infrared posts
Sick of all the physical effort involved in shuffling multiple remotes? Back in the day (that is, until yesterday) if you wanted to use a universal remote control with your PS3 you had to get some sort of IR-to-Bluetooth adapter, like the one available for the Logitech Harmony. SMK, however, is looking to change that (and reinforce your inertia in the process) with Blu-Link. This bad boy combines a Bluetooth PS3 controller with a standard infrared universal remote. Other features include advanced learning (for gleaning button assignments from your other remotes) and support for more than 400 brands of standard and HDTV televisions and flatscreens, 150 VCR brands, 200 Satellite Receiver models, 100 Cable TV Receiver brands, 50 DVR models and 200 home theater surround sound systems. Available September 1st for $49.95. HIt the read link for more info.
Infrared sensors hit 16 megapixels, can now spy on an entire hemisphere
Aerospace and defense manufacturer Raytheon wants everyone to know it has developed the world's first 16 megapixel infrared sensor, which is set for a life of orbiting the Earth and generally being a lot more useful than lesser models. With its higher resolution, the unit is able to cover an entire half of the planet without "blinking" to relocate its focus, and should be warmly received by meteorologists, astronomists and military types, all craving for a bit more real-time reconnaissance. We advise wide-brimmed tin foil hats to shield your body heat from these Sauron-like satellites while working on those plans for a global uprising of the proletariat.
[Via TG Daily]
[Via TG Daily]
Researchers develop infrared vegetable harvesting robot, to the disgust of children everywhere
Researchers at England's National Physical Laboratory are working on a device that uses a modified microwave measurement system, terahertz and far-infrared radio frequencies, and a clever cauliflower detection algorithm to let robots "see" beneath -- and harvest -- crops that current technology cannot. So far, the imaging system has been successfully demonstrated in the lab, sparking the interest of at least one UK lettuce grower, and it looks like a product could be commercially available as early as next year. According to Dr. Richard Dudley, Project Lead at NPL, the team began by focusing on cauliflower crops because they're both "one of the hardest" to measure, and totally gross.
Brando Tiny USB Rechargeable RC Helicopter prettifies your desk, might fly
Hey there, has your previously high-powered stock trading job been downsized out of existence? Are you one of the unlucky ones who've had to diversify their job portfolio? We understand, so here's a way to satisfy those latent urges to own a helicopter on the cheap -- Brando is offering to exchange $39.90 of your blood money for a machine so simple that its protracted model name describes it almost in full. To complete the picture, you get a 3-channel IR controller, integrated gyroscope for balancing and a set of blinking LED lights on the sides for, you guessed it, nighttime flying. You should be warned though, the first functionality listed for this product is "decoration," so temper your expectations accordingly.
[Thanks, Louie]
[Thanks, Louie]
Wireless USB 2.0 to dawn on the Japanese horizon?
Japanese researchers at KDDI have spliced two technologies that didn't seem to have much of a future in the wireless realm -- USB and Infrared -- and come up with a method for achieving transmission speeds of up to 1Gbps. Their innovation is in overcoming a latency problem that until now prevented USB 2.0 transmissions from being converted into Infrared signals and then back into electronic form. While still very early in the development and standardization process, this is a tantalizing premise, especially with ever-increasing storage capacities in portable devices. The new communication medium, which admittedly sounds a lot like irSimple, will be demonstrated for the first time at the Wireless Japan 2009 exhibition later this month, but we wouldn't hold out hope for an imminent release.
Samsung's SCH-W760 with infrared video conferencing is ready for your parole hearing
We get it. Sometimes, not often, but sometimes when you're staring into the sad abyss of an empty Tennessee fifth, the idea of initiating an impromptu video conference in total darkness seems mighty compelling. That's where Samsung's SCH-W760 with 7.2Mbps HSDPA and front-facing infrared camera can help. It's available now in Korea and could be the difference between making a solo bed-spin performance or 3- to 6-months served at county for violating your restraining order. The choice is yours for KRW580,000 or about 445 of the green stuff.
Logitech's Harmony Adapter for PS3 reviewed
Eager to know if Logitech's prayer-answering Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 really is as magnificent as you hope it is? Fret not, as our main men over at Engadget HD have the answer. They paired this up with their Harmony blaster and PS3 in order to see just how fantastic / terrible the IR-to-Bluetooth converter is, so head on over to read their two pennies. Go on, get!
Logitech Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3 -- official, real, and in our hands

Schmartz PS3 IR-to-Bluetooth adapter adds PC control
We're more or less waiting on the Logitech Harmony Adapter for all our PS3 IR-to-Bluetooth needs, but if you're impatient Schmartz has revved up its PS3IR. In addition to the usual IR control, the new PS3IR-1000 also comes with a Windows app that allows you to control your PS3 from the desktop over USB -- we're not sure we need it, but if you've got a crazy home-automation rig or something it could be useful. $79, available now.
FINIS AquaPulse monitors, communicates heart rate to swimmers

Tactical flashlight records late night jungle excursions
Much like the toaster, the microwave and the sandal, the flashlight hasn't changed an awful lot since being first engineered in the late 1300s. Thankfully, we're finally seeing a little innovation in the space with Hammacher Schlemmer's Infrared Flashlight Video Recorder. Upon first looking it over, it's hard to tell that this thing is different from any other heavy duty tactical flashlight; underneath that matte black finish, however, are 17 infrared LEDs and a video camera capable of capturing footage (with audio!) up to 13 feet away from the device itself. Both video and snapshots are captured in VGA (640 x 480) quality, and while only 15 seconds can be logged on the 128MB of built-in memory, the miniSD expansion slot opens that up immensely. The rub? Nah, it's not the absurd $399.95 price tag, it's the "three C-sized batteries" requirement. Drat.
[Via OhGizmo]
[Via OhGizmo]
Simple keystroke sniffing schemes work where keyloggers won't
Ah, the wonders of CanSecWest. The famed security conference has delivered yet again in 2009, this time bringing to light two simple sniffing schemes that could be used to decipher typed text when keyloggers are just too noticeable. Gurus from Inverse Path were on hand to explain the approaches, one of which involved around $80 of off-the-shelf gear. In short, curious individuals could point a laser on the reflective surface of a laptop between 50 feet and 100 feet away, and then by using a "handmade laser microphone device and a photo diode to measure the vibrations, software for analyzing the spectrograms of frequencies from different keystrokes, as well as technology to apply the data to a dictionary," words could be pretty easily guessed. The second method taps into power grid signals passed along from PS/2 keyboard outputs, and by using a digital oscilloscope and an analog-digital converter, those in the know can pick out tweets from afar. Check the read link for more, and make sure you close those blinds and pick up a USB keyboard, pronto.
[Via Slashdot]
[Via Slashdot]
Logitech Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 gets official
You've got to love it, don't you? Just a day after we caught wind of Logitech's Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 (via the always informative FCC), the aforesaid company has come forward and confessed to its plans. The good news is that the adapter is for real, and while we're still not being told too much about the device itself, we do know that it will operate with any Harmony remote and it won't take up a USB port on your console. In other words, it's a simple Infrared-to-Bluetooth converter, though it promises to give Harmony remote users "complete control (including power on / off) over the movie-watching experience on a PS3." We're pleading for more information on pricing and availability, but until that's received, just enjoy your weekend knowing that you'll be able to buy one soon enough.
Logitech Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 answers a million prayers
For everything going wrong in your life right now, there's at least one beacon of light to keep you, a dutiful PS3 owner, smiling. A long (long!) awaited device has just slipped into the FCC's database, and while details are scant, most of what we need to know is tucked away in the title: Logitech Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3. For far too long, PS3 owners with IR-based universal remotes have had to rely on clunky IR-to-Bluetooth converters to get the two to communicate, but as soon as the E-R0001 hits the market, all that will change for Harmony owners. As of now, we've got three questions that desperately need answered: 1) when?; 2) how much?; and 3) what Harmony remotes are compatible?
Mimi Switch remote control relies on facial expression, not phalanges

For some reason, whenever gadgetry and smiling cross paths, things tend to get a little creepy. Where the smile trainer was mostly a curiosity, the Orwellian implications of the Okao Catch technology were a bit much -- even for the hardened tech blogger. Sure, the Mimi Switch is quite clever: instead of relying on your fingers, this remote control uses an earbud containing infrared sensors that measure the inner ear movements resulting from various facial expressions. "An iPod can start or stop music when the wearer sticks his tongue out," says the inventor, Kazuhiro Taniguchi of Osaka University. Sounds innocent? Not so fast. The device can also be used to monitor your facial expressions for the appropriate levels of cheerfulness. "If it judges that you aren't smiling enough," the inventor goes on to say, "it may play a cheerful song." Or if you're smiling too much, the thing can be programmed to play some latter-day Depeche Mode. That always bums us out.































