Presentation Remote for Keynote, PowerPoint

Kensington Debuts Presentation Remote for Keynote, PowerPoint

* By Dan Thompson
* 01/10/11

Kensington has unveiled a new wireless presentation remote that controls both PowerPoint and Keynote presentations from distances up to 150 feet. In addition to the remote, Kensington has also rolled out multiple iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch accessories, including a 20-hour battery pack.

The presentation remote, dubbed the Presenter Pro Remote, controls presentations via a wireless link to a USB drive. With the USB drive plugged into a laptop, the remote has the ability TO move the presentation slides forward and backward or turn the screen blank.

The USB plug includes a 2 GB Micro SD card and supports a maximum memory capacity of 32 GB. When not plugged into a laptop, the USB drive can be stored in the handle of the remote.

Other features include a green laser pointer that is up to 10 times brighter than a traditional red laser pointer and an ergonomic design.

The iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch accessories include the PowerLift back-up battery and dock, the BlackBelt protection band, the Virtuoso touch screen stylus and pen, and a dual USB wall charger.

The dual USB wall charger can charge up to two devices. It features detachable USB cables that offer the ability to connect an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a computer.

With the help of a 12 mAh battery, the Power Lift back-up battery and dock charges the iPhone in hand or hands-free. The device adds power for up to 20 hours of music or five hours of video and offers an LED that indicates battery strength.

The BlackBelt protection band is a rubberized band the raps around the iPod and leaves access to all ports, while the Virtuoso touch screen stylus and pen is a combination stylus and pen that was designed to be used with applications similar to iAnnotate and SketchBook. The Virtuoso ships in black or gunmetal.

Expected to ship March 1, The Presenter Pro Remote will be available for $99.99. Kensington will cover the device with a limited five-year warranty.

The BlackBelt, PowerLift, Virtuoso, and dual USB wall charger are currently available for pre-order from Kensington. They will ship for $39.99, $49.99, $24.99, and $34.99, respectively.

MY THOUGHTS

this is good news to anyone who delivers presentation. i, for one, prefer to have the freedom to move around during a session. instead of getting fixed somewhere near the laptop to navigate the slides. i've seen some people having assistants to do that for them. but i'm more comfortable controlling the slides myself. timing is important. and no matter how you practice for a presentation, you decide on timing during the presentation itself. i love fluid presentations. and being able to control my slides from anywhere up to 150 feet is certainly a welcome improvement.