peraino@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (05/15/91)
>From: jfr@locus.com (Jon Rosen) >In article <1991May14.074739.3646@agate.berkeley.edu> shirriff@sprite.berkeley.edu (Ken Shirriff) writes: >>I've determined the algorithm for the first 100 codes. I wrote a C program ... >But really, what is the point? Get a life, man! ... >First of all, the codes are printed in the newspaper right where the >times and channels of the programs are. I.e., you know exactly all >the information you need to know to program you VCR. Anyone who >can write a C program that is as good as the one you wrote can not >possibly need something as dunce-like as the VCR+ to program their >VCR! Second, without the VCR+ equipment, the codes themselves >are useless! Aside from the challenge, I see good reasons for cracking the code. My own interests are a good example. The codes are not useless. I own an hp-48 calculator, which has infrared output. There has been a lot of talk about using it as a programmable remote control. If the algorithm is cracked, I can put it into the program, and have the same features (and more) as the VCR+ box, for no cost to me. peraino@gmuvax.gmu.edu