Back in May, Sony confirmed gamers would be able to play all of their PlayStation 4 games on the PlayStation Vita thanks to Remote Play. We got a good, hands-on look at this ability at Gamescom 2013, along with word of a price cut. Even so, it’s looking like Remote Play functionality extends beyond mere […]
There are plenty of drone variants available, but Lockheed Martin is pushing the boundaries of drone warfare thanks to their Transformer TX drones, which will be able to transport cars to and from the battlefield.
The Transformer TX is being developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, and the drone will be able to transport cars, storage containers, and even pods filled with soldiers.
It started out in 2010 with a concept that would attach to cars, but evolved into a solution to ferry larger pieces of tech to the battlefield remotely. It will use a pivoting ducted fan propulsion system with no exposed rotor, and this should allow it to take off and land vertically in an area about half of that of a helicopter.
Currently, the team is finalizing its design before building a working prototype. If DARPA accepts the prototype, the drones could be delivered for flight by 2015.
[via IEEE Spectrum via Gizmodo via The Verge]
When the HTC Butterfly (better known as the Droid DNA here in the US) launched in China several months ago, it was soon followed by a companion device called the HTC Mini. This accessory — not to be confused with HTC’s One mini — is basically designed to be a Bluetooth handset and remote control for the larger smartphone. It features NFC for pairing, plus a numeric keypad and monochrome LCD. What’s more intriguing, however, is that UK retailer Clove recently outed an update to the product — the HTC Mini+ — which gains an IR blaster and the ability to remote control a variety of TVs, along with HTC’s Media Link HD. The companion device is expected to be available soon fort £54.16 (about $83) before taxes.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Via: Android Community
Source: Clove
Remember Autonet? The company — which is best known for providing manufacturers like Chrysler with in-car WiFi hotspot solutions — is launching a new product designed to replace the key fob and enable low-latency remote vehicle control and diagnostics from any smartphone. Of course, this is nothing new — car makers have been featuring apps to unlock doors, start the engine and monitor vehicles for some time now. Still, most existing solutions rely on satellite or 2G connectivity and often require the car’s computer to be fully booted before responding to commands, which makes for a slow an unreliable experience. Autonet’s new system combines in-vehicle hardware, mobile software and cloud services to streamline this process for both manufacturers and owners. More after the break.
Gallery: Autonet Mobile hands-on
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Software, Mobile
I’ve seen many different kinds of clunky TV boxes, and many are forgettable. There are quite a few that are basically eyesores in your living room, and it’s not always easy to find a way to make them appealing, except if you completely hide them away.
Fan TV was developed by Yves Behar’s Fuseproject studio. The design was created for the company Fanhattan. The remote and set-top box are quite unique. They are supposed to mimic nested stones. The pebble-shaped remote is supposed to respond to the slightest touch, and you can tap as well as swipe it to navigate through your movies and shows.
The system itself is designed to integrate live TV, DVR and streaming media in a single interface. Though it’s not clear what other devices will be required in order to use the live TV and DVR features. There will also be companion apps for iOS devices so you can watch and control your content on the go.
Here’s a brief demo of the Fan TV in action:
There’s no word yet on pricing or a release date for the system.
[via designboom]
Until now, Logitech’s Harmony line has been the name in programmable remotes. Now the company’s back with three follow-up products, and they differ enough from earlier models to warrant an explanation. Instead of using a programmable IR remote, the Harmony Ultimate, Harmony Smart Control and Harmony Ultimate Hub each offload the IR-emitting duties to a networked device, allowing smartphones and tablets to act as remotes too. Additionally, the Hub uses Bluetooth to control your game console. Ranging in price from $99 to $349, the lineup covers almost every budget, with the Hub sold as a standalone accessory for smartphones and tablets. Meanwhile, the Smart Control includes a simple remote, and the high-end Ultimate Hub swaps a basic remote for the Harmony Touch. How exactly might these enhance your home theater enjoyment? Read on to find out.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
To date, home theater mavens who’ve wanted Logitech’s Harmony Ultimate Hub have had to buy it as part of a Harmony Ultimate or Harmony Smart Control bundle — neither kit being a bargain for viewers with existing gear. They’ll have a better option soon, as Logitech now expects to ship its promised stand-alone version of the Ultimate Hub to Europe and the US in August. Those who shell out $100 will have the same IR, RF and WiFi support as the bundled hub, just without the redundant hardware. They can even rely solely on Logitech’s free Android or iOS apps for input, should a dedicated remote seem archaic. The Ultimate Hub may be well-timed: when alternative remote control bridges are fading away, Logitech may snag some of those customers looking for a replacement.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, HD, Mobile
Via: Blog.Logitech
Source: Logitech
Sony has just announced a new Google TV set-top box, the NSZ-GS8. Apparently replacing last year’s NSZ-GS7 that lead the charge of second generation ARM-powered Google TV hardware, this one appears to be quite similar. As seen in the picture above (check after the break to see the old remote for comparison) it adds a microphone this time around, necessary to enable the voice search features added to the Google TV platform last fall. We’re not seeing any other changes, but we’ll let you know if we hear of any differences. In lieu of actual new devices, Google TV fans can at least take heart that Sony is continuing development on the platform — good to hear after the NSZ-GP9 Blu-ray player that was also announced last year ended up being cancelled prior to its release. Like its predecessor, the NSZ-GS8 carries a sticker price of $199 and should reach stores by early July.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Sony, Google
Source: Sony Blog
If you hoard gadgets like us, then your living room is probably covered with a plethora of remote controls. Flyover Innovations’ Indiegogo campaign aims to streamline your home audio experience and minimize your mess with Blumoo, a small hardware platform that turns your mobile device into an RF remote. The IR-equipped Blumoo pod connects to your stereo via standard 3.5 mm jack or RCA connections, and allows you to control your home theater system with your mobile device through the magic of Bluetooth. The Blumoo app — coming soon for both iOS and Android — pulls from a database that Flyover claims is comprehensive enough to ensure your home theater equipment is covered. Flyover plans on retailing the device for $79 but is offering an early bird special for supporters starting at $45. To check out their rewards and watch their cartoon mascot, Blumoo Bob, shake it a like a polaroid picture, head over to their Indiegogo page. For a more informative — if slightly less entertaining — video, watch the preview after the break.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Source: Indiegogo
Google+ has just issued an update that brings the remote desktop feature to Hangouts. With Hangouts Remote Desktop, your friends can give you permission to control their desktop through the Hangouts app. Because you’re in a Hangout, you are still able to see each other and voice chat with each other while you’re controlling the other person’s computer, making troubleshooting much easier.
Hangouts Remote Desktop uses the same technology as Chrome Remote Desktop. To access Hangouts Remote Desktop, you have to initiate a Hangout with someone first. After joining a Hangout, navigate to the “View More Apps” button on the left panel of the Hangout screen. Click “Add Apps” and install the Remote Desktop app. Everything is all set up after that. If you send a request to control your friend/family member’s computer, they will receive a notification at the bottom of their screen to accept your request, or decline.
After you friend accepts your help, their main screen will be replaced with a green box that says [Your name] is helping you, however they will still be able to see your webcam feed at one of the lower screens. To end the Remote Desktop session, the other party just needs to click the “end” button located at the top of their screen. The entire process is easy, and with the way Hangouts Remote Desktop is all set-up, using it will make it much more easier to help your friends and family members with technical problems.
Many users are already giving positive reviews for Hangouts Remote Desktop. Now instead of having to deal with extensions and access codes with Chrome Remote Desktop, or having to deal with IP Addresses, usernames and passwords for Remote Desktop for Windows, all you need to do is successfully convince the tech-challenged party to sign up for Google+ and you’ll be fixing their issues in no time.
[via Daniel Caiafa]
Google+ Hangouts get Remote Desktop feature using Chrome technology is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
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