Most devices in the home have become smarter over the years, yet the humble remote control has somehow missed out on that trend. Universal remotes exist, promising to replace the pile of controllers and batteries, but none has delivered a lasting solution. The new NEEO smart remote aims to take over that space—and with support for more than 30,000 devices, it just might succeed.
I remember when some Palm devices could run apps that turned them into remote controls. It wasn't perfect, but many users managed to replace their traditional remotes with a PDA. Time passed, and universal remotes became the domain of some Chinese factory mass-producing them like noodles. Losing the code book is a deadly blow, and hunting for the right code manually is a nightmare. Since smartphones absorbed the functions of cameras, media players, and basic phones, why haven't they replaced the conventional remote? Probably for the same reason as universal remotes. The apps are there but deep down nobody wants a remote with a battery that lasts six hours. What we need is a smarter, more efficient remote.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/b-Gb4yvBPTcNEEO: A Complete Control Platform
According to NEEO's developers, their product ticks both boxes. This isn't just a remote control; it's a full advanced digital control platform. On one side is the 'brain,' which connects to all the gadgets in your home. Its database contains more than 30,000 entries, and if a TV or audio system isn't listed—any model ten years old or younger should be—the NEEO has a learning mode to gain compatibility. The other half is the remote itself. It features a touchscreen with a 291-pixel-per-inch resolution, hand recognition (handy for setting up parental controls), large, clear buttons, an SOS mode for when it goes missing, and a battery that lasts several months on a single charge.
The best part is that the bundle isn't mandatory: you can buy just the brain and control everything from your smartphone with a compatible app. NEEO blew up on Kickstarter, quickly approaching one million dollars, despite an original goal of just 50,000. The brain alone costs $148, and the whole combo is currently $219. First deliveries are expected between April and May of this year.
