IR – NerdBeach

WowWee WiFi Home Security Robot Price Drop

Being connected in today’s world is easier than ever. And since we are all connected, we may spend more time with our connections and away from, as George Carlin so aptly put it, away from our stuff. But the same connections can be used to keep track of our favorite stuff.

Enter the WowWee spybot, Rovio. Unlike a simple webcam that lets you check in on your, well, stuff, it can let you go walking about in a virtual way, keeping a watchful eye. But not just an eye – you also have an ear, thanks to the built in microphone. You can even remotely participate thanks to its two way communications capability. All you need is a remote internet connection.

The little robot works via WiFi, and it incorporates built in GPS navigation. You can set a point and, with a remote click of a mouse, the unit will go to a designated point (you know, such as the other side of a corner to see if everyone is actually talking about you, as you suspect… and if you think this, they probably are, but only a frank discussion about your paranoia).

Nighttime reconnaissance missions are not a problem either, since the Rovio sports its own onboard LED light source to show the way. So the little unit is handy whether you are traveling or just want to check out what the noise is down the hall from the comfort of your bedroom.

Personally I think it would be cool to get two and play a little robotic hide and seek with a friend across the room or across the country. Perhaps strap on some IR cannons and even play a little VR war game, Yeah, I’m feeling it. A quick price check showed the Rovio to be available from Amazon as of this writing for $265, down from the earlier $349 introductory price. Not cheap, but getting into the affordable range. And as with any introductory unit aimed for a mass consumption price you should probably expect there to be hiccups. But as something with a lot of fun potential this looks to be pretty cool.

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Belkin Flywire is a Wireless 1080p A/V Connection

Greg Chaffins

Belkin_FlyWire_071008

The family TV has progressed into a unit that you can just hang on the wall. Of course, that leaves the question about the cables strung across the wall – how else are you going to get the signal to the display?

You could consider the Flywire from Belkin. The Flywire is a wireless AV connection for your new and shiny (or old and proven) display that supports up to a 1080p signal. The signal is uncompressed, which should allow for a very decent latency free display. All of your sources (game consoles, cable and satellite boxes, Blu-ray players, etc.) plug into the base unit, and you can select via a remote what you want displayed.

The Flywire comes in two versions, a RF controlled version that allows you to store the gear in another room without direct line of sight for $999.99 and an IR controlled version for $699.99. Both products are expected to ship in late October, and you can find out more on Belkin’s Website.

Of course, there is still the problem of getting power to the display, and on that one you are on your own, at least for now.

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Microsoft TouchWall is a Wall Sized Multipoint Touch Screen

Greg Chaffins

Touchwall

Microsoft recently introduced its new, lower cost touchscreen setup dubbed TouchWall, and it is considerably cheaper than its previous Surface table (which was around $10k). The TouchWall utilizes 3 IR lasers and a IR camera to scan for multiple point touches, a 4×6 Plexiglas sheet, and a rear projector. The demo shown uses a basic Vista PC running Plex software for the interface, and the price for the setup is only in the 100's of dollars

The TouchWall will allow you to scroll, zoom, control various program functions, and draw on the screen (think giant electronic whiteboard). Interestingly, Microsoft is apparently not pursuing the TouchWall as a commercial product (maybe considering it a threat to the more expensive Surface Table?).

Aloha from the Beach

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Review: Think Outside Folding BT Keyboard

Greg Chaffins

I have am fond of, and use on a regular basis, Pocket PC devices. I even write software for them, starting back with first generation devices. I think it is safe to say that I have logged some time with the platform. Along the way I have discovered some very good software that others have written that really opens up the capability of such a device. One place that this really shines is for mobile document creation. To take advantage of this, one thing proves itself rather quickly – you need a keyboard to do any volume writing.

So, now is the question – what kind of keyboard? First, it needs to be small enough to be easily transportable. A rule of thumb that I use, as silly as it sounds, is this: It has to fit in an average pocket. Luckily clever manufacturers have solved this requirement by devising folding keyboards. These will fit in a jeans or jacket pocket quite easily.

Second, it must be able to connect to our mobile device. Most modern Pocket PCs (now called windows mobile) support two basic forms of connection, IR (Infrared) or BT (blue tooth). I have used both with satisfactory results. However, the range of mobility is much more limited with IR keyboards, since any break in the IR beam results in a loss of keyboard functionality. For this reason they usually stay stationary, with a mount arrangement to hold the PPC. BT keyboards are not limited by line of sight, so they can be moved into a comfortable position quite easily. A lot of BT keyboards also have the mount to hold the PPC, but I usually dispense with these (they tend to snap on) and use it sans positioning device. A device I currently carry, a PPC6700, sits nicely on its side in landscape mode, allowing independent positioning of the keyboard.

Third, the keyboard must sustain itself with reasonable sipping of its power sources, keeping it ready to go when you need it. At one point I had a HP Bluetooth keyboard, which was notorious for draining its own batteries. I had considered BT keyboard technology to be not ready for prime time.

But that was before I went for it and got a Think Outside BT keyboard. I have not looked back since. This device works as designed, and as you would want. It pairs quickly, and without issue. To use it, I simply unfold it and literally start typing. The letters start appearing on the PPC screen quick enough, and you soon forget the connection mechanics with continued use. Once you are through with the keyboard, fold it up and put it away. There is no separate on/off switch.

The unit, especially when folded in its nice clamshell, is quite sturdy. When folded, it measures about 5.5 by 4 inches. When unfolded it is about the size of an average laptop keyboard, with a nice enough 3mm of key travel. It is not a tri-fold design, but rather a sliding fold that works rather well.

The keyboard can pair with other devices (laptops, phones, Blackberries, etc.), so it may outlive your current device. Battery life is good on the unit, going quite some time before a battery change is needed. – your performance may of course vary depending on how often you use the keyboard. When it is time to change the batteries you only need two AAA cells, not a special charger. This is great when on the road, since you do not have to carry extra gear to support the device.

All things considered, I have found the Think Outside BT Keyboard to be a favorite of mine. There are others on the market, and HP has revamped their BT keyboard offerings to something that I hope manages its power better, but I do suggest looking at this device if you are in need of a mobile keyboard solution. For more information you can check it out here: Think Outside BT Keyboard. Important thing to remember is to always make an informed decision before purchasing, research is very easy to find on the web these days.