Marmitek's Digital TV pairs up a transmitter and a receiver that connects to a set top box and a TV. Video, audio and IR commands are sent wirelessly from your remote. With the £149 (~$232.00) system you can reroute to a second TV anywhere in your home singals sent from decoder. And of course your DVR and any VOD channels are still accessible. Take a peek at the somewhat cheesy video with the happy, peppy family.
Looking for a Home Theater remote? The Lenovo HTPC 5902 is a step up from its 5901. It is backlit for easier usage, has a handy scroll bar and an optical finger navigator that replaces the trackball. Accessible by USB, the thin 9.3mm controller is easily portable for use as a keyboard for other devices. Compatible with Windows, it has a 10 meter range and a price that fits any budget.
In what we like to call the Rocky Horror Remote, the company One For All has found a way to skip through the commercials with a flick to the right or head to a combination of left and back for channel selection or rewind. Up and down will get you play and the opposite results in pause. A double tap gives you mute. The SmartControl Motion remote works with Freeview+ or Sky+ and can handle up to six different devices such as HDTVs, iPod docks, theater systems or game consoles. There are white backlit keys including some that are dedicated and a handy turn-off by holding the power button down a few seconds or turning the remote over. Pre-order for a Nov. 7 release.
URC has released a new and improved inexpensive remote for those who tire of using/losing multiple controls. My Favorite Remote has a bright display, has easy setup (no PC) and can learn from other remotes. Choose up to 18 components with single button macros and 48 preset channels. The R40 remote comes with four AA batteries with a life of 18 hours and warns you if power is low and, should you accidentally have it on too long, has Sofa Mode to shut it down. The only thing missing here seems to be a lost "clap-on" alert.
Motorola's NYXboard dual-sided remote, originally intended for a set top box, will be sold as a Pulse-Eight XBMC compatible device. It was originally unveiled about 7 months ago then seemed to disappear. But now the IR and RF QWERTY remote, compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux, can be preordered now for $59.99 with delivery expected around June 27.
Samsung is hoping to expand your AV equipment by offering new peripherals that are compatible with their HDTVs and Blu-ray players with Internet capability. Their CY-SWR1100 router works by plugging into a USB wireless adaptor, a CY-STC1100 Smart TV camera hooks you up with Skype and the RMC-QTD1 contains both a full QWERTY keyboard and standard control for inputting text.
If you haven't checked out Logitech's Harmony One Remote lately, it has certainly improved, from the color touchscreen to compatibility with over 225,000 devices. Setup is simple and is now one-touch; it is rechargeable with included dock and has a new ergonomic design. Compatible with PC and Mac, Harmony learns IR codes from all other remotes.
Netflix is going one step further to make it easier for everyone to come on board. Companies such as Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba will be adding a dedicated button on their remotes. This feature will be included on many Internet connected TV and Blu-ray disc player remotes, with about 250 of them already Netflix ready. While this idea is fine its implication it also seems that the company may eventually become an international player, don't you think?
The UnityRemote from GEAR4 is a small cylinder with IR transmitter that can be used with your TV, Apple TV, game player or other electronics. Download its accompanying app and you get a universal remote for your iPhone/iPod touch. With 360º coverage, no dongle is required. The remote is available now for the economic price of $99.00
Bang & Olufsen's Beo6 replaces the earlier model Beo5and adds WiFi to the device. With soft touch and tactile keys, volume is controlled by the center wheel and its light is instant-on. Menus from your TV are displayed onscreen with station logos and programmable macros allow for switching sources and control, including lighting and curtains. The company is so gung ho that they will install and hook up future B&O modules.
Ya gotta love the Amulet voice-enabled remote for Windows Media Center. Record and watch TV, play some tunes and view videos and photos. You tell it to watch a channel or program or play specific music or group and it is instant on. Amulet will call out the name of a song if you forget and record if you request it. The Amulet has had a recent price reduction and comes with a battery that can be recharged via USB.
In a size smaller than most peripherals, the wireless EFO 4-in-1 combination keyboard, mouse, touchpad and laser pointer works like an HPTC remote. With full QWERTY keyboard, function and multi-media keys, the 60 X 100 X 10mm iPazz Port is compatible with every OS, has a 33 ft. range, is simple to set up and has handy indication lights for signal, data transmission and power. Pre-order for a $10.00 discount and price of $40.00.
Look for a new trend in remote controls if Crestron's 2011 release of their UFO-4X is successful. The saucer-shaped device features a 4.3" color touch screen that doubles as a trackpad and virtual keyboard. Control your AV, appliances, lighting, security and other systems up to 200 feet away. Magnets make the remote easily attachable, it can be used in both portrait and landscape mode and Adobe Flash is supported. Expect a hefty $2,000 price.
The RF Keyless Entry Remote can substitute for your car, home, garage door or other remotes. Self-learning, it copies fixed codes in only a few seconds. At a mini-price of $7.99, this is the perfect gift for those who tend to lose a remote and panic rather than look for it.
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