Pairing PS3 Slim with Bluetooth remote

So, I got my PS3 Slim from Costco and it came with a remote along with a game. I come home, set it all up with my projector to watch a blu-ray disk and try to use the remote, and guess what, the remote is bluetooth. And it needs pairing. Tried to be a good consumer and checked both manuals of PS3 Slim as well as the remote. Not surprisingly, they both referred to each other. Both by Sony! PS3 said check the device instruction manual and remote's manual asked me to follow the on screen instructions after a couple of steps. Perfect!!

Anyway, its not tough to follow the menu and get to settings -> Accessory Settings -> Manage Bluetooth Devices. Move to the next step and it just keeps scanning. I left it there for 10 minutes and no luck. Then thought I may have better luck searching on the internet. On one forum some one suggested this: "take the batteries out of the remote, press a couple of buttons (he did specify which two) and you should be good to go in 3 seconds".. wait... what??? Take the batteries out? of the remote?? Okay, this is it for me. How in the planet would a remote work in any way, without a battery? Out of stubbornness, I can't follow that ridiculous suggestion. so, I did not try that. If you are willing to try it, more power to you.

But here is what worked for me:

The PS3 Slim came with 2.85 version that won't register remotes. As soon as I connected that to my home wireless network, it recommended to upgrade to 3.15. I did that, which took about 10-12 minutes. Now, 3.15 has totally improved menu items along with boat load of other additions. Now check the menu items:

Settings -> Accessory Settings -> Register BD Remote Control (yes, an exclusive menu item for remotes).

Follow the onscreen instructions and this time it really won't take more than 15 seconds total.

Enjoy your PS3/remote and enjoy the holidays!

and stay safe.

Random thought - Paper or plastic?

With all the buzz around these days about being able to recycle and save some trees and saving the environment, if I ask you the question "paper or plastic?", what would be your response? Most of whom I have already asked this question, responded Paper.

While most people tend to use paper and recycle to save some trees, why wouldn't you say do not use paper at all and save all the trees? Common wisdom is that plastic is not good for the environment. Well, that is true if you just throw it away after use and let it interfere with the nature's pristine water cycle. But if you do recycle it, plastic is the best of all. You can recycle paper may be 3 times, 4 tops. You can recycle plastic hundreds of times. There is no theoretical limit, I believe! If you are going to throw it away (as opposed to recycle), then yes, by all means go for paper. That won't contaminate or interfere with the environment as much as stray plastic does. But if you do recycle, just go for plastic! Save all the trees, not just some of them!

And given the general idea that recycling is the way to go, plastic it is! So, next time you are in a grocery store, and are asked paper or plastic, you know what to say... unless you need that paper for your "cleaning" purposes! :)