The first useful application I could envision for a voice activated home theater interface might be something like “lights!” another could be “off!” yeah I know these are things you could accomplish with a remote but sometimes searching around for a remote in a dark room can prove to be a frustrating experience.

Another cool what-if feature could be something like a bookmark, or look-up command for a song playing that you want to find later. The possibilities really are endless and as the iPhone as a remote platform gains strength, the more functionality the better.

B.Greenway

London-based integrator Steve Moore has created AirRemote, “the greatest little TV remote you’ve every used,” he says, “and way cheaper than most of the things in [CE Pro's] Remote Control round-up.”

Along with the AirRemote application for iPhone, the heart of the system is a low-cost communications box from Global Cache, which takes IP commands from the iPhone and converts them to infrared, serial or contact-closure for controlling everything from a home theater system to lighting controls to motorized blinds.

Air Remote works with the iPhone and iPod Touch. Here’s an example of the compatible IP to IR interface: Global Cache Home Network Adapter-8114

B.Greenway

So I’ve had an iPhone for a few weeks now but was just too busy to update. Simply put this thing rocks, without beating already familiar review points to death I’ll try and keep it brief. The learning curve on this thing is incredibly low, outside of not being able to connect to my mini because of an un-powered (underpowered) USB hub and not being patient enough to actually read the instructions, I haven’t had any significant problems whatsoever with the phone.

I have to say being able to catch up on Twitter and Digg while standing in line or waiting on someone makes me wish I’d dumped my “traditional” phone a long time ago. I’m screwed if someone comes up with a compelling game for this thing… Yeah I had a bit of buyer’s remorse right after the purchase but now that the sting of dropping the coin has subsided I couldn’t be happier with it. More importantly I couldn’t imagine going back to my old, cheap, featureless Nokia phone.

B.Greenway

There are several different play methods within LEGO Touch, including an architect mode, games mode which includes build-offs, pals mode where you can build your own LEGO pal which serves as your avatar, a share mode that allows you to share your creations with friends and a brick-bin feature that allows you to view, add or customize all of your building blocks.

[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=rXxTA-CQv_o 400 334]

This is just off the chart on the cool factor if you ask me. Now if I could just get that pesky not having an iPhone problem out of the way. Ah well it looks like I have time before LEGO Touch is available.

B.Greenway

I ran across this over at Gizmodo but on the off chance anyone missed it the first go-round, I thought it was interesting enough to share again. In a nutshell Touchpad.app allows you to use your iPhone or iPod touch as a touchpad to control a networked windows/linux or mac computer.

I’d love to try this out but as I don’t have a iPhone or iPod touch; I’ll just have to live vicariously through you, in comments, below, go ahead, I won’t bite. btw be sure not to miss the “detailed mac instructions“

B.Greenway