remote

Control your Roku box with free iOS app

Roku boxes are all the rage right now, offering cheap and easy streaming of services like HBO Go, Hulu Plus, and Netflix.

Of course, another box means another remote, and Roku's clickers are so small they can easily vanish into the couch cushions, never to be seen again. (Well, unless you look.)

Here's a handy alternative: Roku for iOS, which brings a full-featured remote to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. (It's coming soon for Android.)

The app connects to your box via your home network. I quickly and easily linked my iPhone 4S to an older … Read more

How to control your Android via PC

AirDroid is an Android app that allows you to control your device remotely from your computer. If your device is charging in another room or otherwise out of reach, or you're really busy and can't be bothered to constantly pick up your device to respond to alerts, this is a great way to stay connected while not hurting your productivity (as much). Follow these three easy steps to set it up:

Begin by installing the AirDroid app from the Android Market.

Step 1: Open AirDroid and hit the Start button to launch the server.… Read more

How to program a Logitech Harmony remote

Universal remotes come in all shapes and sizes, but our top pick for controlling your entire home theater with one gadget is the Logitech Harmony remote.

The Harmony remote's greatest standout feature is its easy setup process. Instead of punching in complicated codes and using the remote's on-screen display, the entire configuration process is done on a Web site.

To get started, you'll need:

A list of all your home entertainment gear by model number An internet PC with IE, FF or a Mac with Safari (not Chrome) A USB cable A Harmony remote

Grab those items … Read more

Sony's new TV update goes social

A new firmware update for Sony's Bravia TV series has arrived, enhancing the built-in YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter widgets.

The YouTube experience on Sony's TV sets now has the ability to play HD video. Previously, the output was mediocre at best, but it should now should offer a crisp, high-definition image for videos with that capability.

Those accessing their Facebook accounts can now look at photos and videos in full-screen resolution. Posted URLs on Facebook are now accessible in the built-in Web browser found in most current Sony televisions. Unfortunately, that browser is somewhat slow and due to the lack of processing power, operates worse than the one included with the PlayStation 3. … Read more

Got a new PC? Get a perfect starter kit - now 83% off

Just in time for the holidays, CNET has partnered with top consumer software publishers to offer an exclusive bundle of six products worth $177.88 for just $30! That's a 83% discount on the leading anti-virus, system care, PDF creator, compression and remote access software.

This great software bundle lets you protect your computer, create and compress documents, and stream media content from your computer to any connected device!

The New PC starter-kit bundle includes the following six software:

Avira Antivirus Premium 2012 - Protect your computer against viruses, malware, adware, spyware, and phishing: reg.$29.99 Smith Micro … Read more

Tablets for your TV

Tablets make a great TV companion. You can use them to check you e-mail during TV commercials, post your reactions to the game, or look up an actor on IMDb whom you just can't quite place.

Wouldn't it be great if you could use your tablet to actually control your TV? Well, you can.

We've rounded up our top tablets that can be used to navigate your TV using integrated IR technology or specialized apps. … Read more

How to control a Mac from your PC using Chrome Remote Desktop

Need to connect to and control a Mac from your PC? One quick and easy solution can be found in Google's Chrome Remote Desktop feature.

Released as a beta early last month, the Chrome Remote Desktop extension lets you connect to one computer from another directly through the browser. From there, you can control the other computer using your mouse and keyboard.

Of course, remote desktop software is nothing new. Microsoft includes its Remote Desktop Connection in Windows. It also offers a Mac version of the software, but that one only lets you connect to a PC from your … Read more

Pogoplug Mobile adds backup, storage, streaming to Android, iOS devices

Cloud Engines' new Pogoplug Mobile is a small box that plugs into your home router and streams your media libraries to your Android or iOS device.

That may sound familiar to anyone already familiar with the Pogoplug line of products, but the Mobile adds one key feature to the mix: it automatically backs up photos and videos captured with your phone or tablet.

Its name and diminutive size notwithstanding, the Mobile is not a portable device. Instead, it resides alongside your router and relies on one of three sources for storage: your PC(s), a USB hard drive or flash drive plugged directly into the unit, or an SD card.… Read more

BitTorrent delivers a tripartite flood of updates

BitTorrent has achieved stability on the Mac with the release today of the newly stable version of its "mainline" client, an update to the stable μTorrent for Mac, and the launch of a new remote management Web interface that's been optimized for iPad users. BitTorrent for Mac (download) and μTorrent for Mac (download) transports the most popular features of those programs from Windows to Mac, including RSS feeds, a scheduler, remote access, and power user controls.

As with the Windows versions, the features are fairly robust. The RSS feeds can be set to automatically grab and start … Read more