New Wi-Fi universal remote control from Philips

A remote control device has, by definition, no wires; think of the number of times you have to replace the batteries on any of your remote controls boxes! Yes, but Wi-Fi brings new possibilities: it enables wireless networking capacity. So that you will soon be able to access and manage multimedia content from various sources (PC, Internet etc.) that in turn would be redirected to other devices in your home, such as sound or pictures into your Hi-Fi or TV.

Philips will launch its Wi-Fi RC9800i during next summer. This device uses the 802.11b Wi-Fi functionality and a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) that allow for control and management of UPnP devices installed on a network. The “remote” box communicates with Philips’ PC Software (dubbed Digital Media Manager) so that, for instance, sound or image files stored on the PC can be viewed on the RC9800i. this device really is a command box for other Wi-Fi devices.