Are you tired of remote control issues for your home entertainment system and looking for ways to utilize your iPhone & ipad for more  uses that simply your digital life? Steve Garber, tech enthusiast from Silicon Valley, brings you the Apptwee Universal Remote review based on his own personal use and testing…

I have about 3.5 remotes and they are always threatening to take over my living room. So any excuse to limit them is a welcome addition. In comes the apptwee universal remote. It marries the software control from the iPhone/iPad with a very small piece of hardware.

The first thing that struck me about the Apptwee Universal Remote is the ease of use. In literally 1 minute I had it working. All you have to do is plug it in and a quick search for your product later you are functioning. This is so much better than any other universal remote which takes a long list of product codes and down right up left sort of coding to get it to work.

It is exciting to see my iPhone be used as a remote control. The hardware is super small and not cumbersome at all. It adds to the ever growing integration of our electronic devices so we can consolidate a little bit.

Here are some bullet point specs on what this product is and offers:

• Infrared (IR) remote for all your entertainment
• Right now we support over 225 most popular brands, over 72 Different device types, and over 845 devices
• You do not need to capture any IR code or have the original remote
• No battery needed, just plug in your iphone/ipod/ipad
• Needs iOS app. Down load free app from Apple App Store

While this Apptwee Universal Remote is really cool I still have a few observations that should be an easy fix in updates or gen two devices. The hardware worked amazingly, but the software needed some help. I have a weird Polaroid TVthat wasn’t able to be found in the list of products, I also could not find the ps3, but I could find the ps2. I also found my att box which was awesome. The other thing that could have been better is the user interface. It didn’t seem to be organized and the color coding better suited for button functions.

Overall, this Apptwee Universal Remote  is awesome for anytime you need a remote in a pinch. Ease of use, cost, and set up are the largest benefitsof this product. The collection of devices supported is very large, but still could use some updating which is an easy and forseable change. All in all I enjoyed this product and  very happy to see the integration of my iPhone as a remote control to lessen my reliance on too many devices.

• To get your own Apptwee Universal Remote Click Here

When I first plugged in the Blue “Mikey” microphone and recorded my voice, I instantly remembered why I chose writing instead of radio. Despite my subpar vocal talent, the Mikey microphone did an above average job of recording every second. The Mikey attaches directly to the iPod dock connector at the bottom of your iPod and is compatible with the iPod nano (2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation), the iPod 5th generation, and the iPod classic.  On the front of the device are three indicator lights, activated by a switch on the back, that display what sensitivity the microphone is set at. High sensitivity is good for soft sounds (like a speech), medium is good for mid volume sounds (like an acoustic guitar), and low is perfect for loud sounds (like rock concerts). The versatility of Mikey is one of its most appealing features. The sensitivity selector allows you to choose the setting that is perfect for your recording needs–as diverse as they may be. Also,  it is priced in the mid-level range of iPod microphones, but it performs better then some of the higher end mics.

• High quality, positionable head
• User adjustable gain control
• Up to 4 hours of continuous recording
• Fits in most iPod cases
• Records in 44kHz/16 bit WAV or 22kHz/16 bit WAV formats

The Mikey also comes with a built-in mono speaker, which isn’t particularly impressive, but it does the job of making sure your recording worked. The recordings I made sounded better then any i have done using other iPod microphones. The annoying problems of distortion and background noise that plague most iPod mics are no match for the large, high quality microphone capsules that the Mikey has.  Although it may not offer studio-quality sound, the Mikey delivers above average performance–performing better than the competition and some higher end models. If your recording needs are diverse, quality is your priority, and you don’t want to pay a fortune, then the Blue “Mikey” iPod microphone will satisfy your many recording needs.

To get your own Blue Mikey from Amazon.com Click Here

Everyone has heard of an Ipod, but is the new Ipod Nano here to stay?  Many people might say no, but I beg to differ.  Once you get to know the new iPod Nano, you will feel compelled to buy one yourself.  The iPod Nano, made by Apple, and is their latest brand of Ipod, a nifty little device that allows you to bring your music with you anywhere you go.  Most people have heard of the iPod and know its basic function (to play music), but the new Ipod Nano allows you to shuffle your songs by simply shaking it, watch movies or music videos vertically or horizontally, and use a feature called Genius that automatically makes playlists for you based on songs that go well together.  Basically, this tiny iPod has every feature you could possibly need without it being some sort of Iphone or Blackberry.

 People who are not very “techy” might find the new Ipod Nano to be overwhelming with all of its features, but it is surprisingly easy to operate and really beneficial.  This product can automatically upload your music and videos, and with a simple click you can create your own playlists from the Nano.  If you are on the gos and do not have time to make a playlist, you can use Genuis and have a playlist created for you, based on a single song you chose.  Additionally, by giving your Nano a quick shake, it will shuffle your songs for you.  All these great features make the Ipod Nano straightforward to use, but it has also proven to be very advantageous. For example, have you ever been sitting in the doctor’s office waiting for your appointment with absolutely nothing to do?  If you were to have an Nano, you could do numerous things to pass the time:  listen to music, watch movies, TV shows, and videos, play a variety of games designed for this Ipod, and even share pictures with the person sitting next to you. 

 As I mentioned previously, I think the new iPod Nano is permanent addition to the Apple family.  Not only is it colorful and slick, but its screen and sound excellence are remarkable, especially for such a small device.  The new features that come with the Ipod Nano make it one of a kind (for now).  Personally, I have enjoyed using the “shake to shuffle” feature, but often forget to lock my Ipod while on run and end up shuffling my songs when I am not looking to do so.  My only complaint about this product is the small amount of memory space available on this Ipod (8GB or 16GB), but I guess that is the trade off for its convenient size.  If you want more memory, you will have to deal with the bulk of the Ipod Classic that holds 120GB.  Because of its quality, simplicity, and overall satisfaction, it is without a doubt that the new Ipod Nano is a luxury worth every penny. 

• To get more info and get your own iPod Nano product at Amazon.com Click Here
• You can review special pricing options on this iPod Nano product by Clicking Here

You can’t deny the cultural importance of the iPod these days. Not only is it a portable MP3 player, video player, gaming device, and podcast streamer, but people have been using iPods as external hard drives. This is becoming especially prevalent since the release of the 80Gb and 160Gb models from Apple. Yet, for those who grow tired of listening to their music on tiny ear buds or watching their videos on a very small, darkscreen, the iPort FS-2 from Sonance is here.

Not only does the iPort charge and transfer data to and from your iPod, but it displays your videos on a television and plays audio on your home entertainment system. There are iPort FS one through five, with each model adding features as you go up the chain. The FS-1 delivers audio and video to an external source, charges and connects to a computer, and has a range of 25 feet. The FS-2 adds the possibility of a remote and volume/playback control. The higher models add more features and extended remote control range.

The box contains the iPort Dock, a power adapter, a 6.5′ double cable, and a signal breakout box that is used to connect the device to your audio/video equipment. The iPod models supported by the iPort are the iPod mini, iPod with dock connector, and the iPod photo, and there is an adjustable spacer wheel that positions the specific iPod in the dock. The FS-2 system supports composite and S-Video connections for video output, and analog RCA connections for the audio output.

The interface is fairly straightforward and easy to use. It implements the Apple iTunes software, which will be immediately familiar to anyone. It has large forward and backward buttons for skipping songs quickly, as well as using the iPod’s controls. As far as quality goes, the video is crisp, and there were no artifacts in the audio. The music sounded fairly good for being in MP3 format (one thing Apple needs to upgrade soon).

All in all, the iPort is extremely useful in the home or office. You can quickly plug it in, sit down, and enjoy anything on your iPod from the comport of your couch. The iPort is in-expensive, and would make a great addition to any techno-savvy household.

• To get your own iPort Click Here
• You can review special pricing on the iPort by Clicking Here
• You can price compare on the iPort by Clicking Here
• You can enter to win the iPort and see a demo via AmazingTechProducts.com by Clicking Here

I have a portable MP3 player that I’m pretty happy with. It holds a ton of music, and also stores some pictures and gives me alarms for calendar events. It’s pretty spiffy.

It also has some video playback. It can hold feature length movies, but the screen is so tiny (and scratched, my bad!) that it’s hard to watch anything. Having a pair of Vuzix iWear goggles really helps me get the most out of my portable video player. You plug the input source into the goggles (there are tons of adapters to let you plug virtually anything with a video output into the iWear) and settle in to watch the video fill your field of vision.

While watching, I never really got the impression that I was watching anything on a big screen. The screen was nicely sized and well lit, but I wasn’t mistaking the experience for watching a movie screen. All the same, it was a considerable step up from the normal portable watching I do.

It also worked well hooking up to my video game system, though it isn’t able to display high-def video input.

Set up was a snap. Just charge up the viewer and go to videotown. It took a few seconds for me to get comfortable, mostly because I wear the excessively blocky glasses associated with Johnny Depp and Ira Glass. Once I got the nose rests out of the way and discovered that the speakers aren’t designed to fit in your ears, I was off to the races. The battery life lasted long enough for me to get through a two hour movie with time to spare, and it recharges easily on any wall socket.

All in all, it’s a great product that’s pretty comfortable to wear for long periods and gives you a much better portable video experience.

• To check out a pair of Vuzix iWear glasses for your yourself Click Here
• You can review special pricing of the Vuzix iWear by Clicking Here
• To price compare on the Vuzix iWear Click Here