The Harmony Adapter for PS3 will retail for $59.99.
(Credit: Logitech)A few months ago, we reported that Logitech was getting ready to launch an accessory that would allow its IR-based Harmony remotes to control the PS3, which only has a Bluetooth wireless interface. Well, according to Logitech, the Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 is a couple of weeks away from hitting stores in North America. Europe will see a July launch, while Australia will get it any day.
Logitech has a blog post up that offers a full FAQ on the $59.99 adapter, but the long and short of it is the accessory simply converts your Harmony's IR commands to Bluetooth signals. For better or worse, unlike some PS3 IR dongles already on the market, the adapter requires an AC adapter. But Logitech explains that it not only didn't want the adapter to use up one of "your valuable USB ports," and without an external power source, you wouldn't be able to power on your PS3 using the adapter because the PS3's USB ports are dead when the unit is powered off.
While we still think it's tragic and outrageous that Sony failed to include IR, Logitech's entry into the PS3 adapter arena is good news for home-theater fans and Harmony owners. In case you're wondering, no, it doesn't work with non-Harmony remotes--and no, it isn't compatible with the Wii either.
The underside of the adpater.
(Credit:
Engadget HD)
It appears as if Logitech is about to silence the complaints of thousands of PlayStation 3 owners who are frustrated with the system's lack of an infrared port. Those with Harmony remotes--or any universal remote for that matter--up until now have had to rely on clunky, hacked-up IR-to-Bluetooth USB dongles for their all-in-ones remotes to take control of their PS3. It seems the Logitech Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 will play nicely with the line Harmony remotes right out of the box.
Among our largest concerns is whether the new device will have the capability to power on the PS3, something the IR solutions we've seen before don't handle as smoothly as we would have liked. There are no confirmed details yet, but a preemptive look at the FCC documents does include mention of Bluetooth and a separate power supply. Suffice to say, it sounds as this adapter will be able to power cycle your PS3. Imagine that.
You can be sure we'll have a review of this magical device the second it's available.
(Source: Engadget HD)
UPDATE: Since the publishing of this post, Logitech has spoke out about the device, shedding some light on some of the specific features of the Logitech Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3.
We can't give you all the details just yet, but we can say that this adapter will, when used with any Harmony remote, allows you to control your movie-watching experience on PS3. It will also turn the PS3 on and off - and allow you to set up your Harmony activities to include the PS3 just as you would any other device. You also won't need to dedicate any of your valuable USB ports to get that control.
You might balk at the $130 price tag, but this time more actually means better. The Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro combo puts two of our favorite products together in one package: the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Keyboard and the Logitech MX 1100 Cordless laser mouse.
Both products received very high marks from their respective editors, and the MX1100 mouse even managed to win an Editors' Choice award. This time around, we're sticking to our guns and rewarding this winning combo as well.
One of the most significant hardware changes in the bundle that we don't speak much of in the review is the mouse's rechargeable battery. In our separate review of the MX1100, we weren't very happy to see that it used alkaline batteries for juice. We cut it some slack since it meant one less power adapter to throw into our mountain of cords, but Logitech really came through this time and includes a rechargeable battery with the system.
Logitech advertises two months of power per charge, and although we don't have the time or the resources to perform a drain test, we used the device for a full week and kept it on 24 hours a day and barely saw the drain indicator move. In our opinion, that's worth the bimonthly mouse charging.
Read the full review of the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro.
(Credit:
Meritline)
It's the rare notebook that doesn't have Wi-Fi, but not all models offer Bluetooth. Though not a critical feature, the short-range wireless technology is handy to have for things like cordless mice and cell-phone tethering (i.e., using your phone as a modem). Meritline has a teeny-tiny USB-powered Bluetooth adapter on sale for just $7.99 shipped.
What I love about this thing is that it's so teeny-tiny: Just a rounded little nub. You can leave it plugged into a USB port and barely know it's there. This is a Bluetooth 1.2-compliant adapter with a listed range of up to 65 feet (though let's be honest: 30 feet is usually where Bluetooth tops out).
I really love using a Bluetooth mouse when I travel, and on the rare occasions when I need to tether my Palm Centro, I can do so without a cable. For 8 bucks shipped, there's no cheaper (or less obtrusive) way to add Bluetooth to a notebook (or desktop, if that's your thing).
(Credit:
Crave Asia)
If you hate having to change the video card in your PC to support multiple displays, here's a way that can help save the hassle. The Logitec LDE-SX010U, which is expected to be released in Japan in mid-March, is a USB-to-DVI dongle that lets you connect additional monitors to your computer via the USB 2.0 port.
The Logitec dongle supports a maximum 1,400x1,050 pixels, which is the standard native resolution for most 19-inch panels. Up to six displays can be connected to one PC, according to Akihabara News, though a more powerful computer is recommended as more displays are added.
Users can choose to activate the multi-display option for larger desktop real estate or the "mirroring" mode, which essentially duplicates the content on the different screens. A "90 degrees" option also enables the display to be rotated for portrait viewing. Unfortunately for Mac users, the Logitec dongle supports only Windows Vista, XP, and 2000.
(Source: Crave Asia)
The USBIRXR3: One man's quest for IR support on the PS3.
(Credit: Mike Muecke)One of our original and most persistent gripes about the PS3 has been the lack of any sort of IR support that would allow you to program your universal remote to command the system. As you're probably aware, the PlayStation 3 uses Bluetooth technology for its wireless controllers, as well as an optional Bluetooth remote that's designed for movie watching. While home-theater buffs may love their PS3's AV capabilities, they tend to find the lack of IR really irritating. It means that every time you want to watch a movie (or play a game) on the PS3, you have to switch to a second controller. Not so with the Xbox 360, which has an IR port on its face.
One would think that Sony would put out some sort of IR dongle that would solve the universal-remote compatibility issue (or hopefully integrate IR into the next version of the PS3), but thus far, no such Sony dongle has emerged. However, a handful of other USB dongles are trickling their way onto the market.
... Read moreOn Sale Now: $17.43
View the latest prices for Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared Remote (PS3)
(Credit:
Pocket-lint)
If Logitech is stocking its vending machines with free cans of Red Bull, we wouldn't be surprised. Especially in the hallways of its mouse division.
Only days after debuting its "MX Air Mouse," the company is reportedly preparing to release a successor to its highly regarded "VX Revolution" laser mouse. The "VX Nano" is wireless and meant for laptops, like its predecessor, but there's a noticeable difference: The new version's USB dongle is tiny--so small, Pocket-lint says, that it doesn't even need to be removed from its port when the notebook is stowed away.
That may come as welcome news to road warriors who don't have Bluetooth-equipped computers but still want a wireless mouse. As anyone in this category knows, USB dongles typically stick out like the proverbial sore thumb, making for them precarious appendages especially for the klutzes among us. The downside is the price, which will list for 50 pounds (about $103) when it goes on the U.K. market this year; that's even more than the cost of its predecessor, which was already considered pricey at $79. (The Revolution now lists for $70.) Still, it's a lot cheaper than getting a new computer just for a Bluetooth connection.
(Credit:
AMD)
OK, we admit to being somewhat harsh at times on USB keys and sticks, especially when they appear to be getting too big for their gold-plated britches. But our beef mostly has been with their necessity, or lack thereof.
None of that would apply to AMD's latest invention if it does just half the things the company says it can do. The "ATI TV Wonder 600" USB dongle promises to turn your laptop into a DVR, even for high-definition stuff, and you can do even more with AMD's new PC card for desktops. As CrunchGear notes, both come with their own remotes and will even record from a VCR if you're still living in the Dark Ages.
All this and not even a single Swarovski crystal in sight. Amazing.
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