Hasta La Gadget!

Sure, its happened to me more than once. I lost my house keys, left them in the wrong car, or forgot to give them to my mother who was stopping over to feed the dog. It’s a simple thing, and I should have just taken the time to have extra keys made, or hidden one under the doormat, but in this day and age I’m not sure anyone does that anymore.

Well, First Watch Security is bringing you a nifty home entry alternative, forget your keys and garage door openers, why not use your Smartphone? Working with a smartphone that employs Bluetooth 4.0 and utilizing a 128 bit encryption, The First Watch Security Smart Deadbolt or SecuRemote lets you access your doors or garage with your phone.

Any users you authorize can operate the Smart Deadbolts or garage doors via the SecuRemote app simply by tapping the unlock or lock icons on a Smartphone.  Not only can you decide who gets access to your home, but when. This application works with your existing garage door opener and requires only the simple addition of an access control device. Whereas the Smart Deadbolt works with all standard door preparations, is installed with only a screwdriver, and it can run for up to two years on four AA batteries.

Okay, I guess I could like this. SecuRemote for your garage is available now, for only around 149 bucks, the Smart Deadbolt is making its way around the home show circuit and should be available soon. Check out firstwatchsecurity.com for updates, pricing, and more information. So now I suppose, I have to keep track of my phone and worry about someone hacking their way into my house? Does Bluetooth enabled home entry delight or terrify you? … Let us know.
[ Forget your Keys? Use Your Smartphone! copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Swiss-based computer peripherals manufacturer Logitech is back this time around, and they have a couple of devices for you to go through which should make life a whole lot easier and convenient, especially when you are one with so many different devices at home that keeping track of which remote control is used to control what ends up as a headache. The two candidates to fall under today’s news spotlight would be the Logitech Harmony Ultimate and Logitech Harmony Smart Control.

It does not matter whether you have finally decided to fall back on the Logitech Harmony Ultimate or the Logitech Harmony Smart Control, both of these devices will feature Logitech’s new Harmony Hub and Harmony Smartphone App that paves the way for closed-cabinet and game console control. Not only that, it also marks the first time that the Harmony is even capable of helping you set the mood in your living room, as the Harmony Hub will take personalizing your activities to a totally new level as it can take full control of your Philips Hue lights with but a single touch of the Logitech Harmony Ultimate.

A simple touch is all it takes for your remote control to turn on your TV, to boot up the Blu-ray player, and perhaps dim the lights to the desired brightness level or temperature as you begin to unwind after a particularly difficult day at work. With the help of the Logitech Harmony Ultimate in the palm of your hands, you are also capable of gaining access to the slew of your entertainment devices, where among them include infrared devices and game consoles, through your cabinets, walls or other kinds of obstacles. When you throw in the optional Harmony Smartphone App, it does not take a genius living under the same roof as you to transform the smartphone or tablet into a personal universal remote.

Press Release
[ Logitech Harmony Ultimate and Logitech Harmony Smart Control announced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Logitech has outed a new pair of universal remotes, one physical and one for your smartphone, and throwing in the ability to control Philips hue lights too. The Logitech Harmony Ultimate is a $350 slab of do-it-all remote, complete with both a touchscreen and physical keys, and which can control A/V kit in cupboards thanks to an IR repeater along with Bluetooth-enabled consoles. Those who can’t keep their phone out of their hand, however, might prefer the cheaper Harmony Smart Control bundle, which combines a comprehensive remote app for iOS and Android along with a more straightforward physical remote for others to use when your phone isn’t around.

Logitech Harmony overview:

The Harmony Ultimate’s Bluetooth means that those who rely on their Xbox 360, PS3, or Wii to access Hulu and Netflix will be able to control that from their universal remote. There’s also integration with Philips hue LED lights, preset color patterns of which can be included in a Logitech macro. That means you can turn on your TV, load up Netflix, and change to your “home entertainment” lighting scheme with the touch of a single button.

That button can be physical – all of the Harmony Ultimate’s keys are backlit, and together the remote can control up to 15 devices from over 225,000 brands – or on the 2.4-inch color touchscreen with haptic feedback. Logitech also throws in a charging station and online setup. Two IR mini blasters are included in the box.

Logitech Harmony Ultimate demo:

As for the Logitech Harmony Smart Control system, that relies on your existing Android or iOS smartphone for the hardware, and can replicate the functionality of up to eight devices with a single app. Channel favorites and swipable shortcuts for volume, channel, FF/RWD, and play/pause/skip are included, and Logitech includes a Harmony Hub which communicates via WiFi with the phone app and in turn controls A/V hardware and consoles using IR and Bluetooth.

You can also use the app if you buy the Harmony Ultimate, pairing your phone with the Hub that comes with that remote.

Logitech Harmony Smart Control demo:

Logitech’s Harmony Ultimate remote is up for preorder now, priced at $349.99, and expected to ship in the US and Europe come May 2013. The Logitech Harmony Smart Control, meanwhile, is priced at $129.99 and is also available for preorder with an estimated May release.

Logitech Harmony Ultimate and Smart Control app controls A/V, consoles and Hue is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Say what you will about the Fast & Furious films, the franchise has to be doing something right to warrant sequel after sequel. But as the filmmakers keep upping the ante and including more grandiose stunts, maybe they should think on a smaller scale for the next flick. Because this trailer for Fast & Furious 6 created with RC cars is awesome. More »

Nero has announced the launch of the new Nero Trigger remote camera trigger for photographers. The Nero Trigger has some very cool features that photographers will really appreciate. One of the interesting features is a Lightning Mode designed to allow photographers to take pictures of things like lightning strikes, fireworks, sparks, or other light sources.

This particular feature is able to sense sudden changes in light level and remotely trigger the camera immediately. This mode has adjustable sensitivity between one and 99 to fine-tune the camera activation depending on the environment. The remote also supports a Sound Mode that will trigger your camera to snap a picture as soon as a sound such as a popping balloon, breaking glass, or other noise is made.

The Sound Mode has a sensitivity that is adjustable between one and 999. It also supports a delay parameter of zero up to 999 ms. Another setting is Time Lapse Mode to automatically have your camera take photographs at a specific interval. One of the coolest features of the Nero Trigger is Laser Mode. Using this mode the photographer can shine a laser at the trigger even from a long distance and when the beam of the laser is broken the flash and camera will be activated to take a picture.

The Nero Trigger also supports HDR mode giving three parameters that can be fine tuned on the remote to optimize the photograph. The final mode is a new DIY mode and the trigger has a special DIY port on the side. That port allows the photographer to use external signal sources to trigger the camera. The Nero Trigger is available now for $199.

[via Nero Trigger]

Nero unveils new Nero Trigger camera remote is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.