- Maine Caucuses a Chance to Right the Romney Ship
- Greek Debt Saga Back on Center Stage for Markets
- Greece Now Struggles to Overcome Mistrust
- China President-in-Waiting to Sample Slices of America
- MF Global Trustee Sees Shortfall of $1.6 Billion
- Iran to Announce 'Very Important' Nuclear Progress
- We're Not Greece: Italian Prime Minister Monti
- UK Police Arrest Five at Murdoch's Sun Newspaper
- Private Homebuilders in the US: Dead Men Walking
- In Search of America's ‘Hottest Forecasters’
- Dow vs. S&P 500: Which is a Better Investment?
- Mick Fleetwood on the MP3 ‘Dumbing Down’ of Music
- Avis on the Road to Strong Growth: Analyst
- Private Homebuilders: Dead Men Walking
- LinkedIn’s Growth Is Already Priced In: Analyst
- The Real Reason Behind Bank of America’s Rally
- 5 Hedge Funds’ Top Stocks Soar After 2011 Rout
- This Valentine’s Day Love Is Served on a Silver Platter
MOST SHARED
- Maine Caucuses a Chance to Right the Romney Ship
- Greece Warns Bailout Rebels of Unknown, Dangerous Path
- UK's Cameron Calls for Truce on Bonuses
- Greek Debt Saga Back on Center Stage for Markets
- How Rescuing Greece Could Destroy the World
- How to Date a Wall Street Man
- Warren Buffett's 5-Minute Plan to Fix the Deficit
- Dividend Payout Could Hit Record Amount This Year
MOST POPULAR
HOT ON FACEBOOK
App Explosion On Display at CES
Text Size 
Special to CNBC.com
Apple [AAPL
Loading...
()
], as usual, doesn’t have a presence at the Consumer Electronics Show, but, as usual, it’s still one of the most dominant companies on the show floor.
 |
Courtesy New Kinetix Universal Remote Control Re infared plugs into iPhones and iPods. |
The app explosion is well underway. Apple announced earlier this week that over 3 billion widgets and programs for the iPhone and iPod Touch have been downloaded from the app store since its July 2008 launch—an average of 350 per second. (See top-selling apple apps.)
Apps are also big business at this year’s CES. Hundreds of exhibitors at the show are pitching them along with their their other new offerings. Recognizing the trend, the Consumer Electronics Association, which hosts CES, this year introduced a separate area called the iLounge, where 100 exhibitors with Apple-related products, including apps, are able to showcase their products.
Most of the apps to date have been games or widgets designed to make your life a little easier, such as a searchable guide to choosing the best wines when you’re at the liquor store.
But the app is evolving. Consumer electronics companies are integrating them with physical, real-world devices, letting users use their iPhone to control things around their home.
That includes TVs. A number of companies have released, or are about to release, products that, when used in conjunction with a free app, turns the iPhone into a universal remote control.
New Kinetix is one of those. Its Rē Remote Control links a specialized app to a plug-in accessory that transforms the iPhone or iPod Touch into an IR device that can be used on virtually anything in the house that’s operated via remote control. And unlike other universal remotes, there’s no limit to the number of appliances that can be connected to the device.
“I think people have realized there’s more value in having [the iPhone] in people’s hand than just entertainment information,” says Barry Baril of New Kinetix.
The Rē follows closely on the heels of ThinkFlood’s RedEye app/product combo, which also transformed the iPhone into a portable remote control, but used a series of IR repeaters set up in the room to convey the signal.
Of course, the iPhone can do more than just change channels. Qualcomm’s [QCOM
Loading...
()
] FloTV announced this week that it would begin offering live mobile television to the device.
Qualcomm is teaming with accessory company mophie to launch the service this spring. The company currently offers a standalone mobile TV device, but critics have pointed out that its high price and narrow functionality will hurt its chances of widespread success.
Even the makers of iPhone speakers are jumping on the app-enhanced hardware bandwagon. iHome is introducing a pair of systems that, when used in conjunction with a company app, will track sleep patterns—as well as offer customizable alarms and music settings.
And while you’ve been able to start your car with your iPhone for a while a $499 system went on sale last October from Directed Electronics—now you can put it in the garage, too.
AudioVox is showing a new product line called Zentral. One device uses older ipods as a jukebox in the home. Another controls home A/V equipment. But for $50, you can buy a peripheral that will allow you to use your iPhone to open your garage door as you get close to home.
“[We’re seeing] an amalgamation of sorts,” says Minh Doan, vice president of engineering for Unity4Life, which is working with AudioVox on the Zentral line. “People are getting rid of their extra remotes and unifying devices onto their iPhones.”
- Marketing clichés aside, sometimes diamonds are for investing.
- The ‘Fast Money’ traders weigh in on fashion related stocks from apparel to footwear.
- This list of the 10 most active cities for speed traps was compiled by Trapster.com. See if your town is there.
- This Valentine’s Day should prove a love fest for restaurants, as many couples will be dining out.
- Here’s a look at Westminster Kennel Club’s most successful breeds—and how much they cost.
- What kind of homes do celebrity couples share? Here’s our updated list. Take a look.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
