LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the 2015 International CES, DISH Network L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH), unveiled the new “Hopper Voice Remote” and redesigned user interface (UI), making it even easier for customers to navigate, search and select content on the Hopper Whole-Home HD DVR.

“There are two touchpoints in any pay-TV user experience, the UI and the remote, and we’ve taken a fresh, holistic approach to both,” said Vivek Khemka, DISH Senior Vice President of Product Management. “After working with our customers to best understand their preferences, we have made it even easier and more intuitive for viewers to reach their entertainment destination.”

The Hopper Voice Remote is designed to easily fit in the palm of the user’s hand, much like a smartphone. With voice control and a touchpad that responds to swipe and scroll gestures, the remote eliminates the need for excessive buttons, sporting only 17 buttons on its face compared to the 53 buttons on the previous Hopper remote.

With Hopper Voice, customers can use natural language to search by title, actor or genre and can build contextual searches to narrow results. In addition to search, customers can use voice commands to control basic functions of the Hopper, including recording and changing channels.

The remote’s touchpad has two usage modes: the default mode, which displays a blank touchpad that allows users to swipe in any direction or scroll and select by leveraging the entire area of the touchpad; and the numeric mode, which illuminates when number input is desired for channel or password entry. Multiple layers, including custom light management and etching, sensors, adhesives and mylar, went into creating the dual mode touchpad.

With the ability to serve as a universal remote, Hopper Voice can control up to two IR devices (TV/AUX models). For those consumers who prefer a more traditional remote experience (including numeric buttons), DISH is also unveiling the “Hopper Standard” remote. Hopper Voice will ship with all Hoppers and 4K Joeys, while the Hopper Standard will be included with other Joeys.

Complementing the new remote is the release of a new user interface, named “Carbon.” With a simplified, flat visual design, Carbon aggregates multiple related features into single areas and features a reorganization of settings, allowing a more natural navigational experience. With increased accessibility, including higher contrast and customizable text sizes, Carbon delivers a more comfortable visual experience.

To help customers more quickly discover and watch the shows most relevant to them, the interface now features a “Home” screen that aggregates content from across the platform, delivering “Top Picks for You,” “On Now,” “On Later” and “Recently Recorded.” The recommendations are based on historical data and vary based on the time of day.

The Hopper Voice Remote, Hopper Standard Remote and Carbon User Interface will be available to consumers starting in Q2 2015.

Tech Specs

Hopper Voice is a universal remote with learning capabilities. It features a programmable key, voice control, dual function touchpad and a RF4CE remote control finder. The entire remote can be backlit and can last 4-6 months on two AA batteries. It is designed to easily fit in the palm of a user’s hand with dimensions of 5.59”(L) x 2.25”(W) x 1.02’(D).

For more on DISH’s activities at CES, visit www.dish.com/technology/ces.

About DISH

DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH), through its subsidiary DISH Network L.L.C., provides approximately 14.041 million satellite TV customers, as of Sept. 30, 2014, with the highest-quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value. Subscribers enjoy a high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels, and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corp. is a Fortune 250 company. Visit www.dish.com.

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