In Pictures: A tribute to the TV remote control - Past, present, and future

A look at the history of remote controls, some of the coolest remotes out now, and what's ahead for changing the channels on your TV.

Bang & Olufsen Beo6

Meet the Rolls Royce of universal remote controls. Released in 2010 (though visually indistinguishable from its 2007 Beo5 predecessor), the Beo6, from high-end audio/visual equipment maker Bang & Olufsen, features a distinctive design. Getting the full Beo6 experience requires using some expensive B&O TVs and audio equipment, but if you have $950 to spare for a remote, acquiring the rest shouldn't be too painful. Since the remote also supports home-automation functions, the Beo6 will pull blinds, turn off lights, or even make an espresso. We wonder if Eugene Polley could've imagined that in the '50s.

(Image: Courtesy of Bang and Olufsen)

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