Tag: Remote control »

Good.iWare is offering GoodReader for 60% off for a limited time. In honor to teacher appreciation day they have added GoodReader to apples "Tools for Teachers" promotion.

Anki Drive is set to release next week, October 23rd, bringing artificial intelligence and robotics to your living room. It's a video game in the real world, and can be purchased in Apple stores for $199. Players can use their iOS device to control their character's position, speed, weapons, and more as they compete against other players or against an AI car.

"Anki Drive in its current form would never have been possible five years ago. We’ve been able to take advantage of a unique ecosystem of components that are more capable and affordable than ever before, and benefit from the prevalence of powerful mobile devices. Even with this, it required a great deal of exploration and creativity to combine such diverse technologies to enable a truly intelligent product, at a tiny fraction of the cost typically seen in robotics." said Boris Sofman, co-founder and CEO of Anki, in a press release.

Check out the video below to see just what is possible with Anki Drive!

There's a lot about modern technology that would have made my childhood self ridiculously excited. The ability to play the likes of Streets of Rage in the palm of my hand for one, being able to play 3D games without glasses thanks to a Nintendo 3DS for another - even just the opportunity to call someone from a mobile phone would have seemed pretty futuristic to the 10 year old me. I think this next one is going to take the prize of most amazing, though. Being able to control an indoor helicopter with my iOS device.

That reality is possible thanks to Griffin Technology and their new creation the HELO TC.

The HELO TC is a twin-rotored, indoor helicopter built on a lightweight metal frame with a black polycarbonate body. I'm no engineer, but that sounds pretty stylish to me. The sample images certainly back that thought up.

The helicopter comes with a Flight Deck infrared module which plugs into the iOS device in order to transmit control signals to the helicopter. Two types of flight are then made available. Touch Control uses the display to control the throttle and virtual joystick. Tilt to Steer mode uses the iOS device's accelerometers thus meaning that users have a more tactile experience. The app can also record and store three Flight Plans so that users can repeat a flight pattern quickly and easily.

The HELO TC is a very neat idea. The helicopter's built in battery recharges from any USB power source while the Flight Deck module simply needs 4 AAA batteries. It's simple things like this that means the HELO TC will be a very affordable $49.99 upon its retail release later this year, just in time for the holiday season.

For those who can't wait, the HELO TC is also available from the Griffin Technology site, although be warned, it's currently showing as out of stock there.

Peel today announced the hardware companion for its popular Peel Personal TV Listings app.

The "universal control" device, as the company is calling it, adds remote control functionality to the free iOS app. Using Peel's app, you can easily find TV shows that pertain to your interests. You tell the app what kind of shows you like to watch, and it will make recommendations based on your interests. It's like a more personable version of your typical TV guide listing.

The universal control allows you to select a show from your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad and then will change the channel to that show for you. The device allows you to wirelessly interact with your TV, cable box, Blu-ray player, AV receiver and more through your iOS device. With the app, you can even adjust volume from anywhere within range of the universal control.

While the Peel app itself is available on iTunes for free, the universal control device will cost you. The device is now available at Apple Stores nationwide for $99. According to a press release by the company, "Peel will be conducting product demonstrations in New York City Apple Stores in March. Check New York City Apple Store calendars for more details."

Check out the debut trailer for the universal control "fruit" below.

As Comcast updates their interesting Xfinity app, TiVo delivers on their long awaited iPad promise. TiVo for the iPad makes use of the massive real estate, the touch controls and the snappy navigation potential within the device in order to deliver, according to them, “the world’s most amazing remote control.”

The app has been designed specifically with the TiVo Premiere and Premiere XL boxes in mind. The whole pitch with this application is that you can now search, browse and share without ever interrupting your television viewing. From the application, users will be able to browse channel listings (up to 14 days in advance), set and manage recordings, view actor and actress bios and even comment on specific shows, events and movies.

TiVo’s also included the ability for users to post to Facebook and Twitter from the application in relation to what they’re currently watching or doing.

The TiVo system has always been designed to work in conjunction with users’ home television setups. Its purpose is to complement the experience customers already receive. With the Xfinity app from Comcast and this new TiVo iPad app, the marketplace is getting tougher and tougher to manage. Comcast keeps adding functionality to what they offer, at a cost, as they try to push competitors like TiVo away from the market.

It actually looks like the only thing TiVo’s application does that Comcast’s doesn’t is the ability to discover and learn more about programming and actors. And with the potential addition of live streaming to the Xfinity application, is TiVo’s wonder remote enough to keep the device relevant? Our guess: probably. People do love their TiVo.

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[via TiVo]