IR-beaming RedEye mini iPad / iPhone remote dongle gets real, its own video demo
By Darren Murph 
posted July 7th 2010 10:21AM
posted July 7th 2010 10:21AM
Oh, sure -- ThinkFlood promised us back in early March that a RedEye mini would be landing this summer, but at the time, all we had were a few luscious renders. Today, the company has finally revealed the first actual shots of the forthcoming device, along with a video showing it in action. While diminutive, it's certainly not as compact and discrete as IR-enabled cases, but if you've already committed to an iPod touch / iPhone / iPad case (or just prefer rocking your device sans clothing), this here dongle is likely the next best thing. In case you're wondering, this little guy will transform your iDevice into a universal remote, enabling it to talk to any home entertainment component that listens to IR (read: that's just about all of 'em). We're still stuck waiting a few more months for this $49 product to hit shelves, but for now, feel free to hop past the break and peek a brief demonstration. 
Just got a response from them on Facebook. They're saying weeks not months. I've got an out of service 3G that this is going to be perfect for.
You guys are late.
We have had much better version of this thing here in Israel for a long time, comes with a free App-Store app. The device itself is a lot cheaper.
Correction: they were promising "coming this spring" on their website and promotional materials up until now. I guess they changed it to "coming this summer" after June 21st passed. Also, Amazon was listing it as arriving July 7 last time I checked; now there's no date listed. So they've definitely missed their delivery date by a ways now.
why is it that Apple cant just put a IR sensor in the phone in the first place? a 15 year old nokia has a fringing IR port. Stupid!
Anyone else having Palm Vx flashbacks? :)
does it work on froto, er... froyo, i mean androids?
Engadget says the Mini will be available "in a few months." Compare that to the Mini's makers evolving statement about availability:
2 March 2010 - Thinkflood announces Mini. "RedEye mini will be available this spring." (source: press release)
4 March 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook "coming this spring."
6 March 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook "We have a few products being released by the end of Q2 and the RedEye mini is one of them"
20 March 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook "The RedEye mini will be available soon."
16 April 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "Coming soon, stay tuned."
25 April 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "RedEye mini is coming soon, please stay tined!"
27 April 2010 - RedEye says on Facebook, "RedEye mini will be available in a few weeks."
28 April 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "We are almost there and will be shipping soon. At the moment we are not taking pre orders, but will notify all Facebook fans and newsletter subscribers," in response to query: "Have you concidered accepting pre orders for the mini?"
5 May 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "Coming soon....we appreciate your patience and it will be rewarded as you are a Facebook fan!" in response to query: "Ok, it's May. Where's the RedEye Mini?!?!?!?!?!?! Call me a little impatient..."
28 May 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "...the RedEye mini will be out soon."
29 May 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "Coming real soon.....by next month [ie. by June]" in response to query: "hey when is the official release date for the redeye mini?"
1 June 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "We will be shipping soon and are almost ready. We have a few weeks left of Spring and appreciate your patience." in response to query: "OK - so spring's over - it's now officially summer - I can tell because it's raining in London! Mini?"
5 June 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "The RedEye mini will be at several retail locations within the very near term, but it may not be until the end of the month." in response to "I'm from Denmark, going to the states at the end of June, will i be able to pick of the mini in any brick store?"
25 June 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "It's coming soon, we promise and appreciate your patience." in response to "So where is the mini?"
27 June 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "Being manufactured" in response to "Where is red eye mini?"
6 July 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "We know it's annoying, but we aren't going to share the RedEye mini launch date in advance. We know everyone has been waiting patiently, and we appreciate that more than you know. Soon though. RedEye mini will be available in the very near future."
7 July 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "... they are way off....not months....just weeks." in respone to query "Tell me that 'few more months' [per article on Engadget] part is inaccurate please."
8 July 2010 - Redeye says on Facebook, "RedEye mini will be available in the very near future. We appreciate your patience."
The above history was posted on on Facebook. Thinkflood (maker of Mini) deleted the post. I guess they're getting a little sensitive about the slipping launch date.
How does it compare to this $10 product:
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/07/13/what-can-10-buy-you-a-universal-remote-for-your-iphone/
The guy in the video looks like he just smoked a spliff before shooting, lol