If you have a streaming media device, there is a new universal remote attachment being released that could make your life easier. It could also the be the gateway to losing yet another remote control, and this time it will cost you.
According to Tech Hive, a device called Sideclick is being introduced after a successful Kickstarter campaign raised the necessary funds to continue with mass manufacturing.
The device is a clip-on attachment for the remote you already use, but it is also compatible with Fire TV, Google Nexus, Roku, or Apple TV.
It has eight buttons that you can program using however many remote controls you need to control your television set, the volume, and the streaming media device itself.
The basic concept sounds like a promising way to combine three different remotes into one central unit, but TV users know the struggle of losing just one remote. Imagine losing three at the same time.
Americans click away at over 335 million TV sets today, and that number is only growing with the introduction of these streaming media devices. While the Sideclick has good intentions, it seems to be a risky investment.
Sideclick is starting at $30 per attachment, and additional attachments can be purchased for $5 if you have more than one streaming media device. This is a hefty price tag compared to the price of replacement remote controls that don’t need any programming at all.
While Rick Broida of CNET describes the device as “a brilliant idea that works exactly as advertised,” that may just be Sideclick’s downfall.
People find the (free) remotes that come with their television in the fridge or all the way out in the car after searching for months. Imagine the panic of losing a $30 device that is now your only option for operating three different devices.
If you’re confident you can handle the responsibility that comes with a Sideclick, you can pre-order one now. Shipping is scheduled to begin in December, just in time for the holidays.
Just remember, the next time you lose your remote, start in literally the last place you would ever look. It’s probably there.