While it looks like one of those professional RC helicopters that should only be controlled by an experienced pilot lest someone loses a limb, the ID1-Swat from Rotor Concept’s actually looks as easy to fly as those palm-sized Air Hogs models. At least the demos at their small booth at CES were impressive since the electric chopper effortlessly hovered in the air, even when there was no one at the controls. Thanks to a “state-of-the-art high performance heading hold gyro” if things start to get out of control you just let go of the sticks and the ID1-Swat will level itself and remain hovering where you left it.
Its 11.1V, 1500mAh lithium-polymer battery, which powers two electric motors, is good for about 15 minutes of flight time, and the 4-channel, 2.4GHz remote gives it an impressive flight range of a 1 mile radius and up to 2,000 feet high. And to top it all off there’s even a wireless video camera in the front giving you a first-person view of the entire flight. $499, back-ordered until mid-February.
Got iTunes? Got a Windows Phone 7 device? Then you’ll probably want to check out the new Remote app in the Marketplace. It promises to make the two sing in perfect harmony by making them talk over a WiFi connection. There’s a basic set of iTunes controls at your WP7 phone’s disposal, including volume, starting /stopping music, and searching by album, artist, and song, and a corresponding piece of desktop software you need to install to make the magic happen. It’s compatible with both Windows (XP and above) and Mac OS (10.5.8 and above), so all you really need now are $1.99 for the mobile app and the overwhelming desire to control your playlists remotely.
Snakebyte has a range of controllers and accessories for game consoles and computers as well as some cable offerings on the market already in the US. At CES in Las Vegas, the company is showing off a new accessory for the PS3 console that will let you control the Blu-ray playback experience from across the room.
The new remote control is called the snakebyte Premium Bluetooth Remote. The device has Bluetooth and normal IR functionality inside the controller. The Bluetooth is needed to control your PS3 and the IR capability allows the device to interface with other home theater gear.
The remote has a backlit LCD and buttons with motion sensor activation. The screen shows the time and temperature of the room along with other details of the entertainment system. The controller can control up to six IR devices and can learn commands. Power comes from a rechargeable battery that charges via USB. The remote will ship in April for $49.99.
Orb‘s attempt to undercut streaming media rivals like Sonos has resulted in the low-cost and high-functionality Orb Music MP-1 and its video-capable counterpart, and now the company is looking to Blu-ray players and the PS3 for the next attack. Orb BR is a $19.99 disc that turns a network-connected player into an Orb media source, controlled by one of the company’s free iOS or Android remote apps and the Orb Caster PC/Mac software.
Once set up, you’ll be able to access streaming content from Hulu, HuluPlus, Comedy Central, YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand at 720p or 1080p resolution. There’s also a global index of TV shows with comprehensive search functionality – allowing you to search for shows even if you don’t know the source – and you can stream content stored on your computer or network too. Orb BR should go on sale at the end of February 2011.
Press Release:
ORB NETWORKS ANNOUNCES NEW INTERNET TV SOFTWARE FOR BLU-RAY AND PS3 PLAYERS AT CES SHOW
-Orb BR Makes it Easy and Affordable to Watch Online TV Shows, YouTube, Home Videos, Photos, Movies and More on any TV with a Connected Blu-Ray or PS3 Player–
Las Vegas, Nev, , Jan. 7, 2010 – Orb Networks (www.orb.com) today announced new software for Blu-ray and PlayStation 3 players that allows consumers to watch thousands of online TV shows from Hulu, HuluPlus, Comedy Central and more on their home TV. The new Orb BR (Blu-ray) software works with an Internet- connected Blu-ray player, and is easily controlled through a smartphone app (iPhone, Android, iPad, iPod Touch).
Priced at only $19.99, Orb BR leverages the consumer’s investment in a Blu-ray player, and offers an easy and cost-effective way to enter the new world of connected TV without buying or installing any new hardware. In addition to an extensive array of online TV options, Orb BR provides consumers with access to thousands of movies on their TV, via Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand. Orb BR also makes it fun to watch YouTube, personal videos, and photos on a TV, connected to a Blu-ray player, as opposed to viewing on a PC or Mac screen.
“The combined cost of a Blu-ray player and Orb BR software is less expensive than most of the other Internet TV solutions, like Boxee and Google TV, while providing more capabilities,” said Joe Costello, CEO of Orb Networks. “With more than eight million connected Blu-ray players and 40 million PS3 players already in homes, the market opportunity for Orb BR is huge.”
At the same time, the number of consumers watching TV online is on the rise. A recently published Forrester Research study shows a significant increase in the number of people using the Internet to watch streaming video; 33 percent of adults surveyed in 2010 said they use the Internet to watch video, up from 18 percent in 2007.
Orb BR makes it easy to get started watching online video on a TV, because there is no hardware to install. To set up Orb BR, consumers simply insert the Orb BR software CD into their Blu-ray player, download the free Orb Caster software to their PC or Mac, and then download the free Orb controller app to their smartphone.
Orb BR works with a range of Blu-ray players and PS3 units that are connected to the Internet via a wired or wireless connection. And, Orb BR supports HD output at 720p and 1080p resolution. To help consumers easily find and watch their favorite shows, the Orb controller app features a powerful and easy-to-use global index of TV shows. Consumers can type in the name of the show they want and then Orb quickly finds the show, without requiring the user to specify its source (e.g. Hulu, ABC, CBS, etc).
Orb BR availability is planned for late February, and can be ordered online at orb.com for a price of $19.99.
About Orb Networks
Based in Oakland, California, Orb Networks, Inc. is the leader in digital media streaming solutions for the digital home and remote access applications. In addition to Orb BR, Orb Networks offers the Orb Music Player ($69) that streams iTunes and Pandora to any home stereo. And, Orb TV ($99) solution with a hockey puck-sized device that plugs into a TV, and enables consumer to stream online TV content to a TV. Focused on enabling the enjoyment of media anytime, anywhere, the company develops and markets PC (Windows, Mac, and Linux) software, smartphone applications and web application services. For more information about Orb products, please visit www.orb.com.
It may look like the buzzer for some brilliant TV game show, but this is actually Griffin Technology’s Beacon, another option for turning your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into a universal remote control. As we’ve seen from other companies, Beacon hooks up to your iOS device via Bluetooth, and then squirts our IR commands sent from the custom Griffin app.
The app itself is provided by Dijit, and comes with a library of IR codes for different TVs, STBs, A/V receivers and more. It’ll also learn new codes if you’ve got some particularly unusual hardware.
Griffin reckon the Beacon unit itself will last for up to two months on a set of four AA batteries. It’ll go on sale later in 2011, priced at $79.99.
Press Release:
Griffin and Dijit Turn Your Mobile Device into a Universal Remote
Beacon Universal Remote controls an entire entertainment system from a mobile device.
Nashville, TN — January 5, 2011 — Griffin Technology, maker of innovations for everyday life, has partnered with software developer Dijit to turn your favorite iOS or smartphone device into a Universal Remote Control. Beacon allows fingertip control of your entire entertainment system, thanks to hardware and app integration from Griffin and Dijit. The system will be available for demonstration during CES, beginning January 6th, in the Griffin booth, iLounge Pavilion — North Hall #4727, and in the Dijit booth, iLounge Pavilion — North Hall #4137.
“Beacon allows control over the entire home theater setup, all from a pocket-sized device,” said Matt Brown, Director of Product Development at Griffin. “Together with Dijit, we have created a powerful tool that really simplifies the entertainment experience by providing a customized program guide for all of your content in the home.”
“Our partnership with Griffin Technology is making it possible for consumers to easily control their entertainment content from any iOS or smartphone device,” said Maksim Ioffe, Founder and CEO of Dijit. “The Beacon brings flawless fingertip search and discovery of all of your entertainment content all from your smartphone.”
Beacon turns an iOS or smartphone device into a handy, easy-to-use remote for home entertainment systems by converting Bluetooth signals from your device to the infrared commands your components are expecting. Beacon pairs your iOS device or smartphone with Dijit’s Universal Remote App, putting complete control of your home entertainment center in the palm of your hand. There are no bulky cases or dongles, no messy wires or cables.
Setup and pairing is simple. Paired with Beacon via Bluetooth, your smartphone is just a few taps away from using Dijit’s intuitive Programming Guide. Your Multi-Touch or touch screen display is the remote. You can change channels, volume, input, program your DVR, and lots, lots more.
The Dijit app uses a constantly updated device code library to make setting up controls for your TV, set-top box, sound system, media players and more simple and intuitive. For components not yet included in Dijit’s library, the app also includes an integrated learning feature.
Key Features:
Wireless universal audio/video controller for iOS and other smartphone platforms
Low-profile component designed to blend unobtrusively with any decor on your coffee table
Use your iOS or smartphone device as a powerful universal remote control, without dongles or cases
Converts Bluetooth signals from your iOS or smartphone device to infrared signals required to control AV components
For use with Dijit’s Universal Remote app, a free download from the App Store
No wires or power cables; runs up to two months on 4 AA batteries
Pricing and Availability
Beacon, $79.99, will be available May 2011.
Dish Network is still on a mission to make sure that you get your TV Everywhere, and as of today, that means your Android tablet. We reported in November that the provider was bringing its Dish remote access app to Android, opening up the world of paid-for TV to even more smartphones. As with the smartphone app, Android tablet users will have to have a Sling-enabled device, like a Sling Adapter, to access their hard earned programming, and as with the smartphone, the tablet app is free. The Dish Network app’s got all the same functionality as its predecessor: browse and search options, DVR scheduling/management, and a remote control function. So it’s basically the same beast, but we’re definitely still impressed.
TiVo’s iPad app is expected to be released sometime before the end of the month, according to the company’s VP of user experience. Announced back in November, the app will allow TiVo owners to control recordings and live TV, browse an on-screen program guide, set up schedules and use social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
However, the ambitious software – which will be a free download – has failed to drop into the App Store quite as soon after announcement as TiVo owners had hoped, with the company’s site only saying that it was “coming soon.” When it does arrive, you’ll need a TiVo Premiere or TiVo Premiere XL box to use it.
Sony and LG both turned to Hillcrest Labslast year for help with their motion-control remotes, and now it seems the company is looking to spread its love more generically. Hillcrest has inked a deal with Broadcom to make a pair of Bluetooth chips that integrate the Freespace MotionEngine, the Broadcom BCM35230 digital TV system-on-a-chip (SoC) and BCM20730 single-chip.
The new chips use a digital-output, 3-axis MEMS gyroscope from InvenSense, and can be used to control on-screen cursors, browsers and UIs. Considering the growth in smart TV, more intuitive ways of controlling ever more complex STBs has to be a good thing.
Press Release:
Hillcrest Labs Unveils Low Cost, Embedded Motion-Control System for Next-Generation Connected TVs
Company to Showcase Collaborative “Smart TV” Solutions with Universal Electronics at CES 2011
LAS VEGAS, NV and ROCKVILLE, MD — January 5, 2011 — Hillcrest Labs, a leader in motion-control technology and interactive television applications, today announced a new low cost, embedded motion-control system for TV manufacturers. The new turnkey solution is designed to support new motion pointing and gesture-enabled user interfaces for navigating the Web, Internet-based applications, and games on televisions. It will be showcased at the International CES show, January 6-10, 2011, in Las Vegas, NV, in the Broadcom Meeting Room, Hillcrest Labs suite at the Renaissance Hotel, and the Universal Electronics (UEI) booth on the CES show floor.
Specifically, the Company announced that Hillcrest’s patented Freespace(R) MotionEngine is now integrated with Broadcom’s new BCM35230 digital TV system-on-a-chip (SoC) and Broadcom’s new BCM20730 single-chip Bluetooth(R) solution, enabling a turn-key, cost-effective, and fully-featured motion control solution for connected televisions. In addition at CES, Universal Electronics, the world’s leading manufacturer of TV remotes, will showcase a new Freespace and Bluetooth-enabled TV remote control, utilizing the world’s first single-chip, digital-output, 3-axis MEMS gyroscope from InvenSense, that is compatible with the new system from Broadcom and Hillcrest. The demonstrations will include a TV user interface optimized for motion pointing, which includes Hillcrest’s HoMEcast(TM) video application and a Webkit browser engine.
“As the demand for Internet-based content on TV continues to rise, manufacturers are seeking differentiated, turn-key, and economical solutions that enable immersive and intuitive user experiences for consumers,” said Chad Lucien, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Hillcrest Labs. “We are proud to have collaborated with Broadcom and the market leaders in remote controls and MEMS devices to create a turnkey solution that enables TV manufactures to quickly add Freespace motion control, pointing applications, and Bluetooth to connected televisions.”
“Broadcom is at the forefront of producing very low power chipsets that will enable a growing portfolio of innovative remote control devices for Internet-connected TVs and home entertainment devices,” said Craig Ochikubo, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom’s Wireless Personal Area Networking line of business. “We are very pleased to have worked with Hillcrest Labs to incorporate their pioneering Freespace technology into our new class of Bluetooth and digital TV chipsets.”
Unlike alternative motion control technologies, both the new chipset and compatible TV remotes use fully-integrated motion sensors that do not require additional external cameras or lightbars in order to control the onscreen viewing experience. In addition, the low cost Bluetooth-based solution does not require line-of-site, which enables consumers to control their TVs without the need to aim at the TV. The new system is compatible with a variety of smart TV platforms including Linux, Android or Google TV-based solutions.
Broadcom is a leader in applying Bluetooth wireless technologies to an increasingly diverse range of consumer electronics and media devices. As a leading supplier of integrated solutions for digital TV, set-top box, Blu-ray disc players and other technologies, Broadcom is able to help drive the proliferation of Bluetooth based gestural and other advanced remote controls. Bluetooth is particularly well suited for the applications because they increasingly require higher data bandwidth than are available from other nascent radio technologies also targeting these devices.
For the past two consecutive years, Hillcrest Labs was named an International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards Honoree. For 2011, Hillcrest was selected for Kylo(TM), its free Web browser for television, and in 2010, the company was selected for its Loop(TM) pointer, an in air mouse designed for consumers who connect their computers to a television. Companies that have licensed Freespace for use in their products include: Eastman Kodak, LG Electronics, Logitech, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Universal Electronics (UEI), and others.
Additional information about Broadcom is available at www.broadcom.com.
Additional details about Freespace or Hillcrest Labs are available at www.hillcrestlabs.com.
Samsung has unveiled its latest WiFi-enabled digital camera, the Samsung SH100, with a 14.2-megapixel CCD sensor and a 3-inch LCD preview display. It’s the wireless connectivity that makes the SH100 particularly impressive, however. Not only can you use it to upload photos and video direct to Facebook, Picasa and YouTube, among others, you can also pair it with a Samsung Galaxy S and use the smartphone to remotely preview the frame, snap the shot and even GPS tag it.
Meanwhile there’s DLNA streaming support, for easier sharing of photos onto TVs and media STBs, while the PC Auto Back-up function uses wake-on-LAN to turn on your PC remotely and then offload shots from the SH100′s memory card. Control is all via touchscreen, and there’s a 5x optical zoom, image stabilization, face-recognition and various auto modes.
There are a few limitations, unfortunately, such as the fact that only 2-megapixel stills or 720p HD video can be streamed via DLNA; more details in the gallery below. The Samsung SH100 is expected to go on sale in March 2011, priced at $199.99.
Press Release:
Samsung’s New SH100 Brings Your World Closer
New Wi-Fi-enabled camera delivers ultimate connectivity on the move
CES, Las Vegas – January 4, 2011 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, announced today the launch of the new SH100, a compact Wi-Fi enabled camera that delivers great shots that you can share over the internet and social networks with your friends and family, from wherever you are in the world. The SH100 is set to be Samsung’s leading fully connected camera in 2011, building on the success of the company’s wirelessly connected cameras to date and allowing Samsung to take a dominant position within this growing market.
Samsung’s pioneering steps within the connected camera market can be seen in the SH100’s unique innovation, which allows you to connect wirelessly to your other devices with ease. You can use Wi-Fi to connect to your Android® powered Galaxy S™ smartphone, so you can view the shot you’re about to take in real time on your phone. If you’re not happy with it, you can zoom in and out to get the best picture, and then activate the shutter remotely when you’re ready to pose. This innovation means that the days of running between your camera and your subject, trying to line up the perfect group shot, are over. Users now have total control of their camera in the palm of their hand, from wherever they are in the shot. Users can even use their phone’s GPS to record exactly where they were when they captured their favorite memories.
The SH100’s built in Wi-Fi can also automatically back up your shots to your PC by only pushing two buttons, or by using DLNA to wirelessly connect to your HDTV and see your photos and videos right away. Wi-Fi enables you to upload your pictures instantly to your social networking sites such as Facebook, Picasa or Photo Bucket, or email them to individual email addresses straight from the camera. The people you care about can now enjoy your experience from wherever they are. You can also record HD video and share your favorite moments over sites such as YouTube™. To make the upload process of large files easier and quicker, the SH100 includes an account with mobile hotspot provider Boingo™, giving you access to over 200,000 Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide.
The SH100 is the latest example of Samsung’s user-focused innovation and design. The company has always carefully researched its target audience, and in 2011, Samsung is applying this research to create unique products for a younger, more digitally connected generation of camera users. The company is also leveraging its strength in other product areas, such as mobile phones, to make emerging camera technologies, such as Wi-Fi, accessible to all camera buyers, even those on smaller budgets.
“At Samsung, we are always striving to innovate and you can see this in every product we release,” said Mr. Hyunho Chung, Executive Vice President and Head of the Digital Imaging Business, Samsung Electronics. “From our in-depth consumer research, we know that younger users have different needs from their digital camera. They don’t want to wait until they get home to share their favorite moments with their friends, they want to be able to do this instantly from wherever they are. The SH100 gives young people the chance to bring their world closer, by drawing on Samsung’s technological strength to deliver total connectivity in a compact camera, at an accessible price. Through the SH100, we hope to provide the best product for people looking for ultimate connectivity from their camera, and strengthen Samsung’s leadership in the compact camera category.”
Experience the Convenience
The SH100 uses built in Wi-Fi capability to deliver unique new experiences for all camera users. By selecting the PC Auto Back-up function, your camera will automatically find your PC and download the latest photos onto it, even if the PC is turned off. This feature is compatible with the Wake-on-LAN (WoL) system which many modern home PCs are already equipped with.
Innovation in Control Helps you Capture the Moment
The Wi-Fi capability on the SH100 also allows you to use your smartphone as a remote control and viewing device for your camera. If you’re shooting over a crowd at a concert, you can enable the Remote Viewfinder function, meaning that you can hold your camera high over your head while you see a preview of the picture in real time on your phone screen. It’s also ideal for taking self shots as you can zoom in and out using the 5x optical zoom, and access basic menu functions including parameters and shooting modes. When you’re happy with the shot, you can operate the shutter remotely too, and the camera will record the GPS information for photo geo-tagging.
Seamlessly Simple
Samsung has also used its strength in the smartphone market to develop a new Smart Access user interface (UI) for all of its new compact cameras. The touch based UI works in the same quick, intuitive way as many smartphones. Advanced functions, such as sharing content wirelessly, can be done simply by a few touches of the buttons on the large, clear 3” LCD screen. The Smart Access UI enables users to drag, click and control ‘app-style’ icons, easily flip through photos, and control a range of the camera’s features.
The Heart of your Digital Home
The SH100 features Samsung AllShare, which uses DLNA technology to allow you to connect to your HDTV and stream content wirelessly. For instance, when you get home from a concert, you can now watch the videos of your favorite songs instantly on your TV.
Android and Youtube are registered trademarks of Google Inc. Boingo is a registered trademark of Boingo Wireless, Inc
As smart TV options get more and more comprehensive, actually deciding which service you’re going to use takes some planning. Netflix has sensibly decided that the best place to be isn’t just on a menu but as a dedicated button on the remote control, and so has agreed deals with various manufacturers to get placement on their TV, Blu-ray and media streamer controllers.
Best Buy’s own Dynex brand, Haier, Memorex, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba will all slap a Netflix button on certain remotes for select models of their Blu-ray players, while Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba also will place the Netflix one-click button on remote controls for select new Internet-connected TVs. Finally, the Boxee, Iomega and Roku STBs will get Netflix buttons on their remotes as well.
The service itself will be unchanged, but Netflix is obviously hoping that more straightforward access to the service will gain them extra mind-share. Oh, and before you ask, that janky remote control mock-up above is the handiwork of Netflix. For shame!
Press Release:
Streaming From Netflix Will Soon be Even More Convenient With Netflix One-Click Remotes Introduced by Major Consumer Electronics Makers
Members to Benefit with a Netflix One-Click Button on Remote Controls for New Internet Connected TVs, Blu-ray Disc Players and Other Devices that Stream from Netflix
LOS GATOS, Calif., Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today announced that streaming from Netflix on TVs will soon be as easy as one click of a remote control as a number of the world’s leading consumer electronics companies have joined in a development effort to place Netflix-branded one-click buttons on remotes that operate Internet connected TVs, Blu-ray disc players and other devices that connect the Internet to the TV.
Beginning this Spring, buttons that specify “Netflix” – including some featuring the iconic red Netflix logo – are planned to be situated prominently on remote controls that operate certain new Blu-ray disc players from a variety of companies including Best Buy’s in-house Dynex brand, Haier, Memorex, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba. Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba also will place the Netflix one-click button on remote controls for select new Internet-connected TVs. Remote controls for the Boxee, Iomega and Roku set-top boxes also will feature the Netflix one-click remote.
“For members who want even more convenience when instantly watching TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix, the answer is about to be right in their hands,” said Netflix Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt. “No more turning on the TV, going to a home screen and searching for the Netflix icon. With the Netflix one-click remote, it’s simply a matter of pushing the Netflix button to instantly watch any of the vast selection of TV shows and movies available to stream from Netflix.”
The Netflix one-click remote is the latest in a series of rapid technological advancements by Netflix to enable Netflix members to instantly watch TV shows and movies streamed by Netflix over the Internet. Today there are more than 250 Netflix ready devices on the market.
Snakebyte has a range of controllers and accessories for game consoles and computers as well as some cable offerings on the market already in the US. At CES in Las Vegas, the company is showing off a new accessory for the PS3 console that will let you control the Blu-ray playback experience from across the room.
