
When we reviewed Griffin’s Beacon back in July, we found it to be one of the easiest to use smartphone universal remote solutions on the market. As long as your smartphone was an iPhone. Android users have had a bit of a wait on their hands, but the Beacon is now available for use with phones and tablets running Android OS 2.3.3 or greater.
In case you missed the review, the Griffin Beacon connects to your smartphone or tablet over Bluetooth, accepting commands from the free Digit remote/TV guide app and blasting them to your various home theatre components over IR. Like a dedicated high-end universal remote it allows you to set up macros or ‘Activities’ to perform a series of actions with just one button, but without the high-end price. Powered by a set of 4 AA batteries the $US70 system is completely wireless, allowing the polished stone-looking emitter to sit anywhere in your living room so the signals can reach all of your gear. Better late than never, right? [Griffin]



















Cameron
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 10:44 AMAndroid 2.3.3 or greater? Why? There’s a hell of a lot of devices out there still on 2.2……
Ogre
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 11:42 AMFrom the Android Developer’s site:
“Android 2.3.3 adds platform and API support for Bluetooth nonsecure socket connections. This lets applications communicate with simple devices that may not offer a UI for authentication.”
I suspect this may have something to do with it, since it sure looks like that little device has no way of inputting bluetooth passwords.