Entries in app (4)

Tuesday
May112010

A Tale of Two Car Kits

DateTuesday, May 11, 2010 at 10:04PM

MagellanTomTom

I don't have an iPhone because they aren't on Verizon yet but I do have an iPod Touch that I wanted to try turn-by-turn GPS on. So I purchased apps from Navigon, Magellan and TomTom. Then, since the iPod Touch doesn't have GPS built-in, I had to purchase car mounts that do have GPS receivers.

I purcahsed the Magellan Premium Car Kit for iPhone and iPod Touch on April 15th for $130 and the TomTom iPod Touch Car Kit (there is a seperate one for the iPhone) on May 1st for $150.

They both work as advertised but the TomTom side of things has more cons. For example, the TomTom app only works with the TomTom mount. Software prevents the app from working with the Magellan mount. Furthermore, you must remove the cover/case on your iPod Touch to use the TomTom mount.

Both mounts allow the iPod Touch to access GPS signals. Google Maps and every location aware app can use the information. The Magellan, Navigon and TomTom turn-by-turn GPS apps work great with the TomTom mount as mentioned above. All apps work with the Magellan mount too except for TomTom's app. Thankfully, the Magellan mount doesn't require you to remove your cover/case from the iPod Touch.

Each mount supports Bluetooth and they both sport an extermal speaker. The speaker on the Magellan is on the bottom and the TomTom speaker is on the back. Both mounts can be rotated into a landscape position as desired.

AuthorWesley Hester | CommentPost a Comment |
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Wednesday
Mar172010

Mobile Air Mouse Pro: HTPC Couch Control

DateWednesday, March 17, 2010 at 4:08PM

Instantly transform your iPhone or iPod touch into an air mouse, trackpad, and wireless remote for your computer! Sit back and surf the web, browse your photo library or control your music player from the comfort of your couch. Our air mouse uses the built in accelerometer to translate your hand motions into mouse movements on your screen. It can also operate as a trackpad, allowing you to control your computer with a single finger. Suddenly your iPhone has become an essential part of any home theater PC and a presenter's best friend. Using an innovative application notification system, the iPhone will always know what applications are running at any time and show the appropriate keys for that program, providing you with a single screen for controlling ALL your media and web applications. Source

For the price and the tagline above, Mobile Air Mouse Pro is a bargain and works well to control my HTPC.

Features

  • Accelerometer based mouse
  • Trackpad with vertical and horizontal orientation
  • Media keys with volume and eject controls
  • Web keys
  • Application switcher/launcher
  • Application notifications
  • Unlimited custom media and web remotes with scripting capabilities
  • Remote keyboard with modifier keys
  • Function keyboard with arrow keys
  • Oversized numeric keypad
  • Programable hotkeys (can be set to run a program or keyboard combination)
  • Scroll pad
  • Multitouch gestures (supports scrolling & right click)
  • Remotely wake up and put your computer to sleep
  • Password protection
  • Custom sensitivity settings
  • Foreign language keyboards
  • Supports Bonjour or static IP
  • Works over Bluetooth PAN (requires carrier support, currently not available on AT&T)
  • No screen size limitation. Works with multiple monitors
  • Works over WIFI, no line of sight limitations
  • Built from the ground up for Mac and Windows

RECOMMENDED

AuthorWesley Hester | CommentPost a Comment |
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Thursday
Feb252010

Logitech Touch Mouse: HTPC Couch Control

DateThursday, February 25, 2010 at 4:22PM

I downloaded Logitech's free Touch Mouse app onto my iPod Touch after running across it one day while searching the word "remote".  Now I can remotely control all of my computers via my Wi-Fi network.  This works especially well from the couch when I use my HTPC in the living room.

The app displays mouse buttons to click and a touch pad area to move the cursor.  A touch keyboard is also available and seems to have everything needed but the function keys.  What you type (touch) is displayed on the iPod's screen so you don't have to look up.  Overall, the app has proven to be better than the various wireless mice and keyboards I've used previously.  Thanks Logitech.

As I mentioned earlier, I was searching for the word "remote" in the App Store.  I found three other remote apps:

  • BD Remote (Sony's free remote app for their 2010 line of Blu-ray players)
  • pocket BLU (works with compatible players with pocket BLU Blu-ray discs)
  • DVPRemote (I'm currently using to control Roku boxes on my network)

RECOMMENDED

AuthorWesley Hester | CommentPost a Comment |
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Thursday
Feb252010

Website Redesign: Again

DateThursday, February 25, 2010 at 10:37AM

I've decided to welcome in the new year with a website redesign.  I am finally moving away from Microsoft FrontPage which has been discontinued for quite some time now.  I've moved to Squarespace which is even easier to learn and use.  Furthermore, I can now easily edit the website and add content from any computer with an internet connection or using an iPod Touch app.  Before, I was locked to the one computer I have with FrontPage installed on it.

I hope everyone enjoys the new look and blog format.  I for one already enjoy having an even easier and quicker way to make updates.  As my "free" time dwindles down to almost nothing and news hits constantly, every little bit helps.

Goodbye old site, you served your purpose well.

AuthorWesley Hester | CommentPost a Comment |
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