It has always fascinated me how a company like Apple can make much more complex devices like mp3 players and mobile phones unbelievably easy to use as well as sexy yet telly manufacturers continue to mess up a basic device like a remote control. Then when you add the frustration of multiple remotes for all your electronics it feels like the world is conspiring against couch dwelling people keen to enjoy their plasma.

The universal remote control is meant to be the answer and Trend Hunter has come up with a Top 10 list of the best ones.

The only two that show any real promise are David Chacon’s Tablet Concept and the InVoca 3.0 Voice Activated Remote Control. Most of the rest are over the top impractical ideas that would probably make the situation worse. The dire situation being sitting on your bum watching the teev, but still, we strive for a perfect world where we have one remote that is awesome.