Smart Home Blog

The USB Wireless Handheld Keyboard and Touchpad looks like a substitute for ordinary remote control. It has a 48 keys QWERTY compact keyboard with backlight and 2.8″ touchpad with left and right mouse buttons. Using those it’d be easy to search movies in the media library or control playback. I just would like to have dedicated arrow and Ok buttons.

The device uses 2.4GHz radio frequency. So it allows to use it up to 30 feet effective working range. It has built-in rechargeable battery (I don’t like that) and possibility to switch device off to save energy. It’s supported by Windows as well as by Linux. The price of the USB Wireless Handheld Keyboard and Touchpad is $62.

UDPATE: That Handheld Keyboard and Touchpad can be also purchased from EFO web site just for $40, plus $5 shipping to any country. Also they promise that device is compatible with Mac OS, Linux, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Vista and Window 7 as well as with Playstation 3, XBox 360 and Wii. Probably I’ll order it.

See the device in action in demo video below.
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Axis Control demonstrated on the CEDIA 2009 its new software Emulinx for Pronto which can turn Philips Pronto into an AMX touchscreen. Its implementation is done using ProntoScript – Pronto JavaScript programming environment. The Pronto with Emulinx offers the same functionality as native AMX touchscreen panel for less money. Actually you can save $1000 and more depending on Pronto’s screen size.

It seems that Pronto TSU controllers became universal solution for the smarthome systems. Currently they support AMX, Lutron RadioRa, Escient Firebal, HAI and about 140 other products including multiroom audio, security and surveillance.

I’d like to remind you about Russian software Iridium which allows to use iPhone, iPod Touch, Win Mobile smartphone or WinXP/Vista UMPC, netbook or PC as AMX control panel. It’d be nice to compare Iridium with Emulinx. At the first glass the Iridium offers cheaper way to have full-function AMX control panel then Emulinx. Also the range of devices which can be used with Iridium is much bigger.

The Kymera Magic Wand Universal TV Remote is the most exited remote control which I saw. It looks like the Magic Wand and can control any A/V device in your home. It has built-in accelerometer, like a Nintendo Wii remote, that recognizes a flick to the left and right to skip tracks, up and down for channel surfing and a circular motion to increase or decrease volume. Not sure about its usability but to impress your family and friends the Kymera Magic Wand Universal TV Remote does never better.

The price of the “magic” remote control is £49.95.

[via Unplggd]

Samsung released in Korea a quite interesting set – a 55-inch LED baclkit LCD TV and a brand new 7-inch touchscreen tablet. The tablet does not just perform the function of smart remote control for TV and home theater. It receives over 802.11n EPG, including video previews of TV shows, and allows access to media stored on a PC. But the most interesting feature is ability to stream live TV and Blu-ray content from the home theater to the tablet. So, you can have a mobile multi-room system easily. See the new Samsung set in action in the demo video below.

There is no world about availability and the price of that set in Europe or US.
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Philips showed its new compact remote control which looks like mobile slider but without screen. The most often usable buttons are placed on the top panel – navigation, playback control etc. The numeric, letter and a few service keys are put on the slide part. So, they are hide if you don’t need them.

Actually there is nothing revolutionary but remote looks nice and handy. The demo video is available after jump.
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