I really like hard buttons - like on the harmony remotes. Are there any remotes out there that have hard buttons and can communicate via wifi to ir (e.g. global cache devices) ? Instead of RF and can support 2-way ip control on some newer devices.

I've programmed both Demopad and Roomie remotes for my iPhone/iPad but I miss having a dedicated hard button remote - like the harmony. I do have the equipment hidden which is part of my need for ip (yes rf could solve that but not very well based on my harmony experience.

Can't believe no one has addressed this market yet.

There are 2-way WiFi remotes that will do what you want. They start at $1k and go from there.

OK - what are they? If it really does what I want that is not out of the question

RTI, Crestron, Elan, Niles, and a few others all make what you are looking for. You can also find some Nevo and Pronto remotes on-line, both companies stopped making custom universal remotes.

TRCGroup, do the brands of Universal Remote Controls that you mention, work easily with the global cache terminals, with no one special remote receiver, with an easy developer interface, intended for accompany iOS/Android remote control apps, like iRule and with a interesting price