AllThingsD » Logitech

Logitech Harmony Ultimate Remote Pairs Up With Smartphone Apps, Mood Lighting

Bonnie Cha — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:52:36 +0000

Though Logitech is looking to sell its Harmony remote division, the company is continuing to release new products like the Harmony Ultimate and Harmony Smart Control, and is still expanding the capabilities of the universal remote.

Announced today, the Logitech Harmony Ultimate is the higher-end version of the two remotes, and is designed for the user who invests a fair amount of money on their home entertainment system.

Priced at $350, the kit includes a 2.4-inch touchscreen-enabled remote, much like the Harmony Touch I reviewed a couple of weeks ago, but with a couple of improvements. It now has a motion sensor, so the display awakens as soon as you pick up the remote. The screen also vibrates when you touch it, to let you know that it has registered your commands.

Meanwhile, the Harmony Smart Control is more of an entry-level model. The remote doesn’t offer a touchscreen, and it only connects up to eight devices, instead of 15 like the Harmony Ultimate. But it’s also cheaper, at $130.

Both remotes come with the new Harmony Hub. This puck-like device serves as an IR blaster, so you can control devices stored inside a media cabinet, and integrated Bluetooth brings support for game consoles like the Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and Wii U.

Logitech is also thinking beyond traditional home entertainment equipment and remotes. Case in point: All of the Hub’s activities and remote functions can be operated via the Logitech Smartphone App (available on iOS and Android).

Though it doesn’t see conventional remotes going away anytime soon, the company recognizes that most people always have their smartphones within reach, and wanted to give customers the option of turning their mobile into a personal universal remote.

Logitech is also looking to incorporate more smart home features, starting with the Philips Hue Lights. Using Harmony Hub, you can adjust the brightness and color of the Wi-Fi-enabled lightbulbs using the Harmony Ultimate.

Chad Thompson, worldwide marketing director for Logitech, said the company is looking to add support for other home components, like thermostats, in the future.

Logitech announced its plan to sell the Harmony business in January, after reporting disappointing third-quarter earnings. However, a company representative said it will continue to support and develop products until a buyer is found.

The Logitech Harmony Ultimate is expected to be available later this month, while the Harmony Smart Control is scheduled for release in May.

Logitech Offers Sweet Sound with Bluetooth "Boombox"

Lauren Goode — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 14:00:45 +0000

 It’s hard not to love the Jawbone Jambox, a small, $150 speaker that wirelessly plays music from mobile devices or computers via Bluetooth. I’ve used other portable Bluetooth speakers, and have found them lacking compared with the stylish, best-selling Jambox.  

Until I came across Logitech’s newest mobile speaker, that is.

  This $100 speaker, part of Logitech’s Ultimate Ears product line, hit the Apple store in late August. It recently became more widely available at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

[ See post to watch video ]

  Like the Jambox, the Logitech UE Mobile Boombox is surprisingly lightweight and portable, despite its name, which conjures up images of hefty speakers you hoist up on your shoulder. It uses Bluetooth technology to wirelessly play music stored on your devices, or music that’s streamed from apps like Spotify or Pandora. It can also be used to amplify phone calls or the audio on Web videos.

Even though the Logitech is $50 cheaper than the Jambox, it doesn’t scrimp on style or sound. I like its rounded compact body, and its rubbery exterior gives the impression it can take a few hits or drops and survive.

  Most importantly, I found the sound quality to be impressive for such a small speaker. Music played through it sounded full, and the calls I patched through it sounded remarkably clear.  

This is particularly notable for a company that started out making computer mice, back in 1981. More recently, Logitech has expanded to accessories for mobile devices like iPhones and iPads, signaling a shift in strategy due to the slowdown in the PC market.

Logitech is still regaining its footing, but it got a jolt of momentum last year, when former Apple employee Guerrino De Luca took over as CEO again, and the company began focusing on simple, elegant design in its products. The company’s UE Mobile Boombox, TV Cam HD and Ultrathin iPad Keyboard are a few examples of this.

The Logitech UE Mobile Boombox measures 4.4 inches by 2.4 inches, and is 2.6 inches thick. It’s actually fatter than the Jambox, like a hearty sandwich roll, but also light, at 10.5 ounces. It’s available in five snazzy colors, including white, red and solid black.

The one I got my hands on is a combination of light gray and royal blue. I didn’t love the gray; it reminded me of old, putty-colored computer speakers. But the speaker is still hip-looking –- not annoyingly hip, like skinny jeans, but effortlessly hip, like it would work just as well in a minimalist’s office as it would in a trendy apartment.

Its rounded edges made it easy to grip, as did the rubber coating that wraps around the top, bottom and sides. Metal grills make up the meat of the speaker. I found it easier to pack in my luggage and throw in my bag than I did the narrow but angular Jambox.

  The Logitech will work with pretty much any Bluetooth-capable device, including iPhones and iPads, Android smartphones and tablets, and desktop computers and laptops. You can also toggle between two devices at the same time, so you and a friend could take turns playing music from your phones without having to reconnect each time; the speaker will remember up to eight devices.  

I tested the Logitech using the iPhone and iPad, as well as a couple laptops. I also hooked my laptop up to a TV and used the speaker while watching Web video on a large screen. I listened mostly to compressed files that I’ve downloaded through Apple’s iTunes store or Amazon’s MP3 store.

 Connecting the Logitech to my iPhone was a pretty standard, painless process: I activated Bluetooth on my phone and then pressed the Bluetooth button on the top of the speaker, which is just a slight indentation in the rubber coating. The speaker emits the sound of a guitar strum when it powers on, or is ready to pair –- a nice effect, although I missed the Jambox’s polite lady voice that delivers alerts.

Music sounded remarkably well-balanced on the speaker, with a fullness of sound that belies its small size. Midrange sound and vocals sounded solid and clear, with only the occasional high note or snare drum sounding harsh or tinny.

  The speaker also has a sound hole in the back that’s meant to compensate for its size by enhancing low-frequency sounds. While cranking a few bass-heavy songs up to top volume (with a maximum output of 78 decibels) didn’t do anything flattering for this “boombox,” songs played at 65 percent to 75 percent of volume capacity sounded full and rarely distorted.

  Some Web videos on YouTube, patched through my laptop, didn’t sound as great. And I found that it was a lot quicker and easier to dial someone up and talk through the speaker than it was to accept an interrupting call. First the music would stop playing. Then I would see a call coming through on my phone, press speakerphone, select the Logitech as the audio source, and still have to wait a second or two before I could hear the caller.

When it came to battery life, the little Logitech fulfilled its promise of 10 hours. I tested the battery by playing music nonstop at about 75 percent of volume capacity, with intermittent phone calls coming through, until the speaker died.

However, unlike the 10-hour Jambox, the Logitech speaker doesn’t tell you when the battery is running low.

Otherwise, I can vouch for the Logitech UE Mobile Boombox as a solid speaker with good sound that gives the more expensive Jambox a run for the money.

Overseeing Logitech's Turnaround

John Revill — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 02:00:24 +0000

Bracken Darrell, president of Logitech International SA, admits the past couple of years have been tough for the world’s largest maker of computer mice.

Missteps like a disastrous link with Google to make set-top boxes for the Internet giant’s TV effort, as well as a failed sales strategy in Europe have tarnished the Swiss company’s luster and wiped more than 40 percent from its share price over the past two years.

Read the rest of this post on the original site

Struggling Logitech Bites Bullet, Lays Off 450

John Paczkowski — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 22:56:25 +0000

The hammer has finally dropped at Logitech. The struggling peripherals maker said Friday that it’s sacking 450 employees as part of a global restructuring first announced in April.

The cuts, which will reduce the company’s workforce by about 13 percent, are expected to trim Logitech’s annual operating costs by $80 million. And let’s face it, after four profit warnings in 12 months, that’s something from which the company could certainly benefit.

Because of the layoffs, Logitech expects to record pretax charges of about $35 million this fiscal year, with the bulk of that coming in the current quarter. But the company promises that shareholders will see the move’s benefits by the second half of its current fiscal year.

One Small Keyboard for Logitech, One Giant Leap for iPad Productivity

Lauren Goode — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:08 +0000

With my column this week, I did something I’ve never done before: I typed the entire thing on my iPad.

That’s because I’ve been testing Logitech’s new Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad, which has changed the way I feel about productivity on the iPad.

You see, I’m not a huge fan of touchscreen keyboards. Many other consumers share this sentiment, as much as they might love their tablets.

Hardware makers have addressed this by offering a variety of accessory keyboard options. They range from Bluetooth-enabled wireless keyboards to tablet cases with built-in keyboards, like the $70 Belkin YourType Folio, and plastic overlays that create tactile keys on top of the iPad’s touchscreen. Companies have even tried experimenting with laser-projected keyboards — though those still won’t give you keys you can actually feel.

But some of these solutions are bulky, or add too much extra weight to the iPad. Not the $100 Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard. The successor to the Logitech Keyboard Case by Zagg, the Ultrathin is a sleek, super-slim Bluetooth keyboard that also works as an iPad cover. It works with both iPad 2 and the new iPad.

[ See post to watch video ]

I’ve been trying out the Ultrathin with an iPad 2 for over a week now, in part to determine whether it’s worth its $100 price tag. Despite the fact that it scratches easily and doesn’t firmly support the iPad when the tablet is in the vertical position, I would buy this device.

The Ultrathin Keyboard Case is 9.5 inches by 3.5 inches. It’s just .39 inches thick — thinner than all three of the iPads themselves. Made of aluminum, it mimics the look of the back of the iPad. When the keyboard isn’t in use and the case is being used as a cover, it looks very much like you’ve mashed two silver iPads together. On its own, it weighs roughly 12 ounces. The combined weight of the case with the Wi-Fi-only iPad 2 is 2.071 pounds; the case plus the new iPad weighs 2.185 pounds.

Like Apple’s own cover for the iPad, the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover comes with magnetic grips that firmly latch onto the long edge of the iPad.

To get started using the Ultrathin, I powered on the keyboard, then turned on the iPad’s Bluetooth. The iPad quickly recognized the device, and I paired the two by selecting the keyboard from the iPad’s list of recognized devices.

Next, I tested the keyboard. I positioned the iPad horizontally in a thin, white trough that runs across the top of the keyboard. The magnetic pull was so strong that the iPad snapped into place. This propped the iPad up at an angle in front of me, and I was ready to begin typing.

Set in a smooth, black, recessed tray, the keys are black, Chiclet-shaped and made of etched plastic with slightly raised lettering. Despite the shallowness of the tray, the keys have a nice spring to them.

Alternating between the touchscreen and the keys took some getting used to, but typing on the iPad using the Ultrathin was fluid and easy. I answered emails, jotted down some thoughts in the Notes app, filed a short blog post and wrote this column.

I also used some of the shortcuts available through the function keys at the top of the keyboard: There’s a home key for returning to the iPad’s home screen, while the function key plus the “1” key launches spotlight search. Function and the “3″ key makes the iPad’s virtual keyboard pop up, and function plus 6, 7 and 8 allow users to cut, copy and paste.

Logitech says the keyboard’s battery life is expected to last six months with two hours of daily usage. The keyboard also goes into sleep mode when it’s not in use for 20 minutes, thus conserving battery life. Charging it requires a micro-USB cord, which goes into a small port on the keyboard and a regular-sized USB port on your laptop or computer. Unfortunately, the $100 you’ll pay for this won’t cover the cost of a wall adapter.

There are some less-desirable aspects of this product. For one, it only works with the iPad. Logitech does make a $70 Bluetooth keyboard that works with Android tablets, but it’s a separate wireless keyboard.

Another drawback: The “delete” key is way too small — one of the downsides of cramming an entire keyboard into such small physical real estate. It sometimes took me three tries to make contact with the delete key while typing.

The Ultrathin only covers the iPad display screen, and not the backside of the iPad, which is prone to scratching. As it turns out, the cover side of the Ultrathin is also prone to scratching, as I discovered after a week of throwing it in my bag and toting it around.

Users that don’t want to deal with scuffs or that are looking for more iPad coverage will likely want to consider something like the Belkin I mentioned earlier, the $100 Zaggfolio iPad 3 keyboard case, or Logitech’s $130 Solar Keyboard Folio.

The magnetic clips that hold the tablet in place are super strong, but that’s only when it’s propped up horizontally. While, technically, the iPad can rest in a vertical position in the keyboard’s tray, it doesn’t feel like it’s firmly in place.

Also, though I love how thin and lightweight this thing is, it’s so light that it sometimes creates an awkward balance between the keyboard and the iPad. When I was sitting on my couch, with my feet up and my iPad and its keyboard on my lap, it was fine. But when I was sitting upright in my desk chair with the iPad and Ultrathin on my lap, it felt a little unsteady.

However, the benefits outweigh the downsides of this keyboard and case. I didn’t get to try out the Ultrathin on an airplane, but I did test it during a train ride. It was the perfect travel accessory, and now I can’t imagine traveling without it.

Logitech Shines Light on Solar-Powered Keyboard for iPad

Bonnie Cha — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:22:33 +0000

If you love your iPad but don’t love its virtual keyboard, Logitech has a snappy new solution for you — and it’s environmentally friendly to boot.

The accessory maker today revealed its Solar Keyboard Folio, an iPad case with a built-in Bluetooth keyboard.

Add-on keyboards for the iPad certainly aren’t a new thing. What sets the Solar Keyboard Folio apart from the rest is that it doesn’t require a cable or battery for power or recharging. Instead, the case features integrated solar cells that draw juice from indoor and outdoor light.

Logitech says that when fully charged, the keyboard’s battery can last up to two years, based on two hours of usage per day.

When not in use, the Solar Keyboard Folio doubles as a protective case for your tablet, and like the Smart Cover, the iPad automatically wakes up when you open the case, and goes to sleep when in the closed position.

The book-style case can be positioned at two different angles, one that places the iPad in an upright position for full access to the keyboard, and one that’s better suited for viewing media.

The Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio works with the third-generation iPad and iPad 2, so unfortunately, if you have an original iPad, you’re out of luck. It will be available in the U.S. and Europe this month for $129.99.

Searching for a Mighty Mouse? Here Are Three Options.

Lauren Goode — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:01:22 +0000

Even in an increasingly trackpad-and-touchscreen-driven computing world, I’m pro-mouse. There’s something to be said about the precision that comes with a computer mouse, and about the comfort of using one for extended periods of time, versus hunching over the limited real estate of a laptop trackpad.

But, admittedly, my last mouse was a low-tech, corporate-issued, clunky thing. So I’ve been exploring a whole new world of mice. Many modern mice have taken cues from Apple’s wireless Magic Mouse, which has a multi-touch surface for easy swiping through functions like scrolling up and down a Web page or document, or minimizing and maximizing browser windows with a simple flick of your fingers.

For the past five days, I’ve been playing with three mice that are compatible with Windows 7 computers: Microsoft’s Touch Mouse, Logitech’s new m600 Touch Mouse and HP’s X5000 wireless mouse with touch scrolling. While HP’s mouse comes at the much more reasonable price of $40, it isn’t a full multi-touch mouse and is bulkier than the others. The entrants from Microsoft and Logitech are pricey — $79.95 and $70, respectively — but have multi-touch capabilities and sleeker designs.

All three mice are easy to set up. In each case, I turned on the mouse and just plugged its USB adapter into my laptop, which the machine quickly recognized.

The Microsoft Touch Mouse was my favorite in terms of design. Some new mice on the market have funky shapes, high arcs, or are almost flat. I found that the Touch Mouse was a nice blend of modern tech appeal with a curved mouse feel.

The Touch Mouse measures 2.4 inches in width and 4.7 inches in length — roughly the size of an iPhone. It was longer than the other two mice I tested, but I liked the extra real estate under my fingers. It has tiny laser-etched marks on its front half, to create a little more traction. There’s also a limited edition “artist” version of the mouse, which is white and has a calligraphy-like design.

Since it’s a multi-touch mouse, that means a one-finger swipe on the surface works like an old-school scrollwheel for navigating up and down a document or Web page. Swiping two fingers down minimizes a Web-browsing window. For people like me who are used to two-finger swiping on a laptop trackpad to move up and down a page, this can take some getting used to.

[ See post to watch video ]

A three-finger swipe presented all of my Web browsers and open apps in a Windows instant-viewer format on the desktop. Also, swiping two fingers from side to side “snapped” my current window to the side and allowed me to open up another window next to it.

One tiny part of the Touch Mouse I found to be useful: It has storage space on the underside of the mouse for the USB connector, which frequent travelers will appreciate. It’s easy to lose these mouse connectors, especially if your bag of gadgets, wires and dongles looks like mine.

In terms of battery life, Microsoft says the mouse will run for three to six months, depending on usage habits. It uses two AA batteries.

The Touch Mouse, as with the others I reviewed, is meant to be compatible only with Microsoft Windows. But this isn’t entirely true — my Mac laptop recognized each mouse’s USB connector as a keyboard accessory, and I could still move the cursor with each mouse. I was also able to use the touch surfaces of the mice — or in the case of the HP mouse, the touch strip — to swipe up and down pages on the screen. In the case of the Touch Mouse, functionality on the Mac was limited. For example, I could swipe up and down, but not snap my windows to the side.

Microsoft has also said the Touch Mouse will be compatible with Windows 8, the upcoming operating system that is expected to launch by the end of this year. The mouse’s horizontal scrolling function is actually meant to cater to the new Windows 8 interface.

Logitech’s Touch Mouse M600 is flatter than Microsoft’s Touch Mouse, measuring 2.52 by 4.41 inches, and is smoother to the touch. Its shape and glossy shell reminded me a bit of a giant bug. It’s mostly black, with a gray bottom half, and has barely perceptible squiggly designs along the edges of it, along with a Logitech logo, giving it a somewhat toylike appearance.

The M600’s swiping functions were pretty basic, and it doesn’t offer as many functions as the Touch Mouse. Whether I was using one finger, two or three, the M600 scrolled up and down the page I was on. I found these movements to be pretty smooth. I also felt like I could navigate my cursor more quickly with the M600, probably because it’s slightly lighter weight than the Touch Mouse.

The M600 does have one feature I really liked: Side-to-side swiping for Web browsing. Swiping my finger to the left brought me back to the previous Web page I was on; swiping to the right pushed me ahead to the next page.

The M600 also comes with a unifying USB dongle, which allows users to connect up to five other Logitech devices to the same tiny adapter.

As with the Microsoft Touch Mouse, the M600 should last for three to six months, depending on how many batteries you use. Logitech says two AA batteries will get you closer to six months.

The HP X5000 is the fattest mouse of the three, with the highest curve. Bulkiness aside, it’s got a smooth, tear-shaped plastic top, and its sides have a velvety feel.

The X5000 isn’t a multi-touch mouse. Instead, it’s got a touch-sensitive strip built into the mouse, right where a scroll wheel would be on an older mouse model. It also comes with the traditional right-side, left-side clicking functionality, which some users might appreciate. The tiny touch strip felt a little limited compared to the full-touch surfaces I’d been playing with on the other mice, but I did like the split clicking function.

The mouse also boasts a button that’s supposed to allow you to upload photos to Facebook with one click. In order for this to work, I had to install the software that came with the mouse, and allow the HP mouse’s app access to my Facebook account. Next, I had to open up a photo file on my computer, use the mouse’s Facebook-specific button to draw a square around my photo and create a preview file, and then indicate that I wanted to upload that photo to Facebook. The first time I tried this, the photo didn’t upload.

In my test, the whole experience really wasn’t as simple as “one click.” And while some users might like easy access to Facebook, the idea that distraction is one click away didn’t appeal to me. Maybe I’m just using Facebook less these days, or am more selective about the photos I upload to the site, but I’d welcome another productivity function over the Facebook button.

One of the X5000’s upsides is that it claims a super long battery life of 24 months with two AA batteries. And the USB dongle that comes with the HP X5000, like the Logitech mouse, will allow you to wirelessly connect up to four other HP devices to your laptop.

When it comes to these three mice, I found you get what you pay for. The Microsoft Touch Mouse was my top pick out of the three; Logitech’s M600 mouse is a very close second, and users who like a flatter, smoother design might prefer that one; and HP’s X5000 mouse falls short of what a modern mouse should be.

Eric Schmidt Says You'll Own a Google TV Sooner or Later

John Paczkowski — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:55:34 +0000

Google TV, the search company’s fledgling — and failing — smart TV platform, is destined for a big comeback in another few months. In fact, it will be ubiquitous across the TV industry.

That’s Google Chairman Eric Schmidt’s prediction, anyway.

Evidently, Schmidt views Logitech’s decision to abandon Google TV after a costly misadventure as confirmation of the platform’s consumer appeal and not its ill-starred future.

Speaking at the Le Web conference Thursday, Schmidt said Google TV, which is currently available only in Logitech’s now-abandoned Revue set-top box and Sony’s Internet TV, will sweep the television industry next year, penetrating its every corner.

“By the summer of 2012, the majority of the televisions that you see in stores will have Google TV embedded in them,” Schmidt said.

Really?

To pull that off Google will have to ink deals with a number of other big TV manufacturers — LG, Samsung, Sharp, and Philips — some of whom already have their own proprietary smart TV platforms. Indeed, LG, Philips and Sharp announced a joint platform in September. So either Schmidt knows something we don’t — i.e., a bunch of OEMs have already signed Google TV deals — or he’s just talking nonsense.

QOTD: "Oops" -- Google TV Edition

Peter Kafka — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:02:57 +0000

Google TV or a child of Google TV or the grandchild of Google TV will happen. The integration of television in Internet is inevitable. But the idea that it would happen overnight in Christmas 2010 was very misguided and that also cost us dearly.

Logitech CEO Guerrino De Luca during his company’s analyst day this week, describing his company’s failed Google TV/“Revue” boxes as a “mistake of implementation of a gigantic nature”

Google TV Software Update Ready; New Hardware Postponed

Ina Fried — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:00:12 +0000

Google announced today that it is finally done with a significant overhaul of its Google TV software. The update brings with it a number of new features, including support for Android apps and a makeover of the user interface.

Google had originally said that the software update would come this summer and that it would be quickly followed by new hardware. Today, the company said that would-be Google TV buyers will have to stick with the existing products from Sony and Logitech, or wait until early next year for second-generation products, which Google has said will come from Vizio and Samsung, among others.

“We think we’ve done right by taking a little more time to build a really strong platform,” Google TV head Mario Queiroz said in a telephone interview. Google first previewed the new look for its TV product at its I/O conference in May.

Google said the update will be made available first to Sony products starting on Sunday, and shortly after that to those with Logitech-based products.

Initial sales of Google TV were quite weak, with hardware partners forced to slash prices — particularly Logitech, which has been selling its Revue set-top box for $99 in an effort to move its excess inventory.

Queiroz said that Google sees the TV effort as a long-term one, and notes that the company has doubled the number of people working on the project (Queiroz refused to give any exact numbers on that)

The new version of Google TV is based on the Honeycomb version of Android, and can run some existing programs as well as a number of new apps specifically designed to work with the product. However, most Android apps won’t work, as they require features such as telephony or a touchscreen.

Queiroz said that of the hundreds of thousands of Android apps, there should be around 1,800 apps that will work with Google TV initially, and even most of those won’t be optimized for the TV. Google has been working with about 50 developers on the first TV-optimized apps, he said.

For its part, Google said it has improved the Chrome browser and YouTube apps to be more TV-friendly, and has added a movies and television app that makes it easier to find the content you want to watch, whether it is coming from your cable or satellite subscription, services like Amazon or Netflix, or from the broader Internet.

Another big shift is in how Google is positioning its TV product. After spooking Hollywood early on, the company is taking great pains to position Google TV as a complement to — rather than a replacement for — broadcast television.

“Our purpose is certainly not to duplicate content,” Queiroz said.

When Google TV came out, the major broadcasters blocked Google TV from accessing their content both directly and from Hulu. There is no expectation that will change with the update and Google is stressing that it doesn’t see the product as an option for would-be cord cutters.

Google is announcing some new content partnerships, though most are either already over-the-top services or minor broadcast presences. New partners include CNNMoney, Flixster, Fox Business, Amazon’s IMDB, Khan Academy, Motor Trend, NPR and The Wall Street Journal (which, like AllThingsD, is owned by Dow Jones).

While the TV industry shifted from three networks to hundreds with the advent of cable, Google is trying to pitch Google TV as the right product for a television universe that is expanding to millions of options.

“We think we are going through another shift,” Quieroz said.

How to Outfit the iPad 2 to Make Typing Easier

Walter S. Mossberg — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 01:04:29 +0000

Although it’s a smash hit, Apple’s iPad isn’t winning the hearts of users who find it difficult to type on its onscreen keyboard. And even for many who love their iPads for other things and can type shorter items on the screen, the lack of a physical keyboard has meant they still must turn to their laptops for intensive typing tasks.

[ See post to watch video ]

One solution to this dilemma has been to carry a separate wireless keyboard. But that means carrying two things. So a number of companies offer protective cases for the iPad 2 with low-profile, but real, keyboards built right into their inner surfaces. These keyboards appear when you open the cases, which act as stands for the tablet while you type.

I’ve been testing four such iPad 2 combo keyboard cases, each of which lists for $100. I also took a look at a slightly different accessory, a new full-size $130 keyboard and stand for the iPad 2 that folds up and holds the tablet for carrying, though it doesn’t cover or protect the screen.

If I were personally going to buy one of these, it would likely be the Logitech Keyboard Case for iPad 2, a thin, light and sturdy aluminum enclosure with a keyboard I liked. But this is a personal decision, involving the look and shape of the case, the feel of the keyboard and the angles at which they prop up the iPad. I strongly recommend going to a store and trying some before choosing one.

Though these rival cases differ, they all have certain things in common. They all make the beautiful, slim iPad 2 much bulkier and heavier. Also, the keyboards inside these cases require recharging after a few weeks or months, depending on how heavily they’re used. And none comes with a charger. You have to charge them from a laptop, or by using the wall adapter that you use to charge the iPad itself, or another USB-compatible charger.

In addition, these cases only work well for typing when you place them on a flat surface. And I found they make it clumsier to hold the iPad for reading. They have special keys for such things as replicating the iPad’s home button; searching; volume; copy, cut and paste; and controlling music and video playback. Most also switch the iPad’s screen on and off when you open or close them. Finally, with each keyboard, you have to perform a simple, one-time Bluetooth “pairing” process with the iPad the first time you use them.

Here are some features and downsides to the cases and keyboards I tested.

Logitech Keyboard Case for iPad 2

This is the simplest of the keyboard cases I tested. It’s just a thin, rigid aluminum tray with a recessed keyboard in the bottom. To use it as a carrying case, you snap your iPad 2 into the tray, where it’s held tight by rubbery pads in the corners that keep the screen from touching the keyboard. You can still charge the iPad while it’s in the case. When you’re ready to type, you remove the iPad 2 and stand it up in a groove above the top row of keys, in either a horizontal or vertical position.

This case is the only one I tried that doesn’t completely cover the iPad 2. It uses the tablet’s aluminum back as a part of its protection. I found it to be lighter, thinner and yet sturdier than the others. I also liked the feel of its keyboard and found the angle at which it held the iPad to be excellent. The product was developed by a small company called Zagg, which made a similar case for the original iPad. Logitech is coming out later this month with a version for the 10.1-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet.

Zaggfolio

Zagg also has come out with its own new design for the iPad 2, a hard-plastic wraparound case that completely covers the tablet. The iPad snaps inside the top cover, and the cover, when opened, tilts forward to allow the tablet to nestle into a groove in a keyboard that is almost identical to that of the Logitech. One difference: The folio allows the iPad 2 to be used only in horizontal mode while in the case.

The first units of the folio, which came out in July, had a defective closure. That has been fixed and the company is offering to replace the early units. I tested the revised version and it closes tightly. The folio comes in a variety of colors, as does its removable keyboard—the only removable keyboard I tested. This case also had the best-aligned cutouts for the iPad 2′s buttons and ports of the wraparound models tested.

Kensington KeyFolio Pro

This is a soft-plastic case that, like the Zagg, stores the iPad 2 inside the top lid and places the keyboard inside the bottom lid. It has no latch, and doesn’t switch the iPad screen on and off. The Kensington differs from the others in that it has a swivel mechanism that allows the iPad 2 to be used vertically or horizontally while tucked into the top cover. However, I found the angle at which it placed the screen to be too straight for comfortable viewing while typing. And, in vertical mode, I found the screen was a bit wobbly. I liked the feel of the keyboard, but it was the only wraparound that lacked dedicated buttons for copy, cut and paste.

Belkin Keyboard Folio

This is another soft plastic wraparound model, but I found it too complicated and bulky. It tucks the keyboard under the top flap that holds the iPad 2, so you can use it as just a stand. But this made it thick and, to my eye, odd-looking, when closed. On the plus side, it offers multiple angles, though it only allows horizontal use of the iPad.

I found the keyboard more cramped than those on the others. I also found the iPad hardest to insert and remove on the Belkin, and the holes for the ports and buttons to be the least aligned.

Logitech Fold-Up Keyboard

This isn’t actually a case and it doesn’t protect the screen at all. Instead, its main selling point is that, unlike the others, it packs in a full-size keyboard that protrudes beyond the iPad’s dimensions via a clever design. The keyboard is hinged in the middle and folds out from beneath a hard-plastic cradle that holds the iPad 2 face up and allows access to all the ports and buttons. When the keyboard unfolds, it raises the iPad into a standing position, in horizontal orientation. It probably will appeal most to people just carrying an iPad around the office or home. It costs $130, and, to protect the screen, you’d have to shell out another $40 for Apple’s own screen cover. It will be unveiled next week and available in September.

Bottom line: You don’t need either a case or a keyboard to use an iPad 2, but if you want both in one package, there are plenty of choices.

Email Walt at mossberg@wsj.com.

QOTD: Google TV Sales Worse Than Nonexistent

Peter Kafka — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:34:03 +0000

Sales of Logitech Revue were slightly negative during the quarter, as returns of the product were higher than the very modest sales.

— Logitech explaining the nonperformance of its Google TV box during the company’s second quarter (from SplatF via GigaOm). Logitech has now slashed the price on the box from $249 to $99, and Logitech CEO Gerald Quindlen has resigned.

And Intellectual Ventures Says Lawsuits Are a Ridiculous Way to Do Business

John Paczkowski — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:44:13 +0000

Intellectual Ventures founder Nathan Myhrvold once said “lawsuits are a ridiculous way to do business.” But evidently not so ridiculous that the “invention capital firm” — or patent troll, depending on your views on innovation and intellectual property — is above resorting to them when it can’t extract the licensing fees it feels it’s owed.

Late Monday, IV filed suit against Hynix Semiconductor and Elpida Memory alleging the two companies have infringed several of its patents related to DRAM and Flash memory. Also named in the suit: Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Acer, Logitech, Best Buy and a handful of other companies that make or sell devices running on Hynix or Elpida chips. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

According to the complaint, IV approached Hynix Semiconductor in 2008 and Elpida in 2009 in an effort to negotiate licenses for the patents at issue here, but was rebuffed. “Despite Intellectual Ventures’ good faith efforts to negotiate a business solution, [Hynix and] Elpida [have] failed and refused to license Intellectual Ventures’ patents on reasonable terms and continues to use those inventions without permission,” IV explains in its complaint. “[It] has been irreparably harmed by Defendants’ acts of infringement, and will continue to be harmed unless and until Defendants’ acts of infringement are enjoined and restrained by order of this Court.”

The suit, IV’s fourth since it was first established, confirms once and for all that the company is willing to litigate to win the patent licensing deals on which its business depends. And that has wide implications for the tech industry. As IP attorney Bijal Vakil said last year when IV sued a handful of security software outfits, “It’s a pretty significant wake-up call for Silicon Valley companies that the threat of this type of massive litigation is real and it’s not going away anytime soon.”

[Image credit: Jan Tik/Flickr]

Google TV Aims to Turn the Channel With New Release Later This Year

Ina Fried — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:00:47 +0000

Google TV may not have won over many critics or fans with its first season, but Google still thinks it could be a long-term hit.

Before renewing the product for another season, though, Google is making a number of changes to the script. In addition to trying to make it more approachable, the company is hoping to change the way Google TV is thought of in the market. Initially, many people saw the product as a potential way to get around the big TV providers by using Web-based services. However, Hulu and other mainstream Web video services quickly blocked access via Google TV.

This time around, Google TV will be pitched more clearly as something that can add to a traditional TV experience, both through a wave of new applications and by delivering video that even the broadest satellite or cable package doesn’t have.

Google TV debuted last year as an option on certain Sony TVs and Blu-Ray players as well as via a set-top box from Logitech. However, it was met with disappointing sales and lackluster reviews. Logitech, for example, said it sold just $5 million worth of Google TV products last quarter, far less than it was expecting.

But Google sees the marriage of Internet and the television as in its early days. And it imagines the first version of Google TV not unlike the G1, the first Android phone. While the phone offered hints at what Google’s phone would eventually become, it was itself not much to look at and more than a little clunky. Over time, of course, Android became a major force in the smartphone business.

The first glimmers of the new TV will come next week at the Google I/O conference, where Google will present a session for developers on creating TV-friendly Android apps. However, the next version of Google TV and the TV-centric version of the Android Market won’t be announced until some time in the coming months, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The goal, sources said, is to have a new version of Google TV ready at least in time for this year’s holiday season. The company is bringing on additional hardware partners, including Samsung and Vizio. Business Insider reported that new hardware will be based on faster chips, although sources told Mobilized that existing Google TV models should also be upgradeable to the new software.

Google is not alone in chasing this Internet-centered view of TV, however. Apple has made the latest version of Apple TV based on Apple’s iOS. Although today’s version doesn’t support running third-party apps, the company has certainly laid the groundwork architecturally to head in that direction. Microsoft, meanwhile, is attacking the living room both by adding entertainment features to its Xbox 360 and by making its Mediaroom IPTV platform more app friendly.

Nor is this the first go-around at this. The dream of marrying TV and the Internet has been around since before the dot-com bubble with companies like WebTV and Wink all chasing the goal of bringing interactivity to the television.

Three Funky Mice Made for Laptops

Katherine Boehret — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 22:23:19 +0000

It isn’t easy being a computer mouse these days. While laptop sales grow and desktop sales decline, more people rely solely on laptop touchpads, many of which offer more functionality than mice. And tablets like Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab shun the mouse altogether.

[ See post to watch video ]

But before you toss your tethered friend, it’s worth paying homage to the many things this gadget can do. From precisely cropping one of cousin Fred’s fleeting girlfriends out of a family photo to selecting just the right number in a spreadsheet filled with thousands of digits, the mouse is just the right tool for such precision jobs. And sometimes it’s just a lot more comfortable to use for long stretches of work on a laptop.

This week, I tested three computer mice that laptop users will actually want to bring along with them. Their designs make them simple to pack in a bag, use while sitting on the couch or recharge directly from the laptop. I tried Microsoft’s $70 Arc Touch Mouse, Logitech’s $50 Couch Mouse M515 and the $70 Swiftpoint Mouse.

At first glance, Microsoft’s Arc Touch Mouse looks like nothing more than a flattened mouse. But it’s cleverly designed to bend into an arc that serves as a comfortable rest for the hand. As soon as the Arc Touch Mouse is bent into this shape, its battery turns on. It holds this shape until you flatten it with your hand. When it’s flattened, the mouse turns off to conserve battery. Microsoft claims this battery will last up to six months. The flattened Arc Touch is much easier to pack in a carry-on or to slip into a side pocket than its rotund relatives.

On a Mac, the Arc Touch is limited to basic functions, including use of its touch-sensitive scroll strip that scrolls super quickly when a finger flicks up or down on it. This strip makes a subtle sound like that of a roulette wheel as it scrolls, and a tap on the strip stops the scrolling at a specific location on the screen. I caught myself looking down at this mouse a few times to make sure I wasn’t using a real scroll wheel because the sound effects and feel of the scroll strip are so wheel-like.

On a Windows PC, installing software will give the Arc Touch extra functions. Double tapping the middle of the scroll strip gives it the same function as a regular mouse’s middle click. Or this button can be programmed to open a link in a new tab within Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. This mouse’s tiny USB receiver can be plugged into a laptop almost unnoticed or it will magnetically stick to the base when not in use.

Logitech’s Couch Mouse M515 seems like it was made with me in mind. I often sit on my bed or couch using my laptop, and this mouse has a sealed underside so its sensor doesn’t collect fuzz from fabrics after passing over them several times. I used it on carpets and on a blanket and liked its base, which is designed to glide easily over all types of surfaces. This mouse felt fast and responsive.

To conserve battery, the Couch Mouse is only on when a hand grips it. So if someone stops to watch TV for a while, then accidentally sits on the mouse or the mouse slips between couch cushions, its buttons won’t continue clicking away. An underside switch turns it entirely on or off. The Couch Mouse also uses a USB receiver, and it can be stored inside the mouse for travel.

Like the Couch Mouse, the Swiftpoint Mouse from Swiftpoint Ltd. of New Zealand, is designed for use with laptops in less than ideal working environments. This tiny mouse was designed to operate directly on the laptop wrist rest area or on the laptop touchpad, itself. In fact, the mouse comes with a large, clear sticker labeled “Swiftpoint Parking Accessory” that goes on the laptop so the mouse doesn’t slip off when the laptop’s tilted.

The simple sticker worked well, creating a magnetic square in the center of the wrist rest area that kept the mouse from slipping off when I was leaning back and typing at an angle.

The Swiftpoint Mouse is made for maneuvering directly on a laptop.

A scroll wheel on the right of the Swiftpoint Mouse works by rolling it with one finger or by turning the mouse on its side and moving it up or down, which made for faster scrolling. I found this feature awkward and unnatural at first, but after a lot of use, I grew accustomed to it. Touching the left click button while scrolling up or down zooms in or out, respectively, on any screen.

This mouse is so small that rather than its USB receiver fitting inside or on it for storage, the mouse magnetically attaches onto its USB receiver, resting on it while the receiver is plugged into the laptop. This allows for the Swiftpoint Mouse to recharge its battery; Swiftpoint says 30 seconds of charging will give the mouse an hour’s worth of juice and a 90-minute charge will last two to four weeks, depending on how much you use it. The former proved to be true for me, but I didn’t have enough time to test the latter claim.

When I set this mouse onto the USB receiver for charging, it flashed a rapid green charging indicator light, which slowed after about a minute. Using a rechargeable mobile mouse means not worrying about getting stuck somewhere with dead batteries.

For those looking to have more control in the Windows 7 environment, Microsoft is bringing out in May an $80 model called the Touch Mouse. It will work specifically with Windows 7, using a touch surface that responds to gestures so as to perform tasks like docking, minimizing or maximizing and displaying the desktop.

It’s an awful lot like Apple’s $69 Magic Trackpad, a square surface that came out last summer and enables gestures within the Mac operating system for desktops.

Though these three mice are easy to port around and work well in a variety of work environments, they can’t replace many of the clever gestures built into so many laptops nowadays, especially Macs. But if you’re looking for comfort and function on the go, they do the trick.

Write to Katherine Boehret at mossbergsolution@wsj.com

Gaming at CES to Span Kinect-Like Controls for PCs, But Nothing Major From Nintendo

Tricia Duryee — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:38:45 +0000

Nintendo will be exhibiting for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show in 16 years, but don’t expect the game-console maker to announce anything substantial this week.

Rather than competing among the throng of exhibitors attempting to be noticed at the show, Nintendo will host a private event in two weeks to preview its 3DS, a new handheld game player that provides a 3D experience without the need for special glasses.

Invitations to the Jan. 19 event in New York City have already been sent to reporters, who will have the opportunity to play games on the device, watch demonstrations and hear a presentation from President and COO of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime.

So, without major news coming from Nintendo, what else can we expect at CES from the gaming space?

We’ll be watching for news from among more than 35 exhibitors that are attending from the games industry. They include AMD, HP, Intel, LevelUp, Logitech, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nokia, Sony, Alcazar Entertainment, Cosmi, DC Comics/Warner and DreamWorks Animation, and gaming retailers, such as Amazon and GameStop.

One of the stars will likely be Microsoft’s Kinect, the Xbox accessory that uses cameras to track a player’s movements to allow them to play games without a traditional controller.

In all likelihood, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who kicks off CES with a pre-show keynote address on Wednesday, will use the venue to brag about the Kinect’s runaway success.

This holiday season Microsoft expected to sell 5 million Kinects after saying it sold 2.5 million Kinects in the first 25 days. It’s been sold-out at many retailers for weeks, but we haven’t heard whether it met its 2010 target. At least, not yet.

Microsoft is banking on the Kinect to widen the demographic of the Xbox beyond the hardcore gamer, so widespread adoption will be key.

Another company that is already getting attention in the days leading up to CES is PrimeSense, which Microsoft licensed the core Kinect technology from.

The Israeli company is planning to show how the motion-controlled interface can be used for the PC.

The device will be similar to the Kinect because it will allow users to interact with a PC without a mouse or keyboard. It won’t be only for gaming, but also for typical PC activities, like accessing the Internet and browsing media.

The device is expected to be ready for the PC next year — but this time, not from Microsoft, reports BusinessInsider.com. Rather, PrimeSense is teaming up with PC and peripheral maker Asus.

Logitech Sees Better Reviews for Revue Google TV Device

Don Clark — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 04:20:28 +0000

It’s been far from smooth sailing in the early days of Google TV. But partner Logitech International insists the winds are beginning to blow its direction.

New devices based on Google’s TV software billed themselves as offering the whole Internet on users’ televisions, not a walled garden of selected offerings typified by products like Apple TV. But some early reviews of hardware based on the approach–including a Sony TV and Logitech’s Revue set-top box–have been negative. And some content providers have also blocked their offerings from working with Google TV.

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Logitech Delaying New GoogleTV, Too–Report

Peter Kafka — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:11:56 +0000

Google has reportedly told some of its partners to hold off introducing new versions of Google TV. So this one at least sounds right: Google has supposedly told Logitech to stop shipping its version of the Google TV box while Google upgrades the software. The catch: This report comes from DigiTimes, which is sometimes quite accurate about the Chinese supply chain for consumer electronics, but also misses the mark with some frequency.

Google TV: No Need to Tune In Just Yet

Walter S. Mossberg — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 02:07:11 +0000

The quest to bring the full range of Internet video to your TV in a simple way continues, but it isn’t going well. The latest team to try—Google, Logitech and Sony—has made an admirably bold effort, but, like others before, it has missed the mark, at least in its first effort.

[ See post to watch video ]

Google TV—software built into hardware made by Logitech and Sony—is very different from competing products, such as Apple TV and Roku. Unlike the others, it aims to merge Web video and regular TV in one simple interface, via one box, with one easily usable controller. Also, unlike the others, it isn’t limited to just customized channels that bring specific Web-video services to the screen. It lets you browse to almost any website with video, and play it on the TV.

But, for now, I’d relegate Google TV to the category of a geek product, not a mainstream, easy solution ready for average users. It’s too complicated, in my view, and some of its functions fall short.

You can get Google TV in three ways. One is through a small, black $300 set-top box called the Logitech Revue. The second is through a special Sony Blu-ray player that costs $400. The third is through a Sony TV with built-in Internet that starts at $600. All are much costlier than the $99 Apple TV or the $60 Roku, but they offer more of the Internet’s video and make the effort to integrate it with cable or satellite programming.

Logitech Revue for Google TV

Google TV cleverly piggybacks onto your existing cable or satellite box and can control it, at least to some extent. So there is no switching of inputs or remotes required, at least theoretically, to go between Internet video and regular TV—something that has plagued competing systems. But if you try to watch an Internet version of a show from a big network site or from Hulu on your Google TV device, it’s blocked, because the studios want to channel those shows through your cable or satellite box.

I tested Google TV using the Logitech Revue product, though I also met with Sony and had a briefing on their version, which looks and works pretty much the same. Setup took 12 steps and about 40 minutes and went pretty smoothly. It might have been worse if, as Logitech warns, your cable or satellite box requires you to install special cables to allow the Revue’s controller to operate it, or if you use a separate audio system. You need an HDTV with HDMI jacks on your TV and cable or satellite box to use the Logitech Revue.

The controller on the Revue is a wireless keyboard. Yes, that’s right, a keyboard, something you might find unattractive in the living room and no better than what you might use if you just plugged a PC into the TV.

Logitech does offer an optional “mini” controller for $130, but it is essentially a tinier keyboard with minuscule buttons and track pad crammed into a smaller space. It is more complex to operate than the big keyboard and much more complicated than a typical TV remote. Sony’s box comes with a similar, complex-looking mini-controller.

The key to Google TV, however, is the software, not the hardware. There is a home screen with a list of core functions, but, Google being Google, the principle activity is meant to be search. You just start typing what you want to see and Google TV brings up a list of hits from both regular TV and the Internet.

Unfortunately, in my tests, this search-and-viewing process was frustrating. For one thing, you only get a few results, and in my experience, they usually weren’t the right ones. When I was looking for the telecast of the Mark Twain Award ceremony for Tina Fey, all Google pointed me to were short clips on YouTube. I had to do a full Web search (a standard option in the brief list Google gives you) and then navigate through a standard Google results screen, which was unreadable at 10 feet without zooming in, to find the full show on the PBS website.

When I finally got to the PBS page, we watched the show, but it was noticeably pixelated on our large TV screen, even though my Internet connection is very fast.

In another case, I wanted to see the new Beatles-themed ads from Apple, but Google’s first results didn’t include them. The closest they came was an old fictional ad on the topic produced by a fan years ago. I manually navigated to Apple’s website, where the ads were prominent, but found that Google TV doesn’t support QuickTime, Apple’s video format. (The company says it plans to do so in a future release.) I knew the ads were also on YouTube, so I went there and eventually found them, with some effort, but they stuttered on playback.

To use the Logitech Revue for Google TV, you need an HDTV with HDMI jacks on your TV and cable or satellite box.

I was similarly frustrated by finding and using regular TV shows from my cable box. Unless you have a box from Dish network, Google TV can’t search in your recorded shows, or allow you, when it finds a show coming up, to set it to record. You’ll likely switch to your regular remote to do those things, which defeats Google’s aim of integration.

Also confusing is Google TV’s home screen, which has overlapping categories. For instance, there is a Queue, for some of your favorite podcasts and sites, and a Bookmarks for others. There is an Applications menu that takes you to specially designed apps that spare you from navigating the regular Web, such as the Netflix video service or Pandora Radio. But there is also a Spotlight category that has customized, simplified websites that, to an average user, amount to the same thing. And, so far, you can only search for the names of most applications, not any content they contain.

Google plans to add the Android Market of third-party apps to Google TV. That could be good, adding more functionality. But it also risks adding more complexity, unless Google redesigns the interface.

Google TV has its strong points. The integration of Web video and regular TV, while flawed, is a smart move. There is even a picture-in-picture feature that lets you keep watching TV while, say, using Twitter or any other Web function. And the Logitech box has an optional $150 camera that allows you to make free video calls. It worked well in my one test. Logitech also allows you to control the Revue from an iPhone or Android app.

But this is a 1.0 product. For now, I’d suggest average users dying to watch Internet video on a TV, either plug in a PC or use one of the wireless systems, like Intel’s Wi-Di, that wirelessly beam video from a PC to a TV. Or, you could wait for Google TV to improve.

Find all his columns and videos at walt.allthingsd.com Email him at mossberg@wsj.com.

Networks Block Web Programs From Being Viewed on Google TV

Sam Schechner and Amir Efrati — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:00:52 +0000

ABC, CBS and NBC are blocking TV programming on their websites from being viewable on Google Inc.’s new Web-TV service, exposing the rift that remains between the technology giant and some of the media companies it wants to supply content for its new products.

Full-length episodes of shows like NBC’s “The Office,” CBS’s “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and ABC’s “Modern Family” can’t be viewed on Google TV, a service that allows people to access the Internet and search for Web videos on their television screens, as well as to search live TV listings. Logitech International S.A. and Sony Corp. began selling devices running the software this month.

Spokespeople for the three networks confirmed that they are blocking the episodes on their websites from playing on Google TV, although both ABC and NBC allow promotional clips to work using the service. ABC is owned by Walt Disney Co., CBS is part of CBS Corp., and NBC is a unit of General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal.

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Logitech Unveils $300 Revue Google TV Set-Top Box

Eric Savitz — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:21:02 +0000

Logitech (LOGI) this afternoon unveiled the Logitech Revue, a $299.99 set-top box and wireless keyboard controller based on the Android-based Google (GOOG) TV platform. The company also launched the Logitech TV Cam and Vid HD service for video calling.

The box provides a single access point for content from TV providers and the Web, along with a variety of applications. The Revue works with any HDMI-ready TV. The box uses the CE 4100 Intel (INTC) Atom processor. To install the box, you connected an included HDMI cable to you TV, and another cable to your cable or satellite TV box.

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Wednesday Is Prince Spaghetti Day in Silicon Valley

Kara Swisher — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:15:47 +0000

This morning just after 9 am PT in San Francisco, there is an event that Cisco (CSCO) is throwing, to show off its new consumer telepresence product that BoomTown reported on last week.

Then, at 10 am, down at its Palo Alto, Calif., HQ, Facebook is having yet another product launch event for the media–one of many regular gatherings like it in recent months–to show off new updates to its social networking service.

And, to round it out, Google (GOOG) and Logitech will be throwing a confab in the area to show off the first iteration of its Google TV device, with which consumers can use televisions to interact with all kinds of video and other content.

In other words, it’s a special day in Silicon Valle,y and All Things Digital will be right there covering all the action.

Until all this mess of innovation gets rolled out, please enjoy the video of the classic television commercial with Hey Anthony in Boston’s North End:

Google TV's New Pitch: Let Us Scare the Crap Out of You

Peter Kafka — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:35:41 +0000

Google TV is creeping out Hollywood studios, but average consumers don’t know a thing about it.

Solution: Logitech, one of Google’s partners, will help scare the rest of us, too.

That inscrutable/creepy ad is for Revue, a set-top box that will come bundled with Google’s (GOOG) platform this fall (thanks to Engadget for flagging). And if you watch the other videos in Logitech’s campaign, you’ll see that the company is trying to argue that Revue will make your TV feel less “lonely.”

So that makes a bit of sense, I guess. And I’m writing about it, so I guess it works. I just don’t know of many consumer electronic success stories that use the terror/befuddlement approach. But maybe this one will be different!

Google TV Is a Tough Sell Among Would-Be Partners

Jessica E. Vascellaro — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:51:30 +0000

Google Inc. is launching a campaign to line up TV networks’ support for its new Google TV software, but many remain reluctant to partner with a service they believe encroaches on their turf.

The service will allow people to watch and search cable, satellite and Web programming—as well as access regular Web pages—through TVs and set-top boxes that incorporate new Google software. The first devices, made by Sony Corp. and Logitech International SA, are due out this fall, marking another tug-of-war between tech companies eager for new content and media companies worried about giving it away.

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Why Will Google TV Be Any Different From WebTV? Or AOL TV? Or MSNTV? Or…

John Paczkowski — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:12:43 +0000

At its I/O developer conference Thursday in San Francisco, Google, predicted it would “change the future of television” with GoogleTV, an effort to marry broadcast TV with the Web. And in comments about the announcement, the company’s executives hawked the new software and hardware bundle with similarly aggrandizing pronouncements.

There was this from Google Senior Product Manager Rishi Chandra: “We’re going to have the same impact on the TV experience that the smartphone had on the phone experience.”

And then this from Google CEO Eric Schmidt: “TV has not been reinvented in any significant way since color television was brought in in the mid-1960s.”

With Google TV, Google clearly believes it is ushering in the rebirth of television. But, to Schmidt’s point, sure, TV hasn’t been reinvented in 50 years, but not for lack of trying.

The evolutionary path of the device is littered with failed Internet-TV initiatives. As the Time Magazine cover from Apr. 12, 1993 suggests, this is not a new idea. Nor has it been a successful one, at least not in implementations to date.

Steve Perlman’s WebTV, one the earliest products to bring the Internet to television, failed to gain significant market traction and didn’t do much better after it was acquired by Microsoft (MSFT) and turned it into MSNTV.

AOL TV, America Online’s (AOL) effort to extend its dominance from the PC to the television with a Web-TV hybrid, was scuttled in 2003, three years after it launched.

Brought to market with the help of some impressive hardware partners, like Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Microsoft’s Media Center Extenders never really caught on.

Launched more recently, Yahoo’s (YHOO) Connected TV initiative hasn’t garnered much notice. Then there’s Kodak’s (EK) Theater HD Player, which doesn’t seem to be doing that well either.

So what makes Google (GOOG) think it’s going to succeed where so many have failed? Particularly with a platform that, frankly, looks a lot like TiVo (TIVO) with a Web browser?

Aside from arrogance, that is?

Well, there’s an impressive list of partners. Certainly, adoption of Google TV stands to benefit quite a bit from Sony (SNE), Logitech (LOGI) and Dish Network (DISH) baking it into television sets, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes. And sources tell me other electronics manufacturers will soon join them. Content partnerships with Netflix (NFLX) and Amazon (AMZN) will also help.

But the partnerships that matter most with an effort like this–cable company partnerships–are entirely absent. The simple fact is that cable companies like Comcast (CMCSA) and Time Warner (TWX) not only distribute the majority of the set-top boxes in the U.S, they also have a strong hold over content providers. Unless Google can convince them that their current business model is in need of something like Google TV, pushing the platform into the mainstream is likely to prove quite difficult.

[Image Credit: Time Magazine]