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Satellite TV provider DISH Network has announced that their ViP 922 HD DVR will be released within a few months. The device has built-in Slingbox technology, which means simply, that users can gain remote access to their DISH Network programming.

There are also plans apparently to release a TV Everywhere Adapter which would provide the same remote access to those with an existing DISH DVR.

These devices should allow you to check programming guides, program your DVR, and enjoy shows without having to be in the room with your television.  See more details below:

Taser recently announced their upcoming products which should provide parents greater ability to manage their kid's cell phone use. Their Mobile Protector product will allow parents to screen incoming and outgoing calls and messages, block specific numbers, and even listen-in on conversations if desired. Kids would be aware that their parents were listening in if the feature was used. In addition, parents, could set their kids cell phone up to alert them if an unknown number tried to contact them, allowing the parent to block the call if desired.

Mobile Protector would also allow parents to locate their kids using GPS, disable the phone for a period of time if desired, or even do a "records release" to forward important data to local authoriities if an emergency arose. Clearly some of these safeguards may be appropriate for the youngest cell phone users, but would be faded out of use for older kids.

The company will also offer Driver Protector which should help parent set limits related to calling and text messaging while driving. This will come in the form of speed alerts and blocking of certain functions while driving, set up by parents.

I recently blogged a bit about digital photo frames that allow you to view motion video as well as still images, a trait that is increasingly common. The evolution of these frames however certainly doesn't stop with the addition video playback however. Wireless digital photo frames are an example. Using Wi-Fi and sometimes Bluetooth, they make transferring photos quick and easy, but more importantly perhaps, they take sharing to another level.

Kodak recently introduced the Pulse, a 7" digital photo frame that has it's own e-mail address which allows family and friends to send photos to it. In fact, it can be set up to automatically receive photos that they post to online galleries such as Facebook or the Kodak gallery. Fast, immediate, and no downloading required.

Of course, the Pulse is not by itself. Another frame that provides similar capabilities is Pix-Star's FotoConnect. It's another wireless digital photo frame but it not only allows you to receive images directly onto the frame from friends, family, and internet galleries, but you can also send your photos to other Pix-Star frames. This frame also begins to feel like an internet player as you can display weather forecasts, play web radio, and stream music on it as well.

Streaming Netflix movies directly to your TV has become much easier in the past year or so. The Roku Netflix player, a host of Blu-Ray players, TIVO, a number of internet connected TVs, and even game consoles such as Sony's PlayStation 3 and the XBox 360 have entered the market and allow Netflix subscribers to access their Netlfix account directly and stream movies immediately from the comfort of their living room sofa.

Nintendo announced in recent days that they will be adding their Wii console to the list of Netflix enabled devices. It's anticipated that this will occur by spring of 2010.

Reports from the Consumer Electronics Show indicate there are at least a handful of new photo frames with video capabilities on the horizon for a bit later this year. Samsung introduced their 700Z which makes use of an active matrix OLED screen and makes use of Bluetooth technology for wireless sharing. You can see it below. It should be on the market this spring.

Another option, hopefully by March of 2010, will be the Sony Dash. It's actually an "internet viewer" not just a picture viewer. It's said to be a 7 inch touchscreen display and will give you access to a range of internet content. Users should get access to internet radio, video, an alarm clock, and more.

Traditional broadcast radio, just like broadcast television and traditional newspapers, may have long since seen it's best days. With listeners opting out of the advertisements, fading signals, and the difficulty of finding the music they really want to hear, other options have taken over.

Certainly satelilte radio has filled a void for many listeners for several years now. It offers a lot of commercial free programming and the ability to listen to a wider variety or even a more focused genre if desired. It also doesn't fade out making it more reliable and far reaching. But, of course there are the fees. For millions of people, especially those who are accustomed to getting their radio for free, the fees are a bitter pill to swallow.

Enter internet radio. It's not a new thing, but it's one that's gaining momentum in the US only now. Many broadcast stations offer programming on the internet, as does SIRIUS. There are free stations available that play just about everything imaginable and from every corner of the planet. Then there are the internet music services like Pandora that further broaden the experience and allow you to personalize what music is presented to you.

With this increased awakening to such a powerful music source, came internet radios. The best internet radio players can make the task of accessing this music easier and faster. They may also give you access to music stored on your computer and/or on your MP3 player. They are evolving quickly and adding touchscreens, photo viewers, and much more. Using a wireless connection, they free you from being tethered; allowing you to listen anywhere in your home.

Higher end devices may cost more than $300 dollars but there are a few in the under $200 range. In many cases you get what you pay for, afterall, they do act as their own sound system in most cases. However, some are more capable devices. Some of the better, affordable models include the Livio internet radio which provides access to Pandora among other things. It's been well reviewed and can be found online under $200. The Chumby One is another in this price range with access to Pandora, Media Fly, Shoutcast and more. However, Logitech's Squeezebox probably offers the most options with Pandora, SIRIUS, Slacker, Rhapsody, Live Music Archive, and much more.

Many people use their cell phone as a camera and some of the smallest digital camera models are the most popular. Clearly, having something very portable is of prime importance to these consumers. For these same people, having an option to print their photos quickly and easily can also be a consideration. When small, quick, and easy are important, there are actually a few choices that are pretty attractive.

There are a number of mini photo printers on the market. They are compact and weigh only a few pounds. In fact most have handles and you can tote them along although they certainly wouldn't fit in a pocket. Sony has their Picture Station devices but Canon in particular has some nice portable devices such as their PIXMA mini 320 and 260.  You're limited to 4x6 or 5x7 images, but the quality is pretty good.  However, for keeping in line with the pocket sized lifestyle, there are better options. Of course the Poloroid PoGo measures a mere 4.7 x 2.8 x 0.9 inches and weighs a matter of ounces. It uses ZINK (zero ink) technology. Another ZINK format printer is the Dell Wasabi. Using wireless transfer with either device makes them extremely simply to use wherever you are. Users are limited to the 2x3" photos however. On the other hand, this is larger than those images printed by Panasonic's SV-P10 which gives you a 1.5" x 2.7" image and doesn't provide wireless connectivity.

In 2008 and 2009, touch screen controls became increasingly common. From cell phones, to cameras, and MP3 players to camcorders to name just a few. Buttons and switches are definitely out for the trendiest items.

But things will potentially get even more interesting in 2010, as gesture controls will potentially take a leap forward as more popular items may be adopting them. Of course Wii already requires only a control in hand as you move about and Sony anticipates releasing something similar for PlayStation within a few months.  However, probably the more innovative release will come from Microsoft's Project Natal. From the looks of it you don't even need a controller.  How life like is that?  The future could include some very intuitive operation for all kinds of devices.  Check out Project Natal below.

Losing your cell phone can be devastating. There's the cost of replacing it, but also the worry of all of that lost information. Wouldn't it be great if your cell phone could communicate where it was or allow you to remotely secure all of that important data?  Certainly there is encryption software to help you secure information but why can't we have phones that can help protect themselves?

Well, hopefully in the not so distant future, they will. There are glimmers of hope for making stolen cell phones less of a problem. The iPhone offers the MobileMe Service for $100/year. The Find My iPhone features allows a user to go on to their me.com website to find the approximate location of a lost phone on a map. They can then choose to have it beep if it's nearby, or send a message to the phone. At this point, they can also decide to remotely set a 4 digit passcode lock or do a remote deletion of the phone's data so that sensitive information doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

Motorola has also joined this exclusive group of preemptive defense. The Cliq offers the MotoBlur service which, among other things, backs up your data, allows you to locate your phone when missing, and do a remote wipe if needed. Reclaiming that information for your new phone is easy via their website.

I've discussed some of the options available for those with significant visual impairment in regards to mobile communications in the past. There are of course devices such as Blueant's V1 Bluetooth Voice Control headset and the Nuance Voice Control as well as a variety of screen readers to give users better access to cell phones. Software such as Dolphin's Smart Hal and Code Factory's Mobile Speak & TALKS are among the options for screen readers.

Unfortunately, cell phones for the blind that are true braille phones seem to be slow in coming to the market. However, another item that had slipped under my radar until recently is the KNFB Reader which is actually even more useful. It can be used with Symbian phones, specifically the Nokia N82 or N86 which allows users to snap shots of documents, labels, currency, and more and have it read aloud to them. This page reviews it's features and you can see a video review below.