Despite being used to control many of our favorite devices, remotes get lost regularly. Then you have to replace them with a new universal remote, spend time programing it and then probably lose that one too. You can skip all that with the Blumoo, the system that lets you use your smartphone as a remote for anything.
This gadget is actually a two-part system consisting of an app and the Blumoo HomeBase. Put the HomeBase into the room where the devices you want to use it on are. Then it connects via Bluetooth. It will let you use your phone like you would any normal remote. The base converts the signal into wireless infrared which your devices understand.
They have a library of over 250K devices that include televisions, speakers, and cable boxes to name a few. If you have a ton of remotes for a ton of devices, this can help you bring everything under one umbrella. The Blumoo costs $99.99 for one.