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New Mobile Accessory Combines Smartphone Software and Whole Home Wireless Remote Control Functionality

tvCompass Inc., a software and services solution provider for smartphone and mobile internet devices, introduced today at CEDIA EXPO 2009 a next generation wireless universal control solution aimed at unifying smartphones, Internet services and home theater devices. In support of this new TV entertainment paradigm tvCompass has developed an end to end solution to provide navigation, guidance and control of the digital home on mobile smart phone devices and wireless Internet appliances. The solution is designed to support the new class of consumer devices including Apple iPhones and WiFi iPods, Google Android based smart phones and embedded devices, Windows Mobile smart phones, WiFi Mobile Internet Devices, wireless tablets and Netbook PCs.

The new tvCompass patented HomeVue™ IP to IR bridge serves as a wireless accessory, that turns a smartphone device such as an iPhone into a RF based whole home controller for use with virtually home theater system component including, cable and satellite set top boxes, DVRs, DVD players and HDTVs. The HomeVue offering consists of tvMobile™ application software designed for smartphones, Netbook computers and mobile Internet devices and paired with the wireless bridge accessory. HomeVue is designed as a low entry cost solution for OEMs, and as a price effective mobile, PC and Netbook wireless accessory for consumers. tvCompass expects MSRP targets to range from $149 to $49 based on a design efficient product cost and licensing program for OEMs and manufacturers. The HomeVue bridge utilizes Z-Wave wireless RF technology to support audio-video device control, and enable the expansion of home automation networks (HAN) and energy management applications and services for control of lights, cameras, thermostat systems and other popular HAN components. A key feature of the HomeVue wireless bridge accessory is a patented and proprietary implementation that eliminates the need for WiFi security code set up – thereby reducing the complexity of consumer set up and improving product adoption in the long term.

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The Hottest Holiday Gifts for Sports Fans are from ESPN

Just in time for holiday shopping, ESPN introduces an array of consumer products for today’s sports enthusiasts – from an ESPN Sportscaster Mic, a must-have for any aspiring sportscaster, to ESPN The Ultimate Remote, for all the recliner umpires out there, to the X Games MotoBike, for the kid who wants to ride like X Games legend Travis Pastrana.

“This holiday season ESPN is proud to present our most exciting gift selections, delivering to consumers the quality and innovation they have come to expect from our brand,” said Rick Alessandri, senior vice president, general manager, ESPN Consumer Products.

Steve Cipolla, vice president and general manager, ESPN Consumer Products, said: “ESPN strives to create products that are authentic and fun. Our gift guide features items for sports fans of all ages that make the perfect gift this holiday season.”

ESPN The Ultimate Remote – manages home theaters, set-top boxes, and IP equipment while providing one-touch, real-time access to scores, standings, team info and news in a remote control. The ESPN is available from authorized resellers including the ESPN Store, Target, Amazon and RemoteShoppe.

That's right folks, the ESPN Remote is on sale for $195.00 and in stock right here!

If you own the ESPN Ultimate Remote you should expect to receive an e-mail announcing an some of the upgrades made to your remote over the past month. These upgrades include the obligatory bug fixes as well as some nice new features. Click365 has once again expanded the "Activities" capability of the ESPN Ultimate Remote with a "Turn Off Device" feature and they've incorporated the electronic program guides from their recently announced relationship with Macrovision. The new "TV Guide" listings include even more information in the guides right on your remote control.

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ESPN Ultimate Remote owners have been notified by Click365.tv of the release of a new firmware update for the remote. Click365.tv is sending e-mail notifications to registered users and an "UPDATE" button will automatically appear on the ESPN Ultimate Remote home page.

We have published a firmware release for your Smart Remote which addresses a stability issue that can cause the remote to get stuck with a blank screen in some situations.

For more information go to click365.tv > Support > Update

As mentioned in this RemoteShoppe review of the ESPN Ultimate Remote, the click365.tv service automatically provides the TV Listing Guide for the service provider using the remote's WiFi connection. I experienced the true benefit of this feature tonight! The cable provider in my area just added a dozen HD channels and more are expected in the next few days. As much as I love new HD content, these additions mean I need to re-program every remote control I am currently using and/or testing because I like to have one touch access to all the HD channels available. The Harmony remotes limit the number of favorite channels you may program which means I'll have to make some tough decisions on what channels I want available. RTI, URC and Philips remotes all require programming updates which is pretty quick and easy if you’re an installer; except that you must first find the channel logos for the new HD stations and format them to match the other channel buttons in use. The ESPN Ultimate Remote with Wifi access to the click365.tv service updated the channel listings automatically. I just grabbed the remote, hit "TV Listings" and all the new HD channels were already available right there on the remote. As I said in the review... the TVCompass technology behind the ESPN Ultimate Remote has a lot of potential and I can't wait to see it implemented in even more devices.

PROS
- ESPN Branding is cool… especially in a game room or sports-bar type room
- Device and activity control
- Built-in Wifi with access to channel listing guides and mobile device sites
- First generation click365 remote with potential for future development
- T9 keyboard
- Tilt activated screen and button activated backlight

CONS
- Terrible packaging design
- Full user manual is not included with the remote and may only be downloaded after registration

RemoteShoppe first reviewed the ESPN: The Ultimate Remote Control when it first shipped on Father's Day and then we updated the review again in late July after some software and firmware updates from TVCompass. Now, TVCompass has continued to provide even more updates to their software and even offer an expanded channel listing guide from TVGuide with tons of helpful information. We are now happy to recommend the ESPN: The Ultimate Remote and even have it available right here in the RemoteShoppe store for only $195.00.

Unfortunately, the remote still ships in the terrible blister pack! I’ve never been a fan of plastic blister packs but I learned a valuable lesson after my son’s first Christmas – I learned it would take less time to get a scissor and try to open the package neatly then wrestle with the hard plastic for hours only to have it rip apart. I also wanted to open the remote packaging carefully because a $200 remote is not necessarily something you want to go flying across the room. As soon as I started cutting away the edges of the packaging I realized that the ESPN Remote has THE WORST PACKAGING DESIGN ever created. It is wrapped in a dumb-bell shaped blister pack and you cannot work the scissor neatly around the edges to free the remote. I cut what I could and then had to decide whether it would be best to find a razor or tear away the remaining packaging. Since I couldn’t see where the cables were packed I decided it would be better to rip the plastic and it created quite a mess.

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PC Magazine posted their review of the new ESPN: The Ultimate Remote and it's not a favorable one. The PC Magazine Editor's Rating is just 2 out of 5 stars and this sums up their experience:

The problem is, despite its $300 price tag, it is not particularly simple to set up or use, and it doesn't execute any of its fancy Web tricks gracefully.

Click here to read PC Magazine's review of the ESPN: The Ultimate Remote

A few days ago we told you about an apology e-mail from Amazon.com regarding delivery of the new ESPN remote control. In a shocking twist Amazon rushed the remote control out to me and it arrived today via DHL Saturday Delivery... an expedited shipping option that they don't usually offer. Take a look at it in the flesh.... unboxing, details, review and a head-to-head comparison with Logitech's Harmony ONE will all be published here soon so stay tuned.