If you have an HTPC (Home Theater PC), it can be a pain to navigate your media from your couch. Sure, you can use a wireless keyboard, but they take up space and can just be awkward to use. The new GlideTV Navigator has been created to solve that problem. It’s a palm sized wireless remote that has a touch pad that can be used as a mouse and various backlit buttons to control various features. It works with popular media applications including Windows Media Center, Apple iTunes, Boxee, Apple Front Row, SageTV, Firefox, and any web browser. You can buy one for $149. More pix and a full press release after the jump.
GLIDETV® SIMPLIFIES THE PC EXPERIENCE IN THE LIVING ROOM
Introduces the perfect input device to navigate the Internet from your TV.
San Francisco, CA — October 13, 2009 — GlideTV, the company dedicated to simplifying the digital entertainment experience in the living room, announced today the release of its first product, the GlideTV® NavigatorTM. This award-winning and stylish device, which fits in the palm of a hand, combines the functionality of a keyboard, mouse and AV remote and makes it a breeze to access digital content stored on a home theater PC (HTPC) that is connected to a TV. The product is available for purchase from select online retailers worldwide with an MSRP of $149.
The new GlideTV Navigator, a study in modern design, reinvents the computer input device for the living room. The contrast of the highly-polished material and elegant curves is a fitting reflection of the sophisticated technology held within. The product includes a remote, charging station, USB wireless receiver and is compatible with Windows PC, Apple Mac, Sony PlayStation 3 or any set-top box that supports standard mouse and keyboard HID devices.
“Up to now, consumers who wanted to connect a computer to the TV to take advantage of digital content had to bring office equipment to their living room, making the experience bulky and cumbersome,” said Chris Painter, President and founder. “With the Navigator, GlideTV brings simplicity to accessing internet-based entertainment and ushers in a new era for computing in the living room.”
Consumers plug the USB wireless receiver into their PC and they’re ready to take control of their computing experience or explore the Internet with a point and a click. GlideTV Navigator works with popular media applications including Windows Media Center, Apple iTunes, Boxee, Apple Front Row, SageTV, Firefox, and any web browser.
This product features:
- Clickable touchpad mapped to your TV screen — precise cursor control, one-thumb scrolling, single and double-click selection.
- Backlit AV buttons to control volume and playback.
- Directional buttons for easy two-axis navigation.
- Dedicated Esc, Enter, Back, and Function keys to control applications.
- On-screen keyboard — requires download, Windows only.
- Integrated search menu with links to Google, Amazon Video on Demand, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube and more — requires download, Windows only.
- Rechargeable battery.
“GlideTV nailed the customer experience,” said Aaron Burt, a beta test user who lives in the Washington DC area. “It’s a great way to control Windows Media Center in the living room and even my kids enjoy using it. GlideTV Navigator is the perfect couch-mouse.”
The product has garnered significant industry attention by winning the prestigious 2009 Best of Innovations Award at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The GlideTV team, led by Mike Machado and Christopher Painter, consists of consumer electronics and Silicon Valley technology veterans from Sony, SageTV, Slim Devices, and VUDU.
GlideTV Navigator is available worldwide from select retailers and directly from the manufacturer in the US and Europe. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price is:
- United States — $149
- Eurozone — €129 (VAT included)
- United Kingdom — £119 (VAT included)
For more information, visit www.glidetv.com.
About GLIDETV
GlideTV, Inc. is dedicated to simplifying the PC living room experience. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley and was founded in 2008 by consumer electronics and technology veterans. GlideTV Navigator is a trademark of GlideTV, Inc. All other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective holders.
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Air Mouse for the iphone/ipod touch is cheaper and lets you use the iphone/touch keypad (rather than an onscreen keyboard) to input letters. It also works off the wireless network which is probably better than the unit’s wireless receiver.
I second that. Just get mobile air mouse (mobileairmouse.com), much cheaper and much better!
The previous posts are all well and good if you have an iPhone or iPod touch, but what if you don’t have one? Or if you despise Apple so much you would rather mince yourself than own one of their devices? I think this looks rather good.
Gotta agree with the others too. And even if you don’t have an iPhone, for the price of this you could actually buy an iPod touch or iPhone and get Air Mouse.