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Infrared-to-Bluetooth converter roundup: get universal control of your PS3
So, here's a conundrum for ya. Sony's PlayStation 3 has been all but universally hailed as a stellar Blu-ray player and a respectable part of any home theater. But Sony forgot to include an IR receptor on the thing, making it incompatible with the vast majority of universal remotes on the market. Solution? An Infrared-to-Bluetooth converter. For the longest while, the original IR2BT was the de facto choice for handling the conversion, but now that it has been replaced with the more expensive (and versatile, in fairness) IR2BTci, CNET decided to roundup three other viable options so you, the almighty consumer, could make the choice that serves you best. Hit the read link for a gathering of the reviews, and don't forget to curse Sony for making you go through this exercise in the first place. Update: RemoteShoppe has a similar, and equally helpful, roundup of its own.
IR2BTci Infrared-to-Bluetooth converter introduced for pro installers
While IR2BT would've done well to have this out and showcased at CEDIA, we suppose late is better than never. The company responsible for the heralded Infrared-to-Bluetooth converter -- which allows PS3 owners to control their console via a traditional IR-based universal remote -- has just pumped out another iteration aimed at professional installers. The IR2BTci is dubbed a "highly flexible and user-customizable device" that supports firmware upgrades and features configurable IR device codes for coexisting PS3, PS2 and DVD players. Additionally, it boasts multiple power sensing / tracking options, user-programmable macros, discrete on / off IR commands and ports for integrating it into existing IR distribution systems. The box can be purchased right now for $150, and if you'd rather just have the old one, good luck on eBay. You heard right, the introduction of the IR2BTci marks the death of the original IR2BT. [Thanks, Anthony]
