Radio Collector's Afficionado's Resource

As one of over 140,000 attendees at CES, I now and again felt as if I were a lemming going along with the flow from one exhibit to another largely in awe at the whole extravaganza. If there was any united theme it had to be centered on the conception of digital integration. It was apparent in the inter-connectivity of gadgets in modus vivendi and environments for the workplace, home, and automobile.

Microsoft’s impressive exhibit illustrated the conception of interconnectivity the best with on-going demonstrations and exhibits illustrating the integration of their software and services.

HP and other booths illustrated how digital engineering science may be employed in each room of the house for convenience, comfort, productivity, security, and entertainment. Many exhibitors addressed only galore distinct elements of the integration possibilities. For instance there were a lot of booths committed to home security and the remote control of other home apps such as sprinklers, garage door, heating/cooling, hot tub/pool, lighting, video cameras and more. Some of the systems even integrated the use of a Windows Mobile device as a remote controller.

One entire hall was devoted to HD TV, video applications, furniture, sound, gaming, and mounting systems. With the advent of widescreen HDTV, a whole new style of furniture and interior design has emerged along with the home theater with particular seating, sound systems, mounting, and connectivity considerations.

By the way, I think I’d put my cash on Blu-Ray as the winner of the HD format war. Unless, by the time the dust settles, there is an completely new format available.

There were games some with special controllers and furniture. Judging from the cacophony coming out of a lot of booths, the air guitars seemed to be the most popular, but that’s wandering astray from the handheld computing world–well, actually not. Hands-On Mobile of San Diego, CA, presently offers Guitar Hero Mobile.

The automobile is surely a new focus and net income center for the integration of digital technology. Ford and Microsoft have teamed up to offer voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity, and GPS. For assorted years Ford has offered Sirius satellite radio, but now it will combine MSN features such as emergency road service, live traffic and road conditions, gas prices, routing and rerouting.

The President of General Motors gave a keynote making something publicly available indicating that GM has a few tricks up it is sleeve as well. The rest of the automotive world will not be far behind.

What amuses me, however, is that all these “new” features have been percentage of my automobile surroundings for years, thanks to my trustable Windows Mobile appliances with a few peripherals. But, I suppose the intermediate person would prefer a more simple integration approach with everything already built-in.

Mobile Computing Devices

While I tried to take in everything, I’m sure I missed a good deal of nifty stuff because it was all just so overwhelming. However, I did undertake to focus on two things: new Windows Mobile widgets and UMPCs.

I found various new WM6 devices, which I will review exhaustively as soon as I receive the evaluation units from Asus, Samsung, HP, Motorola, and Verizon. I was amazed at how few new widgets were declared or freed for the show. I’m not sure what HTC is doing and was never capable to catch up with them, but they are getting more closed mouth now that they are working with carriers and merchandising beneath their own name. Definite picks for best new releases include the Motorola Q9h, the Samsung shi760, and a new powerhouse iPaq Windows Mobile 6 classic release.

Since my article on UMPCs when they original emerged a couple of years ago, I have been observing to see if they would survive. While they have not and will not replace the Pocket PC, they have surely conventional a respectable niche in the market. I was delighted to see various new models available.

I will be receiving units from Samsung and Asus for review and will percentage my determinations soon. Suffice it to say for now that both companies have listened to user input and responded accordingly. You may look forward to galore improvements and inventions in this evolving platform.

Apart from the big name brands such as Sony, Panasonic, and so forth, there were hundreds of booths in the Hilton and Sands venues with littler manufacturer wannabees exhibiting galore treasures, but you have to dig for them. Accordingly, I found a couple of manufacturers of outstanding Windows Mobile gadgets and galore genuinely progressed UMPCs, which I hope to receive for review as well.

As for peripherals for our beloved pocket pals, I found a few gems that I will make part of my permanent pack.

Hands-Free Driving and Music

I’m always on the lookout for a good Bluetooth headset and headphones. I found both at the Jabra booth. My bestloved is the Jabra BT8030 Bluetooth speaker and headphones. This is a first-time combining that is distinguishable of the market. You may remove the headphones, fold them out, and they become speakers that broadcast your sound with Ziree Power Bass for a astoundingly full, rich sound environment. These are a ought to have in my mobile pack.

My only criticism of this other than as supposed or expected brilliant product is that you can not charge it thru a USB connection. However, you may suppose up to 32 hours listening time on a single charge and up to 600 hours standby time. They weigh just under 11 ounces. The suggested retail price is $250, but shop around and you may probably do better.

I’m always on the lookout for a comfortable BT headset that won’t fall out of my ear that is lightweight and not too ugly. Jabra came to the rescue again with it is new JX20 Pura, an elegantly crafted tiny titanium headset designed by Jacob Jensen the famous Danish designer. It weighs less than a bird’s beak so that you don’t even recognise it’s there. You may listen to music with it too when you’re not talking on the phone.

Its charging cradle is a work of art that will grace your desktop too. You may suppose up to six hours talk time, and it may be charged in your car or thru USB as well as AC. The sound quality is superb, and there is an automatic volume control.

This classy device will set you back as much as $179, which is a bit steep giving careful consideration to that you may buy a Bluetooth headset now for as little as $30, but you get what you recompense for.

Mobile Video Just Got Better

One of my all-time bestloved apps is getting better and better. I can’t imagine life without my Slingbox and SlingPlayer for my Windows Mobile widgets which allows me to view my favored live and recorded TV shows anyplace in the world with no per month fees.

The reason I say it just got better is that with the newly freed Pro-HD; you may watch full HD streaming and access multiple video sources. You may use it to stream HD video around your house to a desktop or laptop too. SlingCatcher will be coming soon, and it will make it possible to access your home video output from any video internetlocation on the Internet.

SlingPlayer 2.0 now comes with Clip+Sling, an application that allows you to record and send snips of videos, which is fun and exceedingly useful. Congratulations to SlingMedia for being one of the veritably innovative companies in the digital universe.

Video Eyewear

I have a another pick for CES favorite-MyVu.com, which is a video watching solution for portable devices. While this company seems hung up on iPods, it also offers a universal viewer that is supposed to work with all video output portable devices. What you get for $199 is a pair of glasses that projects video output as if you were observing it on a 27 inch screen. It’s a wondrous concept, but I’m not sure yet just what you may project. It was such pandemonium in the booth that I couldn’t get any worthy of acceptance or satisfactory answers.

My watching experience was that the effigy seemed small, isolated, non-involving, and low resolution. It could be that the game I was observing was not up to par as far as output is concerned, but what I saw left something to be desired.

Now, if you could view the output screen of your Windows Mobile device and anything that it displays in the same solution that appears in the palm of your hand, this would be a suitable gadget indeed.

My.Vu offers the Crystal 701, which is an graceful hand-free looking at eyeware device with earbuds and VGA solution and a USB rechargeable battery with up to 4 hours observing time.

There is likewise the shades 301 model with sunshades and up to 10 hours watching time. You may also get the Edge301, which is a more compact design for hands-free observing with earbuds and a 4 hour rechargeable battery. Check it out at www. myvu.com.

As I innovative through the show, I noticed that there were other similar devices. In fact, there are a great deal of contenders in this market, but none as traditionalisti as MyVu. Another contender that seemed a good solution is Vuzix, a company that gives rise to buyer video eyewear, medical devices, and tactical display-ware for the military.

The VR920 device simulates a 62″ observing screen but costs $399.95. The uttermost model costs $999.00. What a outstanding way to heighten the mini screen on your handheld device. Clearly, this is a wining application that extends the limitations of Windows Mobile device little screens.

Mobile Scanning and Printing

I not long ago submitted an article to Smartphone and Pocket PC magazine on numerous of the tools I commend for mobile productivity. I brought up a portable scanner and printer that I undertake to stay clear from toting unless I know for sure I will need them. That was before CES and my invention of an unbelievable pair of productions from PlanOn with it is DocuPen and petite printer.

I almost passed this booth as I had my eye on a imagination robot down the aisle when an beautiful woman asked me if I had ever heard of a DocuPen. She was waving what might be a high-tech wand at me that Harry Potter would be proud to possess. It looked like a more or less oversized ball point pen.

The formally presenting something blew me away, for all you have to do is wave it over any document or graphic, and it will record it in black and white, grayscale, or 24-bit full color.

It comes with PaperPort scanning software, weighs 1.75 ounces, runs on rechargeable lithium Ion batteries and features a micro-SD elaboration card for further and added storage. A Universal Mobile Charger accessory is good for up to 55 charges when a power source is not available.

Pair the DocuPen with the PS900 Printstik thru Bluetooth, and you have a powerful mobile solution. Of course you may also transmit a scanned effigy to your Windows Mobile device if you wish to use it in a PowerPoint demonstration or email it. Of course, you may print images already in your mobile device too.

The PrintStick is a mere 1″ x 1.9″ x 11″ and weighs 1.9 pounds including the thermal paper and cartridge. It prints up to 3 pages per minute on 8.5″ wide sheets. A cartridge will print 20 8.5 x 11 inches pages. Power choices include AC 120-240, DC 12/24V, and rechargeable Lithium-ion battery.

The suggested marketing price is $299 for each unit. Accessories are extra. In any case, this winning combining could be worth it is weight in gold on the road in emergency situations. I’m glad that lady waived her wand at me and that I didn’t turn into a pumpkin. Check it out at http://www.planon.com.

MagicJack

I have one more awful little device to share with you that impressed me even even though it is not precisely in the handheld realm. It’s the MagicJack, a distinctive VoIP solution. We’ve all heard of Vonage and Skype no doubt, but along comes MagicJack with a completely new approach to VoIP. Imagine a little box in regards to the size of a pack of strike anyplace matches with a USB male plug extending from it.

Just plug it into any PC USB jack, plug a regular analog phone into the other end, and commence talking. Local and long distance calls are free. This phone system has all the bells and whistles you would suppose from an pricey landline account such as voice mail, call waiting, and caller ID. It even has call forwarding so that you may forward calls to your mobile phone, which justifies it is inclusion in this article, I suppose.

The only cost involved is to buy the device for $39.95, which includes the introductory year’s service. With each account, you get an actual phone number that people may call in the normal fashion with any phone from anywhere. Thereafter, it’s $19.95 per year, not per month, per year. Never remunerate the phone company again!

Keep connected

Universal Control Theater 20 Device Mrf 200

PowerPak is a bundle that includes the MasterControl RF20 and PowerBlaster. MasterControl RF20 is IR & RF capable. No more pointing – altering the way a remote works. Control up to 10 components. Includes DVD Guide for quick & easy setup. Preprogrammed and learning – guaranteed to work with all components. Fully backlit keypad. Customizable LCD screen. 40 Built-In Favorites channels. 432 macros. WITH OPTIONAL POWERBLASTER FOR RF CAPABILITY. PowerBlaster is the RF power base employed with all MasterControl RF remotes. Picks up RF signals through walls, doors, floors – indoors and outdoors. Hide your parts in the amusement center or a cabinet. Use your remote outdoors on the patio, deck or porch. Up to 100′.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #521 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Gun Metal Grey
• Brand: Universal
• Model: RFS200
• Released on: 2006-06-30
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.75″ h x 5.75″ w x 13.50″ l, .48 pounds

• Macro Power – turn on or off all components
• Simple Sound – total volume control for all components
• DVD Guide Included for Quick & Easy set up
• Control up to 10 components
• Largest built-in code library
• Controls up to 10 gadgets including TV, DVD, cable, satellite & A/V devices
• Includes one MasterControl RF20 remote & 1 Powerblaster
• Learning option available to instruct commands from other remote controls

Universal Control Theater 20 Device Mrf 200 Pic

Universal Control Theater 20 Device Mrf 200 Photo

Universal Control Theater 20 Device Mrf 200 Pic

Universal Control Theater 20 Device Mrf 200 Image

134 of 135 people found the following review helpful.
Good Inexpensive RF Remote
By Ralph Taliercio
For the price (reduced to $80) this is a very decent remote if you need a remote with RF features.

65 of 68 people found the following review helpful.
Everything for a home theater control and more!
By orr333
So you want a home theater. Your wife says yes if you can hide that hideous stack of black boxes. Sounds simple. This remote makes it very simple. I shopped the competition’s options from Monster to the massive home theater controllers. Since my budget was not $500-$1500, I had to avoid the big controllers. It was between Monster’s and Universal’s.

See all 235 customer reviews…