DVPRemote App Gets Virtual Roku Keyboard

DVPRemote, the 99 cent app that turns your iPhone into a virtual Roku remote control, has recently been updated to version 1.4. New in this release is a QWERTY keyboard, which greatly simplifies text entry as developer Phil Irey demos above. Roku’s WiFi interface doesn’t actually include hooks for individual keys, so DVPRemote has essentially … Read more

UFO! The Coolest Thing At CES?

While racing through the South Hall for one more look at the D-Link Boxee Box, I saw a UFO. Parrot, best known for Bluetooth accessories and digital photoframes, is flying this crazy contraption in a tent. I didn’t get a whole lot of details, but the AR.Drone will be taking off later this year in … Read more

The Mobile Slacker Updates (webOS, caching)

I sat down with Internet radio service Slacker folks this morning for a CES update on their mobile platforms. Shown for the first time here in Vegas is a brand new webOS client which will be launching later this month. Also new is station caching. Meaning you can download songs for the those times when … Read more

A Quick Look at the L5 iPhone Remote

At ShowStoppers last night, I took a quick peek at L5’s iPhone universal remote control. The package consists of an IR transmitter/receiver with Apple dock connector and custom app, turning your iPhone into an AV remote. The app’s graphics are a bit old-school, but not offensive, and there appears to be tons of flexibility in … Read more

Catching up with FlyCast (Droid, Recording, Video)

I spent some time with the FlyCast folks (conveniently located next to Arris/Moxi) last night at the ShowStoppers CES event, and was briefed on some of their interesting, new developments. FlyCast, like Slacker and Pandora, streams a variety of audio to multiple platforms. Unlike those two, much of the content is radio programming (beyond just … Read more

Ooma Telo’s New Bag of Tricks

Tonight at Digital Experience (in the Mirage), Ooma will unveil a slew of new VoIP goodness scheduled to hit Telo customers over the next few months. But first, a quick refresher… Ooma Telo is a hardware device (<$250) that provides pretty much unlimited domestic phone calling with no monthly fees utilizing whatever broadband provider you’ve … Read more

5 Things Missing from CES 2010

The Griffin Technology folks as pictured on the CES blog Not making the trek out to Vegas this year for CES? You’re not alone. Here’s a list of five things missing from CES 2010. Cablecos and Telcos Despite the fact that we now live in a connected world, many of the providers that make our … Read more

The Technology of 2009

Now that 2009 has come to a close, it’s time for some personal tech reflection – beyond the “boxes of the year” and my entry level HD video cam recommendation. By and large, my primary 2009 gadgetry looked quite similar to what I used regularly in 2008 (never minding some model upgrades): iPhone, Macbook, Xbox, TiVo. The two notable additions to my lineup were the Sonos S5 and Sprint’s edition of the Novatel MiFi. Although, I wouldn’t have been so dependent on that MiFi had AT&T not provided me significantly worse coverage in 2009 than in 2008.

Michael Gartenberg has put together his Best Personal Tech of 2009 for Engadget which is worth a read, as I agree with many of his selections. ;) So let’s focus on a few items he and I don’t see eye to eye on. Instead of the 27″ iMac, I’d rather single out Apple’s redesigned 21.5″ model. It has a much better price/performance/features ratio and is truly a bargain by Cupertino standards. Plus, it ships without screen issues. On the software front, Gartenberg highlights both Snow Leopard and Windows 7. Which are merely evolutionary upgrades by any measure. In fact, Snow Leopard would be called a service pack from anyone else and Microsoft’s most notable Windows 7 “feature” is not being Vista. Lastly, I’m not yet sold on any of the underpowered, novelty “pico” projector devices/functionality.

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