BluWave Infrared Remote Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After having used a Harmony 676 to control all my devices, I was not happy when I needed to use the PS3 controller to control Blu Ray movie watching.

This remote's dongle does the job in letting my Harmony 676 control the PS3. There was one problem that almost led me to return the remote however, and I wanted to mention the solution here.

Problem (for Harmony remotes):
On the PS3 XMB (Cross Media Bar), the directional buttons would move the selection several spots for each key press. I read several posts and tried teaching & re-teaching the Harmony. I tried teaching using the "Raw" IR learning but that would slow down the response from the PS3 to each key press.

Solution:
Within the Harmony program, go to Devices->PS3 and select "troubleshoot" under device options.
Select "Show me more problems" (last choice).
Then select the choice "PS3 doesn't appear to receive every command correctly," and the select "The device responds too much to some commands (for example, volume up increases the volume too quickly)."
In the screen with the radio buttons, select '0'.
Save & update the remote and everything the directional buttons will work perfectly.

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Product Description:
Easily control the next generation of home entertainment with the Blue-Wave Remote from Nyko. The Blu Wave allows you to easily control the playback of Blu-Ray movies, DVDs and CDs on the PlayStation 3 console. Utilizing infrared technology, the Blue Wave can navigate system and movie menus, skip chapters or tracks, pause and play a movie or music and replicate other PlayStation 3 controller functionality from up to 25 feet away. The compact USB IR receiver plugs into any open USB port for easy set up requiring no complicate software, pairing or programming. The Blue Wave is powered by 2 AA batteries (included).

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Logitech Harmony Xbox 360 Remote Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros: Easy to use, easy to program, supports Xbox 360 out-of-the-box

Cons: Some of the usual Harmony buttons are missing, small number pad takes some getting used to, Expensive

This is not my first Harmony remote.Even though I don't yet have a 360 (I know I'll be getting one sooner or later), I decided to go ahead and upgrade so that I could pass my older Harmony 688 on to a relative who really could use it.As soon as I heard about this remote, I knew I had to have one.As someone who is excited about the Media Center Extender abilities of the new Xbox 360 (because I've been looking for a way to hear my multiple gigabytes of mp3's and wma's through my home theater's sound system), I was thrilled to find out that I'd be able to use a Harmony remote to control the 360.

I really need say only one thing about this remote (or any other Harmony remote, for that matter), and that is that once you've used this device for a week or two, you'll wonder how you ever got along without one.Sure, I've got small gripes about the Harmony 360.Because of the added Xbox 360 compatibility, some of the buttons usually present on other Harmony remotes (such as Sound, Picture, Page Up/Down, and dedicated Activity buttons) have been replaced by the YXAB buttons necessary to emulate the Xbox 360 controller's inputs.Additionally, the number pad feels as if it's been squished into the bottom of the remote; the number buttons are extremely small and very tightly packed together, and I've already inadvertently switched to the wrong channel several times.And then there's the price: $130 initially seems a bit high for a remote.However, I firmly believe--and I don't say this lightly--that this remote is worth every penny of its price tag (even without the $30 rebate for 360 owners).Ultimately, these gripes are very minor drawbacks to one of the best universal remote controllers ever.

The biggest draw of the Harmony remote--and what sets it apart from the other 99% of universal remotes available today--is its simplicity.Whereas other universal remotes have a dizzying array of buttons and modes for individually controlling every component of a home theater system, the Harmony keeps things simple by operating a home theater the way it should be operated: by understanding and executing the activities that the user wishes to experience.When I want to watch DirecTV, for example, I simply press the large Activities button at the top of the Harmony remote, which then displays all of the available activities on the backlit, easy-to-read screen.I then press the button next to the option for "Watch DirecTV," at which time the remote turns on my television and switches to the Video 1 input, turns on my home theater system and switches it to the Video 1 input, and then turns on my DirecTV reciever.

What's even better is that the remote's "Smart State Technology" is cognizant of the power status (on/off) and current input setting (video 1/2/3/etc) of all of my devices, so that I always get to do what I want when I press that Activity button.And even when something isn't quite right (such as having the sound system set to the wrong input, resulting in no audio--which occasionally happens), the remote's Help button guides the user through a step-by-step troubleshooting procedure that even the most technologically impaired can use, by asking questions such as "Is the stereo receiver on?" or "Is the stereo receiver set to the Video 1 input?"As soon as you press the "no" button, the remote then changes the input of the stereo receiver and asks, "Did that fix the problem?"Because of this activity-based functionality and intuitive help system, my wife can operate our fairly complex home theater system like a pro, even though she doesn't have the first clue as to how each component is connected to all of the others.For those of you who have friends and family who are "technologically challenged" (and you know that we all do), this is the perfect gift.

The remote's setup couldn't be any easier, either.Programming the remote is accomplished using Logitech's web-based software and a mini-USB cable (included in the box).You simply input the brand and model number of each of the components you desire to control with the Harmony, and the software automatically configures all of the buttons and settings, in addition to suggesting which "Activities" (such as Watch TV, Play Xbox, Watch a DVD, Listen to CDs, Play Radio, etc) it can setup for you on the remote.After initial setup, the software allows you to add and remove devices, activities, and even individual button functions, so if one feature is working exactly as you'd planned you can manually "teach" the Harmony a specific command from that device's own remote and program it to a specific button.I, for instance, wanted my Harmony's "back" button to jump to the previous channel on my DirecTV receiver, so adding the new command was as simple as pointing my DirecTV remote at my Harmony, telling the web-based software to learn a new command, and then pressing the "back" button on my original DirecTV remote.Voila!

THe design, styling, and fit-and-finish of the Harmony 360 remote are top-notch.Even though I prefer the TiVo-esque design and button layout of my old Harmony 688, the 360 remote is nice; and it's definitely sleeker and sexier-looking than the 688 (or just about any other Harmony remote, for that matter).It also has a nice, solid, and substantial feel to it; it doesn't feel as if it's simply made of flimsy, brittle plastics.Bottom line: if you're home theater setup includes more than just a television and an Xbox 360, then go buy this remote now.If you don't have an Xbox 360 but your home theater has more than one or two components, then go buy this or any other Harmony remote now.Truly, the greatest products and technologies are those that are so successful that we can't imagine how we ever got along without them (the Web, anyone?), and this remote definitely falls into this category.

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Product Description:
MODEL- 966200 VENDOR- LOGITECH INC.

FEATURES- Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360- Silver
All the right one-touch activity buttons for your Xbox--and your
entire home entertainment system!
The Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360 makes gaming
easy. Simply choose "Play Xbox 360" and the Harmony will
automatically power on your TV, Xbox 360 and stereo receiver, then
set all the inputs, and even press "Play"!Logitechs patented
Smart State Technology gives you one-touch control over your
console.
And like all Logitech Harmony remotes, the Harmony 360 helps make
home entertainment accessible to the entire family. An intuitive
setup wizard will walk you through the steps to configure the
remote for your audio/video system. An online database containing
the remote codes for more than 2,500 manufacturers and 80,000
devices ensures that your Harmony Advanced Universal Remote will be
compatible with your favorite components.
Includes Harmony Remote, USB cable, Installation CD, Installation
guide, (4) AAA batteries.
* Use the special Xbox buttons. The Harmony 360 includes convenient Y, X,
A, and B buttons and media center controls for your Xbox gaming.
* Control your devices: past, present and future!The Harmony 360 gives
you full control of up to 12 devices. The Logitech database contains over
2,500 manufacturers and over 80,000 IR devices -- everything from HDTVs
to PVRs, DVD players to VCRs, and game consoles to lighting controls! The
database is updated daily, so it is guaranteed to work with all models
and manufacturers.
* Set it up in a snap!The Harmony Set-up Wizard does the programming, so
you do not have to. Just connect your remote to your computer and answer
a few quest

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PS3 Blu-Link Universal Remote Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Before I get into my thoughts on the Blu-Link remote, I'll start by saying that I've purchased and returned two Logitech Harmony universal remotes.The Harmony Xbox 360 remote and the almighty Harmony One to be precise.These are the only products I've ever returned on Amazon.com.They were nice enough remotes to look at, and the computerized setup was convenient.I just couldn't get past the delay in button presses.No matter how you set the inter-device or inter-key delay for the remote, there is a noticeable delay between pressing a button and seeing the result.(For example: Holding down the volume button for an A/V receiver for a few seconds would result in about 3-4 extra commands after you let go of the button. Annoying)I am far from the only user to be bothered by this, as a quick Google search can yield innumerable results on the topic.

The Blu-Link remote doesn't have a computerized setup, a display, or a charging station.I give it 5 stars nonetheless.It does what it's supposed to do, and does it at a reasonable price.Using the supplied codes, I had my PS3, Samsung TV, Onkyo A/V receiver, and DirecTV HD-DVR up and running MOST of the way within a couple of minutes.I then spent 5, count 'em, 5 minutes using the remote's "learning" feature to fill in the remaining functionality.Notably, I ran into the same problem that another reviewer had with my A/V receiver, in that it would power it on, but not off.Teaching the Blu-Link the Onkyo remote's power code directly alleviated this problem.Various other commands were learned from my old Onkyo remote, but the DVR and TV were good to go using only the supplied codes.The volume master feature works as it should, sending all volume commands to the AUX input, the Onkyo receiver.The manual also explains how to set up a master volume device, but to also be able to control the TV's volume when you're on the TV input.(I mention this after seeing another reviewer's frustration with trying to do that)

Now, for the reason I was so excited about this remote in the first place:The ability to control the PS3.I can tell you that it works flawlessly.Power on, power off, video/music playback, menu navigation, just about everything you can do with the PS3 controller can be done with the Blu-Link remote.To power on, you simply hit the PS3 input selector.To power off, you hold the "Home" button, just like you would on a PS3 controller, and select "Power off device".Simple!The only ommission I've seen is the lack of "L" and "R" buttons.The only use I would have for them is webpage back/forward keys, (which is still easily done by hitting "triangle" and selecting it from the menu) but since I don't do much web browsing on the PS3 it's not a big deal.

The finish of the remote is very attractive, and I find the button layout to be very comfortable.Be aware that the buttons are quite small, namely the number keys and transport buttons. (FF, RW, etc.)Those with large hands may have problems.

I spent less than 10 minutes setting up this remote to control all of my components, and have been loving it in the time since.Yes, I have to manually adjust inputs when watching a movie instead of hitting a singular "Activity" key, but I also don't have to deal with the delays present in Logitech remotes.The PS3 control is fantastic, and you can get the Blu-Link remote for $10 less than the price of the Logitech PS3 adapter alone!

If you're unhappy with Harmony remotes, and you're a PS3 owner, this is a no-brainer.Buy it now!

Click Here to see more reviews about: PS3 Blu-Link Universal Remote Control

Product Description:
The first remote control to use both Bluetooth to control the PS3 and Infrared to control the other devices in your entertainment center. Built-In Bluetooth radio for controlling Sony PlayStation3. Built-In IR for controlling numerous models of TVs, VCRs, DVDs, DVRs, surround sound systems, cable, satellite and set top boxes. Replace up to six different remote controls. Pre-programmed to support numerous models of TVs, VCRs, DVDs, DVRs, surround sound systems, cable, satellite and set top boxes. Learn codes from other remote controls

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Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I put a great deal of interest in my purchases. With a lot of extra down-time at work and an internet connection, I find myself reviewing EVERYTHING before I buy it. And only after I am very impressed and convinced by many positive reviews will I take out my credit card. But this product, the Microsoft XBOX360 Media Remote, was one exception having read many bad reviews and deciding to purchase it anyway. Let me tell you...

This remote is PERFECT if...

1. You would like one, easy-to-use remote to control both basic TV and an Xbox 360 that doubles as your DVD player.
2. The only buttons you would need for the TV are: Channels, Volume (TV speaker/output control only), Numerical channel input, Muting, *INTPUT SELECTION* (yes, it CAN switch between your TV's inputs), Return (to toggle between 2 TV channels), and Power.
3. You do not need specialized/advanced buttons found on a OEM remote or advanced learning remote for the TV.
4. You do not need to control a A/V receiver, DVD player (other than XBOX 360), or a digital cable box (Tivo, DVR, etc.)
5. You are on a budget but would still like a quality remote.

If you can say yes to all or most, then don't hesitate to grab one of these remotes. You will be completely satisfied. Especially with immediate access to the tactile DVD buttons versus the 360's annoying on-screen DVD navigation. For this feature it is almost worth the $30 alone.

P.S.
I also own a Logitech Harmony 880 for the living room which I highly recommend for anyone not fitting into the catagory mentioned above.

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Product Description:
Universal Media Remote Xbox 360

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Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)1) Get this Movie Playback Kit
2) Put the remote away in a drawer (you still need the receiver)
3) Enter the code for an RCA DVD Player into your universal remote
4) Use your universal remote to control your XBox without any custom programming!

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Product Description:
XBOX DVD Movie Playback Kit Module DVD Video

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Wii Remote Controller Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The purchase of additional Nintendo Wii Remote controllers are the basic requirement for multi-player games. Strongly consider buying a pair of high-capacity NiMH rechargeable AA batteries along with each additional controller. The Nintendo Wii Remote consumes a lot of power because of the many functions it performs -- the Wii Remote serves as a motion controller, provides power to controller attachments, and generates sound and vibration effects. The included set of disposable alkaline batteries will last less than a couple of weeks for active players (six days in my case). This compares to a battery life of a couple of months for the previous generation of Nintendo's wireless controller -- the Nintendo Wavebird controller for the GameCube.

Many games require the additional purchase of a controller attachment for multi-player mode -- the Wii Nunchuk Controller or Wii Classic Controller, both of which plug into the base of the Wii Remote. In multi-player mode, the Wii Nunchuk is used for two-handed Wii games, e.g., Red Steel or the boxing game in Wii Sports.

The Wii Classic Controller attachment is currently used to play games on the Wii Virtual Console. Held sideways, the Wii Remote can serve as a game controller for all current Sega Genesis, TurboGrafx 16, and Nintendo (NES) Wii Virtual Console games. A Wii Classic Controller or Nintendo GameCube controller is required to play Super Nintendo (SNES) or Nintendo 64 virtual console games.

You may want to purchase a Wii Classic Controller or Nintendo GameCube controller (this plugs directly into Wii Console itself) to play Virtual Console titles anyway. The Wii Remote is diminutive, and a Wii Classic Controller or GameCube controller both offer better handgrip and button placement. Of note, a Wii Classic controller can currently only be used for Wii Virtual Console games, while a GameCube controller can be used for Wii Virtual Console games and all Nintendo GameCube games.

Each "Wiimote" has a nice touch of interactivity, holding up to 10 Mii avatars per remote. You can take your Mii character along with you to play games like Wii Sports on other Wii consoles by taking your Wii Remote along with you.

The one improvement I would make to the Wii Remote Controller would be to add finger nubs. The Wiimote can get a little slippery during gameplay because of sweat. Third-party manufacturers offer latex rubber / silicone controller gloves that fit over the Wii Remote to improve hand grip. I find these gloves are more hassle than they are worth because they are time-consuming, both to put on and to peel back when changing the Wiimote's batteries.

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Product Description:

To make gaming as accessible to people of all ages and all abilities, Nintendo wanted to create a controller that was as inviting as it was sophisticated- the result is the Wii Remote. Nintendo fused the global familiarity of a remote control with the sophistication of motion-sensing technology to come up with an input device that differentiates the Wii from any other console that has come before it.


Revolutionary control
Sporting the dimensions of a small traditional remote control, the wireless Wii Remote is a multifunctional device that is limited only by the game designer's imagination. The magic of the Wii Remote's design lies within; acellerometers inside the controller body measure movement in all directions and at all speeds. In a tennis game, it serves as your racket as you swing your arm for a long forehand or a quick and hard backhand. In a 4x4 driving game it serves as a steering wheel, allowing you to swerve to avoid obstacles or pickup power-ups. In first-person shooters, the Wii Remote acts as a firearm that you can point directly at an on-screen enemy. The list of potential uses is enormous, and the light weight of the Wii Remote allows gamers to play for hours without feeling fatigued.



The Wii Remote boasts impressive technology for such a compact package.

All Wii Remote buttons are accessible and responsive. View larger.

Control many games from up to 30 feet away. View larger.

The motion sensing technology is neatly tucked away within the Wii Remote body.View larger.

The remote feels comfortable in both right and left hands. View larger.
As comfortable as it is functional

The Wii Remote is equally comfortable in right and left hands and houses just the right number of buttons for gaming- not so many that new players will get confused, but enough so that Wii games don't feel constrained. On the face of the remote are the D (or "plus") pad, a large "A" button which is used for major on-screen actions, and two small options buttons. Between the game buttons are a plus and minus buttons (which often act as "forwards" and "back"), as well as a "Home" button to engage the Wii home screen to change settings or check remote battery levels. On the back side of the controller is a trigger-like "B" button, perfect for timing releases of a bowling roll in Wii Sports.


Thankfully, battery life is excellent with the two included AA batteries, just as with the previous generation of Nintendo wireless controllers.


Immersive intelligence

Along the bottom of the Wii Remote, four blue LED lights indicate which player position the remote is currently set to. The controller automatically connects to the Wii console via Bluetooth wireless technology. Below the LEDs, an expansion port lets you connect a number of devices including the Nunchuck and Classic controllers for Virtual Console gaming (Virtual Console games and controller accessories sold separately). Other features of the Wii Remote include adjustable rumble force-feedback and a reinforced wrist strap to ensure safe use. A speaker inside the remote gives the player feedback about the strength of swings or the accuracy of their moves- such as realistic tennis noises as the "racket" connects with the ball in Wii Sports. Overall, the physical design of the remote is extremely sturdy and of very high quality, ensuring countless hours of Wii gaming fun!

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Saitek P2600 Rumble Pad PC Game Controller Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've enjoyed using Saitek gamepads for awhile now due to their useful programmability combined with having a decent number of buttons.This model appears to have two more buttons than the P2500 (the 2500 and other similar models to it only had two shoulder buttons) but it actually has the same number since the two joysticks don't have the click-in-the-joystick-buttons.Mind you, the joysticks click in as if they were buttons, but they don't actually do anything.This makes the gamepad slightly less useful to me as I often set one of the joysticks to the mouse, and the built-in button as the mouse click.Using another button for the mouse click makes selecting things in various games a bit awkward and not as fast.

The odd thing is, that according to their website the P990 and P2600 Wireless which use the same 4-shoulder-button model also apparently have working joystick buttons.As the rumble feature isn't particularly useful, IMO, and Wireless controllers have their own set of problems, I'd suggest tracking down a P990 instead.

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Product Description:
The Saitek P2600 Rumble Pad has high quality, varied rumble forces, so gamers feel closer to the action. You can instantly configure your pad's controls to the perfect set-up for first person shooter (FPS) games with a single button press. It features ergonomic controls with soft-touch handles that increase both grip and comfort in your hands.

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Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you're one of a handful of people who own an x-box but no DVD player - this remote is, literally, essential to playing DVDs.

The x-box system is expensive for microsoft, and they don't make much profit off the systems.In order to play DVDs, companies have to pay a licensing fee to the motion picture of america association.Rather than include the costs of the license in the x-box system, they force you to purchase the DVD remote in order to play DVDs.

All this explains why - even though your x-box has all the hardware necessary to play DVDs without a remote - you have to buy a remote in order to actually watch DVDs.

My remote works well enough.Its batteries have lasted quite a while, and most DVDs play pretty well.It would be nice though if the remote had a power button.

Most standard DVD players work at least as well or better than your x-box, so I wouldn't recommend this item unless you don't already have a DVD player.

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Product Description:
XBOX XO8-50202 DVD Movie Playback Kit Enables Xbox(R) video game;system to play DVD movies ; Exclusively for use with the;Xbox(R) video game system ; Requires 2 AAA batteries DVD Movie Playback Kit

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Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I did not think I needed yet another remote control because I thought the six-axis had everything it needed for movie playing on the PS3 and, yet, I bought one. There were 2 initial reasons:

- my wife was missing a 'magic wand' shaped remote for playing movies
- Amazon had it at a great price in one of them lightning deals

I ended up using it myself and, in fact, using it for more than just movie playing - see below.

But, let's do a quick inventory of features:

= It's blue-tooth enabled and, therefore, it's not taking any ports on your PS3. This is probably important for anyone who has a "2-USB ports console".
= It's wand-shaped, allowing the non-gamers to control their movie-watching activities while holding a familiar-shaped device in their hand.
= It maps ALL the six-axis buttons and performs everything a six-axis would do, except for the joystick features of R3 and L3 (but you do have the push-down or 'click' abilities for them).
= 2 AA battery powered (still with the original Sony batteries after 4 months of use)
= Includes additional buttons that the movie-only users would expect on a remote such as:
+ a number pad
+ eject
+ red, green, blue, yellow buttons
+ play, stop, pause
+ slow(step), scan(left/right), prev/next
+ display, top menu, pop up menu, return
+ subtitles, angle, audioWhat is interesting about this remote is that you can use it for much more than movie-playing. Given that it has all the six-axis buttons, guess what? You can use it, and I do use it to:

- surf the web
- play music
- shop at the PSN store
- play certain games such as Sudoku
- turn the PS3 on/off when your six-axis controllers are in the charger and I am playing GT5 that is using a racing wheel

And, yes, you CAN turn the PS3 on and off with this remote. Turning it on is easy - you simply press the PlayStation button and the PS3 turns itself on. To turn it off, you either go as far to the left on the X-bar and all the way up and press Enter (the turn-off PlayStation icon will be highlighted) or you simply hold the PlayStation button pressed for a few seconds and then select 'yes' and press the X button a couple of times.

Overall: I am happy with this peripheral. Yes, it's one more remote control but it's a pretty good one, for the reasons I stated above.

_______________________________

Notes - Aug 29, 2009, after 16 months of use

I find that I'm using the remote more and more, not only for playing movies but for navigating the XMB and at the PSN Store, also when playing music or slideshows. Due to its very convenient arrows wheel with an 'enter' button in the middle, navigating the PS3 and doing just about anything other than playing games is a lot easier than using the PS3 game controller. Unlike the controller which normally requires two hands to hold, this is basically a one-hand operation where you hold the remote in one hand and operate the wheel with your thumb. And because it's Bluetooth, not IR (Infrared), you don't even need to point it at the PS3.

And, one word on battery life. After about 15-16 months of operation, this is probably the third set of batteries so I'd estimate battery life to be about 4-6 months. Not too bad.

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Product Description:
The PlayStation 3 Blu-ray remote control enables users streamlined access to the PlayStation 3 system's disc features. Unlike standard infrared remotes, the Blu-ray remote control uses Bluetooth technology so it can be used without having to point directly at the PlayStation 3 system.

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