To connect your VooMote to your television box (or straight up to your television, as it may be), you’ve only got to select the model from the vast list of devices the VooMote application has pre-configured. If your device is not in the VooMote library, you have only to take the time to connect the buttons on the remote control you use now to the digital remote control you’re about to use on your iPhone. This process can be a bit of a hassle the one time you’ll have to go through it, but once you’re connected, you can go ahead and toss that old remote in the bottom drawer.

In the hands-on video above you’ll see in a very general way what it means to have the VooMote Zapper connected to your iPhone 4S. In addition to the Zapper there’s a whole collection of cases that go with the line and match up with its lovely set of color options: Smart gray, blue, green, pink, navy, red, white, or what we’ve got here: black. Each VooMote Zapper has 4 built-in IR transmitters (or what they call “Mini Blasters”) that’ll allow you to change channels from any which direction you can imagine – just so long as you’re in range of the unit in general.

You get a set of several screens with control buttons that you can attach to your television (or game console like the Xbox 360, for example) that, again, will be connected automatically or manually to the functions you’d like them to be connected to. The VooMote Zapper App will also be updated inside 2012 to include TV Guide as well as integration with Facebook and Twitter for sharing – exciting stuff!

You can purchase the VooMote Zapper for $69.99 USD (and the app is free) or the VooMote One (a similar device with basically the same functionality but a slightly different form factor for $99.99 USD – your choice! Then the cases you see in a couple of the photos in the gallery below are coming soon – brightness! Also feel free to check out the app on the iTunes App Store right this second too, totally free – you’ll need the Zapper to do much of anything with it, of course.

Touchpad Control

The first and most apparent feature you’re going to experience here is the touchpad, it taking up the top 2/5 of the device and allowing you to move forward with the touch controls you’ve gotten so used to in this forward-thinking mobile environment. You’ll be able to change channels and adjust the volume on your set with a simple swipe of the touchpad, and on-screen browsing will be much easier as the touchpad works as a mouse. Your finger is now the mouse pointer rather than the rather evil point to move we’ve seen from similar sets in the past.

Edge UI

Next is the Edge User Interface, this allowing you to access any of the four main control menus with your touchpad by swiping your finger out to the edge. These four menus are Color/playback, Tools, Hot Key, and History. Your Hot Key aka Short Cut will bring you a programmable action, while the rest should be pretty self-explanatory for you Smart TV users. No need to look at the remote any longer!

Voice Control

With the newest Samsung Smart TV units, you’ll be able to use the Smart Touch Control’s built-in microphone to tell your television what to do. You’ll be able to access your apps, switch channels, and navigate compatible services galore. This system should prove to be rather intuitive as voice recognition and control advances to new heights in our very voice-activated modern world.

Multi-device Control

Finally you’ll be able to cut down on the number of control units you’ll need – just so long as you’ve got all Samsung devices, that is. The Smart Touch Control can be programmed to run with your DVD player and a whole mess of other home entertainment appliances. Your device choosing widget can be found under your Hot Key on the remote, each of your devices then switched quickly and with great ease on-screen. One remote to rule them all.

Pricing and availability for this remote control have not been finalized, but don’t be surprised if we see it within a month around the world. Smart TV 2012 continues on with great fervor. Samsung is bringing the Smart heat in TV!

This device is controlled with a couple of knobs on a relatively standard control unit and communicates wirelessly as you fly it through the sky in an impressive display of flapping, turning, and flapping some more. The newest version of this original Park Hawk will run you right around $289 if you want one right this second. You’ve also for one whole heck of a lot of other options from stores like Flapping Flight if you’re in the mood for some different models – like the Big Lazy Hawk whose wingspan is longer than a small child.

This bird is controlled with its rudder (it’s tail feather) and is able to both flap and glide. This means that if you toss it down into the Grand Canyon (and it doesn’t hit a rock right away) you’ll be able to mozy on down lazily the whole way with just a bit of flapping as you go. Seem like a good time to you? Maybe we’re all long overdue for some awesome remote controlled action, what do you think?

BONUS: time for some record-breaking rubber-band ornithopter action next!

[via Lusko]

There are also three buttons, two of which currently allow the wearer to indicate whether they are too hot or too cold, and a third to activate motion control. If the temperature controls are pressed, the automation system can activate heating or cooling systems, or open windows; when more than one person is present in any one room, an average of the comfort levels is established.

As for motion gestures, they can be used for more precise control over things like TVs and computers. While motion-tracking systems have been implemented previously – the CHIP concept home we wrote about yesterday used a Kinect to allow occupants to interact with the intelligent computer systems – the WristQue system adds identification into the mixture. “People can gesture with Kinect but it doesn’t know who you are” responsive environments group director Joe Paradiso told NewScientist, “we’re thinking of a device that can do that, but without distracting you like a PDA.”

Meanwhile, the WristQue system learns from patterns of use, and can automatically predict what comfort levels users will expect – tweaked to suit the outside temperatures and weather conditions too. The MIT team reckons energy use fell by 24-percent over a three week trial, because of the system’s accurate and responsive HVAC management.

In the future, though, room for an expansion board within the wristband itself opens the door to more advanced implementations. One such possibility is shared smart displays, which would assign themselves to a proximate user and show curated information – such as email and social networking updates – based on their identity.

[via PhoneRPT]

The Bluetooth box itself actually uses an A2DP connection – with up to 30 foot range – for control, with straightforward installation too. If you’re somewhat nifty with electrics, you can opt for the Smart Switch instead, which comes ready to be wired into the electric cord of any appliance. An override button lets you turn it off even if you don’t have your phone or tablet to hand.

ZMote has an outdoor version of the Smart Cord in the pipeline too, which is weatherproof, and a Smart Switch with Dimming that allows you to adjust the lighting level. A set of table and upright lamps with the tech built in are also coming. The Smart Cord should go on sale this month, priced at $39.95, while the Smart Switch and outdoor version will drop in the spring; everything else will arrive this summer.

The company will face some big-name competition, however. Belkin announced its own simple remote home automation system at CES last week, Belkin WeMo, which is also set to arrive in the summer. That uses simple plug-in wall socket adapters and a motion-sensing switch, along with apps for Android and iOS, to control your lights and other gadgets.

[via technabob]

Of course, Griffin would advise aiming away from the delicate facial areas while staging dogfights, but since we’ve never liked the look of you anyway we’ll say go straight ahead. As before, the ‘copter is controlled by an infrared-toting Flight Deck module that plugs into the headphone socket of your iOS or Android device.

Install the app and then on-screen controls or accelerometer tilting navigate the chopper around. The now-common twin rotor design means stability is a whole lot greater than helicopters of old, and you can store up to three flight plans for repetition later; there’s also an automatic landing option, if you haven’t already crashed into a wall by that stage.

The Griffin HELO TC Assault will go on sale in Q2, priced at $59.99.

The Home Control Switch allows you to plug in a lamp or other mains gizmo and then turn it on both remotely, via the app, or locally, via a button on the box itself. Alternatively, you can have it trigger automatically, when the Motion Sensor spots movement, either turning lights or other devices on when you walk into range, or off when you leave the room.

Belkin only has these two devices so far, but promises that a remote garage door opener, door lock, lighting controls and a baby monitor – with streaming audio – are in the pipeline. The company has also done a deal with electric lock company Kwikset, whose Home Connect security locks will also gain WeMo support: users will be able to lock or unlock remotely, as well as see the current security status on-screen.

The Belkin Home Control Switch and Motion Sensor will go on sale this coming summer, priced at $49.99 for the switch and $99.99 for both devices in a bundle. The control app will be a free download when it arrives in the App Store.

There’s also a 3-axis motion sensor, for using the new boxes as Android games consoles, and various dedicated hardware buttons for navigation. It’ll work as a universal remote with select A/V kit too.

Of course, the star of the show is Google TV v2.0, the new version of the smart TV platform, paring down the on-screen UI so as to make it less overwhelming and improving search results across the various live, recorded and on-demand content available. There’s also Android Market support, albeit only for apps that have been tweaked to play nicely with TV resolutions and Google TV hardware.

The NSZ-GS7 is the basic model, a simple way of converting your regular TV into a smart TV. The NSZ-GP9 adds in a Blu-ray player for more HD home entertainment. Both can be paired with a range of mobile apps on Android and iOS, with Media Remote used to instantly send content – such as a website – from the phone/tablet to the TV screen, or vice-versa. A TrackID app can be used to ID music and video playing on-screen.

The Sony Network Media Player NSZ-GS7 and Sony Blu-ray Disc Player NSZ-GP9 are expected to hit North America and Europe in early summer 2012, with broader availability to follow. Pricing has not been confirmed at this stage.

Sound can also be recorded alongside video on the Intruder. The helicopter doesn’t record sound – but it allows the taking of quick aerial snapshots. The actual controller is your iPhone or Android device, so once the Wi-Spi application is installed you’re good to go. They can both upload their captures instantly to Facebook, YoutTube, or E-Mail.

Both models will be available Fall 2012 at most major and electronic retailers. We couldn’t get a demo of the units, but from the photos they look pretty sleek. The helicopter will retail at $119.99 and Intruder at $99.99.

Whereas the first-gen AR.Drone – which we reviewed back in 2010 - required you to keep track of where the front of the quadricopter was, the new Absolute Flight mode relies on a 3D magnetometer built to let the the second-gen model know what orientation it’s at in relation to the smartphone controlling it. That way, “the pilot no longer needs to care about the orientation of the AR.Drone 2.0′s front camera, which will accurately track the smartphone’s motion and tilt.”

The traditional steering method will still be available as an option, and you’ll now be able to pre-program preset flight paths. Meanwhile there are some tweaks to the sensor array, with a pressure sensor used to boost vertical stability, new blade designs for smoother flight, and a slightly altered hull. As before, two shells are supplied – one for indoor flight, one for outdoor – and there are flashing LEDs to keep it looking impressive.

Apps for both Android and iOS are available, and there’s an open development platform for third-party game and other app developers to tie into the new AR.Drone 2.0. According to the leaked release, the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 will go on sale in Q2 2012, priced at $299. We’ll be keeping an eye on the skies at CES to see if we can spot it there.

[via Engadget and via AR.Drone Flyers]

Exactly what the tablet version will do differently has not been explained, though at the very least a UI better suited to larger-screen devices seems likely. The current app shows either the remote control for a TiVo box or a schedule guide on-screen at any one time; a tablet could easily accommodate both simultaneously.

There’s also social networking integration in the existing software, allowing viewers to post to Twitter or Facebook about what show they’re watching. With more screen real-estate to hand, a stream of Facebook and/or Twitter updates relevant to the show could be included as well.

You can download the current app here though you’ll need a TiVo Premiere DVR to take advantage of certain features.

[via Dave Zatz]

What would you do with a helicopter about the size of your fist that can fly around (not entirely silently, mind you) and collect video and/or photos? Would you snoop around the neighborhood? I sure as heck know what we’d be doing: collecting evidence that the dog is, indeed, stealing the cat’s food each morning. For sure! With the Black Swann we’ll be doing such a thing, it having the clear advantage of “stealth” over “military.” Mostly in looks, if you’re wondering.

Then there’s the i-Fly Micro Lightening – this is a trend in remote controlled devices, and a pretty neat one if I do say so myself. One where they provide an infra-red connector to your mobile devices (iPhone in this case) and an app that allows you to use your favorite device as a controller. It’s good fun for everyone. Check out all of these devices out at Fry’s BrandSmart, and other fine retailers soon!

The app lets you connect to any number of Windows or Mac computers that have the free LogMeIn client installed. This can be good for troubleshooting a client’s computer, checking on download progress, or controlling a media center PC.

There’s also a LogMeIn Pro option that costs $12.20 a month that gives you added functionality, including access to your desktop computer’s complete file structure for transferring files to and from your iOS device, integrated cloud services like Dropbox and Google Docs, and a HD video streaming feature that works with Windows PCs.

If you’ve paid for the previous LogMeIn Ignition service then you’re automatically grandfathered in to get all the new Pro features for free. The app is available now at the iTunes App Store.

Not only will this smart thermostat save you money but did I mention it has built-in WiFi and even Infrared proximity, PIR movement, and humidity sensors — and even a mini-USB port. It might not have all the Barry White albums or your favorite 80′s classic music but what it can do is extremely impressive. No one thinks much about a Thermostat — let alone a smart one and Nest has capitalized on that by bringing an elegant design, simple and easy user interface, and simple touch controls all to your living room.

Our link at the top explains this neat little product in-depth but essentially what we have here is a Thermostat that will learn from its master. The system observes your normal heating/cooling routines – using movement sensors, humidity and temperature sensors, and proximity control – and can mimic them itself, as well as automatically tweaking the settings when there’s nobody home. The built-in WiFi can even pull down local outside temperatures and adjust accordingly whether you’re home or not. With iOS and Android apps — not to mention full online access you can control your heating/cooling from the couch, or while on vacation.

I wont get into too many details but the full breakdown by Sparkfun gets into all the little parts and technology inside this gadget. With tons of hackability and even a few parts from Zigbee (yes the home automation group) we might soon see Nest control our lights, refrigerator and possible more with future updates. I can see this project becoming one of those fancy devices seen from movies like Back to the Future in the coming months. Nest is available now for $249 at your nearest Best Buy. For now head on down to the link below for the full breakdown.

[via Sparkfun]

That will include your recently played games, as well as any apps you’ve used on the Xbox 360. There’ll also be access to the Zune video catalog, with extra detail on the movie, TV show, music or game currently playing through the console.

Microsoft has baked more friend activity support into the WP7 app, including the ability to see which friends are online, which friends have beacons, and see a list of friends who have recently played, in addition to showing achievements and related items. You can invite friends to join you in a game, directly from the smartphone app.

Finally, there’s support for remotely controlling the Xbox 360 from your Windows Phone. In addition to picking a search result and triggering play, buying media and navigating through the console in general there’s play/pause and skip forward/back for video and music.

Xbox LIVE for Windows Phone will be a free download from the Windows Phone Marketplace, and will be available from tomorrow.

YouTube has been available on BRAVIA smart TVs for some time now, but this new update boosts quality support to HD where available. Sony’s existing image processing tech is also retained, further massaging footage.

Meanwhile, the company has released a version of its Remote Keyboard Lite app for non-Sony laptops, allowing them to be used to enter URLs in the Opera-based browser, search for streaming content and navigate through the menus. You’ll need a Windows 7 computer, however, which means those with older laptops – or, indeed, Macs – are left out in the cold.

The new Sony BRAVIA 2011 firmware should be pushed out automatically to sets, as long as you’ve got it hooked up to an internet connection.

Fresh to the updated app is the ability to set alarms, waking yourself in the morning (or after a sneaky afternoon nap) with your favorite playlist. There’s also more control over music library management, taking advantage of the extra screen space on offer, along with Twitter support. That allows you to tweet out what you’re currently listening to.

Meanwhile, Sonos has thrown in Slacker Radio support for all users (as long as they’re in North America) offering 150 free streaming music channels. There’s also better integration with Spotify, along with AAC+ track support.

The Sonos Controller for Android app is a free download from the Android Market. You’ll obviously need at least one Sonos device in order to use it, however, along with a suitable Android tablet. The company also offers versions of its app for Android smartphones and iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone.

As well as creating playlists, it’s also possible to use the system to control actual playback. Saying “pause,” “play the next song,” “play the previous song” and “what song is this?” is all supported; the plugin Maddox released uses the same SiriProxy software as we saw controlling Plex media playback among other things.

You can grab the relevant Spotify for SiriProxy files here, and Maddox has released them as open-source if you fancy a tinker. Obviously you’ll need an iPhone 4S in order to actually use Siri, since the whole proxy system relies on Apple’s remote servers crunching your spoken commands.

The Belkin LiveAction Camera Remote lets you take both photos and videos with your iPhone remotely, featuring a dedicated button for each function. It also packs a small stand that you can detach to prop up your iPhone to just the right angle, but it’s hard to tell how secure it would be given its small size.

The device connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth and works with Belkin’s LiveAction camera app, which you can download from iTunes for free. Pictures of the device showed up at the FCC today, but there’s no word on pricing or availability just yet.

[via Wireless Goodness]

It’s unclear whether existing owners will be able to buy the new remote control, or if they’ll have to satisfy themselves with the menu option. It will be bundled with Roku’s most recent – and cheapest – STB, the Roku LT, announced last month and offering streaming access to Netflix, Pandora and other services for just $49.

We’re waiting on images of what the new Roku remote will look like, so for the moment we’ll just have to use our imaginations. Updates when the pictures arrive.

Update: Image of the remote has arrived, and as you’d expect it has a big Pandora button on there. However, there’s also a dedicated Netflix button and a dedicated Crackle button too.

This little object is a bit larger than a billiards ball, but not so large as a big bocce ball. It’s semitransparent white so that the lights that shine from within can be seen, and the brand name Sphero can be seen on the side. You charge it by lying it in its stand, and it’s controlled via Bluetooth with your smart device such as your iPhone or your Galaxy S II. Have a look at this hands-on video your humble narrator filmed back at the Pepcom Holiday Spectacular 2011:

The fellow speaking and controlling the ball there is Orbotix’ (the group who made the ball) CEO Paul Berberian. Who better to show off the capabilities of the ball? Now that ball is up for pre-order sales starting at 12:01 this morning and WOW have they been jumping off the shelves. We’re waiting on the numbers from Orbotix headquarters, but given that the orders available for shipping inside 2011 are completely wiped out on http://store.gosphero.com/, we’ve got to assume things are going pretty well.

UPDATE: Yes indeed things are going well – we’ve just gotten word from the head man himself:

“We are really excited about launching pre-orders today. The team has been up since midnight making sure we are in front the community with everything running smoothly! We’re seeing a very high conversion from people who reserved early and quite the traffic coming in from the publicity. We would definitely recommend getting on top of pre-ordering if you want to received your Sphero before 2012.” – Paul Berberian

You can also pick up a Sphero on Amazon.com soon, though the portal isn’t quite opened at the time of this posting, and there are currently six applications for you to check out that’ll be working with your mobile device instantly upon release like Sphero Golf, Sphero Drive, and Sphero Blox. The first two are fairly self-explanatory in their titles, but Blox goes like this: add a collection of direction blocks in a line on your device and press play, watching your Sphero follow the dance you’ve created perfectly right before your eyes. In the dark or in the light – choose your color.

Have a peek at each of the apps available now here:

Finally, have a peek at this “A New Way to Play” video just released today as well, and take note of the moment the device jumps directly in the water:

Before we continue, there’s no way on earth you’re going to continue to read this post without knowing how a robot represented this man’s mother. When it came time to have Garriot’s wedding, his mother would not have been able to attend it since it was going to be in France and she wouldn’t be leaving Las Vegas. So Garriot hooked her up with a laptop interface for the robot, had the robot transported to France instead, and boom, there she was, witnessing it all, speaking to guests, and even going so far as to dance at the reception with all the kiddies. And what’s best about this part of the story is that the robot was, for this occasion, outfitted with a cardboard cutout image of Garriot’s mother so it’d be perfectly legitimate and ready to rock!

The robot itself is a model QB60 from Anybots, Inc, also known as an “Anybot QB”, and cost Garriot a cool $15,000 when it was purchased. He made the decision to pick one up when it was first decided that his company would stay in Austin while his wife would live and work in New York. Because both of them were unable to move their workstations, the stand-in robot was the perfect solution. Now Garriot uses the robot to speak with and interact with his co-workers at the Texas-based Portalarium game developers outfit while he travels to New York as well as any other place his job or personal life takes him.

Garriot notes on the situation:

“A great part of successful collaboration comes not when you’re having something to discuss, but just hearing what other people are discussing. It is a huge advantage to just feel like you’re in the room with the team, even when you’re on the road. It has been a relief to the challenges of travel. … In this era where people need to travel a lot more for work and also at the same time, we’re trying to cut down on expenses, this kind of technology is definitely a wave of the future.

The Internet is now ubiquitous. High-speed Internet allows video conferencing. The technology of a self-balancing system like a Segway is clearly something that even school kids do in robotics competitions. So this is the kind of technology that has really, truly come of age and this is a great way that this can be packaged can be put together for the service of humanity.”

BONUS straight from the Anyblog comes this video of the same model robot as written about above ordering a scone in California. Cool beans!

[via KXAN]

Serenading you with back-catalog tracks from the Walrus of Love isn’t quite in the Learning Thermostat’s repertoire, but what it can do is arguably even more impressive. While traditional thermostats are generally ignored, the Nest team suggests, the current breed of smart thermostats – complete with features like web access and remote control – are simply too complex for most users to bother getting to grips with. That means, while they’re tremendously capable for those few who spend the time familiarizing their capabilities, most owners ending up wasting money because they hardly use them.

Instead, Nest co-founder (and fellow iPod team alumni) Matt Rogers told CNET, the Nest Learning Thermostat prioritizes ease of use and understanding. The front changes color from red – when the house is being heated – to blue – when it’s being cooled – and temperature is easily adjusted by rotating the jog-dial built into the casing. Pushing the front acts as a button, and there’s an iOS app already available along with an Android version in the pipeline; you can also track usage through your desktop browser.

However, Nest reckons it’s the Learning Thermostat’s intelligence that will be giving you chills, not the temperature. The system observes your normal heating/cooling routines – using movement sensors, humidity and temperature sensors, and proximity control – and can mimic them itself, as well as automatically tweaking the settings when there’s nobody home. That takes about a week, Rogers claims. It can even pull in weather forecasts over WiFi to adjust temperatures automatically based on conditions outdoors: cranking up the aircon if the sun makes an appearance, for instance.

The Nest Learning Thermostat will go on sale priced at $249 in Best Buy midway through November, and is intended to be easily installed by the home owner (rather than demanding professional help). If that seems a lot for a fancy thermometer, Nest reckons that in a year it will pay for itself: saving 20- to 30-percent of the average $1,000 energy bill for the American home.

If the touchscreen sounds bigger than what OCOSMOS were hawking back at the OSC9′s debut at CES 2011 earlier this year, you’re not wrong. Then, the slate had a 9-inch panel running at 1024 x 768, but OCOSMOS has obviously followed fashion – and, we dare say, panel supplies – and increased both size and resolution.

Still present, however, is the Smart O-Bar Multi-controller, a compact remote that offers a 3.5-inch 320 x 480 LCD display, WiFi b/g/n, gyroscope and accelerometer, and can act as anything from a wireless keyboard/mouse for the OSC9, as a simple game controller, or as a VoIP phone handset. Alternatively, owners can stream multimedia content from the OSC9 to the Smart O-Bar.

Finally there’s an HDMI docking station, with ethernet and a pair of USB ports. The OSC9 measures in at 267 x 173 x 11.9mm and has a battery good for up to 6hrs runtime, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS. We have to say we’d be more excited to see Windows 8 on the slate, but there’s always upgrading next year. The OSC9 is priced at $649, while the HDMI dock is $69.99, the Smart O-Bar controller $139.99, and a keyboard dock $69.99.

Have a peek at the hands-on presentation video in this post to get a better idea of what it could mean for you to be controlling a robot friend from the other side of the world – Qbo does this, or at least it will very soon, and you’ll be able to take advantage of it from any Android device. You’ll be able to move this little guy around, change his expressions, make him say whatever you want via Google’s speech recognition OR directly through your microphone, and, best of all, you can do things like recognize objects and follow them. Weird and awesome!

Here’s a note directly from the Qbo team on the inner workings of this new system:

How the system works?
Internally, Qbo acts as a server, with REST as a communication protocol, sending information in JSON format. You will find an API, very easy to use and very handy. For example, in order to move the head just pack the coordinates into a JSON, and make a HTTP petition to, for example  “http://192.168.4.6:8880/control/qbo_arduqbo/headServos” and Qbo will manage itself, launching the necessary ROS nodes.
The audio connection uses the SIP protocol (Session Initiative Protocol). We wanted to make each Qbo independent from any external SIP server, so each one has the Asterisk SIP server installed to make calls directly to the robot. On top, it has a SIP client to accept incoming calls and send audio back. This enables Qbo to communicate with devices regardless of the platform, since there are applications available in each of these systems (MacOSX, Windows, Linux, Android, IOS…).

Looks like a lot of fun! Can you even wait to try it out? We can’t!

[via Qbo]

Naturally, the RC toy can be controlled by the iPhone. It can also be controlled by an Android device as well. That control from smartphones isn’t the big feature though. The big feature is that the little TankBot can navigate a maze without any assistance from the user. The toy also has a free-roam mode that lets it just run around your home or office exploring.

A single 40-minute charge allows the toy to operate for 15 minutes. It has headlights for eyes that flash when the toy is idle. It comes in four colors and each color operates on its own frequency so you can play with up to four at one time. The TankBot will hit Toys R’ Us and Radio shack for $24.99 and should be available to purchase right now.

The company in fact previewed the Harmony Link concept all the way back in June 2010, as part of its Google TV offering. This commercial product, however, doesn’t rely on Google TV at all; instead you can use it with any of the preconfigured IR codes for over 5,000 brands Logitech has pre-programmed, or teach it the IR signals of an unknown brand by using the existing remote.

Unfortunately the iPhone/iPod touch and Android apps don’t support the in-app TV listings on the iPad, and there’s no word on whether that will change in the future. You do get a mini IR blaster, however, allowing you to control A/V kit in a cupboard. The Logitech Harmony Link is expected to go on sale in October, priced at $99.99.

As you may remember from all the way back at CES 2011, Orbotix presented what was then a whole new concept in remote controlled objects. Was it an RC car? Nope. Was it some sort of flying device? I suppose if you’re going fast enough over a cliff, yes. Was it a robot? I suppose that depends on what you think a robot really is! This is Sphero, the world’s first smartphone-controlled robotic ball. What you’re about to witness is its first final prototype design debut (what a mouthful!) and we’re getting to see it in NYC at the Pepcom Holiday Spectacular this week in Brooklyn, NYC.

This orb device showed its cool face again at Google I/O 2011 with talks of a developer program for the device. You can now access that program which is still in full swing at http://developer.orbotix.com/. There you can download the full API and Mobile SDK codes as well as documentation, sample code, and customizable UIKit. Everything you need to create your own unique app to work with the official Sphero remote-control game ball. I say game ball almost for lack of an adequate name since, as with all seemingly completely original products, one must ask: what is this, really?

Have a look at what Berberian has to show us if there’s one person on the planet whose best qualified to show you the awesome in this device, it’s him.

He’ll be demonstrating on an iDevice you may well recognize and will show you basic controls as well as an app called “Draw and Drive” in which you can draw lines in any combination of shapes and your Sphero will follow the path. And these aren’t the only controller apps you’ll get right at the onset, there’s also games in which you’ll be able to, as Orbotix notes, “Race your friends with Sphero Drive, take a swing down your hallway with Sphero Golf, outrun your cat with KittyCam, or crush virtual zombies in your living room with ZombieBall.”

Berberian also gives us all a closer look at the near-final packaging for the device and some information on the final release – where and when!

Sphero will be available to consumers throughout the USA inside 2011 for an initial price point of $129.99. Each package contains a Sphero orb, an induction charger (you can see these flickering on the tablet behind Berberian,) and multiple free downloadable games (with more on the way, of course!) You can pre-order Sphero from http://www.gosphero.com/ – they’ll start taking credit card orders in November 2011 and will start shipping in December 2011 and they’ll be for sale on a first-come, first-serve basis. You’ll be able to purchase this device in retail (both in the USA and abroad) starting in 2012 – note though that, at least at first, it’ll only be available direct or through Amazon until additional retailers are announced, again, in 2012.

Sound like a good price point to you? You gonna get one? Be sure furthermore to take a peek at our full collection of hands-on videos from the event in our Pepcom Holiday Spectacular 2011 portal!

The remote control is basically a sled into which your iPhone or iPod touch slots, hooked up via the headphone socket. That means you could also use it – though not dock it with – your iPad; Griffin has released the remote app as a free download in the App Store. The remote sled asks for four AAA batteries, while the chopper itself recharges via USB; a single charge is good for around eight minutes of flight, and you can save up to three routes via the app so as to repeat them later on.

The Griffin HELO TC is on sale now, and comes complete with spare rotor blades just in case you’re a klutz. Up to three can be flown simultaneously, thanks to support for three different infrared signal sets that won’t confuse everybody else’s helicopter.

The Air Swimmers don’t look like a blimp though, these things come in two styles with a clown fish and a shark. Some people will recognize them as Jaws and Nemo. These things move around in the air using only their tails, which is pretty cool. You can apparently find them in some stores and you can order them online too. At the time of writing the ordering site direct from the makers was down due to high-loads and the store selling them is out of stock.

Both the shark and the clownfish have the same IR remote control. You can control the climb and descent of the fish along with the tail fin. Wireless range is up to 40-feet and both of the versions are 57-inches long and 36-inches tall. You will need a large room to have fun with these. All you can do for now if you want one is keep an eye on the website for them to come back in stock.

[via Geekosystem]

Researchers into new methods of networking have discovered a way to use LED lighting to distribute full HD films and other content to computers. The LED lights are used as a wireless networking solution that delivers up to 800 Mbit/s download speeds. Anonymous is apparently testing a new attack tool called #RefRef. The tool was apparently tested on Pastebin and a 17-second test shut down the website for 42 minutes.

Last week Britain signaled that it intended to make it legal to copy a CD or DVD by owners. The intent is to allow the moving of a digital copy of the music or film to computers or other digital devices. A rumor surfaced that the iPhone 5 was already sent to carriers for testing. The rumors are still pointing to a launch of the new smartphone in September or October.

Intel Ultrabooks were supposed to hit the market at under $1000. Insiders are saying that the new machines are being sabotaged by Intel greed with a bill of materials that forces the machines to sell for more than Intel says they should. Chris spent some hands on time with the Blackberry Torch 9810 and shot a video of the device for us to check out. He was concerned that there may not be enough different here to help Blackberry get back to where it once was in the market.

Android Ice Cream Sandwich will be tied up with Texas Instruments as the chipset reference platform .TI has offered up a photo that they will be using to promote the tie up and it’s cute. The interesting bit is that we expect to see some awesome chipsets form TI next year. MotoActive surfaced last week showing off a cool Android watch for the athletic folks out there. The little watch appears to have a 1-inch screen and offer all sorts of details on your run or workout along with media playing.

The FCC went out and measured the actual interent speeds around the country and offered the data this week. The survey found Verizon’s fiber connectivity the fastest and Cablevision was the slowest. ComScore’s latest numbers show that there are now 25 million Google+ users around the world. Google has only offered that it has 10 million registered users so far.

The Juno space probe that will head to Jupiter will take with it three different LEGO minifigs. The minifigs are likenesses of Galileo, the pagan god Jupiter, and Juno the sister of Jupiter. Microsoft announced that it had invited Google to bid with it Novel patents. Google denied the claim and then Microsoft offered up emails to show they did in fact invite Google.

A new study that surfaced recently claims that our moon may be the result of two moons that collided and formed one. The theory explains why the near and far sides of our moon are so vastly different. The Nyko Zoom for Kinect hit pre-order at Amazon and other retailers last week. This is the accessory for the Kinect that shortens the distance you need to be from the Kinect to play.

The Skype app for Android was updated last week. The update brought with it support for video calling on several new handsets. Rue reviewed the Motorola Droid 3 smartphone late in the week. She liked the phone and the main quibble was that the phone didn’t support 4G.

NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance orbiter has found evidence of liquid water on the surface of Mars. NASA says the black streaks it thinks to be water only show up in spring and summer. A hacker at the Black Hat conference has shown a way to hack the wireless connectivity for insulin pumps. The hack has the potential to do harm to the diabetic wearing the pump.

Google’s robot car that needs no driver got into an accident last week. The accident was blamed on the human though; the car was being driven manually when the accident occurred. An awesome old school sit down Outrun arcade game was hacked into a real driving game. The arcade game was put onto a chassis and can really take to the roads with eh driver watching the screen to see where he is going. Thanks for reading this week’s edition, see you next time!

Basically, the IR receiver dongle plugs into an adapter at the end of your HDMI cable, and shuttles the signal down to the IR blaster at the other end. Your stack of A/V equipment – whether cable or satellite TV boxes, TiVo or other DVRs, HTPC or Blu-ray players – can remain hidden in a cupboard or a “node zero” style central termination point, far away from line-of-sight with your remotes, and you don’t need to rewire to carry the IR signal separately.

CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is used by certain A/V companies to allow for remote control signals to be passed between the TV and other components, and generally gets branded by OEMs: Sony calls it BRAVIA Sync, Panasonic calls it VIERA Link and Toshiba calls it Regza Link, for instance. Otherwise the channel goes unused, so InjectIR can take advantage of that spare wiring for its own purposes.

The benefit is that, unlike the manufacturer-specific solutions, you can use your existing remote and pair equipment from different brands. The CEC should be preserved over CAT5 extensions and switchers, and the IR repeater can be moved further away from the emitter adapter with a regular 3.5mm cable. The Sewell InjectIR is available now, priced at $44.95.

[via TechCrunch]

Inside the headset box you’ll get several different ear adapters, a microUSB cord for charging, and there are two modes on the actual mode – Bluetooth Mode and Xbox 360 Mode, each of these shown with a lovely green or blue light on the headset depending upon which one is active. This device gets over 300 hours of standby time says Hyrb, and it’ll be available around the world in November, not just in the USA, Japan, or the UK, as is sometimes the case.

Then there’s the rather fashionable Xbox Media Remote, another cool piece of technology to add to your stack of remote controls (unless you’re one of those futuristic folks who only has one universal remote, or a hardcore gamer who uses only console controllers for such things as changing channels.) This remote will allow you to control your Xbox 360 Dashboard, DVDs, CDs, and other media apps such as Sky Player, Zune, and of course Neftlix.

The Media Remote will run on 2 AAA batteries and includes your favorite A, B, X, and Y buttons amongst the usual volume, numbers, directional pad, back, select and so fourth. You’ll also be able to control Hulu Plus, ESPN, and live TV (if provided on your console b your TV service provider, of course.) The remote also comes out in November, also worldwide, and will be running you $19.99 USD.

Do these pieces of hardware solidify the idea that Microsoft Beats Apple in the Living Room to you?

You tell me!

The VooMote One is a hardware accessory and app combo. The hardware slips onto the iPhone easily and still allows the user to control all the functions of the iPhone with the hardware installed. The app installed on the iOS device controls the functionality of the hardware accessory. Together the two parts turn the iPhone into a universal remote control for TVs, DVD players, stereos, and other electronic devices.

The thing that the company claims sets the VooMote One apart is the amount of customization offered. One of the cool features is the One View screen that lets the user create custom screens putting controls for multiple devices on one screen. The app also has one Touch feature to turn on multiple devices and set inputs at once. The device has 30,000 IR codes inside to work with most devices out there. The VooMote one will ship on August 5 for $99.

The remote controlled platform is called the Blackfish and it is a cut down commercial jet ski that has sensors packed on top. The Blackfish will be able to see underwater and will have sensors to see above water too. The craft is intended to help the Navy detect and defend harbors from attacks like the one that killed 17 Navy personnel aboard the USS Cole in 2000 while it was docked at the Port of Aden in Yemen.

The Blackfish is a 10-foot long craft that can cruise at up to 40mph. The company that builds it is a British defense firm called QinetiQ and the company said the big challenge was getting the craft to go slow enough. Jet skis are very fast and the company had to add bow thrusters that could be used for low speed patrolling. The craft can be remotely controlled by an operator at a distance of up to 1km and can run in automated mode using GPS waypoints. The craft could also be fitted with weapons.

[via Discovery News]

Intended for indoor use only, the Helo TC comes with a “flight deck module” which is basically an IR dock for your iPhone. That converts the output from the app into IR control signals which the helicopter responds to, either using various on-screen joysticks and controls or – thanks to the accelerometers – with tilt-to-fly, shifting the orientation of the handset to move the chopper.

Flight time from a full charge – via USB – is around eight minutes, and there are five LEDs mounted on the Helo TC for daring night-time raids. Happily the main and tail rotors are replaceable, for the inevitable post-crash recovery, while the flight deck module uses four AAA batteries rather than sucking down your iPhone’s charge.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen iOS devices used to remotely-control a flying toy: Parrot’s AR.Drone was the must-have quadricopter of 2010. However, whereas the AR.Drone was a hefty $300 at launch, the Griffin is considerably cheaper. You don’t get WiFi control or streaming video, but you can store up to three pre-programmed flight plans in the app and have the ‘copter repeat them later. Griffin tells us to expect the Helo TC to hit the market in time for Christmas 2011.

I’m sure there are many out there that are excited by Vizio’s news. Those folks like the idea of being able to use a single device to surf the Web, check their e-mail, play with applications, and control their televisions.

But I can’t agree with them. I can’t stand the idea of using a smartphone or tablet as a remote. And the idea that the Vizio tablet will come with remote functionality doesn’t appeal to me in the least.

See, I’ve used portable devices as remotes before. I’ve used my iPhone to control my Apple TV, and I’ve controlled Google TV devices with Android remote controls. And I can say beyond a shadow of doubt that the experience just isn’t for me.

Of course, I realize that there are few out there that might agree with me. Supporters of the technology say that it’s the next logical step for universal remotes, since users will be able to have all the buttons they need on their touch screen, while still having the ability to surf the Web and do other things. It’s like having a Logitech Harmony remote, but better.

However, I don’t necessarily see value in universal remotes, and I don’t necessarily want my smartphone or tablet to do everything for me.

In my experience with universal remotes, I’ve found that they’re useful for a short period of time. I take an hour to set up all the gear in my living room then take another hour to become acclimated to the experience. After seeing the limitations on the universal remote and the odd quirks that annoy me, I inevitably switch back to my multi-remote setup.

Yes, I’m the guy that has 5 remotes and uses all of them to switch from one piece of content to another.

And while I’m sure there are some that scoff at that, I find it more appealing. I don’t need to deal with a touch screen and I’m not forced to keep mashing buttons to get to the desired remote. I simply need to pick up the remote that comes with a respective device, hit a few buttons, and I’m all set.

So, I’m afraid I won’t be one of the folks buying Vizio’s upcoming tablet for its remote functionality. Though I can see why some who already use universal remotes might like the idea of using it, I don’t. To me, using a smartphone or tablet for remote control isn’t worth my time. I’d rather stick with my multi-remote setup and be done with it.

Call me old-fashioned, but I think I’m getting the best experience by doing that.

Playsoft Games has already released its own piloting app for Samsung and Nokia phones. This was done with the Parrot’s software development kit. All the piloting apps are free to download, regardless of platform. For now, the games have only been announced for the iOS devices.

Two games are available now, with a third untitled game being developed. AR. Flying Ace is available now in the App Store for free, while the other free title, AR. Race is being launched today. For the true Drone enthusiast, there are also physical obstacles available for purchase that can actually be recognized by the Drone. A set of pylons and a finish line retail for $59.99, and a donut retails for $49.99. The accessories will also be available in July.

The third game being developed is aimed at consumers that might not know anyone that has their own Drone. It is said to be a two player game where both players control the same helicopter. Not many details yet, but Parrot said the opponent might not be what you expect.

[via AR. Drone]

The copter weighs only 20 grams and has a span of eight centimeters. The control system of the CrazyFlie is almost as cool as the copter design itself. The trio used a Bluetooth Playstation controller to fly the copter around. That is a great idea for a control system since we are all so familiar with Playstation controllers and how they feel today. It would be much easier to pick up controls on the PS controller than on a commercial radio controller for RC gear.

The copter has a Coretex-M3 CPU onboard that uses its processing power to keep the copter stable by monitoring the onboard gyroscopes and accelerometers. The processor tweaks the speed of the rotors to stabilize flight. The hackers even offer up the build process if you want to make your own. I want one of these and if someone built them to sell, I bet the things would sell.

[via Engadget]

As you’d expect there are different layouts for iPad and iPhone, and all the usual Squeezebox functionality is supported. That means Pandora and custom radio stations, music-on-demand with Napster, Amazon MP3 downloads, podcasts and even images from Flickr and other photo services.

It’s another sign of Logitech attempting to chip away at Sonos, with the two companies competing to bring the cost of entry for each platform down as much as possible. You’ll still need a Squeezebox playback device, but they start from $149.99 for the Squeezebox Radio in white.