Control, Evolved.

Biologists call it punctuated equilibrium. Things remain more or less the same for a long time, and then all of a sudden one change after another comes sweeping through. Thus it has been with remote controls. For decades we used basic infrared remote controls — a couple of double-A batteries, a few rubbery buttons, a magic wand for each device in the living room. Sure, there were changes along the way — “universal” remotes that promised (but rarely delivered to our satisfaction) convenient consolidation — but for the most part as our home theaters evolved our remote controls remained the same.

Then in 2009 we introduced RedEye — the remote control that doesn’t look anything like a remote. Competitors quickly emerged, but soon it became evident that RedEye is about much more than just turning the iPhone into a remote control. Unlike any other control system, RedEye lets you use virtually any networked device — smartphone, tablet, even personal computer — to control your home theater and other equipment. From anywhere you have a network connection. You can even have multiple controllers running at the same time.

But RedEye hasn’t stopped evolving. Interactive TV program guide, Android support, PC-based setup, greater flexibility and customization — free software updates have kept RedEye fresh and left the competition behind, in a way no other remote control system before or since has been able to match. Watch what happens next.