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Review on ๐ŸŽฎ PDP Universal Media Remote for PlayStation 4 - Model 051-038-D1 by Sam Anez

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Decided to clear up a few misconceptions

Decided to dispel a few misconceptions that are floating here.1 . It's officially licensed by Sony, it's right on the box and has a real PS logo button, while being sold in the official PS blue box that the PS4 came in. You wouldn't be able to use it if it wasn't an official Sony product. . It's not made by Sony, but lacks many of their extras, it still meets their standards as an officially licensed product, and having a license ensures it's accepted by the Playstation and its ecosystem.2. The ONLY part of the remote that turns off after 30 minutes is the PS4's Bluetooth functionality, same as the Dualshock, which makes sense as Bluetooth drains the battery. IR is always on, just like a regular remote control, so you can control surround sound, cable box, and TV. So instant mute is still required, or anything related to something other than your PS4 (you can also set it up so the volume buttons only control your sound system each time, no matter what setting is currently on). Pressing the PS button to wake up the remote isn't really a problem, because even if the bluetooth part of the remote goes silent, pressing the big PS button in the middle will wake the remote up immediately AND immediately bring up the PS home screen like pressing the PS button on the Dualshock. It works exactly like this. For the Hulu app, the manual says that if some buttons don't work for some apps, they might still work with other buttons on the remote until they expire. The X, O, Triangle, and Square buttons work mostly the same as they do on the DualShock in most apps, but in the Hulu app the O function is relegated to the STOP button next to Pause and Play, which works as intended. Also. All functionalities are retained, none of them are lost. Alternatively, you can press the big PS4 button to pause and mute at the same time, as a press takes you instantly to the PS4 home screen and also instantly pauses/pauses any app (just like the DualShock). To be honest I don't even use the X, O, Square or Triangle keys as they aren't needed as the regular Return and Enter keys do the same thing. This is your preference.4. For programming and pairing issues, the end of the manual says to use ALL codes when entering the code manually to find the code with the most functionality for the device you want to control. THEN use the "Training" function to fill in what is left out. I have an already ancient but still amazing LG plasma (techs know plasma is better ;) with an old Sony surround system and the remote manual has all the codes needed for full functionality for both (I really needed something to change the inputs). . A simple "tutorial" allows you to customize it exactly how you want and add missing features. It was important to set it up as a master wired remote with all its complex features. I taught him the on-demand and DVR functions, as well as the important page up/page down functions, using a manual that strangely didn't work automatically Assigned buttons on the remote control with my specific cable box. Fortunately, the teaching allowed me to add it. Everything else had a button and worked without learning, even small nuances like widgets. (NOTE: it took me a few times to teach successfully, although it flashed 3 times and said it was working, but then nothing worked, not even normal functions, don't worry you have to re-enter the code you used what for that The device you were controlling was working and all your saved "workouts" are still set up the way you left it, it just didn't register during the workout and suffered a few times so just enter the re-enter the code manually to return to normal). I think anyone with a problem probably just isn't programming it properly (it's pretty easy once you understand how it's built). 5. My biggest complaint is that not every key can be learned as the dedicated page up/down keys didn't work with the cable box. While the channel up/down buttons did the same thing, they're too far down on the remote, and it's annoying having to constantly move the entire knob up and down an inch while watching the TV guide. To fix this, I taught the yellow and blue softkeys the page up/down functions so I only have to swipe up a little from the enter and arrow keys instead of using my whole hand. This is very important to me and I would bring it back if it wasn't for the instant page up/down feature. But like I said, learning makes this remote customizable. So it's only a small cosmetic difference, neither functionality nor comfort is lost. And there are about 7 or 8 programmable buttons in total, including ALL the colored buttons (including the 3 colored buttons at the very top of the remote, NOT just the 4 middle colored soft keys that some people are talking about). Once muscle memory kicks in and you get used to it, smaller buttons won't be a problem. Love the sleek look of the little buttons that show you have a more advanced home theater system ;) The PS4 functionality makes this a lot easier than using the DS4 for anything other than gaming. I like the real PS4 buttons on the remote control. This is a very well made and stylish remote control. I love the colored softkeys and official PS buttons. Good feeling about it. Now I can control my entire entertainment complex with one remote control. I'm back to update this review after a few months of heavy use. I never had to rewire, reprogram or do anything, it still works perfectly. I'm amazed at the bad reviews. Honestly, I think that either a person simply does not even have the ability to program the remote, or they belong to competitors. Some have legitimate issues, which I've reported in Revain's answers, and I've found that most of the issues are related to those super-cheap, no-name TVs (even worse than Hisense's, for example).

Pros
  • Features 11 programmable learn buttons to control additional functions, plus softkeys to learn additional IR commands from other remotes
Cons
  • Has been broken