Philips has announced a new remote control that dwarfs virtually any universal remote currently in production. The Pronto NX PowerLite (TSU9600) has its own VGA touchscreen display, and has an elaborate interface that organizes content not by hardware, but by activity; under the Live TV section for instance, users can select a channel's icon directly.

The remote can be programmed for any IR-controlled AV device, and numerous other devices as well through a WiFi extender. Buyers with complicated setups can get the Serial Extender, a rack enclosure with four IR and four RS232 ports. The remote by itself is extremely expensive, however: it is $1,836, and geared towards home automation systems. [via Geekzone]