If you’re like me and have been looking for a cheap Android-powered tablet to use as a media center remote, today just might be your lucky day. Meet the Neuros Control Tablet: a cheap Android tablet intended to control XBMC and Boxee on the Neuros LINK using your choice of Android apps. Until August 26th, you can get one for $100 if you’re interested. After that the tablet will cost you $150.

Check out some of the modest specs below.

• Google Android OS 1.6
• VIA MW8505 600MHz
• 128MB DDR2
• 2GB NAND Flash, support most TF card up to 32GB
• 7-inch (diagonal) high-brightness TFT LCD widescreen touch display
• 800 x 480 resolution
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi certified network connection
• SD (support up to 32G HCSD)

As you can tell from the specs (and cost), this is no iPad and quite frankly it doesn’t need to be. Neuros Technologies CEO Joe Born says that cheap Android tablets make great remotes. I completely agree. While they might not be the best choice for general use, they should be sufficient for running XBMC Remote. A capacitive screen would be nice, but for $100-150 I’ll take whatever 7″ screen I can get.

Apple users are once again spoiled with cool looking merch now that the Apple Magic Trackpad has been released. Weighing in at $69, the Magic Trackpad is essentially the same touchpad found on the MacBook Pro yet it’s almost 80% larger. Its build is sleek — aluminum with a glass surface. This desktop mouse replacement supports multi-touch and click, scroll, swipe and rotate finger gestures as you would expect from Apple.

The Magic Trackpad runs on 2 AA batteries and connects wirelessly via Bluetooth. I’m pretty sure this could also work on a PC as long as some appropriate software was created to support the gestures. Perhaps a media center will do it first. There has been a little chatter in the Plex forums as a few users hope for some integration with Plex for Mac OS X. It would be very interesting to see a media center app support finger gestures that you would normally see in today’s smartphones. Make it happen, Plex team!

Buy Now: $69

It looks and sounds like interesting things are coming for Windows Phone 7 and Windows Media Center in the realm of remote controls:

There comes a point in every person’s life where they must ask themselves a couple of extremely important and life changing questions. Firstly, wouldn’t it be amazing if there were some way to control my Windows Media [Center] using an application on my phone, and secondly, why hasn’t someone, perhaps some group of brilliant, bearded men, created this amazing application? Well question no more, mortal, for The Land Dolphin lurches forth ready to spew out said amazing application all over everyone’s faces in a vile, despicable stream. Of course by “their faces” I mean their “brand spanking new Windows Phone 7 devices”.

For a few weeks now The Land Dolphin has been conjuring up a Windows Media Center remote control app for Windows Phone 7. May I add that it looks awesome. What I like about Meteor so far is that it goes beyond the normal list views that you’re provided in many other remote apps.

Looks great, huh? Could we be looking at the most gorgeous user experience on a smartphone remote app for a media center? I think so.

While not nearly as crotch-hardening as this afternoon’s official launch of the Nexus One phone by Google, I’m pleased at what the Boxee team has just given a tease on: The Boxee Box Remote.

Unfortunately, no details have been shared about the device. All they’ve revealed is that it has a QWERTY keyboard on its underbelly, wireless of some sort, and sleek as hell.

If I were a gambling man, I’d bet the Boxee Box Remote will only be shipped in box with the Boxee Box (hence the name). I hope not, but we’ll see.

UPDATE: It looks like Engadget has gotten hands-on with the Boxee Box at CES.

About a month ago as I haphazardly roamed the HDTV isles at a local Best Buy, I randomly came across what I have been in search of for many months–a sleek, wireless keyboard with a touchpad. Introducing: Logitech Cordless MediaBoard Pro.

I must admit that I was a bit discouraged because the device was in the PS3 section and specifically said “for PlayStation 3.” Since it had a Bluetooth logo I figured it would be a safe chance to take. All worked out perfectly. I unpacked the device, installed my Bluetooth USB adapter on my HTPC and paired the device in Windows XP in roughly 15 minutes.

I have yet to have a problem with it except when the cheap AA batteries died. It is a light weight, sleek, and very responsive. This device has been quite a life saver.. or rather a time and energy saver–allowing me to be even lazier while watching videos on my HTPC.

I definitely recommend the Logitech Cordless MediaBoard Pro for any HTPC enthusiasts looking for a good remote solution.

Buy now: Logitech Cordless MediaBoard Pro from Amazon.com