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Hi-tech remotes on wish list
Steve Dotto
Contributing Writer
I know we are still in early November, but this is the time of year we produce our Christmas shows, so in the spirit of the season I present my Christmas best bets, the gifts that will make all "nerds" jolly.
Logitech has a series of universal remote controls for your TV and home theatre system. They range in price from around $100 and top out north of $500.
A pretty piece of change for a TV remote, but in a home theatre setup they really show well. The idea is that they are true universal remotes controlling all our components: TV, DVD player, audio system, everything.
You can also program them to tasks, for example, if you want to watch a DVD, one button will power up the TV, DVD player, and audio system, and switch inputs to the appropriate devices; a task that might require juggling several remotes to get everything set up just right is reduced to a single button.
Convenience aside, the real brilliance behind the Harmony series is the software that allows you to program the remote. It is based on your PC or Mac, and it is a simple and effective point-and-click interface that programs the unit for any piece of entertainment hardware. You connect your remote to the computer via USB and you are done.
There is none of the programming in codes that plague lesser universal remotes. Also, their support is legendary. I have several first-hand reports on how knowledgeable their phone staff is. No outsourcing here.
HP has a new wireless print adaptor that converts most HP printers and MFD (multi-function devices) into wireless printers. It is a very elegant solution: a little box plugs into the printer, which enables WiFi access. They include a USB WiFi adaptor for your computers that aren't already WiFi capable.
The key to this product is that all the functions work over the wireless connection, so if you have an MFD you can wirelessly print and scan. They are very elegant, and in the modern home where there are several computers living on a wireless network, it is an ideal add-on that allows you to share one imaging device.
The folks over at VTech have a new Skype phone on the market that is a crossover device. It is a single handset that allows you to make regular phone calls over your existing phone lines (it is a regular old cordless phone), and it also allows you to make Skype calls over the Internet. The Skype phone is a rather ingenious design. The base station plugs into your PC via USB, you also connect your phone line to the base station.
The handset has two lines; select your land line and make regular phone calls, select the Skype line and your call is routed through your PC, over the Internet, and converted into a VoIP call with all the cost savings.
The Skype phone works flawlessly as far as I can determine. It's easy to set up and the quality of the currently free Skype calls is excellent.
At some point in the future making Skype calls to traditional phones will cost something, but at this point all those calls are free.
If you have been nice this year perhaps Santa will come through with one of these to make your Yule joyous, if you have been naughty Mr. Credit Card will do just fine as well.
Steve Dotto is the host and executive producer of Dotto Tech, Canada's popular computer show, seen locally on CityTV, The New VI and Knowledge Network. Write him with suggestions at columns@dottotech.com. Comments in the form of a letter to the editor are welcome.
published on 11/08/2006
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