Luxury audio/video specialist Bang & Olufsen has announced the Beo5, a successor to its Beo4 multi-system remote. The new model is a significant departure; rather than rely on a conventional, button-laden "brick," the Beo5 is controlled mainly through a color touchscreen, with a button wheel providing access to common options such as volume and track control.
The touchscreen tailors itself to each selected device, and furthermore offers tactile feedback, allowing users to "feel" where buttons are. The Beo5 should ship to retail later this fall at a price of $560; because it consumes more power than before, a table charger is included.
Beo 5 remote control
Your entertainment key
Your Beo 5 remote control is like your house key. Your key is cut just for your front door, and suits its purpose exactly. It works as an extension of your hand; not something you have to think about. Your unique Beo 5 unlocks exactly your mix of audio and video equipment, whether it is a single BeoVision 7 or a full link system. The same Beo 5 can be as simple as you want and as flexible as you need.
Navigate the seas of complexity
Now you can have touch-screen control of your TV, films, music and more – right in the palm of your hand. Beo 5 knows which devices you own and presents just the relevant menus and controls on its intelligent hardened glass screen. You get all the visual feedback you need, without obstructing everyone’s view of the big screen. Menus are copied to the screen on the remote and even station logos appear here, eliminating the need to remember all those numbers. Link rooms are controlled by means of Zones, e.g. the 
living room or kitchen zone, so you are always sure to have access to the right products and functions in each room.
The functions that are common for several devices – like menu navigation buttons and the famous Bang & Olufsen sound volume wheel – have dedicated tactile buttons within easy reach on the aluminium ball that forms the lower half of Beo 5. The two parts of the remote control complement each other to combine simplicity of operation with choice and flexibility of features. In a day and age when On and Off, Play and Stop are just not enough any more, it is good that someone is cutting through the complexity.
Inspired by contradictions
The square glass display with soft touch keys and the aluminium ball with tactile keys and a volume wheel are inspired by contradictions – the circle and the square, giving Beo 5 an unusual visual expression. Beo 5 has no sharp edges and lies firmly and comfortable in your hand giving you easy access to all the functions you need. It lights up when touched and it is always awake, waiting for your next move. Even the light of you touch display adapts to your surroundings, so you will always have the right visibility on your display.
Your personal remote control
With Beo 5 there is always an answer to ‘what does this button do?’. The remote you own controls just the products you have and nothing more. To service the individual needs of each customer, we draw on our unique dealer network to customise each Beo 5 in a way that no central manufacturer could. And when you expand your Bang & Olufsen collection, your dealer will come to your home not only to install the devices physically, but also to upgrade your Beo 5 to handle the newcomers. Even products that have not been invented yet will be possible to control with your Beo 5.
Full home automation
Put some excitement pleasure into the operation of your entertainment devices with macros – sequences of commands that set the scene for your experience. This could be something simple, but effective, like spotlights in floor and ceiling that come on automatically and light up your BeoSound 9000 when you select CD. Or you could go with full home automation, combining performance and convenience in a single touch of a descriptive button label – an apt name might be “Cineplex” – that dims the lights, rolls down the curtains, sets the speakers to 7.2 surround, opens the DVD loader, and puts the kids to bed. Well, almost.
Specifications (Beo 5 remote control)
Dimensions: 69.3 x 115.8 x 32.3 mm
Weight: 175 g
