David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.

No one needs much convincing that a single remote for every device sounds ideal. Multiple gadgets demand attention, and one controller could handle the lot. Numerous firms have chased this vision, yet one device came nearer than the rest. Known as the Harmony, it stood out for years as the top choice in universal remotes. Perhaps the sole option that truly counted. Even so, the Harmony fell short of perfection.

In this installment of Version History, the tale of the Harmony unfolds. The Verge team of David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and John Higgins welcomes Matt Rogers, CEO of Mill and ex-Nest co-founder, to examine twenty years of buttons alongside touchscreens. The journey starts with the Easy Zapper, gains momentum, finds a buyer in Logitech, grows rapidly for some time, and later declines. One might claim smart televisions and unified systems rendered the concept obsolete. Still, the notion of a universal remote retains its strong pull. The discussion seeks to uncover the reason.

This marks the opening show of season four for Version History. The series returns with fresh energy. Over the coming weeks, episodes will share tales from the smart home world, covering items such as Hue lighting, Keurig machines, and the once-popular Clapper. Details on accessing each new release and additional content follow below.

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To explore further details on the Harmony story and its impact, additional resources appear here:

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David Pierce