Rogue Keychain Remote Unleashed
This is one of those "inventions" you know could have come out a lot sooner, but now that someone did invent it, a huge buying frenzy is underway. The premise is simple: a $14.99 keychain remote called TV B-Gone that snaps off any public TV is apparently being snapped up at a pace that suggests most people are dying to cut off the TV noise in most public places or perhaps when the kids are outof control.

Invented by San Francisco resident Mitch Altman, "The keychain fob works like a universal remote control but one that only turns TVs on or off. With a zap of a button, the gizmo goes through a string of about 200 infrared codes that controls the power of about 1,000 television models. Altman said the majority of TVs should react within 17 seconds, though it takes a little more than a minute for the gizmo to emit all the trigger codes. Altman, 47, first got the idea for TV-B-Gone a decade ago when he was out with friends at a restaurant and they found themselves all glued to the perched TV instead of talking to each other. No one was around to turn the TV off." Source: AP

Why do we picture fights in sports bars as the screen snaps off just at the crucial touchdown moment, or when breaking news is causing a stir. This gadget will certainly appeal to the mean- spirited pranksters. Our suggestion: sell a $25.99 version that also lets you change channels, and you may have the ultimate remote for those who just have to have the remote control at all times. (I know I do. --Bill)

--Where to Buy TV-B-Gone


# Permalink   Posted at 11:08 AM        5 comments       Email this Link