Cablevision launched a unique implementation of TV viewing with the company’s iPad app a few months back. In short, the iPad actually sits behind your home network, connects through your Optimum cable model directly to the company’s internal network, and essentially acts as a TV tuner. This delivers every channel you’re subscribed to that you can view on your TV, and now Optimum is bringing this capability to the iPhone and iPod touch. In addition to TV viewing, you’re also able to use the iPhone as a remote control giving customers even more flexibility and control over their shows. We’ve been playing with the app for a little while and it ‘s pretty solid — watching TV on the iPhone is crystal clear, and it’s sure better than digging for the remote control every few minutes. Optimum’s updated app is available for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad in the App Store.

Read [iTunes link]

On Wednesday Ryz Media announced that it has completely revamped its MyTVRemote for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, an accessory that allows iOS device owners to control their TVs without a standard clicker. The MyTVRemote has been updated with a newer IR transceiver, as well as a new orb design. It also provides support for a complete program guide for every zip code in the United States. Using the free MyTVRemote application, TV watchers can see what the most popular programs on TV are or connect using Facebook or Twitter to discuss shows. The MyTVRemote is available in four colors for $9.99 and the corresponding application is free. Hit the jump for the full press release.

MyTVRemote App Gets Hardware Design Overhaul

Colorful New Orb Designs Will Put a Conversation Piece on the Coffee Table,
Also Improves Performance of IR Control

Palo Alto, CA— June 15, 2011 – Ryz Media, maker of the popular MyTVRemote app that turns the iPhone into a super powerful remote control, today announced a new colorful orb design for the hardware that plugs into the phone headset jack allowing control of almost every entertainment device in the living room.

These four colorful new options will improve function as well as form with an updated IR transceiver. The new hardware for the MyTVRemote app includes a complete program guide for every zip code in the U.S., displays the most popular shows on TV and connects TV fans with others who are watching.

“We felt the hardware design for the MyTVRemote needed to better fit the iPhone and Apple design motif,” said Zeev Braude, CEO of Ryz Media. “Now we think MyTVRemote users will get an instant conversation starter on the coffee table because this new hardware is an eye catcher.”

The MyTVRemote app has been hailed by tech reviewers as one of the coolest iPhone accessories ever offered in the app store.  It includes a customizable program guide that allows viewers to create their own unique TV guide. Viewers are then notified when their favorite shows are on and can navigate to them with a single click.

MyTVRemote also incorporates social elements – providing real-time online connection to friends and others watching the same program. TV fans can interact and discuss in real-time the shows they are watching together via Facebook and Twitter without ever leaving the remote. All social and interactive features happen directly on the mobile device to ensure the viewing experience is enhanced instead of compromised.

iPhone users can download the app for free and pay just $9.99, including shipping and handling, for Ryz Media’s cool new hardware that turns your phone into an easy to use remote within seconds. Now with MyTVRemote, users can control every AV device in the home with a simple smartphone app that costs a fraction of the cost of current clunky, plastic remotes on the market.

MyTVRemote supports the iPad and all generations of iPhone devices and iPod Touch media players.
To download it, go to the US App Store and search for either “MyTVRemote” or for “RYZ Media” or follow this link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-tv-remote/id351451688?mt=8

As Netflix continues to barrel into living rooms across the country, the thriving company announced new agreements Tuesday that will enable one-click access to its streaming video services on compatible partner devices. The new deal will place a dedicated Netflix button, complete with the Netflix logo, on remote controls that ship with various consumer electronics including Watch Instantly-enabled televisions, Blu-ray players and set top boxes. Manufacturers on board include Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Dynex (Best Buy’s in-house brand), Haier, Memorex, Boxee, Iomega and Roku. The deal is big news for Netflix, and it stands to substantially increase brand visibility. Netflix claims that there are currently more than 250 devices on the market compatible with its streaming video service. Hit the break for Netflix’s full press release.

Streaming From Netflix Will Soon be Even More Convenient With Netflix One-Click Remotes Introduced by Major Consumer Electronics Makers

Members to Benefit with a Netflix One-Click Button on Remote Controls for New Internet Connected TVs, Blu-ray Disc Players and Other Devices that Stream from Netflix

LOS GATOS, Calif., Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today announced that streaming from Netflix on TVs will soon be as easy as one click of a remote control as a number of the world’s leading consumer electronics companies have joined in a development effort to place Netflix-branded one-click buttons on remotes that operate Internet connected TVs, Blu-ray disc players and other devices that connect the Internet to the TV.

Beginning this Spring, buttons that specify “Netflix” – including some featuring the iconic red Netflix logo – are planned to be situated prominently on remote controls that operate certain new Blu-ray disc players from a variety of companies including Best Buy’s in-house Dynex brand, Haier, Memorex, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba.  Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba also will place the Netflix one-click button on remote controls for select new Internet-connected TVs.  Remote controls for the Boxee, Iomega and Roku set-top boxes also will feature the Netflix one-click remote.

“For members who want even more convenience when instantly watching TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix, the answer is about to be right in their hands,” said Netflix Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt.  ”No more turning on the TV, going to a home screen and searching for the Netflix icon.  With the Netflix one-click remote, it’s simply a matter of pushing the Netflix button to instantly watch any of the vast selection of TV shows and movies available to stream from Netflix.”

The Netflix one-click remote is the latest in a series of rapid technological advancements by Netflix to enable Netflix members to instantly watch TV shows and movies streamed by Netflix over the Internet.  Today there are more than 250 Netflix ready devices on the market.

Read

Sling is coming to Vegas with four new placeshifting media devices that will allow you to sling your HD content around your house, control your Sling media with the touch of a finger and, in typical slingbox fashion, access your content on portable media devices while on the go. The four products include the following:

• Slingbox 700U – a traditional Slingbox that will connect to an internet-connected set top box via USB
• Sling Monitor 150 – a remote monitor which displays HD streaming media from an in-network Slingbox
• Sling Receiver 300 – a companion device which will stream HD media from an in-network slingbox to a remote TV
• Sling Touch 100 – a touch-enabled remote control with a UI based upon the SlingGuide electronic program guide and the ability to control SlingGuide-enabled DVRs and most line of sight controlled AV equipment

All four devices are targeted for television service providers so they may attract new customers and are not for general consumption. We know, we know. Hit the jump for the full press release and press photos of each device.Sling Media Unveils Suite of New OEM Products at CES 2010

Innovative new placeshifting products improve time to market, simplify installation for television service providers

Las Vegas, Nev., USA – Jan. 6, 2010 – SlingMedia, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), today unveiled four products as part of an expanded strategy targeted at television service providers and consumer electronics manufacturers. Leveraging the award-winning technology in its core Slingbox® product, Sling Media has created elegant, easy-to-install new products that deliver video placeshifting, allowing anyone to enjoy their video around their home or around the world.

New Sling Media OEM Products Unveiled at CES 2010:

* Slingbox 700U
* Sling Receiver 300
* Sling Monitor 150
* Sling Touch Control 100

“For the past 12 months, we have been fine tuning an all new product lineup. We believe manufacturers and TV service providers realize that building Sling Media products and services into their offerings is the best way to acquire new customers and delight their current ones,” said John M. Paul, executive vice president of Products at Sling Media. “We are open for OEM business and excited to work with any television service provider or CE manufacturer to integrate our products and technology to bring placeshifting to the mainstream.”

About the Slingbox 700U

The Slingbox 700U is the fastest way of adding award-winning Slingbox capabilities to an existing Internet-connected set-top-box with a USB port such as the EchoStar 722K. Using a simple connection, an existing HD set-top box can be quickly SlingLoaded™, giving viewers the ability to watch HDTV via the web-based SlingPlayer anywhere in the world on a PC, Macintosh or smart mobile device.

About the Sling Receiver 300

The Sling Receiver 300 is a companion to a SlingLoaded™ set-top box such as the EchoStar SlingLoaded 922 HD DVR that can deliver an HD DVR’s full HD video stream to any other television in the home using a home network, eliminating the need to run cables or purchase a second HD DVR.

About the Sling Monitor 150

The Sling Monitor 150 is a light-weight, portable flat screen display that wirelessly takes a viewer’s primary HD DVR video experience to any location in the home, eliminating the need to run cables or purchase a second DVR. Now viewers can watch HD programming in places they may not have installed a second TV like the kitchen, office or workshop.

About the Sling Touch Control 100

The Sling Touch Control 100 is a next-generation, touch-screen remote control with an interface based on SlingMedia’s popular SlingGuide™ electronic program guide. It interacts with and controls SlingGuide-enabled DVRs as well as most line-of-sight controlled audio-visual devices.

SlingMedia will be demonstrating these new technologies in Booth 9021 at the Consumer Electronics Show 2010 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. we’ll let you know what we think of them.

Touted as an espionage tool but more closely resembling spyware is a new application, Phone Creeper, written by xda-developer member chetstriker. Once installed on a Windows Mobile 5, 6.1 or 6.5 handset with .NET CF 3.5, the software tool can be used to:

• secretly and remotely read incoming / outgoing sms
• secretly and remotely delete incoming / outgoing sms
• secretly and remotely view call history
• bounce sms messages off remote phone to someone else
• create a pop-up message on phone
• send a secret fart sound
• secretly and remotely listen to person – (Initiates silent call back of person to your phone with their speaker phone enabled)
• send listening in call to somebody else’s phone
• remote wipe of installed flash card

These above remote control commands are issued via SMS messages sent from any other handset to the “infected” Windows Mobile handset. The software is currently being distributed as a cab file that one must agree to install but, in the future, a code injector could be created to insert this application silently into any cab file. Once installed, the application does not appear in the task manager, does not have a user interface and runs silently in the background. So what do you think, the ultimate spy tool for parents of teenagers, a security suite to protect your data if your phone is stolen, or the progenitor of a whole new class of mobile phone spyware?

[Via WMExperts]

Read

Home automation used to be something you only saw in futuristic movies, but it seems like the idea of controlling everything in your home via mobile phone or computer is becoming more and more common. Nokia is taking existing systems and solutions a step further by hitting every spot in the home, from security systems and lighting to home entertainment and sprinkler systems. One of the big functions the Finns are highlighting is the ability to control and monitor energy usage in the home, which will undoubtedly put a big smile on Greenpeace faces and other environmentally conscious people. Being able to track energy usage will allow users to control and lower consumption where they can. And while other companies are allowing home control through phones, Nokia is sure to step the game up by allowing third-party companies to join right in.

Nokia has mentioned several possibilities with the new Home Control Center. Imagine you’re just getting out of the shower and your in-laws are at the door. When they ring the doorbell, you will receive a notification on your phone along with a photo from a camera set up from the door and you can let them right in with your phone – or maybe just keep the door locked and hope they’ll go away. The Home Control Center will focus on security, efficiency, and premium home automation. When will this be available? Well, it’s no surprise that it will be hitting Europe first in late 2009, and possibly the States shortly thereafter if it proves to be a success. Just imagine – instead of coming up with an elaborate scheme to thwart burglars à la Home Alone, you can do it all on the comfort of your cell phone.

Read