remote

There's a fine line, it's been said, between genius and insanity. And judging from its latest concept, Art Lebedev Studio has a foot planted firmly on each side.

The Russian-based design firm, a darling of technology circles, may have overdosed on creative license with its idea for the "Pultius" remote--which shuns the very notion of punching in multi-digit codes, according to Engadget, opting instead for 102 buttons that control 399 channels on a 20-inch-long bar. It would at least solve one problem: You'd never lose it between the cushions.

We think the designers got their … Read more

We didn't bother mentioning the laser-fighting cars when they came out, feeling that they paled in comparison to the laser helicopters released just weeks earlier. And both fall well short of the "R/C Laser Tag Shocking Tanks," which send electric shocks to your opponent's remote upon a direct hit.

But these remote-controlled bumper cars are a different animal altogether, melding the retro trend and the RC craze while retaining a good dose of mischief along the way. Each car has sensors that detect and keep track of contact; the first to get bumped three times … Read more

One of our original and most persistent gripes about the PS3 has been the lack of any sort of IR support that would allow you to program your universal remote to command the system. As you're probably aware, the PlayStation 3 uses Bluetooth technology for its wireless controllers, as well as an optional Bluetooth remote that's designed for movie watching. While home-theater buffs may love their PS3's AV capabilities, they tend to find the lack of IR really irritating. It means that every time you want to watch a movie (or play a game) on the PS3, you have to switch to a second controller. Not so with the Xbox 360, which has an IR port on its face.

One would think that Sony would put out some sort of IR dongle that would solve the universal-remote compatibility issue (or hopefully integrate IR into the next version of the PS3), but thus far, no such Sony dongle has emerged. However, a handful of other USB dongles are trickling their way onto the market. … Read more

Have you ever had to talk a relative through a complicated computer task?

"OK, start by opening a command prompt."

...

*crickets*

Support professionals--such as our IT team at CNET--employ software that lets them access PCs and fix problems remotely. However, Uncle Bob's lost photos are just as important as a VP's lost e-mail.

If you're ever in a situation where you want to control another person's PC or let a friend access yours, there are several excellent software programs that allow you to do so. Most are based on the open-source Virtual Network Computing software developed by AT&T. In fact, one VNC project, VNC Free Edition from RealVNC, is led by one of the main developers from the original VNC team.… Read more

This is not your father's remote-controlled boat.

Qinetiq's Sentry is a unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance craft that the company says "boasts an advanced stealth design" and can hit speeds of up to 50 knots. Only now it's just a little less stealthy as it gets its first public demonstration at DSEi, the Defence Systems and Equipment International Exhibition, taking place this week in London.

We're not exactly sure how Qinetiq will perform the demonstration. The Sentry is much bigger than a rubber ducky, or dinghy even. It's 11.5 feet from stem to … Read more

And here we thought the "Serene" phone was weird. Bang & Olufsen, normally one of our favorite tech-meisters, is again testing the limits of our imagination (if not patience) with another avant-garde design--from a remote control, of all things.

The new "Beo 5" eschews the compact and streamlined form favored by most of today's remotes, including its predecessor, instead looking something like a doorknob with an LCD glued onto it. Navigation is handled both by the click wheel on its aluminum ball handle and its touch screen, which has 12 "dynamic buttons" that … Read more

It was bound to happen: Two gadgets that act as remotes for each other.

That's right, the cleverly named "Find It" remote will locate your lost keys as long as their attached sensor is within earshot. But the opposite is also true (which, in our case, is far more important)--just click a button on the keychain, OhGizmo says, and your perennially misplaced remote will be magically found.

And it makes perfect sense that this latest invention should come from GE, which is apparently trying to corner the remote market with such creations as its "Flip&… Read more

No, this isn't from today's Main Event. But as the Apple hype machine churns at full throttle before the opening act, it's only natural for people to dream.

To wit: The "iRing" is an ingenious concept that combines fashion jewelry and iPod control with built-in Bluetooth technology to adjust volume and playback. Following the iPhone's touch-screen influence, it has touch-sensitive "function strip" too--though we wonder how practical it is for a piece of hand jewlery to have that feature, as it would seem to get bumped around a bit and might accidentally … Read more

Samsung may not have an iPhone, but it's determined to maintain the best-looking design in one undisputed category: home door-lock remotes. The "EZon SHS-1110" is a handheld device that controls Seoul Commtech's EZon Home Network System, according to Newlaunches, but it looks more like one of Samsung's sleek handsets or other gadgets.

After all, how many domestic security systems have a remote control with a touch screen housed in a case of alluminum alloy and tempered glass? (For that matter, how many have remotes at all?) Certainly none in the United States, anyway, at least … Read more