Logitech

Android users will now be able to control their Squeezebox digital-music players from their smartphones and tablets.

Logitech announced today that it has officially launched its Squeezebox Controller for Android. The program actually hit the Android Market yesterday.

With the app, users will be able to control any Squeezebox player in the house from any room over their Wi-Fi network. The app lets users play music, customize tracks, sync content, and search for songs. The app also comes with the ability for users to "view files, station, or playlist album art," the company said in a blog post today.

Those hoping to use their iPhones and iPads to control Squeezebox players are out of luck for now. Currently, Logitech's Squeezebox Controller is available only on Android. It's available for free in the Android Market.

With the help of a mobile app, Logitech hopes to breathe some new life into its Squeezebox line. Some of the better Squeezebox players have been around for years. And they're still among the top music-streaming devices on the market.

The Squeezebox Radio, for example, is a favorite of the CNET Reviews team, earning four stars out of five in a 2009 review. Like other Squeezebox players, the Radio, which is supported by this app, lets users stream music over their home network. It also includes access to streaming services, like Pandora, Slacker, and Rhapsody. It retails for $179.99.

The Squeezebox Duet, also supported by this app, is another favorite of the CNET Reviews team. That device also earned four out of five stars, in a 2008 review, thanks to its ability to offer "an ideal way to stream the full range of digital music--including files on your computer's hard drive, premium subscription music services, and free Internet radio--to your living room stereo system." The Duet is currently on sale for $399.99.… Read more

No basement-level dwelling can be considered a respectable mancave without a thundering sound system to isolate you from the world--Larry David even dedicated an entire "Seinfeld" episode to Jerry's broken stereo in "The Package" (R.I.P., Uncle Leo).

The state of hi-fi has evolved a lot since 1996, and while Jerry's home setup seemed all inclusive with a separate receiver, cassette player, CD player, and two large satellite speakers, today's modern systems include multiple audio sources by way of a TV, DVD, DVR, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, iPod, Blu-Ray Player, iPod, and more--now you can also consolidate your audio with the Logitech Z906, the company's new flagship surround-sound speaker system.

The Z906 replaces the old Z-5500 with a modern look and much of the same specs including 500 total watts of power split among five satellite speakers and a 165-watt subwoofer.… Read more

Rumors are surfacing that Logitech has ordered a production freeze on its Revue set-top box until Google finishes upgrades to Google TV.

Blog Digitimes.com says Logitech ordered Gigabyte Technology, which makes components for the device, to suspend production of the Revue until sometime in January.

Nancy Morrison, a Logitech spokeswoman, told CNET she couldn't comment on the report about the production suspension but said Logitech continues to ship the device to consumers.

Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that Google had asked several TV manufacturers, including Toshiba and LG Electronics, to postpone plans to unveil their … Read more

If Google managers hope to license premium TV shows and films for Google TV and YouTube, they should do what Netflix did and "build relationships through traditional means."

That's the recommendation of one studio executive who was referring to a tradition that has helped forge partnerships in the movie industry for decades: doing lunch. Sounds simple, but in an industry that relies so heavily on personal relationships forged over arugula salads and sparkling water, Google's usual data-heavy, interchangeable-executive approach doesn't cut it. In Hollywood, it seems, Google has had a people problem.

Google managers now … Read more

I am worried about this Google TV thing. Not because I don't think it could somehow play a role in my complicated and, well, infernally messy life.

It's just that the darned thing looks so complicated and infernally messy. And I've endured so much of that already.

There seem to be so many buttons and thought processes through which to twist one's mind. Even those who are wise about these things worry that there are considerable complications to this attempt at dominating your living room's focal point.

The Logitech Revue is the first set-top box … Read more

Google TV had tons of hype in the run-up to its mid-October launch. Now that we've had a few weeks to live with the first wave of released products, we have a better idea of what Google needs to fix and which products (if any) are worth considering.

What Google needs to fix A lot of our early reviews of Google TV products may seem negative, but that's doesn't mean we aren't impressed with the platform's potential. Google has laid the groundwork for a lot of great functionality, but until it addresses its long list … Read more

Starting today, Dish Network customers can buy the Logitech Revue set-top box for $179.

The discounted price is available to Dish customers who subscribe to the DVR integration service, which costs $4 per month. The Logitech Revue, which features the Google TV platform, otherwise costs $299.

Dish Network announced the reduced price for Logitech Revue last month.

With the help of a Dish DVR, Revue owners can do a bit more than those who connect the Revue to a cable provider's DVR. Like their cable counterparts, Dish subscribers can surf the Web from the Revue and view programming from … Read more

A new wireless keyboard by Logitech reduces power consumption and eliminates the hassle of replacing/recharging batteries--both using next-generation solar technology. Whereas other solar options force you to place the solar panels in direct sunlight to recharge, the Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 features two panels on top of the keys that charge the keyboard using ambient light, so even indoor light can can be used for juice.

Logitech tells us that a full solar charge can power the keyboard for at least three months, and a convenient on/off button conserves energy while it's not being used. Additionally, the … Read more

Just when you thought solar was headed everywhere--rooftops, utility poles, and deserts, to name a few places--it's coming to your keyboard too.

Logitech today launched a wireless solar keyboard, its first. The K750 powers itself via integrated solar panels. Without light, the $79 keyboard can operate for three months.

The keyboard's tech sounds very familiar to what you can find in a watch. Logitech's solar keyboard is powered by integrated solar panels across the top and comes with an app that will be available November 15. The app tracks battery levels and has a meter to alert … Read more