Tag Archives: remote control

Griffin Unveils Moto TC Monster and Moto TC Racer iOS R/C Cars

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Griffin makes all sorts of accessories for Apple products like the iPhone and the iPad. The company has unveiled a couple of new toys that use iOS devices as controllers. The toys in question include a monster truck and little racing dune buggy called the Moto TC Monster and the Moto TC Racer.

moto tc monster racer

The Monster is available right now and sells for $59.99(USD). It uses Bluetooth connectivity from the smartphone to send signals to the vehicle for control. The vehicle can be controlled using fingers on a virtual steering wheel or by tilting the device using its motion sensors. The controller app also features a slide controller where you can slide your finger back and forth to direct the truck.

moto tc monster

Drivers can also set up a preset route to have the truck automatically run a specific route with no interaction. The Racer is a smaller buggy style car that will launch in the middle of November for $29.99. It will use an integrated RF sensor and an accessory that plugs into the headphone port of your device. Its app will support control using virtual steering wheel or motion. Both devices require iOS 5.0 or higher to operate.


CarBot R/C Car Driven by Tablet or Smartphone

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Over the years, I’ve seen more than a few remote-controlled toys that use the iPhone or other smartphones as their controller. Several of these little devices have come from a company called DeskPets. DeskPets is back with another cheap remote controlled toy that uses Android or iOS devices as the controller.

deskpets cartoy

The new toy is called the CarBot and it is available in four different colors including red, blue, green, and yellow. Each of the different colors operates on its own infrared code allowing up to four of the cars to be used at one time. The car features a battle mode that lets players challenge each other and even fire virtual rockets at each other to take down their opponents.

deskpets cartoy detail

The CarBot also has a maze mode that allows players to set up a maze for the toy to navigate precisely. It also has a personality mode with sounds and lights as well as a mute button for noiseless play.

The little CarBot is able to race at up to 2 feet-per-second, and recharges using an integrated USB connector. It takes 40 minutes of charging for about 15 minutes of play. The CarBot can be purchased now at Brookstone, Best Buy, and Toys “R” Us stores for $29.99 (USD).


Viper SmartStart Siri Support Lets You Start Your Car with Your Voice

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Viper is one of the better-know automotive accessory companies out there when it comes to keyless entry systems, remote starting systems, and car alarms. One of the coolest products the company offers is its Viper SmartStart system that uses your smartphone as the controller.

The system supports the iPhone and various Android devices. Viper has announced a new update specifically for iPhone users that adds compatibility with Siri.

smart start siri

The update only works for users that are using an iPhone 4S or an iPhone 5 running iOS 6. If you’re running a supported iPhone and the latest version of the operating system, you get Siri interaction that allows you to start your car using your voice. The update allows the user to launch the app using the phrase “SmartStart” and the app can be set to execute specific commands such as start the car when it opens. The updated app is available now.


Rdio posts Android beta app with new sidebar UI, unified playback and remote control

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Rdio posts Android beta app with new sidebar UI, unified playback and remote control

Rdio has spent a large part of 2012 revamping its mobile app, and a new beta shows that it's still full of ideas with two months left to go. The 2.3 test version makes the ubiquitous hidden sidebar even more unavoidable than we've seen before, but those not irked by UI homogeneity will be happy to see Rdio gain some multi-device harmony: along with syncing whatever's being played from desktop to mobile and back, the beta introduces a remote control that lets Android gear either serve as the remote or as a target for other devices. A play-later queue persists across devices, too. Although we haven't been given a timeframe for the finished version pushing out through Google Play, there's nothing stopping avid subscribers from taking a slight risk with the beta and getting a taste of their musical future.

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Rdio posts Android beta app with new sidebar UI, unified playback and remote control originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Romo’s return: the cute little smartphone robot wants to steal your heart again

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Romo's return the cute little smartphone robot wants to steal your heart again

The first time we saw Romo, it was a fledgling Kickstarter that received our Insert Coin treatment. It went on to achieve its funding and even landed on our stage at CES. Now, the team behind it are back with a new updated version. The latest iteration boasts an all new circuit board, plus updated software and hardware -- along with the promise of an API for developers. If that sounds cool, that's because it is, but there are even loftier plans afoot if they secure a second round of funding. Remote 2-way telepresence, Roomba-esque navigation learning skills, facial recognition and Computer vision to name a few. So if you're an iOS-owning (no Android at this time) robot fan, you'd better scoot on over to the source and be lured in by its cutsie little grin (again).

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Romo's return: the cute little smartphone robot wants to steal your heart again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple TV Remote Control gets Explored

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Apple seems to be stuck in bringing us the TV revolution. The cable and TV studios are according to rumors not inclined to let Apple walz in and take control with an Apple TV or Apple TV cable box....

Alcatel-Lucent flies Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 over 3,280 feet using LTE: reach out and buzz someone (video)

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AlcatelLucent flies Parrot ARDrone 20 over 3,280 feet with LTE reach out and buzz someone video

The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 is many good things, but "long-ranged" isn't what comes to mind with a 165-foot maximum distance between pilot and quadrocopter. Not to be daunted, Alcatel-Lucent has conducted a test with an ad hoc LTE network, a USB modem and a smartphone to see just how far the remote-controlled aircraft could go on 4G. In practice, quite far: thanks in part to the inherently wide coverage of the 800MHz band in France, the team flew the AR.Drone more than 3,280 feet (one kilometer), all while streaming 720p video of the farmland below. Besides giving us ideas for a North by Northwest remake, the flight emphasized the possibilities that come when we have access to a long-distance wireless link with high bandwidth, such as monitoring crops or some very literal field journalism. The challenge will be convincing Alcatel-Lucent to share its trick and let us pester our not-so-next-door neighbors.

[Thanks, Vincent]

Continue reading Alcatel-Lucent flies Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 over 3,280 feet using LTE: reach out and buzz someone (video)

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Alcatel-Lucent flies Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 over 3,280 feet using LTE: reach out and buzz someone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 22:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitech Gets Official with the Harmony Touch Universal Remote

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Logitech has officially announced its new Harmony Touch universal remote control. This remote control leaked previously and was spied around the web after turned up early at Best Buy location. Now...

Lockitron launches iPhone-controlled keyless lock that pings you when someone knocks (video)

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DNP Lockitron

Lockitron has just outed a new cellphone-controlled keyless entry system, sporting a raft of new bells and wireless whistles. The WiFi-connected product mounts over your existing deadbolt "in seconds," according to the company, and lets you or those you trust control your lock from anywhere in the world by SMS or the internet. You can also unlock your door in person without lifting a finger if you have an iPhone 4S or 5, as the Lockitron will sense your approach using Bluetooth 4.0 -- a feature that may extend to NFC and Android devices in the future, too. To top it off, the system can notify you when a friend or relative returns home, and it has a knock sensor to let you know if someone's come by to visit. Lockitron exceeded its self-imposed minimum order limit by 250 percent in less than a day, so if you'd like to pre-order one at the current $149 price and get it for March 2013, hit the source.

Continue reading Lockitron launches iPhone-controlled keyless lock that pings you when someone knocks (video)

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Lockitron launches iPhone-controlled keyless lock that pings you when someone knocks (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 07:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitech Harmony Touch Universal Remote: Swipe to Watch TV

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I’ve had a Harmony 800 remote control since long before Logitech acquired them several years back. It’s a great device, thanks to its easy web-based programming, massive device library, and activity-based commands. But the interface and product design has always felt a little dated to me. Logitech hopes to change things up a bit with their latest remote, the Harmony Touch.

harmony touch 1

This new remote has a 2.4″ capacitive touchscreen interface that’s reminiscent of the one you might find on your smartphone, complete with thumb-sized icons. The cool thing is that you use simple swipe gestures to move between activity screens and to scroll through your list of channels. It will also support swipe gestures for things like fast-forward and rewind of video content.

harmony touch 2

Sure, there’s already a Logitech Harmony app and Link device for the iPhone and iPad, it’s really hard to use a remote without some physical buttons. I much prefer the design of a remote with hard buttons – especially for navigating menus and changing volume in the dark. The Harmony Touch has ample tactile inputs, including dedicated playback, volume, channel and D-pad controls among others. As with other Harmony remotes, the Harmony Touch includes a rechargeable battery and a docking station included.

All told, the Harmony Touch can control up to 15 individual devices out of a library of over 225,000. I’m not sure if it can learn from other devices, but based on past Harmony remotes, I’d guess it can. That said, it only appears to support IR devices and not RF.

The Harmony Touch will be released this month for $249(USD). That’s a bit more expensive than I was hoping – I really wanted this thing to be $149 to $199 – but it still looks like a worthwhile upgrade for old Harmony remotes. Some have but apparently some have already popped up at Best Buy, so they’re already in the supply chain. For now, keep your eye out on the Logitech Harmony website for more details, or pop by your local Best Buy to see if any are out on the shelf.