Select a Product One For All: Kameleon 8 One For All: Kameleon 6 (Intl) One For All: Kameleon 4 (Intl) Radio Shack: Kameleon 8 in 1 Radio Shack: Kameleon 6 in 1 Radio Shack: Kameleon 4 in 1 Kameleon C6 Kenwood Touch Zone UEI Kameleon Electronic House By Doug Smith July, 2003 http://69.2.202.139/default.asp?NodeId=1356 EH Spotlight REVIEW: UEI Kameleon Remote Control If there is one device that makes or breaks a good home theater or home control system, it is the remote control. We all seem to be on a quest for the perfect universal remote that easily operates every component without being overly complicated to use. Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) takes aim at ease of use with its new Kameleon technology. Kameleon enables a remote to show only the keys that are applicable to the device being operated. This means that when you operate your DVD player, the remote is not cluttered with keys for your satellite receiver. UEI provides the underlying technology found in remotes sold under many popular brands. For this review, we tested a new RadioShack 6-in-1 remote (Model 15-2133) that incorporates Kameleon technology. Installation Issues This remote exudes coolness from the moment it comes out of the box. The ultramodern design is built into a thin metal body with a smooth face. Once the batteries are installed, the face illuminates. This backlight turns off after a few seconds of no use. Then just pick up the remote, and it instantly detects the motion and lights up again. This feature alone brought cries of "I want one!" from everyone who tried it. Setting up the remote to control each device is done by the typical entering of codes from a table in the included manual. A search method is provided to help find codes for devices not listed. If a few special keys are not defined, the 6-in-1 can learn them from your original remote. New codes can be added to the remote via the telephone, which protects the remote from obsolescence. You simply call the help line and hold the remote next to the phone when instructed. Performance/Features When you choose a device to control, the graphic for that device is animated as an indicator of your choice. Only the relevant buttons for the device are illuminated, and in some cases, only the most common buttons are shown. The rest are toggled on and off by pressing the screen button. We found this to be more irritating than helpful in some cases, when common use required frequent screen switching. Since the buttons are only hidden and never move, we would have preferred to have all of our device's buttons shown at once. Although the tactile feedback is great, the smooth surface does not allow navigation by touch, as do remotes with protruding buttons. Other nice features include the use of macros to launch a sequence of commands with a single key press, and a flexible volume lock that allows the volume keys of one device to operate another. The Last Word This cool blue A/V tool is flexible and easy to operate, especially in the dark because of the button illumination. Some may find it a little bright for a dark room, even when adjusted to the lowest level. A loud subwoofer can fool it into illuminating frequently, which can be distracting. EH Info: Universal Electronics, Inc., $59.99 714-820-1000, www.uei.com Doug Smith works in information technology, with side work in the home automation industry.