MobileRemote
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Sony teases Dot Switch: Multi-display future coming in February (video)
There's only so much Sony could show off at the world's biggest consumer electronics show. According to the video embedded below, the company's looking to tie together all of your (presumably Sony-branded) screens with a single "Dot Switch". On the concept demo, a pair of ethereal arms are able to control music, TV, lights and a confetti shower through what appears to be an Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc. The company's keeping pretty vague on the technicalities of it all at this point, but it looks like it would forgo the typical infra-red communication seen on other devices. Expect to hear more on this in just over a month away. Until then, let the delicate chiploops of this teaser ameliorate that post-CES come-down.
Verizon adds more phones to FiOS Mobile Remote and Remote DVR Manager compatibility list
Did you notice that there were some fresh devices listed when the iPhone popped up on Verizon's FiOS Mobile Remote compatibility chart last week? Sure enough, Big Red ended up dropping some PR on the matter, taking the opportunity to pimp the fact that over a quarter million users have now downloaded its two-pack of FiOS mobile apps. Mobile Remote is now available on the Nexus One, Droid Eris, and Droid Incredible -- in fact, it should work on any Android 2.1-equipped phone -- and Remote DVR Manager is live for more than 50 devices, including the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and "most" Verizon BlackBerrys. Between the two, you can control your set-top box from your couch or the other side of the world; too bad we're telling you this the day after Lost, right?
Verizon launches FiOS Mobile Remote app for Droid and Imagio
Controlling your TV from your phone isn't a new concept, but Verizon just made it a bit sexier. Verizon FiOS owners this week can nab a new FiOS Mobile Remote app for their Motorola Droid or HTC Imagio. The application emulates regular remote buttons, but also tosses in an icon-based favorites view of channels, in addition to an ability to sling photos from the phone to the big screen. The phone hooks into your FiOS box over your local WiFi, and requires you to download a widget for the set top box as well to get everything synced up. We're not exactly sure why this is limited to the Droid and Imagio right now -- we're sure the Droid Eris could handle the workload, for instance -- but Verizon does say that it's working on making additional handsets compatible in the future. Check out a video demo of the functionality after the break.
