Watching TV On Samsung’s LED 9000 Remote

I still can’t decide if this is genius or stupid, but creativity points are definitely due: Samsung’s high-end LED 9000 TV will come with a touchscreen remote that enables you to watch TV on the remote while playing a Blu-ray disc on the screen.

The remote interfaces with the TV with both traditional infrared signals and Wi-Fi. It can also connect to your home network and summon videos from your Windows PC to the TV or the remote’s own screen.

As you can see, the thing is a fingerprint magnet. And personally, I’ve never understood the advantages of a touchscreen remote–once physical buttons are out of the picture, it’s tough to operate the remote by feel without looking like we’re all used to doing. But with this, switching your gaze from the big screen to the remote is kind of the point.

PopSci at CES