Even if you consider your entertainment setup basic, you still probably have at least three controllers to toggle between on a daily basis—there's the television, the DVD player, whatever streaming device you prefer, etcetera—and let's be honest, you lose them a lot. There are some gadgets out there that allow you to combine everything in one, but none as cool looking as the SPIN remote, which does away with controls you don't need so you can focus on the ones you do.
"Over time more and more technology has found its way into the living room. The once simple task of watching TV has become a joint effort of our HD television, our interactive set-top box and our AV receiver," says the company. "While those devices kept getting smarter, the remote control has stayed the same ever since the introduction of infrared technology in 1980. It never evolved into something more than a plastic box with buttons, we just ended up with more buttons."
So how does it work? The SPIN remote activates the moment it's touched and sends out corresponding infrared signals to nearby tech items. SPIN has 360-degree infrared (meaning you don't have to actually point it at the device you're commanding), an IR blaster to make it universal, and Bluetooth connectivity so you can also use it to control lighting. Because it supports sequential commands, you can actually do several things at once—like dim the lights and turn the TV on. SPIN can also receive signals, allowing it to "learn" from whatever existing remotes you have.
More than just responding to touch though, the little dial also functions differently depending on how it is held. For example, you can set it to lower the volume when you hold it sideways and turn it as if it were an actual dial on the TV. You can also setup the underneath touchpad so you can use it to browse through Netflix or Apple TV selections, among other services. Everything can be set through the accompanying app, giving you the option of sticking with the default programming or customizing it how you want.
Aside from how it works, it just looks cool. The company is offering four different shells: the standard silver, brass, aluminum, and a Kickstarter Exclusive M.C. Escher design (though more colors may be coming soon). For €69 ($85) you can get one now at an Early Bird price. If you want to choose your own shell you'll need to go with the €129 ($158) option, and the special M.C. Escher SPIN costs €199 ($243).
At the date of publication they are at €41,705 ($51,003) of their €100,000 ($122,295) Kickstarter goal and there are 24 days left.
