remote control

Logitech has released their financial report for Q3 2012. Mixed in among the numbers and trends were a couple of interesting nuggets. First of all, Logitech is stating that they have sold out of new Logitech Revue units. This does not necessarily mean that the sales channel is clear yet, but it does mean that they are getting scarce fast and there will be no more to replenish shelves. Despite having to issue profit warnings a couple of times this quarter, the company is operating in the black and expects to finish the year that way. This is sure to be a welcome relief given that the Logitech Revue was blamed for the big splashes of red ink on Logitech's ledgers last year and the company must be happy to be able to wash their hands of the whole thing.

The other tidbit was about Logitech's Harmony remote controls. If the current lineup of Harmony remotes has been feeling a bit stale to you, don't fret, because the company is also saying that the Harmony line will be receiving a refresh in the near future. There are no details at this point on what's coming.

Logitech's Q3 earnings for the 2012 fiscal year don't have many surprises since the company already revealed it was dropping out of the Google TV team. In prepared remarks, company management confirmed it is completely sold out of new units, closing the door on any users still trying to nab a $99 Revue (who shouldn't be too heartbroken, since Vizio is promising a second gen unit is on the way at the same price).

Engadget

Well, that was fast. Just a couple of days ago, Western Digital dropped a big update on the WD TV Live family of devices along with a brand new remote control app for iOS devices, with the promise that an Android version of the app would be available soon. Usually that means a few weeks, not days. The Android version of the WD TV Remote is now available in the Android Marketplace and brings with it essentially the same set of features such as direct access to online services, gesture control, and an onscreen QWERTY keyboard for text input.

Only days after releasing an equivalent app for iOS, Western Digital has just released WD TV Remote, a free Android app that connects to your Western Digital set-top box over a WiFi connection and allows you to control it from any Android-based device.

Engadget

LG has announced a new version of their Magic Motion Remote Control, the Wiimote-style remote control that LG started shipping with their high-end TVs last year. This year's version of the remote control adds gesture support to make the remote even more Wiimote-like, a scroll wheel, and everyone's favorite new input system: voice recognition. The Magic Motion Remote Control only works with LG's TVs, but does seem to tap into the greater trends we are seeing with home theater control and interaction. While the new remote does look more ergonomic, I'm not so sure that letting some folks have 2D-to-3D conversion controls just a press of a button away is such a good idea.

LG just announced the 2012 refresh of its Magic Motion Remote Control. Last year's model let you navigate any 2011 LG smart TV like a Wii, and the refresh takes a new ergonomic design and adds voice recognition for text input, a scroll wheel, and "Magic Gestures."

The Verge

Now, please excuse me while my inner curmudgeon leaks out a bit. It used to be that flipping through the channels meant pushing a button rapidly. Now it requires flapping your arms and shouting at your TV. Anyone interested?

Lenovo is taking a second stab at building the ultimate HTPC remote control with the N5902 Multimedia Remote with Keyboard. There are a number of companies making tiny wireless keyboards that have been marketed to HTPC enthusiasts. Most such devices are about the size and shape of a cell phone, but the Lenovo keyboard remote is the first I have seen that seems to have been designed with one-handed operation in mind. I would have preferred to see one of Lenovo's classic ThinkPad nubs instead of a tiny trackball, but I do like the idea of a keyboard that I can wield like a remote control. In most cases I really only need to thumb a couple of keystrokes to complete a search or type in a URL. I know that for many folks the lack of a dedicated Green Button is going to be serious knock against Lenovo's little remote keyboard, but I suspect that its absence won't be missed quite so much with Windows 8.

I must say that I enjoy the new graphite finish of the N5902 much more than the N5901's glossy black that seemed to latch on to fingerprints. The underside is also matte, but replaces the topside's luster with a duller, lightly rubberized grip that does well for minimalist utility. Rounding up the visual splendor of the remote is the new chrome ring surrounding the keyboard, which also doubles as the left and right mouse buttons just underneath the space bar.

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