accessory for your PS3 if you are going to watch DVDs!
  By A1F9Z42CFF9IAY on 2007-03-13
  I consider this a must have accessory for the PS3 if you are going to watch DVDs. The remote works great and the layout is even better than the remote that came with my other DVD player. You can also use this remote to control the navigation of the PS3 online so if you are not a gamer, you can put away the wireless gaming controller that came with the PS3. If you are a gamer, this DVD remote works perfectly fine with the gaming controllers too.
  
  
• Works well but not so good design
  By A1VH23UTJ0HZ on 2007-07-02
  Pros:
  -Works well in 13ft+ long distance.
  -No line of sight required. Uses radio waves (bluetooth)
  -Works well, no glitches
  
  Cons:
  -Not practical for web browsing
  -Hard to use in dark. Most buttons are nearly identical shape and size, hard to distinguish by touch.
  
  Conclusion:
  -If you use PS3 as your primary DVD player, you must buy it, but don't expect more than that.
  
  
  
• You CAN turn the PS3 on and off.
  By A3PKYTD16LT9HY on 2008-05-05
  I like this remote and the fact that it uses bluetooth, although I can appreciate the problem this causes for universal remote users. (By the way, if these expensive units are so "universal", why don't they include RF/Bluetooth functionality?) The way my PS3 is positioned, I'd have a hard time using an optical remote. The lack of backlit buttons might be a problem for some, but I find that I can't easily read backlit remotes anyway, and that lighting sure does eat batteries!
  
  Prior to my purchase, I read the many reviews complaining of the lack of an on/off button (which has more to do with PS3 design than the remote - notice the game controller is the same in this respect). What they fail to mention is that the PS3 CAN be turned on and off from this remote, or from the game controller, for that matter. Any button will turn it on, and it can be turned off through the PS3 menu system. Just press the PlayStation button for a couple of seconds, then the "X" button twice in response to the on-screen prompts. Once you know it works this way, it's not even necessary to be able to see the screen. It's very reliable, and takes only a few seconds.
  
  Overall, I feel this remote does a good job controlling PS3 movie playback and recommend it, especially considering the price.
  
  
• Falls Short
  By AHJBXA6X0FLRZ on 2007-05-08
  As others stated, this is one busy remote. There are more buttons on it than a remote for a complex stereo system. I also do not like how it takes pressing a button twice because the remote has to wake up first. Plus with no button pushing indicator light, you cannot tell if what you did worked or not.
  
  A must have? No, I do not think it is a must have. A "would be ok to have" is better terminology. Hopefully a third party remote will come along that is a little better than this. It did some with Sony batteries, so it is nice you do not have to buy those right away.
  
  If you have the money to get this, do so. You can live with it. If money is tight, use it to buy another controller. Yes, not as pleasant as a remote, but a controller has more uses with a PS3 obvioulsy.
  
  
• All the functions
  By A3TCMJ6GKZJFBQ on 2007-05-22
  This remote adds all of the functions that we're used to having on a DVD player...and you can hit the view button to display the conspicously missing elapsed time (not shown on the front of the PS3).
  
  You do have to program the PS3 to work with your specific remote prior to the first use.
  
  It's a remote....Bluetooth, by the way, so infrared and RF programmable remotes won't work with the PS3 (very sad for my Harmony).
  
  
• No ON/OFF button!
  By A1O430C6F07VV2 on 2007-11-25
  I purchased this remote used from a gamestop. I am really disappointed, mainly because it has no on/off button to turn off my PS3. Actually, the PS3 turns on far too easily, because if you bump ANY of the buttons on the remote, it will turn on. Turning off, however, requires you to jump through a list of menus after pushing several buttons in the right order.
  
  I love my PS3, but I HATE that they sell a remote with NO OFF button. That's just crazy.
  
  I would also like lighted keys, or at least glow-in-the-dark ones, because the black keys on this are impossible to read without the lights on.
  
  
• It's a normal remote, not better, not worse.
  By A3IUX0UQVWWWBQ on 2007-01-18
  It is bluetooth remote controller. Though bluetooth has some advantage over ir remote, it's not good that I can't use universal remote controller, which supports only ir transmission type. Also, this remote doesn't have light function. Seeing movie in projector surrounding, in other words, in a dark roon, light function is needed. I am disappointed about it. Except it, it is not a bad remote controller. And if anybody use PS3 for hometheater system, I think there is no other option. Now, it's time to buy it!
  
  
• PS3 Blu Ray Remote
  By A3JGW3COZ4SKPG on 2007-08-23
  After getting the PS3 and loving it, i bought all the accessories. And was VERY dissapointed.Along with the fact my wife almost killed me for buying the PS3, she could not understand how the unit cost so much, and did not come with a remote!!!!!!!!
  The remote does not turn PS3 on and off!!!
  
  
• Great when using the PS3 as a Blu-Ray player
  By AIOPD46ZIV8K2 on 2007-09-30
  Simply put: 25$ is not alot for a good, BLUETOOTH, remote. This will make it much more natural to control the PS3 Blu-ray.
  
  Cons:
  1) no backlit keys, bad for dark home theaters (however, key layout is very natural and logical)
  2) cannot really be used with any other player, i.e. proprietary PS3.
  3) Takes up one of the 7 controller spots (arguably you have 7, but you'll hardly ever need more than 4 controllers).
  
  Pros:
  1) BLUETOOTH: you do not have to point it or anything. Just click the button and you're heard.
  2) Logical layout of keys
  3) Traditional PS2 keys (triangle, square etc) have kept functions, i.e. the unit functions very logically: you can figure out what to press by just using a little bit of noggin'.
  4) Design: looks like an integrated part of the PS3, so very pretty.
  
  
• Not bad, but could be better.
  By ARU89P6893JBE on 2007-10-31
  I certainly like the Sony PS3 DVD remote, but it's lacking in many ways. My remote came with no instructions as to what all the buttons are and I do not like that the buttons do not just say play, rewind, forward, etc. For rewind, you have to press L2.. It's a DVD remote, not a PS3 controller!
  
  
• Gets the job done, but that's about it...
  By AR5SY32T76DBM on 2007-12-14
  An extremely tedious controller, if their ever was one: button placement is lousy, there is no back-light, and if you press ANY of the overly-sensitive buttons on this controller, it powers on the PS3 (as I am reminded over and over...).
  
  Unfortunately, if you intend on using your PS3 as a DVD/BluRay player, then this is a fairly essential purchase, but only because it is literally the only game in town. Almost no universal remotes will work on the PS3, due to its Bluetooth-only wireless capabilities.
  
  
• Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote
  By A3680OS5Y2PBS9 on 2008-02-13
  This is an excellent product. Contrary to an earlier review, there is a Power On/Off button; simply hold the PS button, located directly below the Enter button.
  
  
• Functional but Flawed
  By A33LGJ5N310TTQ on 2008-05-07
  I got a PS3 exclusively to use as a Blu-ray player, so of course I wanted a proper remote for it. Given that you're paying twenty bucks for a remote for a device that claims to be the be-all media center, this remote is pretty disappointing, though.
  
  As far as doing its basic job as a blu-ray remote goes, it has the bases covered--all the standard DVD-style remote buttons, and it controls blu-ray movies, which is what it's for.
  
  It also features a directional pad and buttons corresponding to the four controller buttons (plus start, select, and the shoulder buttons), so you can use it in all the other menus as well. Heck, if you had a game that didn't require the analog stick, you could probably even play a game with it, albeit awkwardly.
  
  That said, if you look past the directional circle and three large play/stop/pause buttons, it's just a big mess of tiny buttons with difficult-to-read labels. Worse is the absolutely boneheaded decision to put the stop button BETWEEN Play and Pause. Why is this such a big problem? Because it's REALLY easy to accidentally hit stop instead of pause or play, and on at least some blu-ray movies the movie refuses to take up where you left off if you hit stop (I assume some stupid DRM restriction). So, one slip and you're stuck watching through all the FBI warnings and trying to get back to where you were.
  
  Given the penalty for failure (one which I would think Sony was aware of given that they designed the format itself), I'd rather the stop button was way the heck away from where I'm liable to bump it when trying to pause or reverse a bit. Even VHS wasn't that annoying.
  
  I just don't get why Sony has apparently fired everybody who knew how to design a decent human interface; my Sony lasersdisc player from back in the pre-DVD era had the best remote control I've ever seen, so it's not like they've always been incompetent. Heck, even my decade-old Sony VCR has a better remote than this thing.
  
  Then there's the wireless-ness issue. It's not the remote's fault, exactly, but since the PS3 doesn't have an IR receiver, the remote uses bluetooth. On the bright side, it's got great range--I could control the thing from 20 feet away through two walls. On the negative, it has great range, and since ANY button will turn on the PS3 (not just the PS button in the center), it's incredibly easy to fire the thing up unintentionally. We store our remotes business-end down in a caddy so if a button gets bumped nothing happens, but with this one that doesn't help. Annoyance, but again, this is a $20 remote for a $500 media center, so I'd expect better.
  
  In all, it gets the job done, and it's certainly better than using the controller, but it's a pretty poor remote when you consider Sony's emphasis on style and the pricetag of the system the thing's attached to.
  
  
• Pros and Cons
  By A138G69ISCE9LN on 2008-06-03
  Pros:
  -It is a wireless bluetooth device, so you do not need to point at the PS3 to use it.
  -Comes with batteries
  -It is one of the few (if not the only) remotes compatible with the PS3 without and IR adapter
  -Not only for Bluray movies and DVDs, but also for music and videos on the hard drive as well as for surfing the web
  -You can check the battery level when you press the PS button
  
  Cons:
  -The bluetooth function uses too much battery power
  -It is a big remote
  -It has many buttons
  -The buttons are hard to see
  -Any button turns the system on (trust me, it can get frustrating)
  -Does not have an on/off button
  -The buttons are hard to see in the dark, as they don't light up or glow
  -It does not have an indicating light for when you press a button
  
  Overall, it does what it should, but it's certainly not great. If you really need it get it, otherwise I would wait for a better version or even a third party remote to come out, if there isn't one out already. Or you could just control the PS3 with the..um..PS3 controller! And the deal with holding the PS button and then pressing OK twice to turn it off doesn't work for me. I should just be able to press a button to turn the system off. Sometimes I turn my PS3 accidentally on when my TV is off and I either have to wait for the system to start up and then press the sequence of buttons with my TV still off, or just turn my TV on to make sure I'm turning it off correctly, or just go up to the PS3 and turn it off manually. It really was a bad idea to have any button turn the PS3 on and to not have an on/off button.
  For a design this bad, they should have included it with the $600-$500 systems. Bad, bad Sony. Once again, you've failed us, the loyal customers. Too bad we're stuck with this excuse for a remote.
  
  
• I approve this remote control
  By ADLVFFE4VBT8 on 2008-09-19
  I did not think I needed yet another remote control because I thought the six-axis had everything it needed for movie playing on the PS3 and, yet, I bought one. There were 2 initial reasons:
  
  - my wife was missing a 'magic wand' shaped remote for playing movies
  - Amazon had it at a great price in one of them lightning deals
  
  I ended up using it myself and, in fact, using it for more than just movie playing - see below.
  
  But, let's do a quick inventory of features:
  
  = It's blue-tooth enabled and, therefore, it's not taking any ports on your PS3. This is probably important for anyone who has a "2-USB ports console".
  = It's wand-shaped, allowing the non-gamers to control their movie-watching activities while holding a familiar-shaped device in their hand.
  = It maps ALL the six-axis buttons and performs everything a six-axis would do, except for the joystick features of R3 and L3 (but you do have the push-down or 'click' abilities for them).
  = Includes additional buttons that the movie-only users would expect on a remote such as:
  + a number pad
  + eject
  + red, green, blue, yellow buttons
  + play, stop, pause
  + slow(step), scan(left/right), prev/next
  + display, top menu, pop up menu, return
  + subtitles, angle, audio
  = 2 AA battery powered (still with the original Sony batteries after 4 months of use)
  
  What is interesting about this remote is that you can use it for much more than movie-playing. Given that it has all the six-axis buttons, guess what? You can use it, and I do use it to:
  
  - surf the web
  - play music
  - shop at the PSN store
  - play certain games such as Sudoku
  - turn the PS3 on/off when your six-axis controllers are in the charger and I am playing GT5 that is using a racing wheel
  
  And, yes, you CAN turn the PS3 on and off with this remote. Turning it on is easy - you simply press the PlayStation button and the PS3 turns itself on. To turn it off, you either go as far to the left on the X-bar and all the way up and press Enter (the turn-off PlayStation icon will be highlighted) or you simply hold the PlayStation button pressed for a few seconds and then select 'yes' and press the X button a couple of times.
  
  Overall: I am happy with this peripheral. Yes, it's one more remote control but it's a pretty good one, for the reasons I stated above.
  
  

• PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year)
• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Play
• Tips & Tricks Magazine

• Playstation 3 40GB
• Playstation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller
• Playstation 3 80GB
• Playstation 3 HDMI Cable
• PlayStation 3 (60GB)