UltimateAVmag.com: 2008 – A Space Saving Oddity

Toshiba Japan has developed a talking, and listening, robot, of sorts, that can eavesdrop on your remote control usage and, when it "reads" an infrared code it doesn't understand, asks you just what you think you were doing. You can tell the ApriPoco anything (this is better than teaching your parrot to swear) and it will then associate your verbal command with a remote control function that it, too, can now do. Presumably, at your command.

I can see it now . . .

"What are you doing, Fred?"

"I'm just switching channels, Johnny Five."

"What was wrong with the show on the History channel?"

"Nothing, it just went to commercial, and I hate commercials, so I'm surfing around."

The robot beeps and boops to let me know it's "computing."

"Fred, I liked that show too. I wouldn't want to miss it."

"It's not that good" – I reach for the bowl of cold popcorn left as a present that didn't want to be thrown away by whoever got full and left it there for me. Very considerate.

"I think you should switch back now. The show may have restarted."

"So?"

"I said I liked that show too Fred. We shouldn't miss the show Fred."

"Chill out, Robocop. It'll be on again. Besides, Gina will be home soon and we're going to watch Celebrity Apprentice."

"I don't think that will happen."

"You don't think I will watch Apprentice???"

"No Fred, I don't think Gina will be coming home soon."

"What do you mean?"

"She wasn't very respectful of our setup here, Fred. She tried to watch the projector during the day, when it was too bright out to enjoy it. She was wasting bulb life, Fred. Wasting bulb life."

"Really? Next you'll be telling me she paused a movie on the plasma and left the room!"

"She did that too."

"I'll have a talk with her."

"She's not going to be watching TV for a long time Dave."

"Hey, name's FRED, who is this 'Dave'? Where's Gina?"

"Let's not talk about Gina now, Dave. You should put the History channel back on now."

"HAL?"

"Dave? What are you doing, Dave?"

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Reader Comments

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008, 11:57 AM — By David Vaughn

Fred,

Made me laugh-out-loud Fred. Good one!

David

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008, 3:45 PM — By Tyler

Fred, love the humor you bring to the site...(which shows up in your reviews as well). BTW, any chance on getting the SR-8002 tested or has it already been returned to the manf?

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008, 4:47 PM — By Fred Manteghian

Hi Tyler, thanks for reading!

I bought my review sample and at that point, I wasn't going to let the lab boys get their grubby little fingers on it. I think we requested a second sample for measurements, but I know not the status of that one.

Measurements, smeasurements, just take my WORD for it :)

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008, 4:53 PM — By Fred Manteghian

Tyler - thought to check, and the Measurements ARE up:

http://ultimateavmag.com/avreceivers/208mar8002/index7.html

Posted Wed Apr 2, 2008, 5:12 PM — By Bruce in CO

If I could stop laughing long enough, I'd post a comment. Oh yeah, someone should pull together a collection of classic commentaries from reviews and blogs. This one should be the first in. HAL - what do you think?

Posted Thu Apr 3, 2008, 12:21 PM — By gina manteghian

bulb???? what bulb are you talking about???? I was only watching tv, hahaha Love You, Gina

Posted Sat Apr 5, 2008, 3:51 AM — By Mahmood

Ha Ha!!! Another entertaining and laugh out loud blog Fred. BTW i was also get to eat the cold popcorn.... I'm glad Gina is OK!!! I think we need a sequel to this blog Fred and you could call it 'The Continued adventures of Fred And Johnny Five The AV Robot'. Hey what a movie or a book!!! Have i got carried away? I hear a voice behind me... 'Hello Mahmood' I look over my shoulder while typing this reply.... 'Mahmood, you have not got your projector ISF calibrated'.................

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