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DIAL support from Netflix, YouTube helping merge content delivery devices, take on AirPlay

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by Jeff Causey on
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In case you haven’t noticed, in the world of consumer electronics there is a continual effort going on to enable consumers to share content between their mobile devices and non-mobile devices like TVs. An example of this is Apple’s AirPlay system that gives users the ability to mirror iPad or iPhone content to their Apple TV. Apple’s solution enables some other features as well like initiating playback of remote content. Key to this is the ability to discover AirPlay capable devices. Great if you are part of the Apple ecosystem, not so great if you use other solutions or have hardware from other manufacturers. Netflix and YouTube hope to provide an alternative for non-Apple consumers and have launched DIAL with the backing of several other parties. Companies like Samsung, Sony, Hulu and the BBC are backing the effort to develop and implement the DIAL protocol. » Read the rest

HTC One X Camera Shutter Remotely Controlled By Bluetooth Headset

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by Ed Caggiani on
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What’s this? Apparently the shutter on the camera of the HTC One X (and perhaps the whole One series) can be controlled remotely by some Bluetooth headsets. That’s a pretty cool trick. Someone from ePrice, a Chinese tech forum, has posted a video of a few different Bluetooth headsets remotely taking pictures through a One X.  The button combinations differ between headsets, so if you’re going to try it with your gear, make sure to try double and triple-clicks on each of the buttons. Who knows, you may get lucky! If you do, let us know in the comments which headset worked and what the button combo was.

Check out the video after the break.

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Stanford Students Demo 5 Cool Tricks Using Your NFC Capable Phone &Television (Video)

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by Joe Sirianni on
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I bet you didn’t know Stanford had some cool nerds on their roster did you?  Yep, some of the folks over there decided to tinker around using an NFC enabled Android device along with a remote control also housing an NFC chip.  Check out what these guys have managed to come up with:

  • Display photos in a slide show
  • Collaborative Whiteboard
  • Slide Show Presentation
  • Play Online Poker
  • Stream Netlix Videos

Check out the quick demo below where you can see all of these in action and don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments below.   I don’t know about you, but I love when nerds get bored.  They always wind up producing something useful for the rest of us :)  For more information hit up the source link to check out their blog at Stanford.edu

Video Demo

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via: Stanford MobiSocial News

Tablet Remote – Phones and tablets in harmony

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by Jim Farmer on
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You all reading this are likely Android aficionados, and being such many of you likely own both an Android phone & Android tablet; I do, and I’m always looking for ways to make them a dynamic duo. Incidentally that’s how I came across this app, Tablet Remote. The goal of tablet remote is to allow you to send commands to your tablet from your phone, although it can really go both ways. You can send common input like “Back”, “Home”, “Menu” or “Search” as well as more special commands like “Play”, “Next” or “Previous.”  It also has a special input that I’ll get to in a moment.

I’ve been using this app to control my docked tablet playing music through my stereo speakers. It’s superb for that. I can see it being great for video playback as well when your tablet is tethered to the back of a TV through HDMI. It’s also great for Super Nintendo, which incidentally brings me to that special input. Turning your phone to landscape mode changes the controls to either an Xperia control layout or Super Nintendo layout. What’s more, a friend can pair with the tablet at the same time and play Nintendo with you as player two.

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Desk Pets TankBot for Android

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by Jim Farmer on
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We’ve seen some pretty awesome remote control toys with Android control lately, like the Parrot AR Drone and the BlueDrone Race Car, but perhaps the price tag on those were just a bit too high. Desk Pets has something for you. They’ve just released the “TankBot,” a palm sized treaded robot you can control with an Android app. This is achieved via a universal remote plugged into your headphone jack, so make sure your device is on the compatibility list. The robot charges over USB, so potentially you could charge it with your Android device, provided it can be a USB host (typical of Honeycomb tablets). The battery life admittedly does not receive the gold star of approval at a mere 15 minutes. Nevertheless, its a neat little gizmo that can be had for $25.

Also, Developers, Desk Pets has open sourced the TankBot and they’re looking for developers‘ cool ideas. The top five ideas they receive will in turn get a free TankBot to develop with.

Video & QR code after the break

» Read the rest

New Android app “autowipe” clears your phone data before you get a chance to forget to

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by Dustin Karnes on
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We all want it: remote wipe for our phones. Can we do it through terrific apps like Lookout? Of course we can – and we do! But, sometimes we need a little extra help… like to wipe our device automatically when it gets into the wrong hands. How about a device wipe after too many wrong password guesses from the lockscreen? Or after receiving a special password via text? Or how about after the SIM card is changed (my personal favorite)!?

Well, thanks to the genius minds over at XDA (who else?), we now can say “yea… my phone does”. The app is called Autowipe, and – while not new to the community, it has been out since July of 2010 – is now complete with a test mode, allowing users to test out functionality without, you know…. killing everything on your phone.

Be sure to hit the source link below to check out the full thread at XDA. Was there ever a time you could have used autowipe? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

[via xda]

PocketCloud Update Brings Remote Desktop App Compatibility for Honeycomb Tablets

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by Michael Murphy on
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Wyse Technology has released an update to its PocketCloud remote desktop app for Android. While version 1.2 of this app should give all users an increase in performance, what makes this update particularly noteworthy is its compatibility with Honeycomb tablets. It also brings the Auto Discovery tool, to allow for easier detection of clients and logging in. Users of PocketCloud, be sure and and grab the update. If you aren’t already a user but might like to be, grab the free version of PocketCloud or the Pro version for $15 from our Apptly Android database. Catch the full press release after the break.

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Sonos Hits a Snag With its Sonos Controller for Android, Delayed ‘Til Mid-April

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by Michael Murphy on
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Sonos is a very popular multi-room music system, pumping music through your entire house. What’s the only thing that can make a multi-room music sytem better? Being able to control it from your phone, of course. Well, we assume that if you’re reading this, you’re probably an Android user, and if you’re an Android user with a Sonos system, you’re waiting for the Sonos Android controller app eagerly, which has been talked about a bit in the past. Well, Sonos has just issued an update to let us know that it has been delated until mid-April, but it is still on the way, so your wait won’t be much longer!! A few more weeks, and you’ll be able to control your entire music system from your phone…and let’s face it: that’s what owning an Android phone is all about. Power, flexibility, and convenience.

“We know you’re anxiously awaiting the Sonos Controller for Android. Unfortunately, testing the app is taking a bit longer than we anticipated. The latest addition to our free controller line-up won’t arrive until April, but when it does, it is going to rock.”

[via Sonos blog]

Sprint Evo 4G Modified With Wiimote For Some Nintendo Emulation Goodness

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by Joe Sirianni on
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Talk about having too much time on your hands.  This Sprint Evo 4G Android enthusiast has taken it to the max with what has to be one of the craziest concoctions we’ve seen in a long time.  The Android user, Jack Malone, is responsible for what is being dubbed as the “Evotainment System”.  He managed to add to his Evo a Wii racing wheel made by Nerf, drilled it out and created  a classic looking controller.  The backing is supported by a strip of 3M dual lock.  He then somehow attached a universal GPS mount to top it off and hold the monstrous Evo.  Bluetooth capabilities make it all happen and works seamlessly with the emulator.  There you have it folks.  This is what happens when a hard core Nintendo fan answers his urge for integration with his favorite OS.  Let us know what you think in the comments below.  Hit the break for more pics, courtesy of the guys over at a little o’l site called Engadget.   » Read the rest

Samsung TV Remote App Released For Galaxy S And Tab Devices, Available For Download In The Market

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by Joe Sirianni on
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Samsung announced that they have released their TV remote app for both the Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab devices.  The remote sports pretty much all of the functionality you would see on a standard remote, only with a sleek and sharp looking UI.  As of now, the application is not available for any other device, hence the reason it will not appear for you if you search for it in the market.  In addition, we are told that there will not be an apk around the interwebs for you to sniff out.  Who knows, maybe our boys over at XDA can take care of that. » Read the rest

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