Samsung has developed a new universal remote control for its televisions and home theater accessories that ditches dozens of buttons in favor of Siri-like voice command support and a touch pad. As Apple reportedly readies an assault on the TV industry, established vendors such as Sony, LG and Samsung looked to cut the Cupertino-based firm off at the pass during this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. All the big names at this year’s show added voice controls and gesture support to their flagship HDTVs, and now Samsung has taken the wraps off its new voice-controlled universal remote, Nikkei’s Tech-On blog reports. The device allows users to speak commands in many cases rather than typing on a keyboard or pressing buttons, and it uses a combination of Bluetooth and infrared connectivity to improve reliability. While Samsung hasn’t yet stated exactly which devices will be compatible with its new remote, it did say TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players and other accessories will be supported.

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T-Mobile USA announced on Tuesday that it is now selling Square credit card systems in its retail stores. Square allows people to take payments by swiping a credit card through the Square dongle, which can be plugged into the end of a smartphone. “The success of our small business customers is important to us. Formerly ‘cash only’ small businesses can now simply and cost-effectively accept credit cards with their smartphone using Square, giving them an easy path to growth,” said Matt Millen, vice president of small and medium business sales at T-Mobile. “As these businesses evaluate their wireless needs, T-Mobile is committed to providing quality of service, cost savings and connectivity that are a requirement for their success.” T-Mobile will also offer direct support for the smartphone payment accessory. The company’s full press release follows after the break.

T-Mobile Commits to Helping Small Businesses Transform Their Business and “Get Paid Fast”

Company is the First Wireless Carrier to Offer Square Credit Card Readers in StoresBELLEVUE, Wash. — Jan. 31, 2012

Boxee will begin shipping its new Boxee Live TV tuners this week according to a post on the company’s blog. The new device is a dongle that provides Boxee Box owners with the ability to watch local broadcast TV stations. The Boxee Box accessory costs just $49.99 and it is likely best for those who have turned to Boxee to replace their cable television subscription, not those who are using it as a supplement. The Boxee Live TV tuner supports the following:

• Social Channel Listings – We’ll show you what’s on, what your friends are watching, and how many people total are watching a show as you flip through channels.
• Sharing – Share the traditional Boxee way on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr AND you can now passively share to Facebook using our Live TV Timeline App – turn sharing on and whatever you’re tuned into will post to your Facebook ticker automatically.  It’s easy to switch off too so your friends don’t need to know about your addiction to HSN.
• Edit Channels - Quickly hide channels from your lineup that don’t speak your language or have pissed you off with bad programming decisions like taking Arrested Development off the air.  Easily rename WNDHCTA 7.2 to NBC.
• All-In-One Interface – done watching a show on broadcast, easily jump into more episodes from the web. It’s the best of both worlds all on the same remote.

Wilson Electronics on Tuesday unveiled the Sleek 4G-V, the world’s first LTE signal booster. It will work with Verizon’s 700MHz 4G LTE network as well as 2G and 3G networks on 1800/1900MHz frequency bands. Like similar booster models, the Sleek 4G-V can be strapped to the roof of a car to help boost LTE signal in low-coverage areas, and Wilson Electronics says the antenna is 20 times more powerful than any LTE handset. ”Verizon Wireless customers who use LTE-enabled phones and data devices can now enjoy the same benefits of Wilson boosters that others on 3G networks have long enjoyed,” Wilson’s director of business development Laine Matthews said. Wilson expects the Sleek 4G-V to be available during the second quarter of next year for $149.95. The company’s press release follows below.

Wilson Electronics Introduces the World’s First 4G Mobile Signal Booster at 2012 International CES

New Sleek 4G-V boosts voice and data communications on 2G and 3G Networks, as well as Verizon Wireless™ LTE

LAS VEGAS – Jan. 9, 2012 – Wilson Electronics (www.WilsonElectronics.com), manufacturer of North America’s top-selling line of cellular signal boosters, announced at 2012 International CES the world’s first 4G mobile signal booster, the Sleek® 4G-V.

In areas with Verizon Wireless™ LTE service the Sleek 4G-V will ensure a strong LTE signal as well as conventional 3G or 2G signals. Benefits include fewer dropped connections and no-service “dead zones,” faster data transfer rates and improved battery life for wireless devices.

The Sleek 4G-V is on display at the Wilson Electronics booth #35219 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, level 2, through Jan. 13.

The device, with an MSRP of $149.95, boosts all LTE, 3G and 2G cellular signals on 700 MHz, 800 MHz and 1900 MHz frequency bands. Designed for use in a vehicle, the Sleek 4G-V can also be used indoors with the purchase of an optional accessory kit – perfect for boosting signal to 4G wireless hotspots like the Verizon JetPack.™

“Verizon Wireless customers who use LTE-enabled phones and data devices can now enjoy the same benefits of Wilson boosters that others on 3G networks have long enjoyed,” said Laine Matthews, Wilson’s director of business development. “For those troubled by a weak signal, the Sleek 4G-V provides a strong, reliable connection so they can connect with confidence.”

In areas not served by Verizon Wireless LTE, the Sleek 4G-V will amplify any existing signal on 800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands. This allows the user to enjoy a strong, reliable cellular signal even when no 4G service is available.

The Sleek 4G-V delivers more than 20 times the power of a typical cell phone, but weighs only three ounces (85 grams) and measures just 2.5 by 4.5 by 2.5 inches (6.4 x 11.4 6.4 cm). Simple, do-it-yourself installation is done in a matter of minutes.

The Sleek 4G-V will be available in the second quarter of 2012 from most Wilson resellers. It is designed for ideal use with a Bluetooth headset or other hands-free device. Additionally, like all Wilson signal boosters, the Sleek 4G-V features very sophisticated cell tower protection technologies developed over more than a decade of research and development.

Despite the proliferation of smartphones that include built-in mobile hotspot capabilities, the market for dedicated mobile hotspot routers like Novatel Wireless’s Mifi line of products is seen growing significantly over the next five years. According to a new report from market research and analysis firm ABI Research, 7.1 million dedicated mobile hotspot devices will ship in 2011 carrying an estimated end-user revenue value of $1 billion. In 2016, ABI expects annual shipments to reach 60 million units, representing more than $5 billion in end-user revenue value. Read on for more.

“The first products to reach the market in 2009 generally overshot the mass consumer population,” ABI Research analyst Jeff Orr said in a statement. “Products were very complex to set up and catered to an IT-managed remote workgroup environment, such as a construction site or field emergency response team.” Orr says that significant headway has been made across a number of markets thanks to the introduction of smaller devices, reduced complexity and a push from carriers looking to open new data revenue channels.

Mobile hotspot routers like Novatel’s Mifi lineup connect to cellular data networks and then share that data connection wirelessly with any Wi-Fi-enabled device. Novatel announced in October that it had shipped 3 million Mifi-branded mobile hotspots to date.

When a product emerges that is created by a team of ex-Apple employees — including one responsible in part for leading the hardware teams behind the iPod and iPhone — that product sells out almost immediately. The latest device to fit the bill isn’t a new smartphone or even a tablet; no, this time around it’s actually a thermostat. As odd as that sounds, the Nest thermostat is exciting in many, many ways. For starters, the amount of thought that went into just the hardware alone is, well, Apple-like. It’s miles ahead of any comparable product in terms of look, form and function. It’s sleek yet is based on a classic and familiar Honeywell T87 round thermostat, and it is packed to the brim with technology including, among other things, a vivid color LCD display and Wi-Fi support.

The Nest thermostat doesn’t just provide control from your smartphone or web-browser from anywhere in the world, which is impressive in itself — it’s a learning product that will adjust to your preferences and habits. It will also adjust to factors like outside weather and other conditions to always make sure the temperature in your home or office is comfortable. Above all else, it will reduce your energy consumption by automatically adjusting your heat and airconditioning usage based on whether or not you are home. Go out for a bit, and the thermostat will lower your heat to save energy. As soon as you walk in, it senses you’re home and it will instantly dial up the heat to suit your preferences.

Installing the Nest thermostat was incredibly straight-forward even though I’ve never installed a thermostat or light fixture before. The directions are very simple to follow and well thought out. After removing the plastic piece of garbage that used to be attached to the wall, I quickly leveled the thermostat thanks to the built-in level on its base, screwed it in, connected the labeled wires to the backplate and connected the front display. There’s an outer ring wheel you rotate just like that classic Honeywell thermostat, except this one also doubles as an Apple iPod-like clickwheel, letting you select and enter text or scroll through options.

After you’re set up, Nest immediately starts learning your heating and cooling preferences. I installed the unit yesterday evening and since then I’ve successfully set a schedule from my web-based Nest account and adjusted the temperate from the Nest app on my iPhone, and the unit has performed perfectly. It’s hard to believe that I’m excited about a thermostat, but this is much more than a thermostat to me, especially if it can conserve energy. Plus I don’t have to get up to change the temperature anymore.

We’ll have more on the Nest learning thermostat soon.

Despite the increasing popularity Wi-Fi of integrated tethering functionality across a variety of smartphone platforms, sales of dedicated portable hotspots continue to remain strong. Novatel Wireless, a pioneer in personal mobile hotspots, on Monday announced that lifetime shipments of its MiFi mobile hotspot line has now surpassed 3 million units globally. Beyond the tried and true reliability of Novatel’s MiFi devices — anyone who follows BGR’s live coverage of press conferences knows we rely on them constantly — the milestone reaffirms the fact that many users aren’t willing to sacrifice smartphone battery life for the sake of convergence. “Three years ago we introduced the MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot and revolutionized the way people access the Internet, from anywhere, anytime,” Novatel Wireless CEO Peter Leparulo said in a statement. “The MiFi system architecture brought a new user-experience to mobile broadband consumers, with one click connect and no software to install. It also allows carriers to reach a wider, more diverse subscriber base with innovative service opportunities. We are very pleased to have achieved this milestone illustrating our significant market and product leadership for mobile hotspots.” Novatel’s full press release follows below.

Novatel Wireless Celebrates Shipment of its Three Millionth MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot

SAN DIEGO ­ October 31, 2011 ­ Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today announced that shipments of its MiFi® Intelligent Mobile Hotspot have surpassed three million devices since product introduction in 2009.

³Three years ago we introduced the MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot and revolutionized the way people access the Internet, from anywhere, anytime,² says Peter Leparulo, CEO of Novatel Wireless. ³The MiFi system architecture brought a new user-experience to mobile broadband consumers, with one click connect and no software to install. It also allows carriers to reach a wider, more diverse subscriber base with innovative service opportunities. We are very pleased to have achieved this milestone ­ illustrating our significant market and product leadership for mobile hotspots.²

Novatel Wireless invented and launched the MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot in 2009 and pioneered and created a whole new product category in the wireless ecosystem. Novatel Wireless owns significant intellectual property and holds numerous U.S. and international key patents and patent applications around core elements of the MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot family of products.

Since its introduction, Novatel Wireless has commercially launched its MiFi devices with 25 operators worldwide and has received major industry accolades for innovation.

³We will continue to focus on the value that the MiFi experience brings to users.  With the world becoming increasingly connected, there is opportunity to improve the way we interact with our wireless devices and our connected experience,² says Rob Hadley, CMO of Novatel Wireless. ³We are very proud of the support for our MiFi family of products and will continue to focus on innovation that has made the brand what it is today.²

Novatel Wireless currently holds 35 issued or allowed U.S. patents and 37 filed U.S. patent applications, some of which it holds or has filed for in additional patent jurisdictions as well.

Apple news site MacRumors on Friday discovered images of a new LED Display on Apple’s website. While the OS X Lion wallpaper could have meant that these are simply new product shots as opposed to an updated model we’re looking at, the URL of the image features the recently revealed part number “MC914.” This part number corresponds with a number seen in a recent leak that identified multiple forthcoming refreshed Apple products. The new LED Display will be nearly identical to the current model, though it will include a Thunderbolt I/O port for connectivity to Mac computers. Apple’s upcoming mid-2011 MacBook, MacBook Air and Mac mini refreshes are all expected to include new Thunderbolt ports as well.

[Via MacRumors]

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Windows developers around the world had cause for excitement Thursday afternoon as Microsoft finally released a beta version of its Kinect for Windows software development kit. As the name might imply, this new SDK will allow developers to build Windows software that makes use of Microsoft’s popular motion-based controller as a peripheral. The SDK obviously opens the door for Kinect-controlled Windows PC games, but we’re sure Windows developers will find plenty of creative ways to make use of the great technology. Developers can download the SDK beta immediately via the read link below.

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References to a fourth-generation Time Capsule and a fifth-generation AirPort Extreme have been found within Apple’s latest AirPort Utility software update. Dwindling inventory and several reports over the past few weeks have suggested that Apple is preparing to refresh the AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule lines, and this new software update all but confirms the rumors. Also notable, references to software update caching have been found within the AirPort Utility update. This new feature will allow the devices to automatically download OS X and iOS software updates and store them locally until the user applies them. This background downloading feature will drastically reduce the perceived amount of time it takes to update Apple software. Apple’s new Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme models are expected to become available shortly.

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Following the World Health Organization’s revelation last week that cell phones are “possibly carcinogenic to humans based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer associated with wireless phone use,” Jabra has issued an easy fix: instead of putting a cell phone to your ear and possibly getting a brain tumor, use one of its Bluetooth headsets. Jabra says its headsets emit 800 times less radiation than cell phones — just 0.0025 watts max output compared to 2 watts max from cell phones. In a Jabra-sponsored survey, 61% said cell phone radiation only concerned them “a little bit” or “to some extent” and 25% said they were not at all concerned. But when informed that using a Bluetooth headset has been scientifically proven to drastically reduce exposure to radiation, more than half of the respondents said they would use a hands-free device. Hit the break for Jabra’s press release.

Jabra Responds to Study Revealing Cell Phones as Possible Carcinogenics

Jabra Hands-Free Devices Permit 800 Times Less Radiation than Cell Phones; Survey Results Show Lack of Awareness Among Consumers

NASHUA, N.H., June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO)/Interactional Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released last week has revealed another potential health risk for consumers. The report details that radiation transmitted by cell phones is potentially carcinogenic, based on an increased risk for a malignant type of brain cancer associated with wireless phone use. What most people don’t realize is that there is solution to dramatically lower the exposure – using hands-free devices!

Just as people aren’t going to stay indoors because they are afraid of sun damage, they won’t stop using cell phones due to fear of radiation. With over 5 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide, cell phones have become a part of our daily routine for communicating with others and are here to stay.  Using a hands-free device can reduce the exposure to radiation by a factor of eight hundred, drastically lowering the exposure from max 2 watts from cell phones to 0.0025 watts max output for Bluetooth™ hands-free devices and zero watts for corded devices.

New survey results, sponsored by Jabra, a world leader in innovative hands-free solutions, show that despite the potential risk, people are not concerned with radiation in their daily lives. Twenty five percent of survey respondents said that radiation doesn’t concern them at all and sixty one percent said that it concerns them a little bit or to some extent.  However, when informed that it is a scientific fact that using a Bluetooth (wireless) headset actually reduces exposure to phone radiation, 53% said they would use a hands-free device.

“People are concerned about radiation from their cell phones but they don’t care enough to stop using them and aren’t aware that being hands-free lowers the exposure,” said Anne Raaen Rasmussen, Senior Vice President of the Mobile division at Jabra. “We are here to inform them that Jabra offers many hands-free devices that provide a solution for concerned consumers who want to lower their own or their children’s exposure to cell phone radiation.”

A press release issued by the IARC recommended reducing exposure through the use of headsets stating, “Given the potential consequences for public health of this classification and findings, it is important that additional research be conducted into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones. Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure such as hands-free devices or texting.” (Source: http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf)

To learn more about the hands-free solutions that Jabra offers, visit Jabra.com.

Survey Methodology

The results of the survey, underwritten by Jabra and conducted by Lindberg International, are based on responses from an online survey of 2,518 consumers between the ages of 18 and 55 with respondents in five countries - the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan.  Respondents were asked about their awareness surrounding the concerns and reactions to radiation and cell phone usage and knowledge of the effects of using a hands-free device.  The survey was conducted in April 2011.  The margin of error is +/- 1.95%.

We met up with Seagate last week to get a sneak peak at its brand new wireless mobile storage drive, the GoFlex Satellite. It’s a battery-powered external hard drive, though it’s not just a traditional drive — it can also stream any and all content wirelessly over Wi-Fi to any iOS or Android device, or even any Wi-Fi device with a browser. The premise is that since most mobile devices are limited in storage, you can load only what you really need on your iPad, for example, and have your entire music or photo collection (or both) loaded up on the external drive to be accessed only when you need something. To get content onto the drive, you just use one of the GoFlex connectors such as the included USB 3.0 connector (there is a ThunderBolt connector coming this summer), and either use the company’s Media Sync software to automatically add content, or use the drive like a normal external drive and manually load on your data. More after the break.

The iOS app worked reasonably well in our tests, and the app we used wasn’t even the final version. The GoFlex Satellite can support and stream to three devices simultaneously, and we saw 1080p video played wirelessly on an iPad with zero stuttering — even skipping to the middle of the movie didn’t result in any playback issues, it just a couple seconds to catch up with the stream — non-1080p content played back with even better results. Battery life is around 5 hours of video streaming playback. The device itself isn’t bulky, but we’d have liked to see something even more portable. While a 2.5-inch drive offers capacity, we can’t help but think a 1.8-inch drive would have been a great additional option for a smaller unit. If you’re in the market for a brand new external hard drive, the Seagate GoFlex Satellite is a great option, though if you’re not the type of person who has room to carry a drive with you at all times, you might be better off with a smaller, normal external hard drive. The GoFlex Satellite is available starting next month, but is available for pre-order now from Best Buy and Seagate’s website for $199. Here is Seagate’s full press release:

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. — May 16, 2011 —Seagate (NASDAQ: STX), the leading manufacturer of hard drives, today announced GoFlex Satellite™ mobile wireless storage, the first battery-powered external hard drive to wirelessly extend the storage capacity of any Wi-Fi enabled mobile device. With 500GB and Wi-Fi access over 802.11 b/g/n , theGoFlex Satellite mobile wireless storage provides the ability to carry an entire library of video, music, pictures and documents with you. The GoFlex Satellite wirelessly streams content to an iPad®, iPod touch™, iPhone® or other Wi-Fi enabled devices without the use of the Internet or a cable.  To allow seamless access to the GoFlex Satellite from an  iOS device, Seagate has provided a free app available for download from the iTunes app store. GoFlex Satellite mobile wireless storage is now available in the U.S. for preorder from Amazon.com and Seagate.com for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $199.99. For the U.S. market, the new mobile wireless storage will also be available from Best Buy in June and is planned for global availability later this summer.

“With the incredible growth of the tablet and iPad markets and the insatiable desire to devour larger volumes of media by consumers, there is a clear need for access to content that is not burdened by the limitations of  Internet streamed video,” said Patrick Connolly, vice president and general manager of Seagate’s retail group.  “The unfortunate fact is that these popular new mobile devices are hampered by their limited storage capacity while one of their primary functions is that of media consumption.

With the GoFlex Satellite mobile wireless storage, we wished to create an elegant solution that provides real value to the multitude of iPad users out there by delivering a seamless connection to local storage. No longer will a consumer feel as though it is a compromise to purchase a lower capacity tablet or iPad. With GoFlex Satellite, people will be able to carry their entire media library with them without the need for wires or the web at a fraction of the cost of adding 3G or purchasing the 64GB iPad.”

Streaming over the Internet has enabled video access for tablet owners, but the quality is at the mercy of the Internet connection, be it over Wi-Fi or 3G/4G. With more connected devices per hotspot, it’s rapidly becoming difficult to watch video without choppiness or pixilation. Rather than rely on a buffered stream from a distant provider, GoFlex Satellite mobile storage wirelessly serves up media content as a local attached storage for up to three devices at the same time. With a stand-by battery life of up to 25 hours, the powerful lithium-polymer battery delivers up to 5 hours of continuously streaming video. To help with extending battery life, the free the GoFlex® Media app provides a progressive download feature, which temporarily loads the video on to the iOS device it is being streamed to.

GoFlex® Media App

Initially available for Apple iOS devices, such as: iPad, iPhone and iPod touch; the GoFlex Media app provides a seamless way to connect the mobile wireless storage to your iPad or iPhone. The Android app is expected to be available by this summer. Those that currently use an Android smartphone or tablet can access content on GoFlex Satellite through the device’s browser.

Media Sync software

The easy-to-use Media Sync software, also included free with purchase, makes grabbing media from a Windows® PC or Mac® OS X computer a breeze. Wherever the files are stored, whether that is a file structure of your own creation or in an iTunes library, the Media Sync software will load all of your desired music, videos, photos and documents on to the GoFlex Satellite.  Media Sync is easily configured to only place files on the drive that are compatible with your iOs device.  Even music and videos purchased through iTunes can be loaded to the GoFlex Satellite and will play on all authorized devices.

Loading Media

For rapid loading of media content, the wireless mobile storage  comes equipped with the superfast USB 3.0 cable to get files from your computer to the GoFlex Satellite. The USB 3.0 cable will also continue to work with USB 2.0 ports and is easily removed for portability.  In addition to the USB 3.0 cable the GoFlex Satellite drive comes complete with a car charger and a compact wall charger.

Reviewers and early adopters seemed to agree that Motorola’s Webtop laptop dock for the ATRIX 4G was both very nifty and very overpriced. At the same time, we were all intrigued when Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha said back in February that all of the company’s high-end smartphones would be compatible with the quirky Webtop laptop dock beginning later this year. Last week, Jha reiterated these intentions during the company’s earnings call, noting that the Webtop dock is one way Motorola will set itself apart from other manufacturers of Android-powered smartphones. “In the Android ecosystem, there is a need for us to differentiate,” Jha said. “[With] Atrix devices with the Webtop and lap-dock we really think there is an alternative way of viewing the convergence between mobility and computing. And we will continue to focus on that.” Jha continued, “You will see multiple devices from us in the second half… and we will expand the range of our lap-dock devices so we cover a broader price point, addressing both enterprise tiers as well as more consumer tiers.” That note about covering a range of price points may be the key factor here, and we’re anxious to see how Motorola will make this accessory more accessible while still refining the experience.

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Honestly, let’s just skip past the small talk — we’re ordering a bunch of these ASAP. AppleCores are available in a variety of sizes and colors, and it looks like an ingenious way to organize your cords and cables, especially those Apple white headphones and chargers. They range in price from $2-$5, practically a steal, no?

[Via BBC Ice Cream Blog]

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All good things must come to an end, and our BlackBerry PlayBook giveaway is no exception. For those of you who haven’t yet entered, BGR is giving away a 16GB BlackBerry PlayBook tablet that will be shipped right to one lucky winner’s door for free. The contest is open to anyone 18 years of age or older, and unlike many of our giveaways, this one is open to anyone, anywhere around the world. You read that right — even if we have to strap this sucker to the back of a dog sled and mush it to you, we’ll make sure it gets there. And don’t forget, five more lucky winners will each receive an SRS iWOW 3D Deluxe pack and an SRS Labs t-shirt as part of a separate giveaway, so iOS device owners should be sure to enter that one, too!