The Quest for the Ultimate Universal Remote

A universal remote is a game-changer for anyone juggling multiple devices. It simplifies control by allowing you to manage everything from one place. Over the years, various companies have attempted to create the ultimate universal remote, but one product stood out above the rest: the Harmony. For a long time, it was the go-to choice for anyone seeking a reliable universal remote, perhaps even the only one that truly mattered. Yet, despite its popularity, the Harmony faced challenges in keeping up with the evolving tech landscape.

In this episode of Version History, we dive into the journey of the Harmony remote. Join David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and John Higgins as they chat with Matt Rogers, the CEO of Mill and a former cofounder of Nest, to explore two decades filled with buttons and touchscreens. The story begins with the Easy Zapper, which gained traction, was acquired by Logitech, and enjoyed a period of rapid growth before eventually declining. While some might argue that the rise of smart TVs and integrated systems rendered universal remotes obsolete, there’s still an undeniable allure to the concept. We aim to uncover why that is.

This marks the first episode of the fourth season of Version History. Over the coming weeks, we’ll share a variety of stories about smart home technology, from Hue lights to Keurig coffee makers, and even the viral phenomenon known as The Clapper. Here’s how to catch every episode and all our other exciting content as soon as it’s available:

* The Version History podcast feed
* The Version History YouTube channel
* Our TikTok and Instagram accounts

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For those interested in the history and impact of the Harmony, here are a few resources to get you started:
* Control Issues
* The original Easy Zapper website, on Harmony launch day
* The first remote
* Harmonic Convergence At Hand
* Harmony remotes are fading in relevance as streaming takes over, says Logitech CEO
* Logitech is dropping support for its oldest Harmony remotes