universalremote
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Logitech's Harmony Link transforms your iOS device or Android phone into a universal remote (video)
Logitech isn't exactly a stranger to universal remotes, and if you've been yearning for an Android or iOS aimed solution from the Swiss company, its new $100 Harmony Link should have you covered. The Link is a WiFi-enabled infrared puck and app combo, that allows you to control up to eight devices in your home theater from the comfort of your touchscreen sans pesky dongles or cases. After downloading a free app, pocket-sized iDevices and Android smartphones can act as universal remotes over your home network, while iPad users also get the benefit of personalized TV listings from Rovi. It's similar in price and function to Peel's Fruit, but drops the extra wireless dongle and adds a native iPad app. Notably, the Link can interface with multiple iPads at once, and Logitech's also thrown in a mini IR blaster to make controlling your AV gear that much easier. If another one of your home theater dreams just came true, the Harmony Link is up for pre-order now from Logitech and due out in October. While you're still here, there's quick video overview past the break along with the usual PR spiel.
Ask Engadget: best (Windows) Home Server and universal remote solution?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Tim, who's looking to take his living room (and digital life, by the sound of it) into the future. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "A while back I was looking at getting the HP Media Smart Home Server, but some time has gone by and I'm wondering if that is still the best solution going around. I want something that is ideally priced at a max of $1000; it has to be something small, not noisy or too power-hungry, and it has to be something that I can hide away. I'll use it for network storage, backup, streaming and remote access. I was also wondering if it's worth getting a good universal remote to dim lights, turn on the TV, amp, PS3 and maybe even some home server control -- or have the iPhone / Android apps become so good that they are now the best option? Thanks!" Great Qs, Sir Tim. We're of the belief that most everything from a home automation standpoint can be done on Android or iPhone, particularly if you're starting from scratch (and aren't looking for enterprise-class services). As for Windows Home Server? You've still got a few options, but has anything come along to trump up? If you've got a say in all this, sound off in comments below!
Vizio tablet now shipping nationwide, priced at $300
Well friends, if you've been waiting to get your hands on the 8-inch Vizio tab (and don't live near a Costco), your time has come. The company announced today that its slate has begun shipping to retailers nationwide including Sam's, Walmart and Amazon. The Android tablet is now priced at $299, a $30 drop from our last retail sighting -- and just in time to entice those of you heading back to school in search of a new piece of tech to play with during that history lecture. Or perhaps you just want to kick it like Blake Griffin... don't worry, we won't judge you. Besides, what else do you need for your dorm room other than an integrated universal remote to queue up all those Lord of the Rings marathons?
VooMote One IR sled and app: A new iPhone/iPod touch universal remote
The boss -- AKA Victor Agreda, Jr. -- did an amazing writeup on July 15 where he compared three iOS-based universal remotes. Sure enough, just a little over a week later, there's a new kid in town. Zero1.tv has created a universal remote sled for iPhone and iPod touch called the VooMote One ($99), which may finally be the device to capture Victor's coveted (and nonexistent) Ultimate Remote award. Unlike some of the other remotes tested by Victor that required an auxiliary piece of hardware to turn commands sent by Wi-Fi into infrared signals that standard electronic devices can actually understand, the VooMote One is an infrared sled that your iPhone (3G through 4) or iPod touch (2nd through 4th generation) slides into. When coupled with the free VooMote One app, the duo can control 574 TV brands, 995 set top box or DVR brands, and 151 audio/CD player brands. It can also capture 30,000 infrared codes from thousands of other electronic goodies. The app is constantly being updated with new IR codes as new devices and new capabilities become available. You'll be able to buy a VooMote One starting on August 5, 2011 at BestBuy.com or at zero1.tv. Victor will be writing a full review of this hardware in the very near future. In the meantime, there's a video for your viewing pleasure.
Voomote One turns your iPhone into a well organized universal remote
Ok, so the name isn't great, but the Voomote One is actually kinda neat. It's not the first universal remote adapter we've seen for the iPhone and, unlike the Surc IR case, you probably wouldn't want to leave this bulky add-on attached to your handset when not in use. But, the app does have some convenient features, like the ability to create custom layouts that can easily be switched based on the devices in a particular room. So you can setup a living room profile to control your big screen and cable box, and a separate bed room one for your more modest set and a stereo. You can also create command macros that fire up multiple devices with the tap of a single virtual button. The Voomote app is available for free in the app store, but the actual IR-blasting sleeve will set you back $99. Check out the gallery below and head on after the break for some PR. %Gallery-129061%
Which universal remote for iOS should you choose?
This week I ran in-depth reviews of three iOS-based universal remote systems. Each uses a separate remote unit, as opposed to dongle-based IR blasters like the Ri remote and others. We'll take a look at those other IR remotes another time. The question is, of the Peel, UnityRemote and Beacon, which one should you choose? As usual, it depends upon your needs. The basic universal remote If all you need is a working universal remote, your best bet is the UnityRemote from Gear4. While it lacks the bells and whistles of Peel's guide and Beacon's customization, I found it "just works" and is better at controlling your devices than the others. UnityRemote tries to make sure it gathers discrete on/off codes, for example, walking you through a testing sequence upon setup. The relative simplicity of the UnityRemote is a good thing for the average user, I believe, and its small footprint and advanced settings menu will appeal to home theater enthusiasts as well. Plus, the advantage of a native iPad app can't be understated -- the iPad is a natural living room companion, probably more than your iPhone would be, and UnityRemote really shines on the larger screen real estate. The TV junkie If you watch a lot of TV but not necessarily the same thing every day, preferring to "zone out" on some TV whenever you get the chance, take a look at Peel. You will have to put up with a more complicated setup than the others, but you won't have to activate the remote every few hours, and the way Peel handles show discovery is unparalleled thus far. That said, you can always use the Peel app by itself. The hardware won't work well in large homes or if your router is far from your TV, and I found that as a universal it was lacking several controls one might need. If you want to tune to a specific channel or program a recording, for example, it falls down completely. But it does allow you to set reminders for shows, and that's a plus -- but the remote hardware isn't needed for reminders. Still, if you aren't bothered by the cost of a somewhat limited remote hardware solutions, Peel is worth a look. The home theater power user If you want the ultimate combination of guide, customization and affordable hardware, Griffin's Beacon is a good choice. While there's work yet to do on the Beacon, the combination of Netflix support, Roku control, and universal remote can't be beat. Plus, the Dijit app allows more customization than any other remote on the market (including those dongle-based remotes), making it a pleasure for those of you with complicated setups. Actions and gestures are icing on the power user cake, so there's very little you will find Beacon can't do. Beacon does use more batteries than the others, and lacks some of the advanced tuning features found in UnityRemote, but Beacon hopes to avoid that by providing updates to the app and hardware so that everything "just works." For now, the product is early in its lifecycle and I expect it will only get better. Plus, as the lowest cost solution of all the remote with the most flexibility, I'd say it is overall the best bargain of the bunch. That's a good thing if you've already maxed out your credit cards buying all that AV gear for your home theater! Conclusion There's no such things as "one size fits all" when it comes to technology. Each remote had quirks and flaws that could be deal killers for you personally. I recommend downloading all the associated apps first and trying them out before you buy the hardware. Since the interface you'll be using will be on your iOS device, you'll want to spend some quality time ensuring buttons are comfortable to you, and all the additional features are things you'll use. When you do buy a remote, look for a retailer with a generous return policy as these are all first generation products prone to issues anyway. If you don't like it, you'll want to return it. If you have suggestions for other universal remote solutions, leave us those in the comments.
Surc combination iPhone 4 case and IR remote now shipping for $75
Mashed Pixel's Surc iPhone 4 case is finally ready take on the challenge of making Apple's slab a universal remote now that it's on sale for a mere $74.95. That's pricier than the RedEye Mini Dongle but cheaper than the Peel receiver, and it does pull double duty as a protector. The built in MicroUSB hookup and included cable means it can stay on even while charging before jumping into action when the companion app is opened on the phone. It can be controlled via buttons, gestures or motion control, with plenty of programmability built in. The only downside we can find is that this is definitely a goner whenever you upgrade to Steve's next iThing, and it means leaving the sweet, potentially reception-improving case you already picked out behind. %Gallery-128448%
Griffin Tech's Beacon: A highly customizable universal remote
Griffin debuted an early version of the Beacon at CES, but it has only recently become available for sale. The Beacon is another iOS-controllable IR blaster combo to control all your audio/video components. Like the UnityRemote, there's a Bluetooth IR blaster. Unlike the UnityRemote, however, Griffin's Beacon is controlled by an app from another company: Dijit. How do these two work together? Read on to find out. %Gallery-128442% Hardware The Beacon is just under 4 inches square, with what sort of looks like a stone on a small platform. The stone is actually the IR blaster portion, and it is directional, with the Griffin logo molded on top to ensure proper placement. The IR blaster is directional with the Beacon, with the IR LEDs on the front of the stone, and a receiver on the back of the stone. There is also a small blue LED on the back of the stone to give certain feedback (more on that in a moment). The Beacon uses 4 AA batteries. The Beacon unit is pretty clever and well-designed, with icons on the bottom to ensure you know where the front is and where remotes should be pointed when you're programming the hardware. Also, you turn the Beacon off after the one-hour shutdown timer by simply tapping the top of the unit, pressing down on the stone. The blue LED slowly blinks a couple of times to let you know the unit is indeed powered up. The stone is a bit of a fingerprint magnet, but that's being picky. I was told the Beacon could do firmware updates via the Dijit app, which is nice. While the Beacon's footprint isn't tiny, it isn't so big as to be intrusive. The design will work with almost any aesthetic, really, so you won't notice it hanging out on your coffee table. The range of the Beacon is constrained by the same Bluetooth and IR limits of all of these units: around 30 feet or less for Bluetooth controls, and IR has to be line-of-sight to work. Software There's a lot going on in the Dijit app, a free download which controls the Beacon. I didn't like the fact that while there's a lot going on in the app, it is not optimized for the iPad. That's a major bummer, considering Dijit has a ton of tiny buttons. But it's a free app, and you can try it before you invest in the Beacon, which I highly recommend you do; if you have large fingers, you may not like it. There are gestures, but sometimes I found it hard to initiate them without hitting a button on the virtual remote. The Dijit app could be used by itself, as it has TV listings (a grid, no landscape view) and what amounts to a mini Netflix app. The TV listings are quite basic, like an early version of i.TV, but if you are signed in to a Dijit account you can give shows a thumbs-up or down or comment on them. The Netflix tab allows you to manage your streaming queue, conduct searches and view suggested items and add those to your queue. Netflix detail view (left) and Instant Queue There's also built-in support for a Roku box, but as I don't have one I was unable to test this. In fact, the Beacon supports over 200,000 devices, including your Xbox 360 -- possibly worth the price of admission right there if you have a vast array of gear. The only problem with this Guide portion of the app is a lack of landscape view for anything, and some of the buttons are really tiny. On-screen help works, but I was still left wondering what was the point of leaving comments on things -- I don't see Dijit building a social network like GetGlue or other competing products. One excellent feature is the thumbs up rating, which moves shows to your "My Shows" tab up top of the Guide. The Guide listing (left) and episode listing The Devices screen is next on the nav bar at the bottom of the app, and I wonder if there was a spirited debate about making that button second. Generally I need to power up my TV before watching it, although I suppose you could see if there's anything worth watching first. At any rate, Devices is where you will go to control all your components. It'll drop you into the last-used component's control screen, which in my case was the TV. As with all of these apps, you get back to your list of devices with a tiny button up top. I'll go into more depth on the Devices screen in a moment, as it is really quite powerful. Remote being modified (left) Devices view (right) Continuing to the right of the nav you'll find Activities, which is a way to set up a series of actions for your various remotes. If you want to watch a movie, you may want your TV to power up, switch inputs and power up the DVD player. Of course, you'll have to set all this up for each action, and I found the process to be somewhat confusing and sometimes limiting. For example, let's say I wanted to set up an action for "watch the news," and I had a particular station I always watch for news. I can power up my cable box and TV (unless they are already on and can't receive discrete power on codes -- then you're just toggling and they'll switch off instead) but switching to another channel beyond 9 is laborious. If you want your cable box to go to channel 701, you'll add 3 commands, one for each number! You can, however, set a delay, which allows you to wait until your device is in a ready state before sending more commands. That's a welcome touch. The Rooms screen allows you to configure more Beacons in other rooms, and from what Griffin says they will re-associate by tapping the Beacon's stone. I only had one unit and was unable to test this. It also allows you to change service providers, in case you have cable in one room and satellite in another. Nifty, but something most people probably won't use. Lastly there's Settings, which includes a battery indicator (which seemed to work adequately), options for the Guide, account settings, a way to jump to Griffin's support page in Safari, and the requisite About and Reset items. You can do a bit of customization in the Settings, including editing those shows you gave a thumbs-up to, and viewing your activity within the Guide. General settings allows you change what device does the TV tuning, add/edit gestures (which can only be picked from a specific set of gestures), find devices automatically, and toggle sound effects and the help button. Remote in use In Devices you can choose one of your devices, then see the remote button layout for that particular component. Where Dijit really shines is on these remote screens. The button layouts, while logical and great, are completely configurable. You can not only re-arrange things, but in several cases you have a choice of interface element. Volume, for example, can be an up/down button, or it can be a circular jog wheel you spin left or right. Not only that, but helpful blue alignment grid lines appear as you drag these items around the screen. Unfortunately you cannot scale these buttons, which would have been nice. But when you click Edit the buttons will do the jiggly dance (like apps in iOS when you wish to move them around), and you can delete or add buttons. Editing the layout is a breeze, but one thing you cannot do is mix and match component controls. This proves to be a real pain, because my DVR has a volume control that does nothing to affect the actual volume going through the TV (via HDMI). More helpful would be a TV volume on the DVR screen, but instead I have to tap that Devices button, choose my TV, then hit the volume. UPDATE: Turns out you can you mix-and-match device buttons on the screen. All the more reason I wish there was a proper iPad version of the app. See pic below for how this works. In terms of responsiveness, the Beacon does a great job. I found almost no lag, and once I set up my screens (not necessary as the defaults are adequate, but I'm a control freak) the Beacon was pleasant to use. By default the app will make a noise when you tap on buttons, and I noticed a glow in the jog wheel as I used it. Some buttons may be a bit small for large fingers. Gestures were not always easy to trigger, and I found myself hitting another key by accident too often, but the button controls worked just fine.* *OK, so while the buttons worked for my TV, the DVR was completely messed up. Beacon would actually send codes twice! If I pressed channel up it would actually go up two channels. I was told by a representative for Dijit that this was actually going to be fixed in the next version of the app, and it's a problem with the IR codes, not the hardware itself. Apparently IR blasting is tricky, and spacing out the blanks between blasts requires a lot of testing with each manufacturer. If Beacon had better troubleshooting or an ability to tweak those things (as the UnityRemote does), I don't know that an app update would have been necessary. Also, my DVR is a Scientific Atlanta box that is quite common, but I'm told only a very few units are reporting this issue. We'll revisit the issue when the app is updated. Setup Setup is really quite simple, with Dijit walking you through a series of questions before you use the app. You can actually skip all setup, but what's the point in that? Bluetooth pairing will happen in Settings on your iPhone, as with all Bluetooth devices. You'll do that first, then drop back into the app. First you'll choose TV listings by zip code, then a provider. Then, you'll be prompted to add a TV, cable box/DVR and AV receiver. You can add these later, and I only added the first two to begin with. Dijit has you test the power button only (in my testing), which I think can be problematic. In fact, it only tested the power button on my TV and said it found a remote for the DVR. You can use these, or you can go through another assistant to try finding one that works better. If you need to teach the Beacon the codes for your remotes, you can do that with the Dijit app, the Beacon hardware and your remote. Since my unit was apparently experiencing a known issue, I found it a little tricky to program the Beacon with my remotes. In theory, you position your remote 2 inches behind the Beacon and teach the Beacon by pressing down to start the LED flashing quickly, then hold down keys on your remote to match the ones you're programming on the Dijit app. Maybe it was my flaky unit, but 2 inches behind the Beacon, resting on the table, meant that my remotes were actually firing infrared beams into the black base, and not the IR receiver section. I had to prop my remote up on a book to make sure it was in-line. Despite this, I was able to work around my DVR issue (noted earlier) by programming the keys. Still, I would not want to do this for the 2 dozen or so buttons on all my remotes. I found the task a bit tedious and tricky, going from app to Beacon to remote to ensure the training worked properly. Be prepared to spend an hour or more doing this if you are stubborn enough or unlucky enough to have an unsupported remote. Other than training the remote, there's very little to worry about in setup. Have your Netflix login ready if you want to use that, of course, and be prepared to set up a Dijit account (you can use Facebook as well) if you want to participate in the rather limited social features. Conclusion Looking beyond the fact that my unit was defective (and will be fixed via app update soon), the Beacon is a pretty good deal at an MSRP of US$79.95. With the ability to control all your AV gear, including an Xbox, I think you'll find there's little it can't adequately control. The Netflix and Roku features are icing on the cake, to be sure. The Beacon is stylish and easy to use, and the interface customization will ensure you're able to enjoy using it for some time to come. Still, I found some rough edges. Manually training the Beacon with a remote is somewhat frustrating (although all IR blaster training sessions lack any fun quotient), and the smallish buttons and lack of an iPad-optimized app hindered what could have been a fabulous interface. The Beacon hardware could be considered large by devout minimalists, and the inability to tweak the length of time the unit stays on (or other more advanced tunings) put it behind the competition somewhat, but most of these are minor details. I will say it seems very un-Apple to have separate vendors for the hardware and software, but I'm sure Dijit and Griffin have plenty of contracts to keep each other in check (Dijit will also appear on Android, so there's that). If you're looking for a highly customizable interface and a pretty simple remote with a few extra bells and whistles thrown in for other services, you'll find the Beacon is a capable unit for your home theater or living room AV setup.
UnityRemote: another iOS universal remote worth checking out
We first spied the UnityRemote from Gear4 at CES in January. Gear4 has decided to go with a very simple device and app, and that's a good thing. Frankly, I don't get having social features in my TV remote (and yet I take Instagram photos of meals) or needing twenty different ways to visualize the TV guide, so UnityRemote leaves that cruft out. Unfortunately, UnityRemote leaves a couple of other things out as well, but that doesn't mean the remote isn't capable of meeting the needs of most users. Read on for full details. %Gallery-128362% Hardware The UnityRemote is a cylinder smaller than half a can of soda, largely made of black plastic with a small ring of chrome at the bottom. Unlike the Peel you do not have to point this in a specific direction, as Gear4 put the LEDs all around the unit. Three AA batteries fill up the majority of the UnityRemote hardware, with the weighted cover removable with a twist. While I don't like the odd arrangement of the batteries (it can be hard to get the final battery out), I'll give props to Gear4 for designing a compact and unobtrusive IR blaster. There's a power button just above a micro-USB port. The port is supposed to be for firmware updates, although there's part of me which wishes it was to recharge internal rechargeable batteries (but you use standard alkaline batteries). The UnityRemote power button (circle) and USB port The one gripe I have about the hardware is that the power button is a bit small, and sometimes it can be tricky to turn on the UnityRemote. I don't know if it was just my demo unit, but I had to press the power button for a second or two, then quickly launch the app to ensure the two were communicating. Not only that, but the button is small and can be hard to find if the room is dark. Another issue is that the LED to indicate the unit is powered on is opposite the power button, which means you have to pick it up and look at it to turn it on. It may seem like a little thing, but it would have been better if the power on were more visible (perhaps a blue LED instead) and the button to power on was on top of the unit and larger. After all, this will probably be sitting on your coffee table. The hardware also blinks the LED when it receives commands from the app. UnityRemote uses Bluetooth to connect to your iOS device, which means it'll power down after 2 hours by default. You can change this, but the app warns you not to tinker with some settings unless being advised by tech support. More on that in a bit. Let's look at the app itself. Software in use It's clear the people on the design team who designed the UnityRemote app are AV geeks. While the app eschews bells and whistles like social features and open-ended UI configuration, it does an incredibly good job of setting up the IR blaster and providing you with the controls you need for controlling your AV gear. The default configuration of buttons on the remote are a 3x3 grid, with additional buttons available on subsequent pages by swiping. There's also smaller buttons on top and bottom of this grid, help on the bottom and an on/off switch up top. These buttons are available on every 3x3 grid of buttons, which is great. The buttons included are completely logical, although you're able to add, delete and rearrange the buttons as you wish. You can't break out of the grid as you can with Griffin Technology's Beacon, but I found the 3x3 grid to be a great balance between size (on the iPhone) and number of functions on the screen. Gear4 made a great decision when they chose to make iPhone and iPad versions of the app. The iPad version isn't just a scaled-up app; it's actually got some improvements over the iPhone version thanks to the added real estate. For example, the Devices screen, which allows you to change which device you're controlling, appears as a small nav bar item on the iPhone but is a much larger button directly on the button grid screen. Plus, this larger button has easy access to preferences and other helpful tools which require a few more clicks on the smaller screen. The app even readjusts nicely when in portrait mode, a lovely touch. Speaking of touches, if you tap repeatedly on volume or channel buttons, a warning will pop up to tell you it's possible to hold the buttons down instead. You can turn this off immediately after seeing the dialog, or you can turn off all help dialogs in the settings. The UI isn't perfect, as backing up a screen requires the traditional tiny target of a menu item up top. There are "actions" you can set up, similar to macros, which can trigger a series of events. You may wish to turn the TV and Blu-ray on at once, and switch inputs. Of course, beyond the control of any remote hardware is the ability to communicate both ways with a component. So Unity makes its best guess based on your setup (some TVs have discrete codes for input, but my Sony did not, so I chose not to switch inputs). The UnityRemote does a good job during setup to compensate for the limitations of IR technology, but it isn't magical. Another way to control the remote is via gestures, largely limited to swiping up, down, to the sides or tapping the center of the screen. As with everything else, you can assign these as you wish from all supported commands for your component. I didn't really like the gestures, but after my experience with the Peel, I can see how they might appeal to those who don't want to tap buttons on their remote while watching TV. The defaults made sense, with up/down being volume, and left/right being changing channels (for a TV, obviously). I encountered what could be a bug, however, when I tried to mute my TV by tapping in the center and my TV didn't mute. I found very few bugs in the app overall, however, with one glaring issue of a debug menu that came up during Setup Assistant (see it in the gallery). Weird, but not a showstopper. In any event, Mute works fine in button mode. Overall I found the experience of using the UnityRemote quite excellent. It successfully mimicked a physical remote while providing gestures and customization one might only find in a software-driven remote like those from Harmony. Perhaps the biggest glitch is in pairing the remote with your iOS device. To switch between devices (be it iPod touch, iPhone or iPad) you'll have to basically turn off Bluetooth on one device, then connect from another. The app doesn't handle this gracefully at all -- you'll have to drop into your device's settings and do this manually. Still, it's unlikely you'll switch device control frequently. If you aren't paired with the hardware, you can enter demo mode and either pretend to use the app, or learn where things are and customize to your heart's delight. The software supports multiple hardware units, but you'll again have to go through the clunky Bluetooth association process. Setup and settings There's an outstanding setup process for the UnityRemote, Bluetooth notwithstanding. You can activate the setup assistant at any time, but on first run you'll walk through setup anyway. First you'll choose a brand, then the type of component, then answer a series of yes/no questions. When you set up a component you're given 6 buttons to test -- and these happen to be the most frequently used functions for your component. After adding the component to your list it adds a default layout for that component and proceeds to see if that component has distinct codes for things that could toggle. On and off buttons, you see, could either be one code or two -- this makes it much easier to run those actions (macros) I mentioned earlier. To determine whether items like on/off are distinct codes, the setup walks you through toggling the switch (in first run it'll be on/off) several times and asking whether it is in one condition or another. This was where I encountered a debugging dialog about an unhanded exception, but I was able to click Continue and didn't worry about it. No doubt it's a minor bug, but one that would probably confuse the average user on first run. You can then add more devices, going through the same process many times until you run out of things to control. Once you've added a few devices you will answer more yes/no questions to setup some basic actions, like powering up your DVR and TV when you want to "watch TV." As for further settings, in the Configuration menu there's an Advanced section which allows you to trigger sounds during taps, set up auto-connect (which makes the UnityRemote automatically turn itself on during certain hours -- a handy touch for frequent couch potatoes), toggle help, show errors, prevent the iPhone from locking, and share your setup with other iOS devices. That last one is great because once you setup one device, you can easily transfer those settings to another iOS device using Wi-Fi. Under an About menu you'll find version numbers for the app, application library, all the hardware details (firmware, etc.), the battery status of the IR blaster (which worked well, unlike the Peel) and a fantastic Admin panel with dozens of tweaks the app warns you are ill advised without a tech support person's help. In this screen, however, you're able to change battery consumption and tweak bursts for proper operation. This is also the panel where you can tell the hardware how long it waits to shut itself off, and as previously mentioned it is set to 2 hours by default. The extensive admin panel From configuration you can also open a support ticket with Gear4 or view the full manual, a welcome touch in any app. Conclusion If you want a largely no muss, no fuss straightforward iOS-controlled IR remote for your components, the UnityRemote is exactly that. It costs just under 100 dollars, (you can buy it on Apple's store here), which makes it competitive with physical universal remotes from makers like Harmony. While it isn't perfect, it certainly does the job and does it well. There are lots of customization options, provided you're OK with a basic grid layout, but there are also gestures you can use. With the one caveat of turning the unit on being somewhat of a pain, I would say this is a great universal remote for the casual user as well as hardcore couch potatoes (also known as home entertainment enthusiasts). Tomorrow I'll take a look at Griffin's Beacon, a device that attempts to go head-to-head with the UnityRemote as a dedicated universal remote.
ThinkFlood WiFi remote for Android goes beta, but still requires iOS
ThinkFlood is best known for its universal remote control systems, but now it might become famous for something totally different: discovering a way to bring peace to the tiresome iOS/Android fanboy wars. Its new beta app for Android provides complete control over the company's RedEye and RedEye Pro products, which in the past were strictly iOS-only. In turn, a RedEye system allows a range of IR-equipped devices in a home to be controlled via WiFi -- so in principle you should now be able to control your home theater and other kit using your Android tablet or smartphone. But here's the twist: users of the beta app will need both an Android device and an iOS device in order to get full functionality, because the Android app can't yet handle configuration. The company insists this limitation will soon be fixed, but we say keep it. If all apps required us to own both platforms, things would be so much more harmonious. Full PR after the break. [Thanks, Martin]
Ask Engadget HD: Is there a universal remote that works with Apple TV?
One unfortunate side effect of the connected TVs and set-top boxes invading living rooms is a whole new set of remotes to deal with. This week our question comes from Steven who has a stable of four remotes he'd like to slim down, but he's not sure how to make it all work: Just bought a Samsung 51" 720p plasma. Love the TV, slight regret about not getting 1080p, but I mostly stream from my Apple TV and watch OTA broadcasts. My question is, I have about four remotes (TV, Vizio Soundbar, Panasonic Blu-ray, Apple TV) and I can't stand it. Is a Harmony remote worth getting and will it work with my Apple TV, which is my main source for content. And if so, which model is ideal? Thanks for the help! There you have it, it's not an overly complex situation, but we're wondering if Harmony or anyone else has a one remote solution that will take care of his issue. An alternative of course is going all app-happy on a smartphone, but we're sure if there's a simpler way some of you must have figured it out. Let us know how it's going in the comments below. Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Andi-One universal remote runs Android 2.1, does more than change channels
Like many universal remote controls, the Andi-One boasts compatibility with thousands of devices; unlike most, however, it runs on Android 2.1. This 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen clicker can check email, browse the web, control your HTPC's mouse and keyboard, run over 100,000 Android apps, act as a VoIP phone, and even kick movies directly to your TV through an HDMI enabled charging cradle. It doesn't just control your entertainment devices -- it is one. For the first time ever, your remote control is giving you the choice between changing the channel, and playing Angry Birds -- if that's not innovation, we don't know what is. She's available now for $350 -- a bargain to some, but not exactly compelling for those who already own a smartphone.
Peel Fruit and iOS app review: channel surfing of the future
There's no shortage of devices that aim to replace your always-missing remote control with your always-present smartphone, and the Peel is one of the more recent and unique entries into the space. A software / hardware combination consisting of a "Peel Fruit" and accompanying iOS app, the package brings a new approach to finding what to watch -- and it's unlike most other smartphone-IR options we've encountered so far. Does it all come together, or are we left wishing for more? Read on past the break to find out! %Gallery-119969%
Peel universal remote adapter for iOS now available, $99 buys you expensive Fruit
You know your product name is clever when not one but two companies go for it. Such is the name "Peel." This offering we're talking about is not the sort that turns an iPod into an iPhone, rather it's the kind that turns an iPhone into a universal remote -- though it'll work with all the other iOS devices too. It's a combination app and hardware that we've been tracking since last year, and now it's up for order. The iOS app talks to a goofy shaped IR blaster, called the Fruit, which costs $99. The combination turns your mobile device into a Harmony-hunting universal remote, but a smarter one that not only knows how to turn on your TV but also how to tune it to the latest episode of Glee, apparently, since every promo shot seems to feature some bit of gleekery. The app is free now and the Fruit is up for purchase -- though it's currently showing as back ordered. Let's hope it doesn't spoil.
RedEye universal remote launches 'mini' app on iTunes for users who want something simpler
Did you know that red eyes are not directly caused by lack of sleep, but rather from dryness and irritation caused by simply leaving them open for too long? While you ponder that bombshell, if you've been losing sleep trying to figure out your RedEye universal remote system the company behind the system, ThinkFlood, has something for you. The current solutions allow users to create activities that turn on and control multiple devices simultaneously, but the new "mini" app now available in the App Store simplifies that greatly, a "device focused" approach acting more like a basic universal remote. That's not exactly how we'd choose to use our $49 IR adapter, but if you're so inclined this free download should offer more power to the non-power user.
Logitech adds MyHarmony.com PC setup to 600, 650 and 700 model remotes
Logitech's offered its MyHarmony.com setup software for the low-end Harmony 300 remote since it launched last year, but now users of its slightly higher end 600, 650 and 700 series remotes can get in on the drag-and-drop USB-connected programming action (demo video after the break) too. There's also videos and customization of buttons to make setup even easier. If you're a Harmony user (and it looks like many of you are) it's probably worth checking out to see if you can straighten out any kinks in your universal remote setup.
Poll: How many remotes are you using?
We've asked for your input on what's the best universal remote out there, but now we want to know just how many of you are actually using yours. Of course, in some setups, there's always one pesky component or two that might still stick out, or maybe you just let them all pile up and grab which one's needed at the time. So let us know in the poll how many remotes it takes to change the channel, play a DVD, set the sound and dim the lights in your setup and give us a hint on how you arrived to that setup in the comments. %Poll-59075%
Griffin Beacon universal remote control system hands-on
We visited Griffin's CES booth to check out the Beacon universal remote control expecting yet another Redeye clone, but instead wound up walking away impressed. Two notable features of the prototype Bluetooth to IR converter device are that it's battery powered and includes a 360 degree IR blaster. These are key since they give users the freedom to place the transmitter almost anywhere around an entertainment center. The free iPhone remote app built by Dijit was the real highlight though. The UI and functionality was incredibly intuitive, and we especially liked that the setup process doesn't require inputting device model numbers. Instead, users just pick the brand and then test a series of code cycles to see if their components respond. The TV guide and Netflix integration are also points of distinction over competitors -- since you can select shows or movies to watch directly from the app. Last but not least, your remote settings can be saved and downloaded to as many devices as you like. To give you a feel for the system, we've included plenty of shots of the app's UI in the gallery below along with more photos the device. %Gallery-113456% %Gallery-113458%
Sony HomeShare RMN-U1 universal remote hands-on
Trade shows obviously aren't the best environment for evaluating a universal remote, but we couldn't resist taking Sony's RMN-U1 HomeShare IR / WiFi controller for a quick test drive here at the CES. Physically the device is surprisingly light and has a decent screen resolution. Clicking the home menu displays icons for every system component as well as an activities button for accessing online music services like Slacker, playing tracks from a networked Blu-ray player / iPhone / iPod, or even sending media files between DLNA-networked devices. If a BRAVIA TV is connected to the system, users can select the particular input they'd like to hear audio from or cue a movie. Once a track is playing, the screen will display the song's album art and metadata along with playlists. Overall the RMN-U1 looks pretty capable at managing music -- though it's a bit menu heavy. It also seems fairly expensive considering what else is available at its $300 price point, but then again, we're not aware of another IR universal remote that's compatible with Sony's WiFi HomeSharing. Check out our gallery below for more shots of the interface and you may even spy photos of the rest of the new HomeShare line too. %Gallery-113393%
Griffin's Beacon Universal Remote Control System brings dongle-free control to your smartphone
Ditch those dongles and throw out those cases, the next level of smartphone-as-universal-remote technology is here. Beacon Universal Remote Control System from Griffin Technology and Dijits turns your iPhone and other iOS devices into omnipotent remote controls, by converting Bluetooth signals into infrared commands that your stereo, TV, and other devices can recognize. Paired with Dijit's Universal Remote App, Beacon, which looks something akin to a game show buzzer, converts your touchscreen to a remote, making all the added cases, dongles, and even cords unnecessary -- it can run up to two months on four AA batteries. Beacon hits the market in May 2011 for $79.99, but if you're lucky enough to be at CES this week, you can check out a demo at Griffin's booth.
