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Dijit collaborates with 11 TV networks to remind you to watch their shows
Say you're surfing around online and come upon an interesting promo for a new TV show. You could stop what you're doing, find the show on your DVR and hit record, but most likely you'll just make yourself a little mental note to catch it later. The problem with mental notes, of course, is that they're often forgotten. Dijit, however, aims to change that by collaborating with broadcast and cable TV networks to incorporate NextGuide-powered reminder buttons on their websites. The reminder buttons have been in testing since August, but the official rollout is today. Eleven companies are on board so far, three of which are BBC America, Fox and truTV. If you go to one of the network's show pages, you'll see a "Remind Me" button with a small alarm clock icon. Click that, and you can sign up for an email or Facebook reminder that'll arrive a half hour before the show airs. If you just don't have the time to watch it then, the message'll also have a one-click "record to DVR" option with participating providers (Comcast, DirecTV and Dish are the only ones for now). Of course, there's nothing to remind you to hit the reminder button in the first place, so maybe make a, er, mental note of this going forward. Head past the break for the PR or hit the source for more info on how to sign up for the service.
Dijit unveils NextGuide Web with Facebook-sourced TV recommendations
Dijit Media just launched a closed beta of its browser-based service, NextGuide Web, which expands on the features of the NextGuide iPad app. NextGuide's interface will be familiar to Pinterest fans, with a scrolling feed through which you can browse your buddies' favorites and bookmark shows for later viewing. If you have a North American cable or satellite provider, you can sign up to receive e-mail reminders for live TV showings while Comcast and DirectTV subscribers can also use NextGuide to schedule DVR recordings. If live TV isn't your thing, NextGuide provides a universal search of Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, and iTunes for your online viewing pleasure. The social aspect of the service -- along with its Facebook integration -- is arguably the most interesting as it makes it easier to discover programs based on recommendations pulled from your friends' activity. NextGuide's web service is currently invitation-only, but users of the iPad app and Dijit Remote will be able to log on immediately. Since Dijit acquired Miso back in February, users of Miso's TV app will also be granted access sometime within the next month.
Dijit acquiring Miso, plans to give you even more to do while you watch TV
Having already declared war on the grid, TV remote / guide app maker Dijit is taking GoMiso under its wing. The company announced via its site that it's in the process of acquiring the social TV developer. The move will incorporate more discovery into Dijit's offerings. The company has announced intentions to keep the Miso and Sideshow apps around, as well as GoMiso founder, Somrat Niyogi, who is coming on as an advisor. Quips, on the other hand, is now on the chopping block -- at least it'll have some clever last words, no doubt.
Dijit updates remote, NextGuide apps with integrated profiles, Hulu-powered videoclips
The folks over at Dijit have been busy as the year draws to an end, issuing updates for both their universal remote app and NextGuide tablet app that promises to help us escape traditional grids. The newest version of the Dijit remote (a free app that brings control features when paired with Griffin's Beacon) is now integrated with NextGuide, allowing users to share profiles across the software, the welcome addition of a "record to DVR" button for DirecTV subscribers, a refreshed UI, accessibility enhancements and finally support for iThing screens of various shapes, sizes and resolutions. The NextGuide app itself also has a new feature, with "Clips" which pulls in additional short videos from Hulu that tie into whatever actor, show or anything else you may be watching, plus an easier setup process and autofill search box. The apps themselves are free, snag them at the source links below.
NextGuide iPad app continues its fight against boring grids, adds Amazon, gestures and more
There's more than a few apps (and even DVRs) that promise to help you find something to watch, but one of the more interesting efforts came from Dijit Media's NextGuide app for the iPad. It launched its assault on the old grid-style layout last month, and an update rolling out is adding listings for more content from Amazon VOD and Prime streaming, plus support for new gestures like two finger swipe between show cards, pinch to hide and more. The "Your Picks" algorithms that attempt to figure out what else you may like before you do have been tweaked, and it can also pull up more information about any show or movie with saved searches and Wikipedia bio lookups. Hit iTunes to give the free app a shot, and see if this is a push in the right direction for your TV watching experience.
Dijit's NextGuide finally gets personalized TV and streaming video guides right
Part of the difficulty Apple is going to have with any next-generation, disruptive Apple TV product is corralling all the stakeholders, rights owners and interested parties. Luckily there are already other solutions for finding, watching and saving video on TV or via streaming services. Enter NextGuide, the new iPad app from Dijit (makers of the remote software used in Griffin's IR remote product, which we reviewed here). The app is on the App Store here. NextGuide is pretty much the ultimate answer to the age-old question, "What should I watch?" But it's not just a recommendation engine, or a simple listing guide. It's a powerful discovery tool and a launcher, with an array of filters and search options for finding what you want, plus deep integration with services like Netflix and DIRECTV satellite service. With Netflix movies, it will take you directly to what you want to watch. For DIRECTV customers, it can initiate recordings. The app is free, so I'll let you try it out for yourself. It's iPad-only, because the experience wouldn't be the same on an iPhone. The demo I saw was quite impressive, however. If you're looking for something, you can do a basic search, which will extend across online and TV content, and you can look at what your friends on Facebook might be watching or would recommend (this is smartly done, and I'm very picky about social integration), plus there are Rotten Tomatoes film ratings built right in. The interface is quite lovely as well, eschewing the standard grid for a more dynamic tiled grouping of shows (seen above). Plus, you can create your own categories from anything -- an actor, a place, your favorite sports team, etc. Later you can also hide the stuff you don't want to see, so if you hate Westerns, you'll rarely see them and you can focus on discovering even more shows. There's an alert system in NextGuide, to help remind you of that show you wanted to watch, but it also reminds you if a particular artist will be on. Say Tavis Smiley is interviewing Sheryl Crow and you have her as an alert -- you'll be notified when she is on the show. Of course there's also the usual lineup of features, like show info, trailers, etc. but the social integration is clever and subtle. As seen below, a show with fans on Facebook is seen with the show's info, and some of the fans you might know. That's really clever and doesn't get in your face or require a lot of work like most social tools that are grafted into apps like a Frankenthumb. Until Apple comes up with whatever groundbreaking interface for TV discovery it's hiding in the labs, NextGuide is likely the next best thing. Check it out and let us know what you find.
NextGuide for iPad intends to get you to stop using the grid guide
Believe it or not, most people still start their TV watching routine by hitting the guide button and browsing. After that, they might check to see what's on the DVR, and eventually make their way through the streaming options available on their smart TV or game console. Dijit Media wants to change that with the new NextGuide iPad app which sets out to answer the age old question of "what am I going to watch next?" Essentially this hyper personal guide knows whats on TV, what your friends are watching and lets you easily filter by things like category, Facebook likes or even keywords in the metadata. Discovering content is the key theme here, but integration with other services like Rotten Tomatoes and the ability to schedule recordings on your DVR are also in the cards -- currently scheduling recordings only works with DirecTV, but we're told more are on the way. Although from the same company, NextGuide doesn't work with the Beacon so you'll need to keep using the Dijit remote for the majority of your remote needs, but both products will live on even though Dijit's focus is on NextGuide, for now.
Dijit launches remote control app for iPad, gives you something to do during all that boring TV watching
If all those TV shows haven't completely eroded your short term memory, you may recall the time we spent with Dijit's remote control app, way back in early December. The company tells us that it's finally ready for prime time, taking advantage of the extra screen real estate the Apple tablet has to offer. The app lets you use the iPad to control your Roku and Griffin Beacon. It also features a TV guide, where you can search by genre, category, keyword or check out what your friends are watching -- and if you hate watching alone, you can always use it to send your viewing habits to Twitter or Facebook. And for the easily distracted, the app also offers up "complimentary content" for your shows via Wikipedia and YouTube.
Hands-on with Dijit's universal remote app for iPad
By now, you should all be familiar with Griffin's Beacon universal remote system, as we've gotten our hands on the iPhone version and let you know about the one for Android, too. Well Dijit, who creates the apps that work with the Beacon hardware, wasn't done, and so has released an iPad-specific app to take advantage of the extra screen real estate it affords. Dijit calls it a "reimagined" version of the iPhone app and it provides both a new look and some new functionality to the Dijit experience. We got to spend some time with the app at gdgt Live in San Francisco, and found it to be quite similar to the recently released Android version. Head on past the break for a video breakdown of Dijit for iPad and our impressions of the app in action.
Griffin's Beacon universal remote control system now available for Android, ships for $70
It's been quite a while since we got our hands on Griffin's Beacon universal remote control, way back at CES. The IR converter has since hit the market for iOS users, but the Android community, until recently, had been left in the dark. That changed yesterday, however, when Griffin announced that its wire-free system is now available for Google-powered handsets and tablets. The transmitter, fueled by a quartet of AA batteries, converts an Android device's Bluetooth signal into infrared and sends out commands to your TV, DVD or Blu-ray player, effectively allowing users to place it anywhere around their home entertainment system. The remote control functions are handled by Dijit's customized app, where you'll be able to browse, search and call up TV shows, using the integrated guide. The app, like its iOS counterpart, is available for free, but the system itself will set you back about $70. If you're even remotely interested, check out the source links below, or the full PR after the break.
Griffin's Beacon for iOS devices now shipping, post-remote living for just $80
Sure, you could get a Peel Fruit to turn your iPhone into a universal remote, but if you want a totally wire-free solution Griffin's Beacon is finally available as an alternative. If you'll recall, the battery powered base -- controlled by Dijit's remote control app -- takes your iPhone or iPad's Bluetooth signal, converts it to IR, and blasts commands to your A/V gear. We spent some time with the device at CES and found the package to be quite nice thanks to the versatile base and relatively seamless app. If you're feeling the urge to switch up how you've been flipping through channels, $80 will get you one from Griffin's website or an Apple Store starting today.
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%
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.
