Pronto files: As usual the Pronto CCF file area continues to grow, now with over 1170 component configurations and 160 complete systems. Specific new postings include system files by Chris Cohen, Daryl Holtz (new Win95 layout), Georg Fischer (great new Star Trek design), James Myers, Jim Kenefick, Mango Chutney, Mario Linhart, Moe Ver, Steven Janofsky & Thad Dirksen.

Two new entertainment CCFs are available, with a Card Trick by Cary Gerber and "IQ Workbench" by George Fournaris. Under Pronto documentation Loran Richardson has uploaded a brief tutorial on how to make Bang & Olufsen IR codes. It also contains a pretty comprehensive set of already functional codes.

Marantz RC1200: Although this remote has been shipping for a short time with some of Marantz's receivers, it has not yet been available as a separate entity. However, I've a few new details since our CES 2000 report. Apparantly, the RC1200 includes much of the same technology as the original RC2000. For a $180 list price it offers learning capability (roughly half that of the RC2000 MkII) for infrared signals up to 70KHz. A great point is that it's more compact and easier-to-use than the RC2000. I hope to receive one for review as soon as possible.

Forum updates: This past week I've completed numerious small changes and improvements to Remote Central's chat forum software. All were either initiated due to user suggestions or my own opinions (hey, I use it a lot too!). Since this is my own forum package, it's not too hard to modify the code. Suggestions? Let me know! (Note: I'm not tackling spell checking, user accounts for editing and such, or cookies for "new" message tracking. Perhaps this summer...)

Contest: Before I receive yet another email on the subject, let me just verify that the absolute correct answer for March's bonus question is one of the four listed. However, many sources these days provide a completely incorrect definition... so you may need to do a little further research. No idea what I'm talking about? Well, you'd better enter our current contest so you can find out! You could win a nifty Pioneer 3-disc DVD player or Dish Network 500 satellite receiver from AVsmarts.com.