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Conspin Puts Android into Andi-One Universal Remote Control

By Rachel Cericola

Everyone seems to have an app these days - control your TV, control your Blu-ray player, control your toaster.  There's an app for that.  This flood of possibilities has allowed some TV owners to toss the old conventional remote or even put aside a klunky universal remote in favor of that trusty smartphone and/or tablet device.  They're turning phones and tablets into powerful control devices.

There's just one problem with that: not all devices speak the right flavor of RF (Radio Frequency) or IR (Infrared), which makes it kind of hard for these devices to talk to traditional TVs, receivers, Blu-ray players, etc., no matter how fancy an app you put on your existing device.  Conspin is about the change that with its new Andi-One smart touch Universal Remote Control - it's not just an app, it's a dedicated color touch screen remote, that also happens to be network-enabled running the Android O/S: this allows the Andi-One to get all its device codes online and run thousands of other apps too.

Using Android OS 2.1, the Andi-One can control up to 50 different devices via RF, IR and even Wi-Fi. Typical remote commands include channel control, volume control, input selection and picture functions. However, you can also group devices by room, control devices individually or together, and download EPGs (Enhanced Program Guides) from your service provider for details movie and program information as well as personalized search right from your handheld.

Of course, the Andi-One offers a few other nifty perks beyond what's available on the big screen. Use the device to email and browse the web, for VoIP calling (via optional features), and catch news and weather when the device is docked in its cradle. The remote also has both a virtual keyboard and wireless mouse built in to make navigating around the web and everyday services, such as Netflix, very easy.

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Conspin's Andi-One combines Android control and apps with RF, IR and Wi-Fi control.

Oh -- and you won't have to give up your app addiction, either. The Andi-One can download more than 100,000 available Android applications.

Besides charging the battery, the Andi-One cradle can serve as a speaker system for the Andi-One as well as Apple's iPod, iPhone and iPad. It can also receive ongoing updates to the device code database via an optional Wi-Fi Access Point. Conspin says that the Andi-One currently supports more than 10,000 devices from 5000 different manufacturers.

Other features include a 3.5-inch high-resolution (320 x 480, RGB), scratch-proof touchscreen, 2GB internal memory, and an HDMI output.

"Consumers are accustomed to a remote control being a basic accessory," said S.K. Lee, CEO for Conspin. "Our multi-function Andi-One redefines the URC concept, transforming the remote control from a small player on the consumer electronics stage to being the main event that is every bit as entertaining as the HDTVs, DVD players, gaming systems, stereos and other digital devices it seamlessly manages."

The Conspin Andi-One URC is now available, with an MSRP of $349.99.

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