Recently Filed in Remote Controls

I recently reviewed the Logitech Harmony 900 activity-based IR/RF remote. It’s the best user-programmable remote I’ve ever tested. And while still an excellent value at its current street price of around $300, that’s not exactly cheap either.  I’m always a fan of grabbing last year’s technology at a significant discount, and right now Amazon has the Harmony 890 IR/RF remote for just $99 with free shipping. More or less, it does everything the 900 does, but without the touchscreen and manta-ray styling. It also sports… View this story
Remote Controls • Deals • Product News

I’m not sure if NewEgg is just ramping up as Black Friday approaches, but they’re having a heck of a day when it comes to Home Theater deals.  First, as the morning/afternoon segment of their daily Shell Shocker available until 4 p.m. EST today, November 2, you can grab a new (not refurbished) Harmony 659 activity based remote for $39.99 with free shipping. This is a slightly older Harmony model and lacks the color touch screen and charging dock of the One and 900. That… View this story
Digital Media Servers • Remote Controls • Deals • Product News

Start-up GlideTV is introducing Navigator, a minimalist handheld remote control for operating home theater PCs (HTPCs) such as Windows Media Center, Boxee and Apple Front Row. The device, which fits in the palm of the hand, employs the standard Bluetooth Human Interface Device (HID) and works with virtually any system that supports standard mouse and keyboard HID commands. Just plug the USB wireless receiver into a compatible device. The Navigator contains a clickable touchpad mouse and buttons for volume, playback, up/down/left/right, esc, enter, back and… View this story
Digital Media Servers • Remote Controls • Product News

One of the most important decisions you can make when buying a whole-house music system, home control system, or home theater system is choosing the remote control. It’s the thing you use to communicate with all that equipment. And it better work. So what should you look for? After all, tons of universal remote controls are available. Some have a few simple features; others have a bevy of high-end amenities. We’ve compiled some feature sets of six remotes from popular custom install brands that showcase… View this story
AV Components • Remote Controls • Home Theater • Info and Answers

Home control is all about simplicity. You press a button and a million things happen. If you can’t find that button, though, it’s pointless to even have a system in your house. That’s why it’s so important to make sure the interface (i.e. remote control, touchpanel or keypad) you use to command the lights, thermostats, A/V gear and other devices is well designed by your custom electronics professional. It’s a difficult endeavor, both for manufacturers who build the interfaces and for the pros who design… View this story
Home Control • Touchpanels and Keypads • Remote Controls • Home Control • Info and Answers

It never fails. As soon as I’m in bed, I remember all the things I should have done before I hit the sack. Things like checking the back door to make sure it’s locked, turning down the heat downstairs and shutting off the outdoor floodlights. It’s too bad I don’t have some sort of control device on my nightstand. That way, I could just lean over, press a few buttons and take care of whatever needs taken care of. Unfortunately, I’m like the cobbler’s wife.… View this story
Remote Controls • Touchpanels and Keypads • Telephones • Product News

Following our last report of 6 New Remote Control Technologies, here are three more: Sony’s Pretty New Remotes Withstand Soda Spills Ubergizmo is reporting on Sony’s new RM-PZ3SD universal remote control that withstands greasy hands and your garden-mill soda spills. Don’t drop it in the toilet, though. It’s not that hardy. I wonder if the pink one will win a Techlicious award for female-friendly technology. What are you Watching? Auto-blog From Your IBM Remote Doesn’t everyone want a remote control that automatically blogs about what… View this story
AV Components • Remote Controls • Product News

Power ... control ... regulation ... support ... insurance ... paranoia ... Sound like a mishmash of all the best descriptors of what’s missing from our ailing economy? Maybe, except for the last one. How about all the trappings of a maniacal super villain? Possibly, though I’m not sure how well those guys are insured or regulated. More importantly, it’s most of the witty verbs I could come up with to describe today’s deals.  That’s right, I have a pair of deals for you today,… View this story
Power Management • Remote Controls • Deals • Product News

Tops on Russ and Vivian Fessel’s electronic wish list was a system that could deliver music and video to every room of the house, wouldn’t require any special training to operate and would fit into their budget of $60,000. “We wanted to be able to pick up one remote and operate any of the 12 TVs in our house. Their custom electronics professional, Derek Cowburn of DistinctAV of McCordsville, Ind., chose two identical T2C RTI color handheld remotes—one for Russ and one for Vivian—for the… View this story
Remote Controls • Touchpanels and Keypads • Info and Answers

Thinking about moving your A/V equipment rack, or maybe picking up a new cabinet to place your components inside? If you’re worried about not being able to control your gear because you don’t have the latest RF (radio frequency) remote control, don’t fret. You can make your line-of-sight infrared (IR) remote work like an RF—you know, commanding components through cabinet doors, from other rooms and more—and there’s no magic involved. All you need is a $55 piece of equipment that looks like a flying saucer.… View this story
Switches and Extenders • Remote Controls • Reviews • Product News

So many TV options, so many buttons on the remote control. Manufacturers are coming to the rescue with new technologies that make A/V control perhaps a little less intimidating. We’ve rounded up some of the latest innovations, including: Omnio’s Self-Powering RF Remote URC’s MX-5000 with Haptics Technology EZ Power Wind-Up Battery-Free Remote Motion-Sensitive Remotion Hillcrest Labs Loop Pointer Voice Controllable Remotes View 6 Unique Remote Technologies. Related: 5 Remote Controls for Your Home Theater View this story
AV Components • Remote Controls • Product News • Slideshows

You have the latest audio system complete with Dolby TrueHD, DTS Master Audio and 7.2 channels of sound. You augmented the audio with the latest Blu-ray player or 1080p projector. The only thing left is the remote control, which may be the most important part of the system. The choice of remotes can make or break a system. According to the CE Pro 100 Brand Analysis, the top five remote control brands are: Universal Remote Control Crestron RTI Control4 Logitech Click here to view 5… View this story
Remote Controls • Home Theater • Product News • Slideshows