Logitech’s new Touch Mouse iPhone app (above left) is a cute bit of marketing, but power users can do better. Touch Mouse, in conjunction with PC or Mac server software, allows you to use your iPhone as a remote touchpad (à la GlideTV) and keyboard. For basic control and a cost of zero dollars, it’ll probably serve many well – as long as you keep your expectations for future development in check.

But, as I learned over at A VC early last month, there’s at least one super-powered iPhone alternative available for a mere $2. Mobile Air Mouse Pro (above right) is a remote touchpad and keyboard… and so much more. The video below steps through many of Mobile Air Mouse Pro’s various features. Combined with a Ceton-infused HTPC, I can’t help but imagine the possibilities.

2010 is shaping up to be the year that media consumption tablets go mainstream. In fact, according to Amazon, the Kindle already has. Obviously, most of our current attention is focused on the iPad… and Macmillan jacking eBook prices by 50%. (Which is probably unsustainable, despite their hopes.) But a co-worker received a Nook ($259) for Christmas, and I asked her to bring it in so I could examine it outside the confines of a tradeshow floor or Barnes & Noble, proper.

First off, as you can clearly see, the Nook is far more physically attractive than the Kindle ($259). Beyond the 6″ E Ink display, it also quite cleverly integrates a color capacitive touchscreen to handle interaction. However, as many have noted (including our resident e-book expert) the initial software is way too slow. I can overlook the blinky E Ink page refreshes, but the boot times and tap-to-wait is a killer. Which makes me appreciate the simple competence of the Kindle even more. The hardware nav buttons on the Nook require more pressure than Kindle’s, and maybe more than I’d like. But it probably results in fewer inadvertent page turns. Of course, Barnes & Noble’s not-so-secret weapon is digital book lending… should the publishers universally (or mostly) get on board with it. But if/once they do, you can bet Amazon will likewise implement similar functionality.

Regardless, single function devices like the Kindle and Nook will need to come in lower given Apple’s aggressive iPad pricing.  (Better yet, follow in Audible’s footsteps to give away units in exchange for a book subscription plan.) And support richer, more complex content… As newspaper and periodical presentation and interaction could be greatly enhanced. If either of these guys drop to $199 and provide an RSS reader (say 10 subs on the house, without additional download fees) or introduce a $99 – $129 non-cellular model, I’d buy a pair. And a few as gifts. Otherwise, I’m staying on the sidelines until the path forward is a bit more clear.

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Over at the Verizon at Home blog, I stumbled upon what may be the future of the FiOS TV UI. And it’s (finally) widescreen! Ben Drawbaugh will be pleased. A variety of under-the-hood modifications and development strategies have resulted in a more modular Interactive Media Platform (IMG) for Verizon – who should be able to turn around these platform updates much quicker:

What used to take months is now reduced to several weeks. During 2010 you will see more and more examples of the benefits from this new technology that we have baked into the platform during 2009.

So, in addition to a new 16:9 interface, I’m also optimistic Verizon will tackle the storage situation this year. Stay tuned.

Old VOD UI versus Upcoming VOD UI?

Fabulous parties and celebrity appearances aside, the Powermat booth tour may have been my best blogger experience at CES this year. And while I won’t make it out to Mobile World Congress later this month, I do have a few educated guesses on what the wireless-power company will be launching there.

The Powermat folks graciously guided me on a back-room tour at CES to show off several upcoming product lines. In the queue are new single- and dual-position charging mats (charge one, two, or three products at once), higher-powered mats to support netbooks (!), and sleeker mobile device cases. All of these products are officially due out in the spring, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Powermat jump the gun on that projection. The company recently sent out MWC emails inviting media to visit its booth at the show for the introduction of “its next line in wireless charging.” Hmm…

Just as important as Powermat’s near-term product launches, however, are the price reductions on the way (expense being one of my pet peeves), and the innovations planned for later this year and next. Currently Powermat offers a full-size charging mat for $99. That will drop to $79 for a three-position mat, $59 for the dual-position, and $39 for the single-position version.

On the innovation front, Powermat will soon start offering mobile device batteries that do away with the need for a custom case or Powermat charging tip. This is where wireless charging gets good. Imagine replacing the battery in your new Nexus One with a premium Powermat version. Then all you need to do when you get home is drop the phone on your charging mat, and you’re good to go. Best of all, Powermat is working with a programmable chip that lets it take standard silicon and adapt it for new mobile devices as they’re introduced. According to the company, it will be able to bring new Powermat batteries to market in a short four to six weeks – fast enough to keep up with the most popular new phone launches.

Oh yeah, and Powermat isn’t stopping with phones. Camera batteries are in the works for 2011. And I just gotta believe Powermat’s put in a few calls to Apple about that iPad. I can just hear the Power Pad jokes now.

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Roku ($99) may or may not hit 100 channels this year, but we’re +2 with the addition of SmugMug photos and DreamTV (who?) video. Speaking of channels, I’m about to cave to the studios and pick up a Blu-ray player for new movies, sooner. In addition to physical media, the Sony BDP-N460 (~$200) also claims 25 digital content providers. However, like Roku and beyond the top channels, we’re seeing a lot of niche programming… and junk. Of the 2010 channel land (platform) grab, I’m hoping for more over-the-top (OTT) premium video, like MLB.TV and Netflix.

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You may have caught Cignias’ Nao Symphony Wireless Music Station CES press release, announcing broad device availability and the requisite iPhone app. But I caught the actual unit. The Nao Symphony Wireless Music Station ($299) provides a slightly different take on the pedestrian iPhone speaker dock. In fact, it’s far more sophisticated.

So while you could just drop your iPod in the Nao Symphony and control music playback via the bundled remote, you probably won’t want to. Nao’s real power comes from it’s WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Fully control a docked iPod wirelessly via iPhone or Blackberry app. Better yet, stream music directly to the Symphony from any A2DP Bluetooth phone or over WiFi from a Blackberry or iPhone.

I’m looking forward to putting the 4 speaker, 50 watt loaner system through its paces. And, despite the current lack of cloud-based music services (think Sonos S5), Cignias promises frequent (wireless) device updates.

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We’re closing out an unusual week here at ZNF… Rumor and speculation, followed by some cleavage, all without a single iPad joke. But we may have saved the best for last: Unboxing Ollie the Twitterrific bird. I’m not quite sure what I was thinking when I made this impulse purchase ($19.95 + $6.55 S/H), that ironically costs more than the software (desktop or iPhone) it represents. Perhaps even more ridiculous, I haven’t been a Twitterrific user in some time — having long ago moved on to Tweetie (which needs some help). But I do love me some Twitter. And, as it turns out, this vinyl bird is pretty cute.

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