Logitech's mother of all remotes has come to Australia, the Harmony 1000i Advanced Universal Remote. It's also got the mother of all price tags - $AU699.

The website doesn't say if it's a learning remote, which means you can point your existing remote at it and teach it the codes. Googling "Harmony 1000 learning" brings up a few websites which imply that it is, but I'd want to be dead sure before handing over my cash. Otherwise, what happens if you're unlucky enough to have a device not on their list? I got sick of this happening with the cheap remotes I'd buy - even though all of my appliances are well-known brand names, some are old and there was always one that didn't want to play nicely. That's why I bought a Sunwave SCR-300 backlit touch screen remote. They were about $AU200 at the time, but I got one for $AU100 at Dick Smith, as the DSE 8-in-1 LCD Touch Screen Learning Remote Control (they keep changing the link, just search for G1214) is really just a rebadged SCR-300. It's a learning remote and it even has non-volatile memory so it doesn't forget everything when you change the batteries.

There's little chance of losing Logitech's Harmony 1000i in the couch.

At the time it seemed like a lot to spend a on a remote, but now I wouldn't live without it. Sure it's not a kool as the Harmony 1000i, but at least I know it will control anything I throw at it - even the aircon I'm hoping to buy when Seeking Nerdvana makes me my first million. If you're thinking of laying down some cash on the remote of your dreams, make sure you can teach it new tricks.{moscomment}

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Adam Turner  Gadgets