1. RedEye Networked Remote Controls Move Beyond iOS

    ThinkFlood’s RedEye Networked Remote Controls Now in Full Production Release for Android and PC ThinkFlood today announced production availability of the Android version of their RedEye application. Together with award-winning RedEye hardware, the RedEye app allows consumers to control their home theater, lighting, HVAC, and other equipment using common networked devices, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs. In 2009, ThinkFlood launched RedEye as the first universal remote control solution to leverage the power of iPhone and iPod touch devices to control non-networked electronics in the home via a Wi-Fi network. Now RedEye customers can also use Android phones and tablets alongside iOS devices and even personal computers to control equipment in their homes. The RedEye Android app is compatible with networked RedEye products (RedEye and RedEye Pro) and supports devices running Android 1.6 and later, including 3.0 (Honeycomb) for tablets. RedEye is currently the only remote control platform compatible with Android smartphones and tablets. More than a Smartphone Accessory ThinkFlood representatives say that their original intention with RedEye products was not to turn the iPhone into a remote control, but rather to enable the control of non-networked devices over the Internet. “The iPhone was a great start for us because it is such an elegant and popular device. But it was never our goal to have an exclusively iOS platform,” said Matt Eagar, founder and president of ThinkFlood. “Instead, we designed RedEye with the idea that you can pick up any networked device — iPhone, PC, Android device — and control your system from anywhere you have a network connection.” “When you take a multipurpose device like a smartphone or PC and attempt to use it as a replacement for a dedicated device like a traditional remote control, you can’t simply copy the functionality of the dedicated device,” remarked Craig Materick, ThinkFlood’s lead software architect. “With RedEye, the benefits outweigh the costs,” Materick continued. “For example, phone calls never interrupt you when using a dedicated remote control, but when using a smartphone they do. Rather than let this be a problem, RedEye allows you to use any networked device as a controller — so when one phone is unavailable, you can switch to using RedEye on another device — whether it’s a tablet, laptop or another phone. This flexibility has other benefits — namely, that each person in your house can have their own controller, and they can control the system from just about anywhere.” RedEye systems include the following optimizations for smartphones and PCs:

    • Multi-user support. Use any networked device (personal computer, smartphone, or tablet) to control the system.
    • Control from anywhere. As long as you have a network connection, you can control your system — from any room in the house, or even away from home.
    • Automatic synchronization. Each controller automatically detects the system configuration through the RedEye hardware, so adding a new controller is effortless. Also allows one person to pick up controlling right where another left off.
    • Complete customization. Organize not only common activities, but also unique button layouts appropriate for each activity, right down to the graphical look and feel.
    • Platform-appropriate shortcuts. On iOS, multi-touch and motion gestures and on Android and PC, keyboard shortcuts allow for easy operation without looking down at the screen when controlling.
    RedEye hardware can be purchased hereat Remote Shoppe. Download the latest version of the RedEye application from the Android marketplace or iTunes.

  2. URC Announces MXW-920 Universal Waterproof Remote Coming to CEDIA

    URC has sent their dealers a preview email including a new universal waterproof remote to be unveiled at CEDIA in Indianapolis next month. The URC MXW-920 will use the same programming as the MX-900 and KP900 remotes with the CCP programming software for professionals.

  3. AVS Forum member Posts Video of SQ Remote HD

    Square Connect SQ BlasterI was just taking a look at the AVSForums and came across this user’s video review of the newest iPad App for the Square Connect SQ Blaster. Cherokee180c0 shows up the SQ Remote HD App on his iPad in a follow up to his previous video on the SQ Remote entitled “SQ Blaster: Amazing Product”

  4. Remote Shoppe Reviews MiCommand Control It All Remote

    I received a review unit of the MiCommand Control It All Remote for iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. The Control It All Remote solution includes a Bluetooth transceiver and the free Control it All App downloadable from the AppStore.

    The Control It All Remote Transceiver is about the size of a wallet and has a very nice, modern, gloss-black design. An AC power cable is included in the packaging and no batteries or additional hook-up is required. The Control It All Transceiver pairs easily with your iDevice by Bluetooth and may be paired with up to 8 iDevices in your home and communicate with any 4 of those devices at the same time. You may also use multiple transceivers in different rooms of your home for multi-room operation.

    Bluetooth communications allow you to have reliable control operation from your iDevice from as far as 30’ away from the transceiver - even if there are walls, floors or other obstacles in the way. Line of sight is not required. The transceiver receives the Bluetooth signal and transmits an IR signal compatible your home theater equipment. In fact, MiCommand offers more than 57,000 codes and IR learning capability to ensure that it will work with most available equipment.

    On the rear of the transceiver is a 3.5mm headphone jack which is not currently being used in the base MiCommand. But, it was designed there for a reason and we just learned that there is a new unit coming out with a feature called AirDock that will allow you to connect speakers to this port and stream Bluetooth music from you iPhone.

    Setting up the MiCommand Control It All Remote was a pleasure and the entire process took less than 15 minutes in a simple living room with 4 devices. The first step is pairing the iDevice with the Transceiver via Bluetooth. If you have ever paired a Bluetooth headset with a cell phone the process is exactly the same. If Bluetooth is completely new to you will be happy to know that this process is much easier than WiFi installations and offers many of the same wireless benefits.

    Once the devices are paired I found it easiest to program my devices while holding the Transceiver right in front of my AV gear. I feel more comfortable completing the set-up first and then finding an ideal placement location for reliable IR blasting from the transceiver and recommend the same process for all our products. When you add devices to the Control It All Remote you may need to test a few different signals and it is best to eliminate all other potential problems that may affect reliable transmissions.

    It took just a few minutes to program the App with the device, brand, and codes I need for my TV, Blu-ray Disc, AV Receiver and Tivo box. The App was great in quickly finding the proper codes because it shuffles through Power On and Power Off Test Codes automatically until you find one that works. The entire IR code database is stored in the App as opposed to other solutions that download codes as needed so response is very fast and many codes may be tested in just seconds.

    Once the codes were programmed I was equally impressed by the versatility of the App. The Control It All Remote automatically programmed device pages, Activity pages with the most common function for Watch TV, Watch Video, etc., and even a unique Eye Free View. The Eyes Free is a reliable, gesture-controlled mode that can be accessed from the Activity screens with a simple shake of the iPhone. The multi-touch gestures include volume control, swipe to change channels, two-finger push/pull to navigate guide pages and more. The Eye Free mode is a channel surfer’s dream!

    After you use the MiCommand Control It All Remote in one room you will want to control every TV in the house the same way. Great news! You may add MiCommands in multiple rooms, and use multiple iPads, iPods and iPhones to access the transceivers. Each transceiver may be paired with up to 8 devices with an active connection to any 4 of them at a single time.

    This multi-device, and multi-room capability is going to be very handy when I tell you about the new AirDoc feature being introduced. In the next few weeks MiCommand will be releasing an expanded version called the Control It All Remote with AirDoc.

    AirDoc adds wireless music streaming to the popular Control It All Remote making it the only universal remote and wireless music streaming solution available in one. Just plug the mini-jack output from the Control It All with AirDoc to any pair of multimedia speakers and you can easily stream music from your iPhone anywhere in your home. Your iPhone wirelessly streams music over Bluetooth A2DP to the Control It All Transceiver unit. A2DP is a Bluetooth profile specifically designed for high fidelity music streaming. The Transceiver sends the received music stream to your stereo or speaker system via the Transceiver’s 3.5mm audio jack. The system easily supports music streaming from multiple iPhones. Switching is simple: once the music is paused or stopped, the system is open to streaming from another iPhone, iPod, or iPad.  Picture you friends playing DJ by sharing the play list. Music becomes social again.

    We’re so excited about the new AirDoc feature that we can’t wait for these premium transceivers to ship and we don’t think you should either. That’s why we put together this special promotion that allows you to buy the Control It All Transceiver today at the low $95 price and get a FREE upgrade to AirDoc when it’s shipped! So hurry… that’s a 33% savings when you order now!

  5. New Product! MiCommand Control It All Remote Available Now

    Remote Shoppe is pleased to announce that we are now offering the new MiCommand Control It All Remote Bluetooth Transceiver - an easy to use, and easy-to-set-up remote control solution for the iPhone and other iDevices. We even have a special, limited time introductory offer that gets you the MiCommand Control It All Remote today for just $95 with a FREE Upgrade to their premium model with AirDoc for wireless music streaming once that feature is released! Hurry… order now!

    A Remote Like No Other From the start we set out to build the best remote. We chose the iPhone because it is rich with just the right technology and they seem to be everywhere—a near perfect control and connectivity solution for everyone. We knew there had to be a better solution than the basket of remotes or difficult to use universal remotes. Control It All is designed to work with all your equipment. We deliver on this goal by including a commercial grade remote control code database that incorporates over fifty thousand codes covering 200 brands. Given number of brands and types of equipment, no remote can achieve 100% coverage, so we incorporated an easy to use learning function that captures codes for devices that aren’t covered by our database. With our robust code database and learning you truly can control it all.
    Order now and get a FREE upgrade to AirDoc when it’s released:
    AirDoc Adds Wireless Music Streaming! AirDoc adds wireless music streaming to the popular Control It All Remote. Control It All Remote delivers a powerful and easy-to-use universal remote capability to the iPhone. Control It All Remote with AirDoc is truly unique—it’s the only universal remote and wireless music streaming solution available. You already know how to use it. You select songs, play, pause and shuffle using your iPhone’s iPod app. Your iPhone wirelessly streams music over Bluetooth A2DP to the Control It All Transceiver unit. A2DP is a Bluetooth profile specifically designed for high fidelity music streaming. The Transceiver sends the received music stream to your stereo or speaker system via the Transceiver’s 3.5mm audio jack. The system easily supports music streaming from multiple iPhones. Switching is simple: once the music is paused or stopped, the system is open to streaming from another iPhone, iPod, or iPad.  Picture you friends playing DJ by sharing the play list. Music becomes social again. Because it’s Bluetooth, setup is simple. AirDoc uses the aptly named “Just Works” Bluetooth secure simple pairing mode, which means there really is no setup. It just works. By combining AirDoc with the universal remote capabilities of the Control It All Remote, now you can stream music and control all your AV equipment wirelessly using your iPhone.
    Click here to order your MiCommand Control It All Remote Today!

  6. Square Connect Replaces SQ Remote Software with SQ Remote Lite and adds SQ Remote HD and Desktop Applications

    Square Connect SQ BlasterThe original SQ Remote App has been updated in the AppStore but only to announce to all current users that there are new software versions available. This will be the last release of this version of SQ Remote with the in-app purchase of MiOS functionality. Anyone wanting to remain with this version may of course do so, but there will be no more updates of this version, and Square Connect will be removing it from the app store in a short time. Users that have previously downloaded this version or purchased the in-app purchase of MiOS functionality will be able to recover or re-download this app through iTunes in the “Purchases” area. The two new apps include: SQ Remote Lite: The free iPhone app for the SQ Blaster SQ Remote Lite is a free, fully featured companion iPhone application for SQ Blaster. Together with the SQ Blaster, it converts your iOS device into a remakable universal remote control for all your infrared controlled home entertainment equipment. It includes all features and benefits that are included in SQ Remote HD including

    •     Fully configurable control surfaces.
    •     Fully configurable macros.
    •     Macro jumps between control panels.
    •     User definable control lists.
    •     User definable icons for control lists.
    •     Ability to install themes for personalisation of the user interface look and feel.
    The second version is SQ Remote HD SQ Remote HD combines with SQ Blaster to give you a fully flexible and completely configurable universal remote for your home entertainment equipment such as your TV, DVD player, TiVo, Blu-ray player, Hi-Fi system, cable box and more. It also combines with MiOS home control systems, to give you control of your home - whether you are at home or on the move. Control your heating, door locks, lights wherever you are. SQ Remote HD has been designed to allow you to set up your controls how you want them. Just add controls to the screen and drag them into place. If you are fed up with universal remotes that don’t have the buttons you need, or the controls you want, get SQ Remote and SQ Blaster, and create the control experience that you have been looking for.
    • Full Native iPad Control Screens - Get all the controls that you need onto your control pads without compromising your layouts. Use all that extra space to get the control surfaces that you want.
    • Web views on your control panels now show in full iPad resolution.  Keep compitbility between your iPhone and iPad screen sizes by putting essential controls in the compatible region of the iPad screen.
    • Themes - Personalize the look and feel of your application by downloading a theme from the SQ Website (from within the app), or create your own using SQ Designer. You can then share your themes with other users. We will showcase themes that are submitted to us and add the best ones to the list of standard themes so that other users can beneift. You are of course free to share your themes through box.net with other users or to export them from SQ Designer.
    • Macro Jumps - Add ‘jumps’ to your macros to go anywhere within the SQ Remote User Interface. You can jump to any control pad and control panel within your setup. Use macro-jumps to setup your own “Start Page”, then jump back when you “finish” an activity. You can also use jumps to simplify operations within your activities. For example, set up a macro to bring up the menu for your Blu-ray player and “jump” to your menu controls. Likewise jump back to your main controls when you are finished with your menu operations.
    • Channel Lists and Control Lists with Icons - Create your own lists of channels - then create sub lists for your favorites. You asked - we listened - you can now add icons to any list item in your lists. You can add these manually or you can drag and drop icons within SQ Designer from your desktop. List controls will also let you add Macros and Scene controls for MiOS systems. Put all controls that you want to group together into lists to save space in your control pads Channel hop quickly and easily through the channels that you watch regularly. Add as many lists as you need and add list controls wherever you need them.
    Here are some more of the features and benefits of SQ Remote HD:
    • Flexible: Add and drag controls to put them where you want them. Select from many control sizes and types with over 80 icons to choose from - or add text labels.
    • Always-on: SQ Remote lets you set it to always on, so that when you are using your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch as a remote, it will be available when you need it.
    • iOS4 Multi-Tasking: Switch to your other apps, and then jump back to exaclty where you were in SQ Remote. No searching for the right control.
    • Macros: Program a series of commands for setting up your activites and then activate them with a single button touch. If you are using a MiOS home control system you can also add scenes to your macros. Hit one button to bring on the TV, switch on the sound system, fire up the blue-ray player, bring down the window shades and dim the lights.
    • Macro-Jumps: Program your macros to “jump” to any contol pad and control panel when they are complete! You can use this feature to create your own navigation around SQ Remote; start an activity and have your controls appear… all with one button press. Finished.. set up the “end” macro to take you back to your main control area.
    • Embedded Web Views: You can now create web views right within the app, and point these at any URL. Create screens that load your TV guide or point at a camera on your local network, or load your own custom web-info pages right into SQ Remote.
    • Channel Lists: Program a list of your favourite channels, create multiple lists for different members of your family, or one for sports, news, movies etc… You can also add macros and MiOS scenes to your lists.
    • Power Monitoring: View the kWh power use of Z-Wave devices that report energy use.
    • Built in infrared library: No searching online and downloading code sets. SQ Remote has an extensive built-in infrared code library built from 2 extensive code databases and includes many discrete codes that are used by professional installers.
    • Sharing: Share your configuration with your family. With just a few key presses, all your configuration information can be passed to anyone you choose.
    • Create your own control pads. In SQ Remote, control pads hold your controls. You can group your controls within each control pad in any way that makes sense to you. You can mix controls for different equipment, macros, text, and controls for your home - all within the same control pad, and you can add as many control pads as you need. Build them based on activity (like watching a movie), location or control type (for example: lighting control). You can add pre-defined groups of controls to your control pads, and then edit them. Or you can create them from scratch. Each control pad holds seven control panels. These are the areas within a control pad where you add your controls. There is one main panel and six side panels that are opened by tapping on the side tabs.
    • SQ Remote works with the SQ Blaster to bring you the best infrared learning possible. If you can’t find a code set in the infrared library that works for your equipment, then don’t worry. The learning process within SQ Remote uses unique algorithms that don’t just record the infrared signals, but identify the underlying protocols, including toggle codes. You can be confident that SQ Remote with SQ Blaster will be able to control your equipment.
    • Full MiOS home control integration. SQ Remote HD will also allow you to control your MiOS home control system (such as the Vera system from MiCasaVerde) directly from your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. No more messing with web interfaces. So if you have a MiOS system, your home control is in your pocket and on your iPad. It controls your lights, doors, heating, ceiling fans, garden sprinklers, cameras and more.
    • Automatic detection and installation of MiOS systems Runs with multiple MiOS installation.
    • Controls your home from anywhere. (iPhone and iPad 3G only)
    The main differences between SQ Remote HD and SQ Remote Lite are as follows:
    • SQ Remote Lite has NO full native iPad support (SQ Remote Lite runs on 2x mode on the iPad, but includes high resolution graphics).
    • SQ Remote Lite has NO support for MiOS home control systems such as the Vera and Vera 2 systems from Mi Casa Verde.

  7. RTI’s RTiPanel App for iPhone® and iPad® Now Available; Named a CEDIA Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards Best New Product Finalist

    App Provides Complete Control Over RTI’s XP Series Processors and Connected Devices; Raises the Bar With Full Two-Way Feedback and Completely Customizable User Interface

    Remote Technologies Incorporated (RTI) today announced that the company’s highly anticipated RTiPanel app for the iPhone®, iPod® touch, and iPad® is now available for RTI dealers and their clients. Boasting unique features such as two-way feedback, a customizable user interface, and highly optimized connection speeds, the app provides complete control over any RTI control system with an XP series control processor — all from the convenience of a smart phone or tablet.

    Raising the bar for control apps, the RTiPanel stands out from the pack with unique features such as full two-way feedback including cover art, weather graphics, dynamic image lists, and much more for an unprecedented control experience. The app supports connection locally via Wi-Fi and offers remote access via auto-switching Wi-Fi and 3G wireless — allowing for control and monitoring from virtually anywhere in the world.

    The RTiPanel app offers a completely customizable graphical user interface, allowing integrators to provide consumers with a consistent user experience across all RTI controllers in their systems, including their Apple® devices, as well as offer a unique interface designed to set their devices apart. For simple interface updating either locally or remotely, all graphics are conveniently stored on the XP series processor and the Apple® device. And better yet, the app is programmed using the same Integration Designer® software that is used to program all RTI products.

    Redefining ease of use, the app displays in both portrait and landscape views by simply rotating the Apple device. The programming process for supporting both orientations has been carefully designed to minimize the extra effort required.

    “The RTiPanel app is one of our most anticipated product releases ever, and we are very excited to say that it is now available. We are tremendously proud of the hard work and innovation that have gone into this app, and to bring our dealers a solution that is superior to anything else on the market,” said Pete Baker, vice president of sales and marketing for RTI. “From full two-way control to a completely customizable user interface, every detail of the RTiPanel has been designed to complement our control systems perfectly, allowing our dealers to provide an unprecedented control experience for their customers, at home or away.”

    The RTiPanel app is now available for download from the Apple App Store. Users will need to purchase licenses online from the RTI website to enable communication with their RTI control system.

    The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has named the RTiPanel a finalist in its Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards competition for Best New Product. The winners will be announced at the Electronic Lifestyles® Awards Banquet Sat., Sept. 10 during CEDIA EXPO 2011.

  8. Video Review of SURC Universal Remote Control Case for iPhone 4

    NJDevilFan26 posted a great video review of the new Surc case that turns your iPhone 4 into a universal remote control Click here for more information about the Surc

  9. Video Review of SURC Universal Remote Control Case for iPhone 4

    Click here for more information about the Surc

  10. Zero1.tv Introduces the Future of Remote Controls, the VooMote One for iPhone and iPod Touch

    This new, sleek designed device transforms your iPhone and iPod touch into a fully functioning universal remote

    Zero1.tv, leading provider of user interfaces for home entertainment solutions, is proud to announce its latest creation- VooMote One. This device, when paired with the free app, effortlessly converts your iPhone and/or iPod touch into an impressively smart universal remote control, and offers additional features unlike any other on the market.

    The VooMote One slides onto your iPhone with ease, while still allowing full control of the iPhone itself. Once the device is connected and the app loaded, it instantly transforms your iPhone into a fully functional universal remote for your TVs, DVD players, stereo systems, consumer electronics and more, ultimately eliminating the need to have several remotes to control your consumer electronics.

    What sets the VooMote One apart from the rest is its innovative customization options, and easy setup. With VooMote One you can utilize the “One View” feature, which allows the user to create personalized and multiple device remote control layouts. Meaning you can easily lower the volume on the stereo while pressing play on your favorite DVD in a matter of seconds. By also using the “One Touch” feature you can create an entire chain of commands with a single click. So with the press of one button you can turn on your TV, turn on your DVD player, and hear all of the action on your surround sound speakers.

    The VooMote One setup wizard only entails a few quick steps. Once setup is complete you have the option to further organize your universal remote with the “Room Control” feature. This groups all of your electronic devices by location, such as living room, kitchen, etc. Also, the “Teach-In” feature is accessible should the VooMote One need to “learn” some of your products, by simply pointing the device at your original remote control.

    The VooMote One automatically captures more than 30,000 infrared codes and thousands of electronic devices. It recognizes 574 TV brands, 995 Top Box/DVR brands, and 151 audio and CD brands. The VooMote One code library is also constantly being update to ensure that virtually all IR (infrared) codes are available.

    VooMote One is also especially easy to set up, no PC necessary. All settings can be adjusted using the software on your iPhone or iPod touch. The app itself also automatically updates via iTunes to add the most up to date infrared codes.

    “With the abundance, and variety of consumer electronics, we wanted to offer consumers an incredibly simple and convenient means to control all of their devices with just ONE remote stemming from a device they likely already have in their pockets, said Alex Gruber, CEO, Zero1.tv. “Unlike our competitors, VooMote One is the only like-product on the market right now that makes set up effortless, reduces clutter, and streamlines the control of all of your devices with your iPhone.”

    The VooMote One will be available on August 5th for $99. More information available at www.zero1.tv.  The VooMote One app can also be downloaded for free at the iTunes® store.