Marko @ X10 - A web producer blog

Have you been doing your thumb stretches? The much anticipated release of the iconRemote Universal Remote Control is just around the corner!

This is more than your average universal remote. I already told you about all of the great features (custom favorite channel buttons, HIS and HERS favorites, easy-to-use macros, a bright and colorful LCD display, and more - see below), and now I have something new for you. We have just put up a new webpage to generate customer interest in this amazing new remote. You can find everything you need to know about the iconRemote here at www.X10iconRemote.com. Make sure to sign up for the email updates so you don’t miss out when the iconRemote goes on sale. These things are going to fly off the shelves!

Visit the new iconRemote website:
www.X10iconRemote.com

Find out more in the X10 Knowledge Base:
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/IconRemote

Tell your friends. Why wrestle with a bunch of remotes when this handy little gadget can replace them all and do so much more!

To receive an alert when the iconRemote is released enter your email address below, and I'll keep you updated!

Posted by MarkoW at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It’s never really been my style to brag, but to describe my home entertainment system as “extensive” would be a gross understatement. I’ve got a big, plasma screen television, a six-speaker stereo system, digital cable, a DVD player and a VCR. I’ve even been thinking about picking up one of those new HD DVD Players. The only problem is that every time I add another component to my entertainment system, I have to add another remote to the growing pile on my coffee table.

Right now, I have so many different remote controls scattered across table tops and hidden between couch cushions, that they’re becoming harder and harder to keep track of. When friends come over, and they want to watch a little bit of television, or a movie, they can never seem to figure out which remote turns on the TV and which one operates the DVD player—they’ve been on my back to pick up a universal remote for months now! But I wasn’t sure if there was a single remote control out there that could effectively replace the ones I already have, so I had to make sure to do my homework.

Working at X10 pays off in many ways, but today I was espcially happy to hear about a solution for remote control(s) problem!

It's called the iconRemote! This thing is amazing! It has a brightly-lit, easy to read LCD screen that displays logos from all of my favorite stations, and ten separate, customizable user profiles, including convenient “HIS” and “HERS” buttons. (My wife will approve!)

And set-up is easy too. Unlike the Harmony Remote from Logitech, which must be connected to a computer before you can get started, the iconRemote is ready to go, right out of the box, no additional equipment needed! All I had to do was turn it on, and the On-Screen Wizard guided me through the entire set-up process.

And there are no remote control code books to fumble through either, because the iconRemote has the world’s most extensive code library stored in its internal memory! And in the unlikely event that I need a code that isn’t contained in the iconRemote’s internal memory, it’s not a problem, because this handy little piece of technology is capable of learning commands directly from another remote!

And there’s so much more: The iconRemote features ten programmable buttons (versus the Harmony’s four) while features such as Punchthrough and Quickpower make it easy for me to activate my entire entertainment system with the push of a single button! And it just keeps on getting better! This amazing remote features large, easy to read buttons, while a Smart Macro system allows me to execute complicated tasks with a single command. For example, I can turn on my TV, my DVD Player and my stereo simultaneously, and get my favorite movie started (with surround sound), all with the push of a single button! And the best part is, I can finally get rid of all my other remotes!

So when is this great new toy available? SOON, VERY SOON!

Find out more in the X10 Knowledge Base: http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/IconRemote

To receive an alert when the iconRemote is released enter your email address below, and I'll keep you updated!

Posted by MarkoW at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Earbuds are great when I’m on the go, but when I’m relaxing at home and I’ve got those headphones up like I’m listening close, they pretty much cut me off from the rest of the world. And more often than not, they get in the way. Besides, sometimes I enjoy listening to my music the way it was meant to be listened to, and most of the time, headphones don’t cut it. They just don’t have the kind of power you get from a real pair of speakers. And when you listen to headphones as much as I do, sometimes you just have to get away from them.

So I’m up late one night, just surfing the web, and that’s when I found out about the iParty from X10. You can do tons of cool stuff with this thing. All you have to do is slide your iPod nano or iPod Mini into the iParty, and connect the included receiver to your stereo, and you’re good to go! That’s all there is to it, I swear! Once I had my iParty all set up, I was able to listen to all the music on my iPod over my stereo speakers. So now I get a fuller, richer sound—something I miss out on with headphones. The iPod and the iParty when combined is about the size of a deck of cards, so I can still carry my music around with me. And that’s cool because when I team my iPod up with my iParty, I can use the iPod itself as a wireless remote. So I can change tracks, fine-tune my volume settings, even create and sift through playlists without getting off the couch. But the coolest thing about the iParty, by far, is the fact that it makes listening to my iPod a completely social experience!

A couple of weekends ago, I decided to have a little get together. Being the raging geek that I am, I was kind of excited to show off my iParty. And it worked like a charm. I played DJ the whole night, using my iPod as a remote. And because I was able to walk around and mingle with the crowd, I didn’t miss a thing!

www.iPartymini.com

Posted by MarkoW at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you heard of lock bumping? I hadn’t until one of the X10 community members emailed me an eye-opening news article (Thanks, Lynn!). Apparently lock bumping is becoming more and more popular among burglars and intruders.

To make matters worse, there are instructions on how to bump locks all over the internet, and apparently, this technique works on 90% of locks. One story I read even said it is so easy to do that a child can learn the technique in only a few minutes.

Pretty scary stuff. So what can you do to protect yourself?

-Start a neighborhood watch program in your neighborhood.
Getting to know your neighbors and letting them know when you will be out of town is a great way to help keep an eye out for suspicious behavior.

-Make sure that the perimeter of your house is well lit.
We have the perfect solution at X10.com. Our Motion-Activated Floodlights are motion activated and weather resistant. And, right now they are at the low price of only $69.99! Click here for more information.

-Get a guard dog.
A barking dog will make that burglar think twice before he tries to get into your home.
My german sheppard makes sure of it!

-Replace your locks with “bump proof” locks.
They are available at many hardware stores starting at $140 for a dead bolt.

-Buy a home security system.
This is a great way to alert yourself and your neighbors in the event of a break-in. We have an extensive line of security systems at X10.com. Our wireless Protector Plus Security System offers complete protection including door and window sensors, siren and flashing light alarms, an infrared motion detector, easy, do-it-yourself installation, and it will even call your cell phone in the event of an emergency. All for only $99.99! Click here for more information on X10 Security Systems.

For more info on lock bumping WikiPedia is a good start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_bumping

Posted by MarkoW at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Video senders are nothing new. In fact, they’ve been around for sometime now, although I guess I wouldn’t be too surprised if you’d never heard of them before at all. You see, the cable companies do their absolute best to keep them a secret.

A video sender is essentially a device that can be used to beam a signal from one television to another—and their very existence drives the cable companies mad! Read on to find out why...

I wanted to find a way to watch my digital cable on either TV in my home, but the last thing I wanted was to spend money on another bulky piece of equipment that would take up space and spread its wires through my home like some sort of wild, overgrown vine. Fortunately, X10 was able to provide me with the perfect solution to my problem: The new and improved VK82A Video Sender (What can I say? I just happen know a couple of the good folks who work at X10…).

So maybe you’ve heard of a video sender before. If you’re already familiar with them, then get ready for something completely different, because this video sender is new and improved! The first thing I noticed was its compact size. I mean, this thing is small— about the size of computer mouse, so I can hide it anywhere I want to. Not that I need to hide it at all: This video sender doesn’t sacrifice form for function. It sports a sleek and stylish design that looks high-tech and matches well with my entertainment system—that’s something my wife really appreciates. But don’t be fooled by this video sender’s compact size—it’s as powerful as ever! This amazing new video sender even comes with a built-in remote sender which allows me to control the action with my remote control no matter which TV I’m watching! And, the whole set-up is legal, unlike all of those other “black box” scams you’ve probably heard about.

And it doesn’t end with digital cable. If you have more than one TV in your home, but can’t afford to equip them all with expensive electronic equipment such as DVD players, then the VK82A Video Sender is the perfect solution for you. It works with RCA or coaxial cables, making it compatible with most audio/visual devices. In fact, with the right connection, you can even use it with your PC! Watch movies you’ve downloaded to your hard drive right on your TV screen!

So if you’re looking for an effective and affordable way to get a signal from one TV to another, check out the VK82A Video Sender—just don’t tell your cable company about it!

Posted by MarkoW at 04:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)