Name: Griffin Beacon

Type: Universal remote control with iOS app

Specs: Click here for full specs

Price: £57 from Amazon

One device to rule them all? That's the idea behind the Griffin Beacon, a universal remote control kit that works in tandem with your iOS device to control all the gadgets in your house that use a remote control. But is the Beacon a shining light in a murky sea of universal remotes, or is your best bet to dig under the sofa for that dusty lost zapper? Read on to find out.

The Griffin Beacon is quite the looker. Best described as a similar size to a black Apple TV box with a shiny black pebble placed on top, it'll sit comfortably and stylishly alongside most AV set-ups. Powered by four AA batteries, it syncs with your iOS device via a Bluetooth connection and, when used alongside the Dijit controller app, lets you control as many as 200,000 home entertainment devices from your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch straight out of the box.

Set up was incredibly simple. Once the batteries are placed in the bottom of the Beacon, you push down on its curved top till you hear a "Frustration" style click, which sends out a Bluetooth signal. It's then just a case of syncing the device with your iOS gadget through the Bluetooth device menu of your Apple phone, mp3 player or tablet. Rather than an actual remote control, the Beacon actually works to convert Bluetooth signals from your iOS device into infra-red ones that your entertainment devices can understand. Therefore line of sight thankfully isn't needed to control the Beacon's many functions (though you'll still have to carry it around if you want to use it in multiple rooms). There are no control buttons on the Beacon; this is left up to the free Dijit app, which is very good indeed.

Upon firing up the Dijit app (which syncs and recognises the Beacon very simply) you'll be presented with a quick set-up screen which lets you select all manner of AV gear, from TVs to home cinema receivers, games consoles to stereos. Everyone from the big name brands like Samsung and Sony right down to the sort of budget brands you'd find in a supermarket bargain bin are supported, which is a great achievement. There are inevitably gaps in the device list (Roberts DAB radios weren't supported for instance) but the majority of gear is there. App software updates will continually update the device list, so it's worth checking back later, and the Beacon can also be "taught" other unsupported devices too, though that's not worth the complicated set-up it needs.

The Dijit app is simple to navigate and select different units to control, but perhaps its best feature is the level of customisation it offers. You can add tens of buttons for each device you want to control through the app, resizing buttons to fit what's comfortable for you, add custom buttons to run controls not found on your regular remote, or even remove buttons that you find no use for. The days of squinting at remote controls for a hard to find tiny button are long gone, and you can even use it to invent touchscreen gesture controls, like a two-finger swipe to adjust TV volume for instance.

Another great touch is the Activities feature. This lets you program the Beacon to perform numerous buttons at the press of a single button. For instance, you might set up an activity that turns on your TV, Digital TV box and home cinema speaker system all at once. It's a great time saver, and one that once set up would suit to a tee a technophobe who finds multiple controllers confusing.

As you can probably guess, we were very impressed by the Beacon. But it's not without its faults.

Firstly, the decision to run off of regular batteries rather than a rechargeable built-in one seems an archaic one. Two months worth of battery life is considerably less than I squeeze out of my remote controls. Though the wire-free set up is handy, it would have been nice to have had the option of using an AC adapter for those not planning on moving the Beacon about.

The lack of Android support is understandable for a device that's launching as "Made for Apple", and though there is an app in the works, it's disappointing not to see it ready at launch. Even more disappointing is the lack of native iPad app support; using that big screen to house multiple remotes at once would have been a superb addition over a blown up, stretched iPhone one.

Lastly, the Beacon lacks some functionality in the UK that its US versions have. In the US, users can check TV listings and share them via social networking sites with their pals; in the UK you cant. Likewise Netflix accounts can be browsed and managed in the US with the Beacon and Dijit app, and while Netflix may not be available in the UK, no suitable alternative (like Lovefilm) has been added to fill the gap.

Verdict:

Despite some quibbles, the Beacon remains a superb solution to having tens of chunky remote controls laying around your living room. iPad support and a rechargeable battery are the main issues holding it back from top marks, but the amount of customisation easily lets us see past the Beacon's few faults.

Versions of the BBC iPlayer video on demand service for web connected TVs and the PlayStation 3 games console get a refresh today to make its user interface even more intuitive.

Designed to make arm-chair navigation of the catalogue of programmes even easier, the Beeb have introduced the ability to flcik through channels, as well as a simplified search function among other improvements.

"BBC iPlayer has been tremendously successful. With today's announcement, we're transforming iPlayer in its most natural home: right on the living room TV," said Daniel Danker, BBC's general manager of Programmes & On Demand.

"By creating a product that's as simple and intuitive as flicking through TV channels, the BBC is bringing on demand television to mainstream audiences across the UK.

"Last week, Ofcom reported that 10% of TV sets sold in the UK are internet ready. But BBC iPlayer is already available on over 300 connected TVs and blu-ray disc players, which has resulted in a 5x growth of iPlayer on TV over the last 6 months alone. At this rate of growth, in the next few years we could well see over half of iPlayer use directly on the living room TV."

The update will hit the PS3 version of the service first, rolling out to over 300 more connected TV models in the coming months.

Logitech, the only company that's currently selling the Google TV, has cut the price of the device by more than half following disappointing sales.

Originally launched at $300 last October, now the "Revue" Google TV can be yours for just $99. This is not a response in preparation to launch a new Google TV, reports the FT, as all Revue boxes will be eligible for upgrades when a new version of the software is launched at the end of the summer. At this point, all existing customers will receive an upgrade.

Logitech has said the price cut is intended to boost product uptake, but the group admitted that in spite of a price cut to $250 back in May, demand failed to materialise. It now seems stronger measures are needed. The new price puts the Google TV at the same level as the Apple TV, which has fewer functions. The Google product gives you a wireless keyboard, allows web browsing and lets you stream content from computers located around the house.

The upgraded version of the Revue, due at the end of the summer, will be built on Android 3.1. It will offer a simplified user experience and access to the Android Market - two elements for which Google has received criticism.

UK consumers cannot yet buy the Google TV, but the progress of the technology is of interest as it affects how soon we can expect an international launch. The initial launch of the Apple TV many years ago proved the world was not yet ready for what was in essence a good idea, and from the first stumbles of the Google TV it could seem not much has changed.

We're all familiar with the Apple TV box, the little unit that sits under your HDTV and pumps premium movie content into your living room. But what of an actual Apple Television set? That's the rumour coming out of Daily Tech this morning, wh are claiming that an Apple branded TV is in the works, due to touch down this fall.

Speaking to an anonymous former Apple executive who says the set will "blow Netflix and all those other guys away", the source claims that Apple will outsource the manufacturing of the TV toa "major OEM" with no problem teaming with Apple as "if you have to be competing with somebody, you want to be competing with yourself."

This last bit we find hard to believe. Apart from the poorly received Motorola ROKR, Apple usually source multiple components from multiple manufacturers before eventually putting the parts together through their own Far Eastern factories such as FOXCONN. It seems unlikely that they would dream of partnering with Samsung, as the Daily Tech source claims they would.

That's not to say an Apple TV wont eventually arrive; an app-based TV using the App Store and the massive iTunes catalgoue would be mightily impressive. Just dont expect to see it by this Fal.

Loewe's collection of web-connected HD TVs are getting a software update today that sees Napster added to the growing selection of services through the televisions' online portal.

Napster will now feature in Loewe's MediaNet on all Individual LED, Connect LED and Art LED screens. The service allows users to download and stream some 15 million songs to their sets, and will be available for free for the first 14 days of use, after which a subscription charge will be required.

MediaNet allows websites and online services like Napster to be navigated with just a remote control, optimising websites for viewing on a HD TV.

Premium electronics manufacturers Loewe have just revealed their latest 3DTV range, called the Individual Compose.

Made up of three different sized sets (40, 46 and 55 inches respectively), the Individual Compose range feature a whole raft of top-notch specs. As well as the afore-mentioned 3D smarts, you've also got 2D upscaling, 400Hz motion processing technology for smooth action shots and a 500GB hard drive for recording shows directly to the TV.

The Individual Compse range also come complete with access to Loewe's MediaPortal, letting you stream content from a networked PC, as well as offering the MediaNet web-browsing application. Those lucky enough to have two Loewe TVs in their homes will be able to stream content saved on each between the two.

No word on pricing yet, but Loewe have a reputation for squeezing the most dough they can from bulging pockets.

Sony may soon be getting passive 3D panels from LG Display, the manufacturing house backed by rival TV brand LG.

Reuters are reporting that Sony are in talks with LG Display about adopting the FPR 3D technology first revealed at CES 2011. It'll come as a great boon for LG, making them a leading player in the 3D market through the Sony partnership, with the 3D market currently dominated by Samsung.

Should Sony go through with the deal, it will futher polarize the active vs. passive camps. Samsung's Yoon Boo-keun, president of visual display, has already stuck the knife into FPR 3D technology. He was quoted by the Korean Herald as saying:

"FPR would give some advantages in cost but that's all. FPR can't realise Full HD images as it has technological drawbacks, limiting its use to small-sized mobile gadgets."

Via: Reuters

It's a technology still in its infancy, and at least three years away from making it to a commercial product, but Samsung have revealed that their next generation of displays are to be powered by quantum dot technology.

Brighter and more energy efficient than either LCD of OLED, quantom dot tech is half the cost of AMOLED and have a longer life span too.

Quantum dot technology is made up of semiconducting nanoncrystals, illumintaed by a current or light. Controlled by an active matrix, each quantum dot-pixel switches on and off through a thin-film transistor.

Protoypes are in the works using both glass and flexible plastics, with Samsung planning to feature the technology in their TVs, mobile phones, tablets and media players over the coming years. LG have also displayed an interest, partnering with quantum-dot experts QD Vision.

So a little way in the future then, but it's looking brighter, and cheaper too, with quantum-dot displays in the mix.

Via: Technology Review / Electric Pig

God, we love LG's OLED displays at Tech Digest. From IFA to CES, they've wowed us with their super-thin sizes and superb clarity of 3D imagery. Now it looks as though LG are planning to bring the tech mainstream, announcing an expansion of their OLED manufacturing plans at a Q4 earnings call earlier this week.

Following the successful work on a new $226 million arm of their manufacturing plant vice president of LG Display Jung Ho announced that the company are to triple OLED production by the end of 2013.

These won't just be concept pieces either, but retail sets at very respectable sizes. A 31 inch model is due to hit shops in Europe and the US before the year is out, while a 55 inch prototype is expected to be teased at either IFA 2011 or CES 2012.

Our eyes are already writing up their Christmas lists.

Connected, or "Smart", TVs have seen a major push at CES 2011, with all major manufacturers putting out new and improved ranges for the new yeavr.

Perhaps the most committed to getting your TV web-savvy are LG, whose Smart TV range with Wii-Like Magic Motion remote features the slickest gesture-based interface of the bunch.

LG's George Mead talks us through the sets in the video above.

Mitsubishi hasn't been a big player in the UK TV market for a while now, but in the US they still churn out goodies like this. It's a 92inch rear projection DLP TV running 3D which you watch through active shutter glasses.

Gerald loves the image quality, but isn't too sure about the size of the set

Following a mixed reception to their internet-based TV service, Google are urging LG, Toshiba and Sharp to postpone the unvieling of their Google TV sets.

Though Sony have already outed their own Google TV, the other brands were expected to reveal their offerings at CES 2011 next month in Las Vegas.

The delay is intended to give Google some time to refine thier software. In a situation where all development is in-house that wouldn't be such a big deal, but with the numerous partners involved in Google TV, delays are inevitable.

James L. McQuivey, Forrester analyst, said: "Google as a company is not a particularly partner-friendly or partner-focused company", he continued:

"Google needs to learn some of those abilities [partnership skills and polished products] - both in terms of partnerships with broadcasters and working with hardware partners. You can give me the recipe for the absolute best chocolate chip cookies in the world, but until I put the ingredients together and bake them at exactly the right temperature for the right time, they're not cookies, and that's where Google TV is".

Via: NYT

Sony's range of web-connected Bravia TVs, blu-ray players and home cinema kits have just been updated with the Qriocity video on demand app.

"Video on Demand powered by Qriocity" (to give the service its full, clumsy moniker) will offer streamed rentals of movies from studios including Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Starz Digital Media, The Walt Disney Company, NBC Universal International Television Distribution, and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.

The service is also expected to hit PS3s in the near future, which is already served in the VOD stakes by the LOVEFiLM catalogue.

The service will hit compatible hardware as an over-the-air download, installing itself into the Xross Media Bar. Rental prices for Stand-def films start from £2.49, with newer movies costing from £3.49. HD content carries a £1-extra premium. Users can keep a film for 14 days, but must watch it within 48 hours of its first play.

If you're the lucky owner of an LG TV with web connected NetCast features, you'll soon be getting a free software update that will add nine new apps to your television.

BBC iPlayer, Acetrax, Google Maps, Facebook, Twitter and Vtuner apps are among the new additions, which will intall themselves the next time you enter the NetCast portal.

Stephen Gater, head of marketing home entertainment at LG UK said: "People want to be entertained and the role of the traditional TV is changing. We're committed to offering our customers a fully connected home and these new applications will further enhance our current offering".

"Having catch-up TV, movies, and social networking on demand will mean that people's TVs are truly the hub of the living room. Services like Facebook, BBC iPlayer and Acetrax mean that people can now enjoy what they want, whenever they like".

Name: Bravia KDL-60LX903 (Sony)

Type: 60" LCD LED Edgelit 3D TV

Specs: Click here for full specs

Price: £4,449 direct from Sony

Whether you buy into it or not, 3D is the future of TV viewing. Each of the major electronics manufacturers, be they Samsung, Panasonic, LG, Sony or other are investing heavily in the tech. And with all the major Hollywood movie studios buying into producing 3D content and broadcasters such as Sky and Virgin now offering modest 3D channels, there's no denying we're on the cusp of a home entertainment revolution. It doesn't come cheap, but if you've got a spare £4,500 lying about, Sony's Bravia KDL-60LX903 3D TV is one of the best with which to experience this latest high tech trend.

Measuring up at 60 inches across with dimensions of 144.0 x 93.8 x 38.0 cm including its stand, the KDL-60LX903 is a mammoth set that will dominate a living room and rival a trip to the pictures in terms of cinematic scale. 4 HDMI ports (2 side mounted and 2 rear), composite, component, Optical, scart and USB ports are among it's many connections. USB file support here wins out over the included DLNA networking, supporting a greater number of formats including AVCHD, DivX, Xvid, .mkv, JPEG, WAV and MP3 files.

Though much has been made of the "Monolithic" design of Sony's signature range, in reality it's just another black-bezel-packing, though admittedly sleek, flatscreen LCD. It's slim and glossy, but there's not much more to say than that about the design, barring a silver glowing Sony motif on the lower edge.

What it does have in abundance however is features. As you'd imagine from a flagship set, Sony have squeezed everything that they can into the KDL-60LX903, from web connected widgets to motion processing tech. But first we'll look at that headline feature; the TV's 3D abilities.

As the set uses active rather than passive 3D technologies, you'll have to wear a pair of powered active shutter glasses to enjoy 3D content on the KDL-60LX903. They sync up with the TV's built in 3D emitter at the push of a button, and are light and comfortable enough to wear for prolonged periods of time. However, only two pairs of the £100 specs are included out of the box, which seems rather stingy given the £4,500 price tag. Bigger families will either have to cough up for a few more pairs or take it in turns, which considering the relatively small amount of time you'll spend viewing 3D content as opposed to 2D TV on the set, perhaps isn't so painful a proposition. The glasses are bespoke too; as it stands you wont be able to use any other manufacturer's specs with the set.

3D pictures are up there with the best we've seen from rival brands. Though the slightly tinted glasses do result in muted brightness levels, there was little crosstalk and only minimal ghosting across the fairly wide variety of content we watched, be that 3D Blu-ray or Sky 3D. The Sky 3D broadcast of Monsters VS Aliens was colourful with a strong sense of depth as was BUGS!3D which makes for a very nice showcase of the subtle depth of field tricks that can be applied to 3D broadcasts and creepy crawly antenna alike. 3D Blu-ray playback of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs likewise handled movement in 3D well, though we did notice a slight flicker when lots of meat-based foodstuffs jumped from the screen at once. All in, it was an impressive performance that made us long for a day when more content would be available in 3D.

The KDL-60LX903's solid 3D performance is obviously in a large part bolstered by the quality of the set's panel, which is perhaps even more impressive in 2D. It manages superb black levels, despite LCD sets notoriously being less adept at this than their plasma counterparts. The edge-lit LED helps achieve this, though we did notice that this led to some unnatural light spillages in scenes from the Predators Blu-ray we tested when darkened corners and bright light sources were at distant ends of the panel. It was a minor and rare complaint, and when weighed against the sharpness of the HD image and superb colour spectrum, including an excellent grey-scale range, it was more than bearable. It's also worth noting that the screen's out-of-the-box default picture settings were far easier on the eye than the usually garish show-room set up most sets flaunt upon switching on, meaning you'll only have to fine-tune rather than overhaul settings when you initially fire it up.

Despite the obvious attraction of having a quality 60 inch 1080p screen in your living room, the KDL-60LX903 is full of image boosting features that, when used in moderation, can improve the picture measurably. The BRAVIA ENGINE 3 remains one of the most detailed processing engines and did a good job of smoothing out standard def broadcasts over the large screen. There was still some noise and artefacting when watching shows from the built in Freeview HD tuner, but considering the size the low-res shows were being blown up to, it did a better job than other humongous screens we've tested before. The MotionFlow 200Hz PRO is a more mixed bag; on the more subtle settings it comfortably reduces blur effects in high speed scenes, but can lead to strange floaty movements if cranked up to the more severe settings. Apply with caution.

As with many flatscreen TVs, the KDL-60LX903 suffers from weak speakers. The sheer space between the two 10W speakers either side of the screen gives very good stereo separation. However , there's very little bass or definition between mids and trebles. Tweak the mixer too high on any setting , particularly the bass, and all you'll cause is rattling sounds from the casing itself rather than a sonic improvement. Of course, if you can afford a TV this expensive you've likely got a dedicated sound system anyway, but at this price range the sound quality just isn't acceptable.

With built-in Wi-Fi or optional Ethernet cable, the TV opens up to a wealth of web connected options, many of them very good indeed. From sports courtesy of Eurosport and FIFA to catch-up TV via Demand Five or movie rentals from LOVEFiLM, if your web connection is up to scratch these portals will provide you with hours of quality content. The YouTube app in particular should be commended, managing to take extremely low quality images and polish them up to a respectable level even when blown up to 60 inches. There is also a selection of widgets, including news and weather feeds, as well as Facebook and Flickr access. They offer basic functionality and overlay onto the screen sensibly, though any that require extensive text entry can be a bit fiddly to use with the remote control.

To be fair, the remote control isn't too bad. There's a dedicated button for accessing the 3D set-up options, as well as one for quick access to internet features and pre-set scene selection modes. The Xross Media Bar works well as a menu-layout system, with a four-way joypad and central clicking button for input confirmation. The directional buttons sit a little too closely to another ring of buttons however, which can lead to unintentional button presses, and it could be argued that the whole remote is just a little too long. Still, the HDMI-CEC control at least means you'll be able to control all CEC compatible devices from the one remote, which is a nice touch.

The Intelligent Presence Sensor is also a cool, if excessive feature. But hey, you're spending four and a half grand on this thing, lets live a little! It will control brightness and contrast levels depending on ambient lighting, and warn you if you're sitting too near to the screen. Most interestingly, and arguably creepily, it can also recognise which family member is sitting in front of the screen, and recommend shows based on their viewing habits accordingly. It's not intrusive, but it's unlikely you'll find much need for it.

It's not without its faults, but there's an undeniably luxurious feel to the KDL-60LX903. It's so feature rich and provides such a cinematic movie watching experience that you may never go to your local Odeon again. 3D performance is very good, and while the speakers are a let down, the many top-notch web connected apps keep its final score high.

4/5

Earlier this year we wrote about People of Lava's Android TV - the Scandinavia.
Now the worlds first Android TV is available in Sweden for 40,000 Swedish Krona (just over £3,600). People of Lava are hoping to sell over £18 million worth of the TVs in 2011, and raise the £8.5 million in funding needed for the international launch (specifically the US and UK)

The 55-inch Scandinavia comes loaded with a number of widgets including Google's Chrome web browser, Facebook, YouTube and Google Maps. There is also access to a dedicated app store and which they hope to have over 1,000 apps in before 2011.

Check out the TV in action at IFA early this year above.

New-kids-on-the--consumer-electronics-block Kogan are preparing to set up shop in the UK, and are looking to take on the extortionate prices of "rip-off Britian" head on.

The company have been doing roaring trade over in Australia, offering prices 20% to 50% lower than the competition by being both manufacturers and retailers.

"UK consumers have been paying rip-off prices for everyday electronic goods and that should not be happening. We are here to shake up the market and transform the face of consumer electronics so customers get a fair deal" said Ruslan Kogan, CEO.

"UK High Street retailers all have a web presence, which is commendable. But why are they charging the same prices online as in store? Is it fair that an online customer should be helping pay for the rent, overheads and other inefficiencies associated with selling through a shop? Selling online is all about efficiency that benefits the customer - the current situation has to change. Kogan is built on the belief that 'there is always a better way'".

Kogan are starting their UK invasion with their own branded range of HD TVs and GPS devices. Take a look at what they have on offer by clicking here.

Though the televisual buzz-word this year has shifted from high-definition over to 3D, there's still a lot of folks out there who can't tell their 1080p resolutions from their Teletext menus.

Hoping to clear things up a little are the Freeview team, who have today launched an online guide to not only promote their wares, but also clear up the confusion surrounding the many ways you can enjoy their Freeview, Freeview + and Freeview + HD services.

Reviews of DVRs, PVRs and Freeview enabled TVs sit alongside guides to whats on offer from the four subscription free HD channels they offer.

Take a look by clicking here.

Sharp has announced the launch of two new AQUOS LED backlight TVs - the LE210 and LE320.

These flat screen TVs are ultra slim measuring just 46mm and come in both 32" and 37".
Both models come with the full works, including full HD, built-in freeview and Dolby Digital Plus surround sound. Sharp has also included their own version of TiVo known as TimeShift, which allows you to pause, rewind and record live digital TV programmes.
An interesting addition to these sets is the ability to record your favourite shows directly to a USB memory stick so that you can watch them later either on the TV, or on your laptop. A function we are sure those pirating TV shows are going to love!

The TVs will be available in shops from early November with the 32" available from £499 and the 37" from £599.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the remote control. A device that when were not searching for it, we are fighting over it.

To celebrate the anniversary of the remote, Logitech commissioned a study to understand just how us Brits use this staple living room accessory. It turns out there are a handful of us TV watchers who may take controlling the remote a little to seriously, with a 28% of us saying we would prefer to give up our toothbrush than our remote! Clearly these people aren't doing any snogging on the sofa, but then apparently an astonishing third of British TV lovers would rather give up sex for a month than the control of the TV. So it doesn't seem like much of anything is happening on the sofa.

The study also showed just how many people still struggle to use their remote and that 90% of people wish they had a universal remote for all their entertainment systems. Which shockingly Logitech makes.
If you are in the market for a universal remote, you can check out their Harmony range here.