Funai Electric Co Ltd exhibited a multi-touch TV remote based on Android 2.2 at a private booth in a hotel near the venue of the 2011 International CES.
The remote is equipped with a 7-inch display. Funai will start shipping it in March 2011 in the global market. The price is expected to be ¥30,000 (approx US$362) or less, the company said.
Funai developed the remote by making improvements to a remote that it demonstrated at CES in 2010. It not only functions as a universal remote but can be connected to the Internet, play video and music and display photos. It stands as a digital photo frame. The company installed a self-developed UI in the remote to run 16 applications on a screen.
Also, as a DLNA (digital living network alliance) client, it can, for example, play contents stored in a PC on a TV via a home network. Furthermore, it has a button dedicated to the Skype, making it easy to use video mail.
The processor used in the remote is Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's "V210," which is almost the same as the processor of Samsung's "Galaxy S" smartphone.
Funai is planning to promote its Internet-connected home electronics including the new remote under the brand of "alimo."
This time, in addition to the remote, the company showed two Android-based tablet PCs of the alimo brand. One is a 7-inch model for use in a bathroom, and the other is a 10-inch model for use in a kitchen. Both of them are waterproof.
"The bathroom model has a DLNA function and can play contents stored at home, and the kitchen model comes with a tuner and can receive TV broadcasts," Funai said.
The company plans to start shipping the two tablet PCs in November 2011.
