This news update may not be remote control related, but it might still interest a few of you. On the weekend I completed a 5-day time-lapse video of a house being demolished by a backhoe, followed by rubble cleanup and preparation of the land for its new life as a parking lot for a car dealership. Read more...

Following this weekend’s major updates to our Toronto/Buffalo OTA HDTV Channel Map, I would also like to announce that our Rogers Clear QAM Channel List has also been updated with recent changes, including channel moves, station renaming, along with a few new additions.

This is a list of free channels that Rogers subscribers can receive using any QAM-compatible tuner (such as in most modern HDTVs), without the use of a Rogers digital box.

In response to all of the emails (wow!) I've finally been able to update our Toronto & Buffalo Area OTA HDTV Channel Map. This includes the latest updates to all GTA channels after the analog cutoff on August 31st, plus updates to Buffalo and Rochester stations, as well as a refreshed reference map.

Almost every entry has been modified in some way, and as there was a huge amount of changes to incorporate please take the time to let me know if you spot an error or omission! Also, I would like to hear about any new digital repeaters in the area that haven't been included.

For more, see our HDTV Forum. Note: list updated again October 3, 2011.

Wait a minute, it’s still September and we’ve already got a CEDIA video ready? No, you’re not dreaming!

This year we’re continuing the style of our last batch of CEDIA reports and dedicating a separate video to each company. Today’s video features Otis Gates from Sony Electonics, who introduces viewers to the new Sony Tablet S running Android Honeycomb 3.1 and describes its unique design, applications and universal remote control capabilities. Read more...

URC has announced two additions to their Total Control lineup of remote controls, including the TRC-1280 hybrid touchscreen/hard buttoned remote, plus the TKP-2000 in-wall touchscreen.

Also introduced is off-site programming, which will allow dealers to program, update or service Total Control systems from nearly anywhere. Read more...

New app offers 2-way network-based control over Total Control systems, similar to the company's TKP-2000 in-wall touchscreen. Read more...

URC has officially announced three new remotes in their Complete Control linup. First is the MX-1200 hybrid hard button & touchscreen remote, second is the MX-780 hard button and OLED screen combination, and third is the MXW-920 water resistant model. Read more...

You'll be excused if you experience some déjà vu if you read this release after our previous RTI one. Pro Control has just announced the iPro.8 Companion Controller, which is a simple low-cost hard buttoned remote designed to complement company's iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch control solutions. Read more...

Love the idea of using your iPhone for a remote but hate using it for simple tasks such as tweaking the volume or fast forwarding commercials? RTI has today announced the SURFiR, a simple hard buttoned remote designed to complement company's iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch solutions by offering a wide array of instant-access hard buttons for convenient button surfing. Read more...

Previewed at last year's CEDIA Expo, Savant has officially released the Savant Select handheld remote control, which merges an iPod Touch with traditional hard buttons. Read more...