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Freescale Semiconductor and RealD working to improve active shutter 3D
Passive 3D seems to be the new home entertainment hotness at CES this year, but that doesn't mean the industry has given up on active shutter. Case in point, Freescale Semiconductor and RealD have announced they're developing an "enhanced 3D active eyewear solution" that combines Freescale's RF4CE platform for the over-the-air 3D synchronization with RealD's switching, filtering, and optical technology. Powered by Freescale's MC1323x System on a Chip, the new system hopes to eliminate many the problems plaguing IR-based active shutter like line-of-sight and of field-of-vision limitations. It should also allow 3D glasses to operate from longer distances, and since it takes advantage of the same radio frequency used by remotes, it could lower overall costs for manufacturers to boot. Keep in mind though that unlike NVIDIA's RF-based 3D Vision Pro Tech, all of these wondrous promises are just talk with no walk -- so we'll throttle our excitement until we can go eyes-on with some actual gear. For all the details hit up the PR after the break.
iGUGU InterneTV streams your YouTubes and your Hulus to the TV set
iGUGU, the company behind Gamecore (and the company with a name that even a neonate can say) will be demonstrating its InterneTV product at CES this week. The PC-based solution allows users to watch and share any content on their HDTV, projector or monitor, via wireless USB. It also comes packed with an RF remote and seems simple enough that even the stock photo "hippie" above can figure it out! We'll let you know what we think when we get our hands on the device itself, but until that happens you'll have to make do with the PR. Luckily, it's after the break.
ZigBee finalizes low-power, RF standard for input devices, could finally kill off IR for good
Over the years of idle channel surfing and menu browsing you've surely developed some finely-honed IR shootin' skills, knowing which surfaces will and will not reflect the signals from your under-powered universal remote control as you try to bounce that beam around a pile of magazines and soda cans on the coffee table. Those skills are on a fast-track to obsolescence thanks to the new ZigBee Input Device standard, which finally could bring all TV remote controls to the world of RF wholesale. Well, it could, if it finds more success than the already existing ZigBee Remote Control spec has managed. The new Input Device standard builds on that, said to require less juice than IR so those tired and mismatched AAs could last even longer. It'll also work with mice and keyboards and the like, but naturally we're most optimistic for remotes, even though this comes a little too late to let us turn off our PS3s with our Harmonys.
Ality's backlit WeeBoard: yet another bantam RF HTPC keyboard
Quite frankly, you've probably got more mini keyboard options than you need, but given that Ality decided to throw backlighting into its latest, we're giving it the edge over the other guys. The aptly named WeeBoard is an RF-based wireless keyboard that's designed for use on the couch, likely in conjunction with your HTPC. There's also an integrated optical trackpad for moving a mouse cursor, and there's even a row of customizable media shortcut keys for launching specific applications and actions quickly. It's expected to go on sale direct from Ality this December, with a retail price of $79.99 -- hang tight if you're looking for retail distribution partners. %Gallery-105925%
EFO's iPazzPort grows a touchpad and laser pointer, tickles our fancy
What exactly is a fancy, anyway? As we ponder that, and other far-fetched meanings of life, we're forced to take a look a yet another mystery of our planet: EFO. Who are these guys? Where do they spend quality time? Did they ever consider that the iPazzPort would become a worldwide phenomenon? Merely months after rolling out a minuscule Bluetooth keyboard for controlling HTPCs and other doodads, the company is now outing a slightly larger version -- one with a multitouch trackpad on top of the keys. Oddly enough, it also saw fit to throw a laser pointer into the mix, though this version will rely on those tried-and-true RF frequencies for wireless communication. Check out a downright exhilarating video of it in action past the break, and tap that source link if you're eager to drop $55 (including shipping) on one.
Amulet voice-activated Windows Media Center remote hits the FCC
Amulet Device's intriguing voice-activated remote for Windows Media Center has long since missed its original ship date, but it just popped up at the FCC, complete with product shots and the user manual. Besides providing typical universal features like IR learning, as a package the rechargeable battery-powered controller, USB dongle, and companion Windows Media Center Plugin will allow users to operate their home theater by simply speaking commands to the remote's built-in microphone. Like any good robot servant, the remote will also audibly respond to questions such as "what song is playing" and even distinguish when you're talking to it versus just chatting with friends, thanks to nifty advanced positioning sensing technology. Sadly taking dictation isn't in the cards and there's still no word on an official launch date, but that hasn't stopped the budding emperor in us from hoping it arrives soon.
EFO iPazzPort Keyboard looks like a BlackBerry, calls your HTPC instead of your boss
In the world of the HTPC, the quest for the least inconvenient means of controlling on-screen action continues. We had a winner with the Rii Mini wireless keyboard in March, but the familiar aesthetics of this EFO iPazzPort keyboard make us want to have one lying about our coffee table. This is the newly redesigned third generation model, a big step forward from the first gen and, from the second revision, adds on function keys that can be used during bootup (for the "Hit F1 to enter BIOS" types), dedicated keys for playing and pausing and whatnot, and a laser pointer -- crucial for indicating the fatally arcing trajectories of contestants on Wipeout. All that's in addition to the already present QWERTY keyboard resting just below a functional touchpad. The cost? $45. Watching your friends try to make a call from your keyboard? Priceless.
NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro Technology uses RF syncing to woo professionals
NVIDIA has a strong lead in PC land with its IR-based GeForce 3D Vision tech, but apparently us lowly consumers aren't enough for the squiggly green eyeball. The company has just announced NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro, which makes use of RF syncing to give the glasses a 150 foot range, along with avoiding some of those line of sight and crosstalk issues that plague the IR glasses used by most 3D-at-home applications. NVIDIA plans to market this new system, which will be out in October, to professionals for tasks such as 3D modeling and medical imaging, and just in case you don't believe them they've priced the glasses at $349 and the RF hub at $399. Still, when have unreasonable costs ever stood between us pesky proles and the 3D nectar we yearn for? There's a press release after the break, along with a video of Siemens putting the glasses to use on some ultrasound imaging.
Apple shows Nokia's N97 Mini can be force choked, too (video)
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Apple_shows_Nokia_s_N97_Mini_can_be_force_choked_too'; Nokia claims it always prioritizes antenna performance over physical design, and we'll take them at their word, but that apparently didn't exempt one Espoo handset from Apple's grip of doom. Here's the Nokia N97 Mini going down for the count, from a full seven bars to two. Of course, Apple doesn't mention whether calls or data drop when the handset's held this way. Video after the break. [Thanks, Lyndon W.]
Nokia: 'we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict'
Nokia's looking to ride the mojo of any negative fallout from today's Apple press conference, slipping out a rather fascinating statement this afternoon. The gist of it is that Espoo's keen on letting everyone know how much blood, sweat, and tears they've poured into perfecting their antenna design strategy over the years, going so far as to say that they "prioritize" it over the physical design of the phone if they need to in order to optimize its call performance -- an opinion moderately different from the "we want to have our cake and eat it too" philosophy espoused by Jobs today. In closing, Nokia acknowledges that a "tight grip" can mess with the performance, though they say they've done a bunch of research on the ways their phones are typically held so that the antennas are placed optimally. Interestingly, there was a stink not long ago about the severe signal degradation some E71 users were seeing when they placed their hands on the lower rear of the phone -- but you can't win 'em all, we suppose. Follow the break for the full statement.
Visualized: a strange world where echo doesn't exist
Anechoic chambers are special rooms designed to absorb sound or electromagnetic radiation; they're nothing new, and most audio and electronics companies consider them critical parts of their testing facilities. Considering how odd they look, though, we never get tired of a good picture of one -- and Apple's press conference today pimping its in-house inventory of 17 such chambers gave us an opportunity to look at some of the craziest we've ever seen. See more at Apple's web page devoted to its antenna design and test labs.
LG's Classic TV gives old CRT new legs
In these complex, digital days, it's easy to yearn for simpler, analog times -- when everything was daisy-chained coax cable and all you needed was the odd RF adapter to get your gaming on. LG is taking its customers back in time with the Classic TV, an honest to gosh CRT clothed in period-appropriate attire. While it does break with tradition slightly by including a remote control, it offers nicely tactile dials and even a set of color-matched rabbit ears, making it the perfect thing for hooking up your Famicom or watching Astroboy re-runs. It's available now in Korea, your choice of basic black or cheeky red for ₩ 249,000. That equates to about $215, but don't go looking for it in your local Caldor flier.
Santa Fe WiFi foe strikes again: sues neighbor for using wireless devices, lives in a car
No, this isn't him, because the real Arthur Firstenberg (with or without a cat) would probably need more than an aluminum helmet to cure his "electromagnetic sensitivity," symptoms of which allegedly include stomach pains and memory loss. In fact, this man -- an active member of the anti-wireless group in Sante Fe -- has taken one step further by suing his bewildered neighbor 25 feet away for refusing to switch off her wireless devices, which he claims has forced him to stay at friends' or live in a car. We'd say just chill out, find some place in the middle of an African desert, and then fly out. Oh, wait. [Photo courtesy of Wally Glenn]
LG Magic Motion gesture control HDTV remote hands-on
Packed in with LG's new top of the line LCD, the 3D capable, LED backlit LE9500 is a new RF remote that users wave, Wii-style, to operate the onscreen menus. There's also a standard IR remote for universal remote compatibility and the very necessary lazy bastards who don't want to lift their arms to change the channel compatibility. Check out a quick demo from the CES show floor after the break. %Gallery-82618%
XStreamHD adds advanced RF remote next to satellite beamed 1080p on its list of promises
It's been a while since we'd heard from XStreamHD, but with yet another CES bearing down the company is ready to talk about its advanced RF One Remote Control. In case you haven't been paying attention over the last two years, it's promising all manner of satellite-delivered 1080p movies with lossless audio, that beam into its media server and then stream to any of its receivers or other DLNA compatible clients in the home. Jennic's microcontroller powers the remote, and it uses Zigbee Pro wireless tech so it will control all the connected devices, even without line of sight. We've added "peek at the media closet" to our list of things to look for at the XStreamHD booth in January, but really we're still waiting to find out when beta testers will get a crack at the service.
Flip Video remote control shows up at FCC -- bigger things to come?
A brand spanking new filing with the FCC shows a Flip Video-branded RF remote control, produced by Foxconn, which frankly raises more questions than it answers. Looking at its robust size, which is comparable to that of the Flip Ultra Video HD, we can be pretty sure this isn't meant to remotely control anything that's out at the moment. Head honcho Jonathan Kaplan has already expressed a definite interest in expanding the brand, and Cisco's acquisition of Pure Digital was said to be "key" to its strategy of expanding its presence in the "media-enabled home." So, given the parent company's somewhat unsuccessful history of building media hubs, and the simplified control scheme that just screams for an on-screen menu, this may well be the prelude to a new Flip-branded whole-home DVR setup, an idea that Cisco discussed over the summer. Or it could be something entirely different -- we just know it's something. See more pictures after the break.
Turtle Beach keeps tweens boasting with Ear Force X41 Xbox 360 headset
Just over a year after Turtle Beach gave whining teenyboppers a decent Xbox 360 headset to annoy mature gamers with, the outfit is hitting back with the third-generation. We should caution you that these are far from a major upgrade, but those just now looking to take the plunge into cord-free bragging should find plenty to appreciate. The Ear Force X41 cans claim to handle Dolby 7.1 channel surround sound, but given that there are precisely two ear cups here, we're somewhat (read: tremendously) skeptical of said claims. At any rate, the RF-based headphones now sport a dedicated Digital Signal Processor along with a feature that will likely entice young brats and frighten those with actual jobs: Chat Boost. As you can imagine, this enables users to automatically jack the volume of the Xbox Live chat as the game gets louder, which -- in our experience -- is probably not a good thing. Those with the patience of Job can buy in anyway for a nickle under $200.[Via TG Daily]
Logitech's Harmony 900 remote controls components behind closed doors
Remember Logitech's Harmony Adapter for PS3? How could you forget, right? Turns out a similar device is shipping alongside the company's fresh Harmony 900 remote, as it seeks to turn RF signals into IR commands that components in your AV rack can understand. The device ships with an IR blaster and two "mini blasters," all of which work together in order to get crucial instructions from your remote to devices neatly hidden behind closed doors. The remote itself packs a full color touchscreen and can pull down codes for over 225,000 devices, and there's also a rechargeable battery and a base station to keep things juiced up when not in use. As with most Harmony remotes, this setup definitely won't run you cheap, with the entire kit getting priced at $399.99 when it ships later this month.Update: Looks like CNET has a review up, and we'd say the bottom line pretty much sums it up: "The Logitech Harmony 900 is, hands down, the best universal remote control we've ever tested."
Walls are no longer a limitation for U-verse with new RF Point Anywhere remote
For those who have far too often felt confined by having to point remotes at the devices being controlled, news of AT&T's new Point Anywhere RF remote for its U-Verse customers should be a sweet siren song. The relatively simple remote is backlit for your convenience, letting home theater owners hide their set-tops away in a closet without having to go all aftermarket for a control solution. Changing channels from previously impossible areas like the bathroom, kitchen or outside comes at a cost of $49 for the remote and USB dongle, available from AT&T's online store beyond the read link. [Thanks, Anthony]
CATSeye Mk2 tracking device takes the smaller, more waterproof route
Okay, so if you thought the CATSeye matchbox-sized tracking device was a bit too big or cumbersome, the gang is back with something decidedly smaller and more discrete. Introducing the CATS.i, also known as CATSeye Mk2. It's got all the same functionality as its predecessor -- GPS, GSM/GPRS, RF, internet / SMS controls, etc. -- but is now only eight millimeters thick (or twelve if you chose the thinner "folded over" arrangement) and completely waterproof. Power options include a Li-ion battery, solar power, or any number of other ways you can think to run juice. Have an urge to keep track of all your family members and loved ones even more secretly than before? The new devices ship next month. [Via NaviGadget]
