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RedEye gives you a universal iPhone remote for your home entertainment center
ThinkFlood has released RedEye, their universal remote add-on for iPhone and iPod touch. The RedEye remote is a combination of hardware and software that turns your iPhone into a truly universal remote control for IR-based devices. I received an advance unit to take for a spin, and tested it out with my (modest) home theater setup and an iPhone 3GS. The RedEye hardware is retailing at $188US. I mention this early because the price point affected my perception of the product quite a bit. From the packaging to the construction of the unit, it doesn't really feel like high-end hardware -- not the way my Harmony 1000 remote does. Granted, it's still almost half the cost of the Harmony 1000 and less than half of the 1100, but the lightweight, plastic unit just doesn't pull off the aesthetics or feel of a $200 piece of hardware. The hardware portion of the RedEye is an IR-blaster with a built-in charging dock for the iPhone/iPod touch. It creates a bridge between Wi-Fi (from the iPhone/iPod) and IR devices. The base unit has a fairly good IR range, but no built-in options for extending it. A repeater may be required in some circumstances, especially if your equipment is behind closed cabinet doors. The device has built-in Wi-Fi broadcast, and can connect to your iPhone/iPod right out of the box. You get better performance (and easier configuration), however, by modifying the setup to use an existing Wi-Fi signal in your home. Multiple units can be used to cover additional rooms and control them all from a single iPhone/iPod, and multiple iPhones/iPods can connect to a single RedEye unit. Configurations are stored in the unit itself, so software modifications made on one iPhone/iPod are available to any other iPhone/iPod. The RedEye software [iTunes link] is a free download on the App Store. It detects RedEye units on the current network, and allows you to add multiple rooms, IR devices, commands and activities. Devices are easy to add from an extensive list, and most devices have commands presets available. New commands can be learned at any time by capturing the control signal from an existing remote. Activities combine commands for multiple IR devices into a single control panel with assignable buttons. Activities also have optional startup and shutdown macros, so devices can be turned on or off, inputs can be set, volume controlled, etc. when starting or stopping an Activity. Control panels can be built by adding buttons, assigning commands and icons to them and dragging them around to create your own remote. Ready-to-go templates are included for many devices/activities. Ignoring my concerns about hardware quality for a bit, the functionality of the hardware/software combination is quite impressive. The premise is simple -- turn commands sent over Wi-Fi into infrared signals -- but the possibilities are endless. The large touch screen of the iPhone/iPod touch rivals that of the Harmony 1000/1100 or Pronto remotes. It lacks any hardware buttons, of course, but provides custom configurations limited only by screen space. The software setup is not as simple as I'd like, but the app itself is stable and reliable at this point. I think it would be well-served by a desktop-based application that could upload directly to the base unit. That would allow the user to build a remote/activity much faster than is possible with the iPhone, and decrease frustration significantly. I'm not saying the RedEye isn't worth $188. It's a great universal remote system, and as far as I can tell, it's the only device of its type available for the iPhone/iPod touch (UIRemote seems to be dead?). It just needs some construction refinement, and maybe some software usability tweaks. If you've got an iPhone or an iPod touch, a lot of remotes on your coffee table, and a little time to spend with the initial setup, RedEye is really a very cost-effective solution. For more information (and ordering info), take a look at the RedEye site.
Logitech aims for a chicken in every pot, a remote in every hand with Harmony 700
If Logitech's multifaceted Harmony 900 seemed a bit too rich for your blood, why not give the whole universal remote thing another chance with the Harmony 700? Priced at $149.99, this entry-level clicker packs an awful lot of promise into a package that practically any serious home theater junkie will be able to finance. Designed to replace a half-dozen remotes in your current setup, the 700 features a color display, rechargeable AA batteries and one-click control of your favorite activities. As with every other new Harmony, this one too can be connected to your Mac or PC and programmed via the internet to control whatever components you rely on -- "from Betamax to Blu-ray" as Logitech so eloquently puts it. Details beyond that are few and far between, but we're guessing the outfit's keeping things as simple as possible here as to not befuddle the target market.
Blu-Link universal remote for PS3 is your ticket to weight gain
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.
Bobby Universal Remote for the iPhone review
Anyone who has played with a capacitive touch screen has probably dreamed about using it as a universal remote, which is why we've been quick to try out just about every iPhone/iPod Touch remote software out there. The latest one to make its way into our setup is the Bobby Universal Remote from Cremote. The app runs $20 at the App Store and leverages one of our favorite pieces of home theater gear, the Global Cache´ GC100-6 -- which unfortunately sells for over $100. So basically Bobby is the software and the GC-100 is the IR emitter, but the real question is, how well does it work?
Sony unveils waterproof universal remotes for deep-sea TV addicts
If you're very clumsy (or you love watching TV in the bathtub) Sony Japan has just the thing for you. The Rimotokomanda RM-PZ3SD universal remote comes in a palette of soothing colors, works with a wide variety of sets (including those by Panasonic / National, Toshiba, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Victor / JVC, Sanyo, Aiwa, Sharp, Funai / PRECIOUS, NEC, Fujitsu, Pioneer, Philips, and, of course, Sony), and offers at least a modicum of water-resistance for wet-handed TV viewing (we'll leave that part up to your imagination). To be unleashed on the Japanese buying public "soon" for ¥2,468 (around $26). More pics after the break. [Via Boing Boing]
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."
URC debuts MX-5000 universal remote with haptic feedback
URC has rolled out some pretty impressive remotes in its day, and it looks like it now has another claim to fame with what appears to be the first universal remote control with haptic feedback. That comes in the form of the company's new MX-5000 remote (pictured above with the touchscreen-centered MX-6000), which has a 2.7-inch touchscreen that URC says provides a "'very satisfying sensation" when you press one of the onscreen buttons. Otherwise, you can expect it to pack built-in WiFi, narrowband RF and IR to let you control just about anything you can throw at it, along with an included base station to accommodate various IR and RS-232 components and, of course, a built-in rechargeable battery and charging base. No word on a price just yet, but URC says the MSRP will be "less than $1,500." Yes, fifteen hundred dollars.
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 now shipping
Just try to wrap your minds around this, Harmony / PS3 owners: this weekend is the last weekend that your otherwise awesome universal remote won't be able to power on your otherwise awesome Blu-ray / media player. Wild, we know. Logitech's heralded Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 -- which converts the IR blasts coming from your Harmony-branded remote to Bluetooth signals that the console understands -- is now shipping. You can pretty much take your pick of e-tailers, but the read link leads to a sweet 10 percent off promotion that'll save you a few bones compared to buying from Amazon. Whatever the case, the MSRP is $59.99, so feel free to track down the best deal in all your free time.
Logitech Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3 -- official, real, and in our hands
Yeah, sure, we knew the Harmony IR-to-Bluetooth remote adapter was coming down the pike, but even with FCC filings and official confirmation of the device from Harmony, the PS3 owners among us are breathing a small sigh of relief now that we've got our hands on a unit that prove it will make it to market. We have a love/hate relationship with the PS3's Bluetooth remote control -- the range and total non-directionality of it are great, but having a separate remote control just for the PS3 is a real stick in the eye of our couch potato lifestyles. There are a few choices for solving the PS3 remote control conundrum, but on first blush this unit has three things going for it: support from a big name like Logitech (of course including codes in the Harmony database), it does not eat up one of your PS3's USB ports, and it handles switching the PS3 on and off (not unique, but some other solutions don't). We'll give the IR-to-Bluetooth converter a full rundown in due course, but follow us past the break for our initial impressions, an official fact sheet and a link to a Q&A section on the Logitech blog.
Philips Prestigo SRT9320 color touchscreen remote ready for preorders, shipping someday
Just a bit closer to filling the hole in our lives where a $199 remote should be, the Philips Prestigo SRT9320 universal remote popped up for preorders on Amazon this month, regrettably the ship date is no more specific than "1 or 2 months," but unlike some things, we'll at least have the choice to buy this one. In case you've forgotten, it packs a 2.8-inch color touchscreen and can handle up to 20 devices, programmed directly on the remote itself or learned via IR.[Thanks, Ron]
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?
Logitech's Harmony 1100 remote reviewed
If you've been pondering the purchase of a touchscreen-heavy $500 remote, you've probably been pondering the purchase of a Logitech Harmony 1100. If so, you should probably surf on over to Engadget Classic's review, which takes a critical look at its pros, cons and everything in between. Go on, get!
G2 Microsystems demonstrates WiFi remote, makes our mouths water
G2 Microsystems burst onto the scene at CES with its Intel My WiFi Personal Area Network demonstration, but evidently it had a little more going on than that. Engineering TV managed to catch up with the team and get a closer look at a prototype WiFi remote that could certainly prove useful in a home theater setup. Put simply, a WiFi module was embedded with a relatively standard Philips universal remote, and from there, users could snatch album art, tune into internet radio stations and tap into web-connected home servers in order to control home audio or pretty much anything else. There's no telling when G2 will land a serious partner willing to push out a WiFi-infused controller, but judging by the looks of things, we'd say it's just about ready for primetime.
URC's PSX2 lets any universal remote navigate on the iPod
Universal Remote Control has showcased a new iPod accessory here at CES well ahead of its official debut at EHX Spring, and supposedly it'll enable any universal remote to navigate anywhere on an iPod with a single button press. The package includes an iPod dock that connects to the TV, essentially enabling users to kick back and serve up tunes and videos without needing an iPod-friendly controller. Reportedly, it even allows users to do things not originally intended on the iPod thanks to an elaborate macro setup. A few more details are included in the read link, and we get the crazy idea that this is just the thing URC needed to get into the mainstream mind.
Logitech's Harmony 1100 remote is more touchscreen, less buttons
Logitech's last Harmony launch was of the subtle and sneaky variety, but there's nothing at all quiet about this one. The big, bold and brash Harmony 1100 is showing itself here in Las Vegas, and the primary selling point is the customizable, 3.5-inch QVGA full-color touchscreen. Rather than getting your buttons all gummed up with pizza grease, you can now smear a nice, innocent panel as you attempt to alter volume and change channels. As expected, the unit packs a rechargeable battery and RF capabilities, and the guided online setup should make programming a lesson in simplicity. Can't wait to get your own? Tough luck, 'cause this one's not shipping to the US and Europe until next month for $499.99.[Via Electronic House]
URC Digital R50 universal remote gets reviewed
Universal Remote's URC Digital R50 was recently taken in by the home theater junkies at BigPictureBigSound, and overall, the $149 (MSRP) device was well liked. In fact, critics had mostly positive things to say, noting that it was able to handle a dozen or so devices without a hiccup... after the somewhat painful setup procedure was complete, that is. The major knocks came during setup; for starters, it would "forget" your progress if you let it sit idle for awhile, and if you realize you need to insert pauses into a macro, you'll have to recreate the entire macro. Outside of a few minor niggles, though, the R50 performed admirably enough to net a three out of four star rating. Hit the read link to see if it's right for you.
Philips unveils Prestigo SRT9320 touchscreen universal remote
The last Philips Prestigo universal remote we saw was that gigantic SR-M80145 "tablet," but it looks like the company's toned it down with the sexy new Prestigo SRT9320. The company's new top-of-the-line IR-only clicker has a 2.8-inch color touchscreen and can be programmed to control up to 20 devices entirely from the remote itself without using a PC -- which can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your setup and macro situation. It's all yours for $249 sometime in the first quarter of twenty-oh-nine.[Via Electronista]
Black Friday Giveaways (part 5): Universal Remote's URC Digital R50
Even if you're pouting away, scouring the intarwebz in hopes of finding even more misery to fuel your appetite for self-loathing, we can think of precisely one thing for you to be thankful for on this day: an Engadget HD giveaway! That's right kids, it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving / Black Friday time without a little giving, so we're offering up Universal Remote's recently released URC Digital R50 for the taking. For those unaware, this here remote can bring harmony to your disjointed home theater (up to 18 components), and the PC-free setup / backlit buttons should bring smiles to the faces of HT geeks everywhere. If you're willing to give your left (turkey) leg for one of these, don't bother -- all we need from you is a comment below, preferably one dealing with ducks in China. Here's how this works.We'll put up a gadget on the site, and you can only enter it until the next gadget lands (usually within a couple of hours). If you miss your shot, sorry, we're moving on to the next gadget. Good luck! Oh, and don't forget the rules. (Yeah, there are always rules.) Leave a comment below. That's it! Who loves you, baby. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) You can enter different giveaways in today's Black Friday giveaways, but you can only enter this one once. If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers or US contest laws if you have to be mad. Winners will be chosen randomly. Entries can be submitted until the next contest goes up. After that we're all done. Good luck! Full rules can be found here. Last round's winner: Harkco! (Remember, winners are selected at random.)
