The startup (2007) firm ThinkFlood (www.thinkflood.com) made waves a year ago when it introduced RedEye (US$188), an iPod Touch/Phone accessory that plugs into the bottom connector to provide sophisticated remote control functionality.

For less than a third of that price ($49), RedEye mini offers the same functionality in a pencil-eraser sized cylinder that plugs into the 3.5mm headphones jack.

To use the RedEye mini, users need to download a free app from iTunes. There may also be a bit of fine-tuning involved, as the user interface is configurable and customizable in the manner of dedicated remote systems costing hundreds more.

RedEye is an activity-based remote: pressing the "play DVD" virtual button turns on only those components programmed to be involved in the process. For example, in a simple bedroom system, it might turn on the DVD player and TV, and volume-up commands would be issued in the TV's remote IR language. For systems with an AVR at the core, volume commands would be issued in that component's language, and so on.

Thinkflood points to additional advantages (besides lower cost) of its headphones jack implementation: it frees up the 30-pin dock connector for charging while the remote is in use; also, iPhone users won't have to flip their phones upside-down to use the remote.

Like other purveyors of activity-based remotes, Thinkflood supports the RedEye with a database of manufacturer-supplied infrared codes for easy set up, which users can augment by using the learning module to quickly train their RedEye mini remote with commands from existing device remotes.

There's also a free integrated electronic program guide (channel guide) that users can access without interrupting what's happening on the TV screen.

The RedEye mini capitalizes on Apple's Multi-Touch gesture technology. Swiping two fingers down the screen can reduce volume, and flicking the iPhone forward can change the channel.

RedEye mini will be available this spring through the ThinkFlood Web site, "as well as through participating dealers and retailers."

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