UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL®, INC. INTRODUCES NEW HOME THEATER MASTER® MX-700 AUTOMATION SYSTEM

Delivers Unique "Dual" Remote Control Solution to the CEDIA Marketplace

INDIANAPOLIS, SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 - Again demonstrating its leadership role in remote control technology, Universal Remote Control, Inc. today expands its line-up of widely acclaimed home theater remote control products with the introduction of the Home Theater Master® MX-700 System. Featured at the CEDIA EXPO 2001 in Indianapolis, the Home Theater Master® MX-700 system incorporates two sophisticated remote controls in one package. The MX-700 master remote will automate up to twenty different home theater components via its extensive IR database and extraordinary macro capability. The MX-700 can perform over 900 macros (with up to 190 steps each), rivaling automation systems costing thousands of dollars. The new SideKickT complements the master MX-700 remote control. The SideKick is designed to give kids and casual users of complex, custom installed systems a simple remote for watching TV, Satellite, or Cable programs. The SideKick may look simple, but it delivers the automation necessary to fully turn on, off and configure a complex home theater with one touch. The SideKick is capable of multiple 190 step macros and IR codes.

Universal Remote Control, Inc. Product Manager Hank Eisengrein says, "The Sidekick was developed as a result of lifestyle research. We learned that some people are intimidated by remote controls with too many buttons. The Sidekick is the perfect solution for those members of a household who require one touch automated macros to turn on and configure the home theater, but don't want to deal with a lot of buttons".

The Home Theater Master® MX-700 master remote features a hybrid LCD and hard button design with an extensively researched hard button layout optimized for one-handed operation. "The easy ergonomics of finding a button by touch, rather than the typical three step of most macro capable touch screens (tap to activate, look to see where the button is, then tap the button), makes the one touch MX-700 system a dream to operate in a real home theater environment" said Eisengrein, adding "People don't like to constantly check their remote, they are watching the screen of their TV. The inclusion of Universal Remote Control's fabulous thumb centered "joystick" for navigating on-screen menus is sure to impress anyone who has ever used a traditional touch screen product."

The Crystal Clear LCD display screen and GemStoneT hard buttons combine to give the MX-700 an extremely readable and easy to use look and feel. GemStone surfacing gives all of the hard buttons a sleek, glossy look that makes the shapely remote extremely elegant on any coffee table. Both the LCD display and the GemStone buttons incorporate "EL" illumination technology, which provides very bright, yet energy efficient illumination. Powered by four Duracell Ultra "AAA" alkaline batteries, the remote control features a built-in "smart" memory back up system designed to retain memory for ten years.

Programming the MX-700 System can be done via the remote controls on-board menus or via a unique new custom software program that is operated from a PC computer via the included serial cable. "This designer software program allows programming of activity-based macro commands with hundreds of steps within minutes versus the hours we typically take with other products" said Eric Johnson, a home theater industry remote control training consultant. (-more-) "This time-saving benefits both the expert installer and the new user with little field experience."

The new software revolutionizes home theater installation with the world's first one-click Discrete Code IR Database. This database enables programmers to program all of the IR codes and LCD labels for a component with one mouse click. The database represents the culmination of Universal Remote Control's ten-year research program collecting the infrared codes of all brands and models of home theater components (televisions, projectors, VCR's, CD players, DVD players, Personal Video Recorders, Surround Receivers, Preamps, Cable and Satellite Receivers, etc.). "The inclusion of secret, discrete ON, OFF and input infrared codes makes programming bullet-proof one-touch macros incredibly fast and easy for the programmer" said Johnson, adding "This is an extraordinary database, extending back over twenty years and including hard to find codes."

The software includes two programming interfaces, the Editor and the Programming Wizard. The Editor enables experienced installers to quickly make changes or customize existing systems, while the Programming Wizard steps inexperienced programmers through the process of automating a home theater. "The Programming Wizard actually automatically programs Power On and Power Off macros for the programmer," said Fred Bolton (Director of Sales), "Via the Programming Wizard, an inexperienced programmer gets hints on how to automate difficult brands and models."

The Home Theater Master® MX-700 system (including the Master MX-700 remote, the SideKick remote, serial cable, Duracell Ultra batteries and CD-ROM software) will be available in the fourth quarter of 2001, for a suggested retail price of $499.95. For information on Universal Remote Control, Inc.'s full product line, call (914) 835-4484, or visit www.hometheatermaster.com.

Company Background

Universal Remote Control, Inc., established in 1990, is the US subsidiary of Compo Micro Tech, Inc., established in 1983. Both companies are based in Harrison, NY. Compo Micro Tech, Inc., one of the world's largest suppliers of remote controls, wireless and RF hand-held devices to the OEM and Broadcast Subscription markets, including Hughes Direct TV, Zenith, AOL/Time Warner, and Motorola with multiple manufacturing facilities in Asia and North America. Universal Remote Control, Inc., currently supplies remote controls for many of the home theater industry's leading high-end audio and video manufacturers, including B & K, Denon, Harman Kardon, McIntosh, Rotel, Parasound and Toshiba.