Who needs a universal remote that only controls your A/V devices? Boring, right? Here's a wand that'll keep your attention: a Wi-Fi remote that browses the Web, downloads its own TV programming guide, and even checks the weather.

First things first: the tvCompass SR1500 itself isn't a shipping remote control. Rather, it's a "platform" that may eventually get pickup up by home entertainment manufacturers and cable/satellite companies, so don't crack open your wallet quite yet.

Still, the Windows CE-powered SR1500 looks custom-made for tech geeks who can't bear to merely, well, watch TV. Armed with a 2.2-inch QVGA color display, the device handles all the typical universal remote duties—that is, it'll download all the codes needed to control up to 24 components, including your TV, DVR, DVD player, and receiver. But rather than having to select your devices on a PC and then syncing the remote via USB, the SR1500 can grab everything it needs over Wi-Fi—no PC required. What's more, it will also back up all your custom settings on a remote server.

Of course, the SR1500 isn't content to use its Wi-Fi radio for merely downloading component control codes. The remote will also download its own TV programming guide, so you can see what's on without turning on the tube. Want to surf while you watch? The remote has its own xHTML Web browser, complete with an RSS client. Hot keys let you check the weather, news, and sports headlines, PayPal is supported (perfect for snapping up that Ronco Veg-O-Matic) and the remote can even download XML, J2ME and Flash applications. There's even a built-in speaker for playing alerts and music.

Cool stuff—now we'll just have wait for some enterprising manufacturer or cable/satellite operator to bring the SR1500 to market. In the meantime, you'll just have to settle for, you know, changes channels and cranking the volume. Yawn!

Related:
tvCompass Stuffs WiFi, Web and Music into Universal Remote [The Boy Genius Report]