If you’ve been reading my site awhile, it should come as no surprise that I’m a big fan of Logitech’s Harmony remotes. They do initially require some time to configure and tweak to your liking, but the time you’ll save down the road makes it worthwhile. I didn’t particularly care for the button layout of the 659, so moving the VCR controls midway up the 670 is an improvement. Though, like most Harmony’s, the layout is still non-standard. I am interested in checking out the updated desktop application (which I assume will work with other models, such as my 880) and will report back. If you’re in the market for a low-end model, I’d probably suggest the 550 instead of the $150 670 — it costs less and, in my opinion, looks better if you can deal with the somewhat mushy keys.

Logitech writes: Logitech today introduced the mid-range Harmony 670 advanced universal remote, which builds on the features of the company’s popular Harmony 659 remote, with enhancements that make controlling today’s complex home-entertainment systems even easier. The new remote features improved one-touch activity buttons and a button layout optimized to control digital video recorders (DVRs) such as TiVo. It’s also the company’s first remote to include the new Harmony 7.0 software, which makes setting up the remote and fine-tuning it on the PC easier than ever. The new Harmony software reduces the Internet setup process to four easy steps. An intuitive wizard guides people through this online setup, using easy-to-understand language, offering tips and providing easy access to help menus along the way. The setup includes the automated download of infrared codes from the world’s largest online audio/visual control database, featuring information about more than 175,000 devices from more than 5,000 manufacturers.

iTunes has started serving up PBS shows — for a fee. On one hand, if any network were to give away shows online I would have pegged PBS… On the other, they don’t bring in the same advertising revenues as their for-profit brethren and probably need the cash. Videos are $1.99 (Antiques Roadshow, Arthur, etc) except when they’re not (NOVA: $7.99), continuing an unsettling trend of tiered content pricing. A good deal of iTunes success can be attributed to simple, universal rates which are still in effect with 99 cent music downloads. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?

(via iLounge)

Go get ‘er!

What’s new in SlingPlayer Mobile for Pocket PC v1.1 BETA2:

• Widescreen (16:9) menu option added under Display Mode (available only when connected to a Slingbox PRO, Slingbox TUNER, or Slingbox AV)
• Shows correct number of Inputs for the Slingbox PRO, Slingbox TUNER and Slingbox AV

Interface changes:

• The task bar now has Favorites toggle button to hide Favorites and the SlingRemote icon is moved away from Play/Stop button
• Control mode ON/OFF option added to Player Mode section of the Player menu
• Fast video input switching supported with the Slingbox PRO, Slingbox TUNER and Slingbox AV (reconnection no longer needed)
• Optimization time reduced when switching from Portrait to Full Screen mode and vice versa New graphics-based tutorial at first startup

Never enough time…

• Walgreens testing RedBox DVD kiosks. (Davis Freeberg)
• SageTV get its groove on with SlimServer. (eHomeUpgrade)
• Placeshifting coming to Zune? (PVRWire)
• Hardware support for Microsoft IPTV expands. (EngadgetHD)

I have no idea what $1.65 billion looks like, but YouTube’s gonna find out with a ton of Google stock. Based on initial coverage, it appears Google Video and YouTube will maintain distinct identities… other than the inevitable AdWords wallpapering. This acquisition might be a good opportunity to clean up the clutter — let’s relocate user-submitted Google videos onto the YouTube platform and refocus Google Video as a purely pay service. Bloomberg reports YouTube serves up 100 million daily video clips to 34 million monthly visitors.

Google says: The acquisition combines one of the largest and fastest growing online video entertainment communities with Google’s expertise in organizing information and creating new models for advertising on the Internet. The combined companies will focus on providing a better, more comprehensive experience for users interested in uploading, watching and sharing videos, and will offer new opportunities for professional content owners to distribute their work to reach a vast new audience.

When the acquisition is complete, YouTube will retain its distinct brand identity, strengthening and complementing Google’s own fast-growing video business. YouTube will continue to be based in San Bruno, CA, and all YouTube employees will remain with the company. With Google’s technology, advertiser relationships and global reach, YouTube will continue to build on its success as one of the world’s most popular services for video entertainment.

On a related note, both Google and YouTube announced distribution deals with record labels and CBS earlier today.

Part advertising, part entertainment, Showtime has launched a web destination specific to mobile devices. They’re offering up Showtime programming info and video clips. While the site (wap.sho.com/dexter) seems a bit half-baked at the moment and not all phones will play .3gp files, this is worth keeping an eye on. Hey, it’s free! (Assuming you have an all-you-can eat data plan.)

Showtime says: This is a groundbreaking arrangement where a television network will give consumers cross-carrier access to video clips from its shows. At launch, the SHOWTIME WAP portal gives mobile users access to video clips and wallpapers from the critically acclaimed new Original Series DEXTER starring Michael C. Hall, as well as video clips from the Emmy®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning WEEDS and the new sketch comedy series THE UNDERGROUND starring Damon Wayans. Content from other Showtime programming, such as SLEEPER CELL, THE L WORD and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will be rolled out in the coming weeks.