Monster's tabletop $50 remote control

Though it looks like it was ripped straight from the dashboard of a 1974 Chevy Nova, Monster's new AV50 remote control is an all-new piece of gear. The AV50 is a tabletop remote, designed to be plunked down on a flat surface near the couch and kept there, rather than constantly jumping between users' hands and the undersides of the couch cushions. .

Underneath the myriad backlit buttons, quaint compared to more expensive touchscreen remotes, lie some fairly sophisticated electronics. A web-based setup wizard and USB port lets users configure the remote through their computer, and customizable activities can be set to automate complicated home theater functions.

The price point is the most appealing aspect of the AV50. While most web-programmable remotes that support activity macros can cost over $100, Monster's new model can be purchased for a scant $50. It's not nearly as powerful or flexible as a Crestron remote that costs 10 times as much, but it might be a good solution for users who want a nice, big, stay-in-one-place remote but don't want to spend a lot of money. The AV50 ships in July.

— Will Greenwald

Macs get Watch Now from Netflix

Why are Mac users always the last to get picked on the playground? Even today, there are so many apps and devices that won't run on Macs. Oddly enough, this time, it's Microsoft who's picked Mac to join their team.

Microsoft's Silverlight allows Intel Macs and Windows PCs to run Netflix's new (2nd generation) media player for Watch Now capabilities. This gives Macs the ability to instantly watch movies and TV shows, plus it includes fast-forward and rewind capabilities.

With Play Ready DRM, Netflix can use copy protection that wasn't possible before with dynamic steaming. Notice that it also includes Firefox support.  Woohoo!

"Silverlight with Play Ready offers a powerful and secure toolkit for delivery of dynamic streaming, which offers faster start-up, and higher quality video, adapted in real time to users' connection speeds," said Netflix Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt. "Members who enjoy watching movies and TV episodes from the growing library of choices that can be instantly streamed at Netflix will be thrilled with this next generation improvement of access and quality, on a broader range of platforms, including Intel Macs and Firefox."

This new service is a peek at what the rumored new platform might be like for all Netflix subscribers that should be out in a few months.

Keep reading for the complete press release on the new Microsoft Silverlight player.

Polishing Apple TV

It was a blow to Apple TV owners when they realized their beloved extenders couldn't tap into the hot new rental service from iTunes that was announced at Macworld Expo last month. A fix is now available, according to Macworld, which says "if you check Software Update from the Settings menu on your Apple TV, the new software should be available for download and installation."