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CNET calls the Logitech Harmony One "arguably the best consumer remote control currently available," and I agree. I've owned one for about two years, and it's without a doubt my favorite remote ever.

Alas, Logitech still sells it for $250, same as when it debuted in early 2008. But right now, CompUSA is offering the Harmony One for $139.99 shipped.

(If this deal sounds a bit familiar, that's because I posted a similar one back in October--but the price then was $150, and it was a refurb. This one's brand-new!)

The Harmony's claim to fame is a simple (relatively speaking) Web-based interface for setting up your devices, programming "activities" (aka macros), and so on.

This particular model features a color touch screen, a perfect button layout, and a docking station that keeps the rechargeable battery topped off.

CNET's review (and the above video) should tell you everything you need to know about the Harmony One. For what it's worth, CompUSA customers rated it 5 stars on average, while some 900 Amazon buyers rated it 4.5 stars. Needless to say, it's a winner.

Thus, if you're in the market for the ultimate universal remote, this is the best deal I've seen yet. (If you know of a better one, be sure to mention it in the comments!)

Future wishes: Avatar in 3D on PS3.

(Credit: 20th Century Fox)

The Blu-ray Disc Association released its finalized 3D specifications this morning, outlining what to expect out of 3D Blu-ray in 2010. The specification includes full 1080p resolution, backward compatibility for both 3D Blu-ray players and the 3D Blu-ray Discs (meaning that both will play or be able to be played in 2D), and the use of a new MVC codec, an extension of the existing AVC. 3D playback will be "display agnostic," meaning that, according to the Blu-ray Disc Association, the format will be compatible across "any compatible 3D display." What exactly a "compatible 3D display" consists of is still a mystery, but a Blu-ray Disc Association representative said via a phone call that for the most part, you'll need a new TV set to make this technology work.

A few weeks ago, we reported on the PS3's full-fledged leap into 3D gaming by 2011. At the time, we were uncertain as to whether the console would also be a qualified 3D Blu-ray player, but the answer has been provided: yes, it can. The PS3 is included in the specification announcement from the Blu-ray Disc Association, which means the PS3 is perfectly suited to become a 3D platform in every respect.

The capability for PS3 consoles to become full-fledged 3D Blu-ray players, especially in advance of what seems to be the biggest 3D Blu-ray killer app yet seen, could be a huge selling point for PlayStation in 2010. We hope all PS3s will gain this feature via a software update, but the representative said that's Sony's decision. We'll update this post when we know for sure.

(Credit: CNET)

If you're lucky enough to get your favorite piece of home theater gear this holiday season, the next step is setting it up and getting it tweaked just right. CNET dishes out home theater setup advice all year, but we've rounded up our most important home theater tips so you can spend your holidays on the couch rather than crawling behind your TV cabinet.

Home theater setup tips

• Don't buy expensive HDMI cables
• Speaker-placement tips for audiophiles
• Home theater speaker placement tips
• Is it worth setting up my Dolby Pro Logic IIz height speakers?
• Subwoofer setup guide
• How to get the most out of your subwoofer
• How to use your AV receiver's speaker calibration
• What'd he say? How to improve home theater dialogue intelligibility
• What do my speaker specs mean?
• Demystifying speaker impedance--what you need to know
• What's up with watts: How much power do you need?
• How to double your home theater receiver's power
• Six ways to make your turntable sound better
• How to get the best sound from in-ear headphones

Of course, the other half of the home theater equation is the HDTV, so be sure to check out David Katzmaier's HDTV setup tips, too.

Is this the future of Blu-ray?

(Credit: Amazon)

Brace yourselves. Less than two weeks after you open your gifts on Christmas morning, the consumer electronics industry will be reminding you that all those new gadgets--touted as lustworthy just days earlier--are already obsolete.

OK, maybe that's a tad cynical. But it's certainly true that the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (January 5-10) codifies the trends and sets the bar for what you can expect to see on store shelves for the following 12 months. That's especially true in the home theater category. But before we look forward to the upcoming show, let's take a look back at what we saw in 2009.

As the 2009 show came to an end, we chose the Samsung HT-BD7200 home theater system and the EchoStar "SlingLoaded" HD DVR 922 as the most promising products in the home audio and video realms. The latter product, to date, has yet to make an appearance in the real world (an all too common trend for many high-profile CES

(Credit: Marantz)

Marantz currently offers a full line of stereo and home theater components, but in the 1950s, the company was one of America's most prestigious hi-fi brands. Early Marantz products were designed and built by Saul B. Marantz in his home in Kew Gardens, New York. Those hand-built components now fetch huge dollars on the used market.

So naturally, I was interested in what Home Entertainment magazine's Richard Ames had to say about the Marantz UD9004 "universal" player. The $6,000 machine spins Blu-ray, SACD, DVD-Audio, and CDs.

The UD9004's rear panel.

(Credit: Marantz)

It certainly looks the part: the Marantz UD9004's copper-plated chassis, thick aluminum/resin front panel, and aluminum-and-zinc die-cast parts are many steps above the build quality of mainstream Blu-ray players. The UD9004 tips the scales at a hefty 42.3 pounds, more than many receivers.

The rear panel hosts two HDMI outputs, so you can send the audio to the receiver without having to route them to the TV. On the analog side, you get ... Read more

J. Sperling Reich from Showbiz Sandbox joins us to explain why the TV and movies online are restricted the way they are.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Update: After reader feedback, we've added five additional products. Thanks for all the comments.

Here we are just days away from closing out the first decade of the 21st century, which means a lot of publications are in look-back mode, taking stock of all the good--and bad--things that happened over the last 10 years.

The Gizmondo in its heyday.

(Credit: ImageShack)

Before we get to the list, let's get the parameters straight. This isn't a list of all the most spectacular tech failures. I chose to exclude dot-coms, corporate debacles (AOL-Time Warner), search engines (i.e., Cuil), and assorted other Web 2.0 flame outs (I'll let Webware handle that). No, this is a roundup of gear, the stuff that turns on and off, the stuff I've been covering for almost 10 years at CNET (yes, I started in 2000).

It's also important to define just what a flop is. In my book it's simply something that was really hyped but didn't live up to its promise ... Read more

(Credit: Apple)

Recently, with the help of some of the editors here at CNET, I put together list of the biggest tech flops of the decade. Since I'm not a negative guy at heart, it was only a matter of time before I came up with a more positive spin on the whole tech-products-of-the-decade concept that's all the rage as we approach the end of '09.

Once again, I've enlisted the help of my fellow editors, so while my name may appear at the top of this list, it's really a collective effort. That said, you can blame me if you don't like the picks.

As always, feel free to suggest your own picks. If you make a good case, we'll update the list and make some changes. Also, let us know what your top five picks are in order of innovation and influence.

Click on any image to start the slideshow and see the picks (they are listed in alphabetical order).

The Samsung BD-P3600 was the most popular home theater product of 2009.

When you look at CNET's top products lists for home audio and home video, you're seeing the culmination of countless hours of testing, research, writing, and careful consideration of how a product rates in the marketplace. When you look at CNET's list of the most popular home theater products of 2009, you're seeing the culmination of CNET readers clicking on products because they look cool.

This roundup is all about which products got the most pageviews, which means CNET readers have unknowingly been casting their vote for this list all year long simply by browsing the site. As you'd expect, the big 2009 trend for home theater was Blu-ray, with half of the top 10 product supporting the format. The only real surprise is the Sony STR-DG920, which is a 2008 product. In this case, we're guessing its popularity was largely because of some wishful thinking, as the STR-DG920 was an editorial and user favorite last year, ... Read more