VideoWave is the audio company’s foray into the visual side of home entertainment–it’s basically Bose’s answer home theater in a box. Comprised of a 46” LCD TV with built-in 5.1 channel audio (What?!), a separate processor, and a unique remote control, the system appears to be a feat of engineering on a number of fronts.

Bose VideoWave system - launching this month

While it’s fascinating that Bose managed to make a flat screen TV with built in speakers feel like surround sound (a point *some* audiophiles may disagree with), we think its FAR OUT controller deserves a bit more attention.

Called the Click Pad, the VideoWave system’s bundled universal remote is  more than a departure from Bose remotes past; it’s a departure from all remotes past.

Bose VideoWave universal Remote (photo via Engadget)

The Basics
Click Pad is the hand-held universal  remote that controls a Bose TV, its built in Wave audio system, proprietary iPod dock, and up to five different HDMI sources (cable, TiVo, Blu-ray player, Xbox, Apple TV, etc.).

Because it’s an RF remote, everything can be hidden in a cabinet if you like, and it will control additional through an emitter and optional jacks.

Programming disasters will be kept to a minimum since white glove delivery and installation/integration are included in the VideoWave purchase price. Sorry DIY-ers, Bose professional installation is actually mandatory.

The Controller

The Click Pad is extremely simple. In fact,  it almost looks like a prop because a lot of space is given to a small number of traditional buttons, directional keys, and a wheel shaped touch pad for selecting sources and navigating to through an on-the-tv-screen interface.

It is visually soothing, but we are a little concerned that usability may have been sacrificed in the name of simplicity. More on that later…

The Interface
To use the Click Pad to control the VideoWave and multiple audio/video sources, you simply tap the touch pad (Bose calls it a click wheel), which shrinks the picture on the TV screen, and pulls up a border-shaped menu of remote control commands for the selected input.

You then slide a finger around the pad in a circular motion, stopping it once the menu option you want is highlighted; then click to select.

Bose VideoWave on-screen control menu (photo via Engadget)

Because the command menus are fixed, once you’re familiar with the location of your favorites (like TV guide and saved programs), you won’t have to glide around the menu. Rather, you’ll tap the touch pad in the spot that corresponds to the location of the menu command on the screen; then click (watch demo).

Simplicity v. Usability

Using the click pad looks it will be fairly easy on the brain. The way you know the positions on the face of a clock without effort, Click Pad users will probably know the wheel/menu location of their favorite commands without effort. Though the interface is innovative, it seems like usability has take a back seat to simplicity.

Sure, it’s nice to look at the clean design of the Click Pad hardware. The problem with having menus instead of buttons for all but a few functions, is that it becomes more difficult to do the things you need to do with your remote.

For example, instead of pushing one button to pull up the TV guide, Click Pad users will need to complete two (or three) actions:  (1) touch the pad, (2) slide your finger to highlight the guide option on the menu, (3) click.

Now imagine having to deal with the Bose on screen interface in addition to the TV guide’s on screen interface.

Or what if you want to jump to channel 273? Instead of pushing three number buttons, users will have to complete at least six actions. And one can only hope that the cable box doesn’t jump to to channel 2 or channel 27 before you finish all six of those actions.

I hate to say it, but a more complicated controller may have been a better solution.

Who cares if your remote looks sleek on the coffee table if it means doing twice the work, and looking at extra junk on the TV screen all the time? Perhaps it would be an okay trade if you never watch TV, but feel like you need one in the house for the sake of completeness…

Installation & Programming Details

The installer will program  your Click Pad by firing a few commands from your existing remotes at the VideoWave’s IR receiver. The system then compares the signals from your remotes to an embedded database of IR command codes to identify what kind of devices you have, and what on-screen menus should be added to your system. Cool, huh?

We were curious about what users would do if their inputs ever changed. The very helpful Bose rep I spoke with yesterday assured me that it would be ridiculously easy for VideoWave owners to modify their inputs and update their remotes without professional assistance.

Though we know the system has an IR receiver that it uses for to identify connected devices, it’s still not clear (to me at least) whether you can use the Click Pad to control a device that isn’t in the embedded database. I wasn’t able to get an answer beyond, “The database is fully updatable.” Whatever that means… (hopefully it doesn’t mean you’ll have to wait for a firmware update).

Final thoughts

Regardless of our opinions on usability, Bose does get points for innovation and simplicity. It’s fun to watch companies get out there and shake things up. Who knows, maybe we’ll test the ClickPad later this month and fall in love.

T minus two weeks. Can’t wait to try it out!

**Learn more about the VideoWave: Bose; Ubergizmo; TWICE; Digital Trends; CrunchGear; Engadget; ZDNet; CNET; PC Magazine; USA TODAY

Logitech Touch Mouse app for iPhone and iPod touch (image via Mobiletor.com)

I’m sure you’ve heard about Logitech’s Touch Mouse by now; the internet’s been buzzing with the news since Monday (and the story was floating around in cyberspace for a bit before it took off).

According to Logitech Global Product Marketing Manager Andy Hengel, the Touch Mouse app uses Wi-Fi to turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a wireless trackpad and keyboard for your computer, so you can point, click, scroll and type from afar, in any application, on a Mac or PC.

Yes, “now” you can lie in bed and respond to the IM that’s flashing on your monitor across the room (plus one). However you’ll need to be able to see what you’re responding to, since it won’t appear on your iPhone or iPod touch (minus one).

The above draw aside—it seems like the Touch Mouse would be perfect for controlling video on your computer (or HTPC) from across the room.

Wait a minute; why is everyone so excited? The first wireless trackpad and keyboard app for iPhone and iPod touch, Intelliremote, appeared in 2008. That same year, Logitech debuted a piece of dedicated hardware with similar (yet less robust) functionality, diNovo Mini. Frankly, I’m a little confused about why such a product is still on the market.

Why would anyone buy a cell phone-sized wireless keyboard for $150, when they could buy an iPhone and download a wireless keyboard and track pad app for $99? Please spare me your comments about the price of the wireless plan. Almost everyone has a cell phone. It’s a non-expense.

So now, almost two years later, Logitech has decided that it wants to eat lunch with the cool kids—the developers behind wireless keyboard and track pad apps like Intelliremote, Mobile Air Mouse Pro, Rowmote Pro, TouchPad. Yes Logitech, you can sit down; I hear the app is great. I’m just not sure how long you can stay…

It’s pretty clear that the iPhone and other app-friendly mobile devices are gadget killers. Macworld’s Christopher Breen brought this to our attention last year with his article, “iPhone 3G S and the ‘Uh Oh’ moment.”

I’m feeling a little sad for Logitech at the moment (and all the other companies that manufacture standalone gadgets that will soon be replaced by mobile devices).

Slingmedia showed off the beautiful new Sling Touch Control 100 this week at CES. The Touch Control 100 has a 4.3 inch touchscreen and a stunning design which was sleek enough to get it selected as a CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering Award honoree.

The Touch Control 100 lets you control SlingGuide enabled DVRs over IP via your home 802.11 wireless network.  Traditional IR devices are supported as well, but no mention of its scope of coverage.  Slingmedia has yet to reveal any information about pricing, but they have said that it will not be sold through traditional retail.  Instead the Sling Touch Control 100 will be offered through various cable and satellite providers as part of a new suite of Sling products.

Certainly the resemblance to another “touch” product — the iPod touch — is unmistakable. Which brings up the question: why spend so much money on developing this kind of hardware, when a solid iPhone app and dock would do just as well?

I’ve seen a few cars being driven by the iPhone, that’s cool and all, but the guys from Mythbusters have basically been doing that for years.  Starting your car with the iPhone makes sense, but driving hands free?  The people from Engineer Awesome, which is a part of Waterloo Labs at National Instruments, make it clear… why drive inside of a car when the outside looks so much more fun?

Weather it is called Redneck Surfing or Ghost Riding, it’s most certainly dangerous (i.e., don’t do this at home), but for the sake of science and engineering it’s pretty cool.  The system is pretty simple, though they destroyed the in the process (seeing how it’s an Olds ’88 I doubt anyone will cry over that).  I’d like to see someone try this out on a Ferrari, although they should wear football pads.

People continue to find some pretty random uses for iPhone, not to mention the 100,000 apps that are already out there, but there are still quite a few more things we’d like to see come out for the iPhone.  At least we can cross ghost riding off that list now.

Bowling can be pretty frustrating — unless you have those awesome bumpers we used at my 5th birthday party.   I’ve always wanted to bowl a perfect game like Mort Goldman, but to be honest I think the LHC has a better chance of actually getting started first. Until now. With the RC900, a remote control bowling ball from 900 Global I could cheat my way there.

The RC900 uses internal mechanism to control the direction the ball rolls. For those who like to roll in style, it also has flashing lights.  Of course you have to charge a battery in the ball, but if that wears you out, you can launch it from from a ramp instead of getting up out of your seat.

Normally we’re pretty big on remote controlled gadgets, but the RC900 just takes the fun out of the game.  Still, if your an amateur and your goal is roll a 300, then the RC900 may be right up your alley.

P.S.  Holding back on the Big Lebowski jokes thanks to Gizmodo…

Plexidor Pet Door is an electronic doggy door with vertical sliding door (i.e Awesome).   The Plexidor opens when your pet nears it, thanks to an RFID chip that is placed in your furry friend’s collar.  The hope is that this intelligent doggy door can prevent unwanted intruders from sneaking into of your house while letting your pet come and go.

The Plexidor Pet Door for large dogs comes in at a hefty $800 dollars, which seems pricey.  Plus, it most likely will have to be professionally installed since it needs to be hardwired for power.  If bragging rights is your thing, then the electronic doggy door may be the new gadget for you.

Apparently the police plan to use the system in order to direct traffic at peak hours.  Details are sketchy, but it seems that rather than relying upon standard traffic light automation, they will be manually releasing slugs of cars across a particular bridge bottleneck. In some cases they will be able to convert both lanes to send traffic in one direction to handle peak volumes.  I just hope they have some pretty skilled remote control wizards out there, or things could get interesting.

I am interested to see whether or not the system really helps, and if any other cities try it out. At first I was concerned about the ugly precedent for centralized control, but then I started to think that if an automatic light would halt traffic for no reason, there could be a certain efficiency here. And this certainly has to be better then the two officers with walkie talkies direct traffic by hand — which is what they do now.

Of course it is possible to remotely control many traffic lights here in the US using a MIRT. But unless you carry a badge or drive an ambulance, it’s also a federal offense and could land you in hot water.

Just kidding — I prefer my technology on the outside. But for those of you who like it the other way, I’ve got an interesting product to share. (drumroll, please) May I present the amazing, incredible, remote-controlled, Astrea 1 Vibrating Briefs.

Okay, so we usually don’t cover “intimate accessories,” but since we are about everything remote control, I feel a little obligated to take this one on. Here goes.

The Astrea 1 Vibrating Briefs include a pair of underwear and a small massage unit — and that massage unit comes with its own remote control. Yes, these panties do exactly what you think they do, and before I get a flustered explaining, let me pass the torch to the experts:

“Apparel at its most intimate! Tucked into the lining of these saucy lace briefs is a quiet, removable little massager that you (or an exceptionally trustworthy companion!) operate by remote control … One sizes fits most adults.”

Yes, even when it seems we have seen every remote control imaginable, along comes something to surprise. But lest you think this is a light-hearted jaunt, let me say that the remote control has an operational range of up to 12 feet, so you can reach out and touch someone from the other side of the party. Maybe it’s Bluetooth equipped — the “literature” isn’t particularly explicit (on that feature, anyway). And supposedly the vibrating effect is discrete, although given how often I hear other people’s phones vibrate, I hope that’s true. Or maybe those aren’t phones I hear…

Anyway, I’m no expert on these things, but maybe with the Astrea Vibrating Briefs you won’t have to pretend anymore like Sally:

Unleash your inner Spielberg: SkyShutter has released the AeriCam, a remote controlled helicopter for your video camera. Backyard home videos just got a lot more interesting.

The AeriCam is a “lightweight 3-axis camera mount coupled with a customized Industry Radio Control Helicopter.” Founder and commercial photographer, Jason Lam brought his R/C enthusiast skills to bear in this product, which seems like something really special. Capable of flying up to 400ft into the air, the AeriCam not only makes aerial photography much more affordable, it also enables professionals to access locations that would have been off limits to full-size helicopters because of nearby buildings and other regulations. And for the consumer who can afford a $3,000 camera accessory — well, it might not be for the everyday wallet, but taking flight lessons and renting a chopper isn’t necessarily a day’s paycheck, either.

Operating the AeriCam is a two person gig: one navigates the helicopter via remote, while the other person pans, tilts and rolls the camera while monitoring a live video feed. I imagine this would be a natural evolution for the Google Street View crew. Why stalk the planet solely by pavement when you could take to the skies in beautiful panorama, cinema-scope?

Aerial Photography New York from Jason Lam on Vimeo.

Tired of your kids kicking your remote under the couch or stuffing it into the laundry basket? Kurt R has an answer. What’s that, you say? Your welding skills are a little rusty? Well, if you don’t have a spare anvil lying around, all is not lost. We at ThinkFlood have been working on a system to turn your iPhone into a universal remote control, so you’ll never have to go looking for that remote again. Let us know what you think.