Friday, September 30, 2011

Product Review: Logitech Harmony 1100 Universal Remote

Hobbled program guide saps Logitech Harmony Link iPad remote accessory

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We're still continuing to test the Logitech Harmony Link and will be posting a full, rated review soon. What follows are our first impressions after using the Harmony Link for a few days.
Turning your iPad or iPhone into a universal remote control isn't a new idea, but we had high hopes that Logitech could do it right, given the company's excellent line of Harmony remotes. The Logitech Harmony Link ($100) also goes one step further with its iPad app, by integrating the full listings of your local TV providers, letting you browse shows with a slick interface, rather than the clunky grid your cable company offers up. We've had the chance to play with the Harmony Link for a few days now, and although it has much of the typical Harmony functionality we love, it hasn't quite lived up to our expectations.
Design
There's not much to the Harmony Link. It's a sleek puck-shaped device with a glossy black finish, and just a few ports (USB, power and two IR blaster ports) around the back. There's an indicator light that just peeks out from the bottom and while it's useful for knowing the Harmony Link is working properly, we could always use less glowing LEDs in our home theater cabinet.
There are just a few basic ports on the back.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
In addition to the main unit, there's an AC adapter, USB cable, and IR blaster in the box. We thought the USB cable and corresponding port may have been an option for powering the device, but instead it's only used for setup.
Setup
Before you place the Harmony Link in your living room, you need to connect it to a PC for the initial setup. It's all browser based via Logitech's My Harmony Web site and you'll have to answer a series of simple questions about how your home theater is set up. (We were surprised that the My Harmony site doesn't support Google Chrome as a browser; we switched to Firefox.)
The most painful part of the setup process will be writing down all the model numbers of home theater devices, which might involve crouching behind your home theater cabinet. The only major hitch you may run into is if you own a PS3. The Harmony Link is IR-only affair and the PS3 only works via Bluetooth, so you'll have to shell out another $50 for a Logitech Harmony Adapter if you want to control your PS3.
Once the Harmony Link is configured, you'll need to place it in your living room. The Harmony Link "blasts" out IR commands like a standard remote control, so it's tempting to think you'll need to place it so that it's facing your TV and gadgets, but luckily that's not the case. Like last year'sLogitech Revue, the Harmony Link's IR-blasting capabilities are powerful enough to bounce off walls and objects in your room, so you can place it right under your TV pointed toward the couch if you want. It may seem like a feature that is just bound to be finicky and unreliable, but we've had nothing but perfect performance from both the Harmony Link and the Revue.
Can it replace your cable box's EPG?
The Harmony Link is really designed to be used with the tablet-size screen of the iPad. That's because rather than just duplicating the remote functions, Logitech also integrates full television guide data into the app, so you can browse your local TV listings using colorful images, rather than the clunky electronic program guide (EPG) built into your cable/satellite box.
The program guide is a great idea, but it's not that practical due to all its limitations.
It's a great idea, but our enthusiasm quickly wore off once we realized all the caveats. The first thing we tried to do is search for one of our favorite shows ("Parks and Recreation") to schedule a recording, and the search showed no results. That's because the search function defaults to only searching what's currently on, although you can also set it to search within a certain time frame, such as 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. That means you need to know when your show airs, which kind of defeats the purpose of searching for it in the first place.
It seemed strange that the Harmony Link app seemed so geared toward what's on now, until we ran into the other stumbling block: you can't really schedule recordings from the app. If you find a show airing in the future, the option to Watch Now is not selectable and there's no option to schedule a recording. Sure, you can switch over to the remote functions on the app, then schedule the recording using the standard onscreen display of your DVR, but again, that defeats the purpose of using the app.
While we understand that the ability to work that seamlessly with a DVR would require collaboration with cable and satellite companies, the lack of the ability to record really limits the functionality of the Harmony Link. (We had the same problem with last year's Logitech Revue, although the Revue at least offers deeper integration with some Dish Network DVRs.) We really love the concept of browsing TV listings and shows right in your lap, rather than several feet away on the big screen, but the experience just isn't satisfying with the current limitations of the Harmony Link.
Two screens is one too many
The other thing you'll quickly notice is that the iPad doesn't really make for a good universal remote. The problem with the iPad and other touch devices is that there's no tactile feedback. You need to look at the display to know what button you're pressing and what ends up happening is you find yourself constantly looking back and forth between the iPad and the TV. It gets tiresome quickly. With a standard Harmony remote, you can keep your eyes on the TV and navigate the remote's buttons by feel. The Harmony 650 may not seem as cutting-edge as the Harmony Link's iPad app, but it's a much better way to control your home theater.
What works well
It's easy for us to focus on the new functionality we found underwhelming, but it's worth pointing out that many of the excellent features that we love on standard Harmony remotes still work well. It's simple to program easy-to-understand activities like Watch TV or Watch a Movie and Harmony's database of IR codes is excellent. If you're dead set on using an iPad accessory to control your home theater, the Logitech Harmony Link is certainly better than the Peel Universal Remote Control we tested earlier in the year.
We're going to continue testing the Logitech Harmony Link with a few additional devices (it works with any iOS or Android device), but our initial impression is that although the Harmony Link shows a lot of promise, it needs work to live up to its potential.


Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20113079-1/hobbled-program-guide-saps-logitech-harmony-link-ipad-remote-accessory/#ixzz1ZStWCAPp
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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Apple board member Al Gore mentions 'new iPhones' coming in October

Apple board member Al Gore mentions 'new iPhones' coming in October
Published: 02:13 PM EST (11:13 AM PST)
 
Apple board member and former U.S. vice president Al Gore has gained attention and stirred up speculation for mentioning Apple will release new "iPhones" -- plural -- next month.

Gore mentioned Apple's next smartphones in a speech given Wednesday at the Discovery Invest Leadership Summit in South Africa according to The Next Web. The comment has added fuel to rumors and speculation that Apple could release a cheaper so-called "iPhone 4S" alongside a redesigned fifth-generation iPhone.

"Not to mention the new iPhones coming out next month. That was a plug," Gore is quoted as having said. He has been a member of the Apple Board of Directors since 2003.

Apple is expected to hold an event on Oct. 4 to announce its next-generation iPhone. It will be a later than usual debut for the handset, as upgraded models in years past have launched in the June-July timeframe.

As hype surrounding the next iPhone continues to grow, there has been speculation that Apple could introduce a second iPhone model this year, expanding the product lineup much like the company has done with the iPod touch, iPod nano and iPod shuffle beyond the iPod classic. Some reports have suggested Apple plans to release a new, less expensive model that could be sold contract-free and geared toward developing countries like China.

Gore


Of course, Apple also currently sells different iPhone options that vary in slightly different ways: the current-generation iPhone 4 is available in 16GB and 32GB capacities, and also has options for a GSM radio compatible with AT&T's network or a CDMA radio that works with Verizon in the U.S. The company also still sells the previous generation iPhone 3GS model, first released in 2009.

Confusion over the still-unofficial fifth-generation iPhone has persisted, as third-party cases and even a report from The New York Times have suggested the so-called "iPhone 5" will sport a new form factor. Those have stood in contrast to leaked parts andconflicting reports that have instead claimed that the next iPhone will have an appearance largely similar to the current iPhone 4.
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Monday, September 19, 2011

Apple said to release new iPhone 5 alongside China-focused 'iPhone 4-plus'

Apple said to release new iPhone 5 alongside China-focused 'iPhone 4-plus'
Published: 09:31 AM EST (06:31 AM PST)
  
J.P. Morgan revealed on Monday that its proprietary research suggests Apple will release two new iPhone models this fall: a newly redesigned "iPhone 5," along with an upgraded "iPhone 4-plus" that would target midrange smartphone buyers, particularly in emerging markets like China.

Analyst Mark Moskowitz said in the note to investors that he expects the new fifth-generation iPhone to have a thinner and lighter form factor, and to also include both CDMA and GSM radios for a "world mode" handset, though no support for 4G long-term evolution. The so-called "iPhone 5" is expected to have a larger Retina display with a "significant" but not "radically different" change in physical design.

"The new iPhone 5 stands to be based on the iPad 2's A5 processor or a newer A6 version," he said. "We also expect 1GB of RAM to increase memory access times.

"Other improvements are increased battery life due to advancement in battery technologies, the printed circuit board (PCB), the touch screen, and LCD power consumption metrics."

But the so-called "iPhone 5" won't be the only new handset from Apple this fall, Moskowitz claims.

"A second device (4-plus) based on the current iPhone 4 but with some minor improvements could target the midrange and focus on China," he said. "As for the current iPhone 4, we expect it to subsume 3GS as the lower-end offering."

Moskowitz said his research has indicated that the "iPhone 4-plus" could target one or more carriers in China. While he thinks a China-focused handset is in the works, he does not expect it to be exclusive to the nation of over 1 billion people.

iPhone 4


"There could be other use cases, particularly in the midrange," he said. "Either way, the size of the China opportunity overcomes any potential drawbacks of making a specially-designed service for a few wireless carriers in one region, in our view."

The details from J.P. Morgan come as components claimed to be from an upgraded iPhone 4 continue to surface. Their existence stands in contrast to third-party cases that suggest Apple will release a device with a completely different form factor for its fifth-generation iPhone.

Last week, The New York Times weighed in by claiming that Apple is "just weeks away" from announcing an iPhone 5 with a "fairly different" design. The next iPhone is expected to sport an 8-megapixel camera and be powered by the same A5 processor found in the iPad 2.

Moskowitz sees Apple adding new carriers when it upgrades its iPhone lineup, setting the company up for a "potential big bang" in terms of sales. He sees China Telecom, Sprint and T-Mobile as the most likely carriers to partner with Apple in the immediate future.

Last week, Moskowitz said in a separate note that he does not expect Apple to release a third-generation iPad this year. He said the company has prototypes for the device already circling in its supply chain, but Apple is in "no rush" to release the device as the market struggles to compete with the iPad 2.
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Thursday, September 15, 2011

Eleven awesome Gmail Labs features


Eleven awesome Gmail Labs features

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Gmail isn't just cool because it's part of the Google family of services, it also has many extra features created by independent developers. These features are available to you at no additional cost by enabling them in the Labs area of the Mail settings menu. Here's a collection of 11 of the most awesome Gmail Labs features to get you started with a personalized Gmail experience:

(Credit: Google)

Canned responses

While the name sounds like a vacation responder, it's more of a template insertion tool than anything else. You can add custom signatures or even a collection of courtesy read-receipts for customers.
(Credit: Google)

Google Calendar widget

No need to wonder if you're available for that meeting on Friday morning, your Google calendar will be right there to check your schedule with this feature.
(Credit: Google)

Google Docs gadget

If you receive Google Docs from your co-workers or boss, this feature can help save you time by showing you a preview of it right in your Gmail.
(Credit: Google)

Google Maps previews in mail

Curious where an e-mail is telling you to go? This feature adds a small and clickable map preview right inside of the message.
(Credit: Google)

Inserting Images

Not all images you send to friends, family or even co-workers have to be uploaded as attachments. This Labs feature lets you drop them right into the text body.
(Credit: Google)

Mark as Read button

Things like coupons or even a weekly summary of your finances are things you can look at later, but want to keep off your "unread count" now.
(Credit: Google)

Message Sneak Peek

Curious what a message from a friend says but want to stay on task? Just right-click to get a quick peek so you can move on with your more productive activities.
(Credit: Google)

Mouse gestures

Flip through your e-mail quickly by using only your mouse and the right-click button. This is great if you just need to glance over a collection of messages.
(Credit: Google)

Preview Pane

Normally you have to load each message individually, taking you away from the list of other messages you should be reading and/or responding to--not anymore. This feature can also be enabled/disabled with the click of a button.
(Credit: Google)

Sender Time Zone

International communication is a breeze via e-mail, but what if you need to call the sender to ask a question? Help keep the communication friendly by not calling the sender while they're sleeping.
(Credit: Google)

Undo Send

Forgot to add a recipient, or maybe you added too many? Perhaps there's a typo you caught as you hit send? Just click Undo send within a few seconds and you can make adjustments to the message.

Any of these Gmail Labs features can be enabled or disabled with just a few clicks, making it easy to find the perfect setup for e-mailing or chatting. 
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