Hasta La Gadget!

Seven months ago, Motorola unveiled a dual-sided, QWERTY-laden TV remote control: the NYXboard. It was never heard from again. Today, we’ve learned why — the open-source community will be selling a version specially redesigned to control your XBMC rig. The folks at Pulse-Eight — a startup with roots in the XBMC community dedicated to designing hardware — tell us they actually talked Motorola out of bundling the remote with set-top-boxes in favor of a nefarious plan. Simply put, they want you to be able to purchase an IR and RF remote that natively supports XBMC for a penny under $60 this June.

While we don’t have any real pictures of the unit quite yet — just the renders you see above and below — developers say it will work with installations on Mac, Windows, Linux and the original Apple TV on day one, and will actually turn off the side of the remote that’s face down to avoid accidental inputs. You’ll find the NYXboard up for pre-order now at our source link, with the first shipments slated for around June 27th. Then again, you might want to wait, as we’re told there are more surprises in store: a second version that can control the Apple TV 2, and a secret method which would allow the remotes to control your home entertainment center without pesky line-of-sight infrared. The best laid plans and all that… but it sounds like Logitech’s Harmony may finally get some competition.

Update: The situation’s a bit tricky, but the XBMC Foundation (a non-profit entity) wants you to know that hardware vendor Pulse-Eight (a for-profit venture) isn’t actually part of their group — Pulse-Eight was founded by an XBMC team member and produces hardware targeted at the XBMC community, but apparently isn’t funded by (nor directs funding towards) the XBMC foundation itself.

Motorola NYXboard surfaces from the dead, XBMC reclaims it (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s no shortage of devices that aim to replace your always-missing remote control with your always-present smartphone, and the Peel is one of the more recent and unique entries into the space. A software / hardware combination consisting of a “Peel Fruit” and accompanying iOS app, the package brings a new approach to finding what to watch — and it’s unlike most other smartphone-IR options we’ve encountered so far. Does it all come together, or are we left wishing for more? Read on past the break to find out!

Continue reading Peel Fruit and iOS app review: channel surfing of the future

Peel Fruit and iOS app review: channel surfing of the future originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Once solely slated for the Chevy Volt, the OnStar MyLink smartphone app has gained considerable ground — last July, GM expanded the iPhone and Android remote domination over your horn, door locks, and real-time data to every 2011 automobile, and now it’s reaching back through time to activate fourteen vehicles from 2010. As you’d expect, that’s mostly a smattering of SUVs and crossovers like the Cadillac Escalade, Buick Enclave, GMC Yukon and Chevy Avalanche, though the Impala will also get the goods, and if you live in the lap of low-end luxury, you may be able to listen to Facebook updates on your 2010 Cadillac DTS or Buick Lucerne. Find the full list of compatible vehicles at our source link.

GM extends OnStar smartphone control to 14 more vehicles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When 21 rogue apps started siphoning off identifying information from Android phones and installing security holes, Google yanked the lot from Android Market, and called the authorities to boot. But what of the 50,000 copies already downloaded by unwitting users? That’s what Google’s dealing with this week, by utilizing Android’s remote kill switch to delete them over the air. But that’s not all, because this time the company isn’t just removing offending packages, but also installing new code. The “Android Market Security Tool March 2011” will be remotely added to affected handsets to undo the exploit and keep it from sending your data out, as well as make you wonder just how much remote control Google has over our phones. Yes, we welcome our new Search Engine overlords and all that, so long as they’ve got our best interests at heart, but there’s a certain irony in Google removing a backdoor exploit by using a backdoor of its own — even one that (in this case) will email you to report what it’s done.

Update: TechCrunch says there were 58 malicious apps and 260,000 affected phones in total.

Google flips Android kill switch, destroys a batch of malicious apps (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 13:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apparently that “coming soon” teaser page meant only a few days, as the aptly named DirecTV App for iPad popped up on the iTunes store this morning. The features were pretty well detailed on the website preview, just like other tablet remote control apps it can provide remote scheduling for most DVR boxes, you’ll need one of the Plus HD DVR models (HR20, HR21, HR22, HR23, HR24 and H21, H23, H24) for remote control functions. Early reviews seem positive except for the lack of video streaming to the tablet itself, check out the screens and other info from iTunes below or just click on through and try it out.

Update: ZatzNotFunny points out a detailed walkthrough of the new app put together by forum posters at DBSTalk, check it out at the link or embedded after the break.

[Thanks, Ali]

Continue reading Official DirecTV App for iPad now available, brings touch controls to your satellite box

Official DirecTV App for iPad now available, brings touch controls to your satellite box originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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