It's about half the size of a conventional remote.
I’m the deputy managing editor of the hardware team at PCMag.com. Reading this during the day? Then you've caught me testing gear and editing reviews of laptops, desktop PCs, and tons of other personal tech. (Reading this at night? Then I’m probably dreaming about all those cool products.) I’ve covered the consumer tech world as an editor, reporter, and analyst since 2015.
Dish customers can now talk to their televisions, thanks to a new voice-enabled remote that controls navigation, search, and content selection on Hopper 3 and 4K Joey set-top boxes.
While Comcast's voice-controlled remote for the Xfinity X1 platform looks like a conventional remote control, Dish's device is about half that size. A touchpad takes up most of that real estate, which also doubles as a virtual backlit keypad if you'd prefer to type in channels the old-fashioned way.
Dish says the voice-control feature can interpret natural language to populate search results based on program title, actor, or genre. It also recognizes voice commands to control basic functions of the receiver, like starting and stopping DVR recording and changing channels.
The voice remote is available to all Dish customers who have the Hopper 3 ($275.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) or 4K Joey ($155.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , though it's a $30 add-on. The boxes themselves cost $7 a month.
Like the conventional Hopper 3 and 4K Joey remotes, the voice remote uses a radio connection so you don't need to point the remote directly at the box for it to work. For people who hate remote clutter, the new Dish clicker is also a universal remote, with the ability to control two additional devices via conventional infrared signals. Beyond the keypad, the entire remote has backlighting and can last up to six months on two AA batteries.
"Voice Remote is simple to use, affordable and, most impressively, operates with incredible speed and accuracy," Vivek Khemka, Dish's executive vice president and chief technology officer, said in a statement. "Leveraging modern navigation paradigms like touch and voice, this remote represents a complete reinvention of the outdated remote control customers have come to expect from cable providers."
Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
I’m the deputy managing editor of the hardware team at PCMag.com. Reading this during the day? Then you've caught me testing gear and editing reviews of laptops, desktop PCs, and tons of other personal tech. (Reading this at night? Then I’m probably dreaming about all those cool products.) I’ve covered the consumer tech world as an editor, reporter, and analyst since 2015.
I’ve evaluated the performance, value, and features of hundreds of personal tech devices and services, from laptops to Wi-Fi hotspots and everything in between. I’ve also covered the launches of dozens of groundbreaking technologies, from hyperloop test tracks in the desert to the latest silicon from Apple and Intel.
I've appeared on CBS News, in USA Today, and at many other outlets to offer analysis on breaking technology news.
Before I joined the tech-journalism ranks, I wrote on topics as diverse as Borneo's rain forests, Middle Eastern airlines, and Big Data's role in presidential elections. A graduate of Middlebury College, I also have a master's degree in journalism and French Studies from New York University.
PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
© 1996-2022 Ziff Davis. PCMag Digital Group
PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.