Universal remote controls have been around for some time. They have been replacing the clutter of individual remotes with just one remote that controls all the home theater devices like TV, blu ray, receivers, soundbars, game consoles etc.

Logitech Harmony, and URC have been the remote control of choice, with Logitech Harmony been easier to program than the URC remotes. Logitech Harmony remotes use a web database that finds all the codes for your devices by you supplying the model numbers of your devices. The database is updated often with new devices which makes the Logitech Harmony remotes easier to configure. On the other hand URC remotes include the data base in the remote which is not updated, although it can learn from other remotes but is harder to configure.

Although the Logitech Harmony and URC universal remotes are the best remotes, there is a new company, NewKinetix, that transforms your iPhone or iPad into a universal remote control. I found this company while searching to see if something like that existed after seen Squareup, a device that you plug in your iPhone, that allows you to swipe credit cards and get paid on the field.

NewKinetix provides a device that you plug in at the base of your iPhone or iPad and an App that controls this device. The device costs about $70 and the App is free to download. The app contains a data base of devices which is updated through the web, like the Logitech Harmony, and allows you to control multiple devices. The setup is simple and logical. First you need to setup your rooms, like living room, bedroom etc. then you setup the devices you want to control in each room, TV, cable box, receiver etc. and finally you can setup activities in each room. Activities lets you setup a remote that controls several devices on one screen. For example you can change channels on the cable box and adjust the TV volume without having to change control screens.

I found the NewKinetix Re very easy to use and configure. What I did not like was that it made a funny noise each time I press a button but upon a further search I found you can turn of this noise by going in the settings and turn off key click and key vibrate.