Remote Shoppe is dedicated to Remote Controls

We first spotted an early design model of the Amulet Devices Voice-Activated Remote for Windows Media Center at last year's CEDIA Expo and now, with CEDIA 2010 approaching, it appears that a much more refined version has hit the streets. MissingRemote.com, an excellent resource for everything related to Media Center PCs, got their hands on the newest Amulet Devices Remote Control and ran it through it's paces. They seemed pretty impressed by the remote itself and it's response to the voice-activated prompts.

Overall I think Amulet have themselves a great device here which is up to the rather daunting task of easy voice control for a home theater PC. The software, while still in its infancy, is very impressive for everything it handles and makes for as easy a voice controlled experience as I have ever used. I can only imagine as the device becomes popular all the other software applications they will be tying into and being able to leverage.

Click here for the complete review at MissingRemote.com

Click here for more info from Amulet Devices

GlideTV just released an update to the Windows version of the on-screen software for the GlideTV Navigator. If you are a Mac user please be patient, the engineers are building an update for the Mac right now.

What's new in this version
- German and French language support
- Play, Pause and Volume buttons work on more web sites
- Cut and Paste work in the On Screen Keyboard search/text bar
- 1280x1024 and 1024x768 (4x3) display mode support
- On-screen pop-up Navigator button Help by pressing Home button twice
Plus a special goodie for FireFox users. Site specific searching. Click in the search bar of a recognized site like YouTube and the On Screen Keyboard will search only that site.
- And of course, many more enhancements and bug fixes

Click here for more information on the GlideTV Navigator

Quick demo video of the functionality in TotalControl's Android Remote Edition application. This application connects to a hardware component and allows you to control all of your IR devices via your Android device.

X-Link Universal Remote Control is a six device universal remote with built-in support for both Xbox and infrared for home audio visual equipment. X-Link comes pre-programmed to support numerous models of TVs, VCRs, DVDs, DVRs, surround sound systems, cable, satellite and set top boxes. In addition to the pre-programmed codes, X-Link can learn infrared commands from other remote controls.

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The Glide TV Navigator is a new remote built for Home Theater PCs and Multimedia Entertainment. When we first read the announcement, a whispered “wow” came to our lips and we started digging for as much information we could find on this interesting new remote. Since then, the folks at Glide TV sent us our very own review unit to take a first-hand look at the Navigator.

CONCLUSION (skipping to the end, click read more for the full review)
If you list a PC amongst your list of entertainment devices but have struggled to find a way to control it like a PC, from the comfort of your armchair, the GlideTV Navigator may be just what you need. The integrated touchpad makes this remote easy for anyone who has ever used a laptop and the transport keys give it the same control as most universal remotes.

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Four models that will turn a Blackberry or iPhone into a Universal Remote Control

Audiovox Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX) today announced that it has initiated a new Acoustic Research branding strategy that is promoting its Smartphone Remote Control products into a new sub-brand called ZENTRAL Home Command. The new brand strategy, which includes new marketing collateral, packaging, and a Web site, reinforces Audiovox’s leadership in Remote Control technology. Audiovox is showcasing four Zentral products at CES: the Smartphone AV Remote for the Blackberry and the iPhone, the Smartphone Jukebox, and Smartphone Garage Control.

"Our new Zentral Home Command products will turn your Blackberry or iPhone into so much more. With Zentral, you will have useful solutions for controlling and navigating home audio and video equipment, iPod and Home Control through your Blackberry or iPhone," said David Geise, president, Audiovox Accessories Corporation.

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L5 Technology today introduced a accessory and free app that turn any iPhone or iPod touch into a universal remote control. Launching at ShowStoppers @ CES, the L5 Remote provides consumers with a powerful alternative for replacing multiple and often-confusing remote control devices. The L5 Remote transforms the iPhone and iPod touch into a personal universal remote that controls televisions, DVDs, DVRs, cable boxes, audio equipment, and most other products that come with an infrared remote.

Developed by L5 Technology, the L5 Remote is comprised of a small hardware device that plugs into an iPhone or iPod touch dock connector and a free app to be available from the iTunes App Store. The L5 Remote offers a quick an easy set-up, using a drag and drop features so consumers can create their ideal, and personally customized remote control interface. The L5 Remote is priced at MSRP $49.95 and will be available for purchase in February.

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CES Innovation Award Winning Universal Remote Control First to Stream PC Content

An international consumer electronics company that designs, develops and distributes innovative technologies and products, SilverPAC is leading the next wave of digital convergence in the connected home. Today the company announced the evolution 5500 advanced universal remote.

“SilverPAC’s evolution 5500 reflects the continued explosion of consumer Internet devices, providing users with rich, immersive experiences and seamless connectivity to their pictures, music and other digital content”

With numerous electronic devices and complex controls cluttering most consumers’ homes, SilverPAC aims to put consumers in control of the many systems that are part of their daily lives and to eliminate the need for multiple control devices. By embedding Microsoft’s innovative software technologies, SilverPAC creates state-of-the-art home automation, entertainment and smart energy control hardware products that are unlike anything currently available to OEM, retail and customer integrator markets today. Its products are the first to stream PC content directly to a secondary display, consolidating interactive communications, and they are extremely easy for anyone to set up and use out-of-the-box.

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Dave Zatz posted on his blog "Zatz Now Funny" details of an initation he received to check out some new devices for Slingbox at CES including "a next-generation touch screen device." He speculates that this new device will be an accessory for the previously announced, yet still unavailable SlingLoaded VIP 922 Echostar DVR.

We noticed a very interesting new product from Yamaha at last year's CEDIA Expo that incorporates their home theater receiver, a media player and on-screen control system all in one. The Audioholics got their hands on the new Yamaha neoHD YMC-700 and offer a closer look at this new system.

What I'd really like to see is an improvement on the universal remote functions including refining the virtual menu and having these functions trickle up to the higher-end Yamaha offerings. Should companies like Harmony and Universal Remote start sweating? Not yet. But if Yamaha does start to integrate media controller functions into their other offerings, companies like Denon and Pioneer won't be far behind. And then, they should start sweating.

Click here to read the complete review on Audioholics.com

It looks like the biggest thing to hit the world of remote controls at the CES Show in January will be a host of remote control solutions for the Apple iPhone. The New Kinetix Re is different than some others that have already been announced in that there is no need for Wifi. It is simply an IR blaster that you attach to your iPhone or iPod touch to send the signals to your AV equipment.

The biggest question mark surrounding this device will be the strength of it's IR capability. If the Re has excellent IR blasting power and is available at a relative low cost it can quickly carve out it's niche in the market.

Click here to learn more on New Kinetix' web site

It seems that every time CEDIA comes around there's another new company, with another new remote promising lots of functionality with Windows Sideshow. Unfortunately, many of these haven't been much more than technological showcases and vaporware. Only time will tell if the SilverPAC evolution 5500 will make it to market. It does have a fairly impressive spec list and I love the inclusion of Z-Wave!
via Gizmodo Click here for more information from SilverPAC

We are obviously big fans of remote controls and everything they do to help us enjoy our leisure time in front of the TV. Well, if your idea of enjoying leisure time is a friendly game of Online Poker then you'll be happy to know that there's a remote control for you too!

The new Poker Remote Duo is available now across North America for around $100 which we hope will be easily covered by your winnings. The Poker Remotes were custom designed by an expert in online Poker and promises to make your next virtual trip to the tables more comfortable and more enjoyable.

AutomatedHome.com.uk posted their review of the new Apple remote which is slightly longer than the original remote and features an all new design inspired by the most recent iPod Nanos. The most attractive part of the new design is the added length that should make this new model a lot easier to handle.

Click here to read the full review on AutomatedHome.co.uk