Universal Remote Brands and Links

All about remotes

We found some fun information at About.com on the history of remote controls. In a nutshell, the first remote controls were developed for military use during World War I. In the late 1940s, the first consumer remote control was the garage-door opener. It wasn't until 1950 that the first television remote control entered living rooms. Zenith pioneered the technology, but the remotes were connected to the TV with cables. By 1956, the first wireless remotes using ultrasound technology appeared. Infrared technology replaced ultrasound in the 1980s. Read the entire article by Mary Bellis on About.com. (Note:ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Confused by some of the terms you see in remote reviews, like macros, infrared and RF? RemoteCentral.com offers a helpful glossary of common terminology.

CNET offers a quick look at how the various Logitech Harmony universal remotes stack up to one another in terms of features. The article also includes tips on buying a Harmony remote control.

Universal remote brands

Manufacturers' websites are also a good place to learn about the latest models:

Griffin Technology

L5

Logitech

Philips

SMK-Link

Universal Electronics One For All

Universal Remote Control (URC)