As 2011 draws to a close and we all look to see just where we put that 2012 calendar, our thoughts go out to everyone who has contributed to making Remote Central such a great place to be for the past year.

This includes our valued advertisers, without whom we would not be here (support those that support RC!); all of our volunteer forum moderators who do a fantastic job fighting spam and maintaining the peace; the great folks at ipHouse.com who keep our server running in tip-top shape and always available; plus the custom installation and control community as a whole – everyone who takes the time to interact by sharing their knowledge, wit, files (thanks djy!)... or even just their two cents!

Please accept my heartfelt appreciation – and all the best for the coming year!

- Daniel & RemoteCentral.com

For those of you waking up today with a brand new universal remote control, congratulations! You’ll want to explore further around this site for helpful resources such as the community forums, our redesigned file download area, discrete code collection, our collection of 1400+ universal remote control manuals, the CEC Wiki and much more!

And if you didn't get that special clicker you were waiting for... no worries! You can use our reviews, user reviews and the Which Remote Should I Buy? forum for help deciding exactly what you need!

If you have questions about anything, post them in our forums!

It's time to scout the stores for universal remote control deals on this Cyber Monday!

First up, Amazon.com is having a Lighting Deal on the Harmony 700 at 8:15 AM PST, or 11:15 AM EST. Next, later on today there's another deal for the Acoustic Research Xsight Color at 6:15 PM PST, or 9:15 PM EST. (The normal price is $59.99, but note that you can buy the higher-end Xsight Touch for just $52.67).

For either of these you'll need to click on the deal at the right time from this page.

At BestBuy.com the sale continues, with the Logitech Harmony 650 for $39.99, or the Logitech Harmony One for $139.99.

At RadioShack.com: the Logitech Harmony One continues on sale for $129.99.

If you spot any other deals add them to comments! Read more...

I'm not seeing a huge number of remote control deals online for this Black Friday, however here's a few for interest:

Amazon.com is having a Lighting Deal on the Harmony 650 at 9:15 AM EST. The normal price is $65, and the special price will be... less. You'll find the deal countdown on this page. Also find the Logitech Harmony One for $139.99.

At RadioShack.com: the Logitech Harmony 600 for $29.99 or the Logitech Harmony One for $129.99.

At BestBuy.com: the Logitech Harmony 650 for $39.99, or the Logitech Harmony One for $139.99.

If you spot any other deals add them to comments! Read more...

Those of you who remember my original CEDIA 2011 video release back in September, will recall that I mentioned there would be a grand total of 11 videos this year... and of course today’s announcement make number 12! Initial counting issues aside, this is indeed the final episode in this year’s series – and it’s a doozey!

Hank Eisengrein, booth tour guide extraordinaire, serves up a feast of information on URC’s latest and upcoming products including handheld remotes, in-wall controls, media players, security and commercial applications, a networked thermostat and a brand new 9.2-channel A/V processor. Read more...

Our CEDIA 2011 coverage of three different iPhone, iPad and/or Android-dedicated control solutions is wrapped up today with the release of part 11 to our video report series featuring ThinkFlood, the makers of RedEye.

Company president Matt Eagar presents the RedEye network-based control system designed for use with iPad, iPhone, Android and PCs, along with a quick demonstration of 2-way status synchronization between multiple control devices. Read more...

We have a quick video for you this Friday, and although it’s not directly related to automation systems it’s still rather nifty.

Jason Williams from Yale Locks & Hardware shows off their new Near Field Communication (NFC) residential lock system, which uses a mobile phone to hold and wirelessly transmit electronic door keys. Read more...

Our exclusive CEDIA 2011 video report series continues with today’s release of Part 9 dedicated to Control4.

Paul Williams introduces viewers to the world of Control4 and presents the latest automation products. You’ll see the new 7” Portable WiFi Touch Screen and its unique video conferencing capabilities, new solutions for Andriod phones and tablets, new integration options for weather monitoring, video walls and conference rooms, and finally new 16 and 32-circuit centralized panels for IP-based control over whole-home lighting. Read more...

There’s just something about Fridays that makes me want to... release another video!

Our CEDIA 2011 series continues today with Part 8, featuring Joe Lautner from ELAN Home Systems. Joe offers a quick overview of ELAN's g! home control solution, including available control devices, programming and templates, plus a demonstration of the interface’s capabilities. Read more...

Our CEDIA 2011 Video Report series continues today with the release of Part 7, featuring Mike Everett from PRO Control – the new spin-off company from RTI.

Mike will tell you everything you need to know about PRO Control’s new and economical product lineup, including the PRO24.z and PRO24.r hybrid remote controls, the ProLink.z and ProLink.r smart processors, the ProPanel iPad/iPhone and (soon) Android software solution, along with the handy iPro.8 Companion Remote. Read more...