We put up with too many cables. There are at least four different kinds of USB plugs, two kinds of FireWire and like a million different ways to connect something to TV or monitor. Modern gadget life can be kind of retarded in this way. Why not one kind of cable, or just a couple? I don't know. But until everyone gets on the same appendage-to-hole scheme, in the meantime, you can use this: an illustrated guide to pretty much every kind of cable you will see in current gadgets and what it's used for (unless, you know, Sony springs a new one on us overnight, which is honestly possible).

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We've seen most of the major players roll out their HDMI-CEC support since earlier in the year, and all I can say is that it makes me want a universal remote more than ever. If one company on a closed circuit across their own brand can't make these systems as simple, and elegant, a solution as a third-party programmable remote, then HDMI-CEC is never going to be a serious feature on the TV scene.

Cross brand control is one thing. You don't expect it, so it is nice that at least basic commands do work (like ON and OFF). But something that has been positioned as a revolution in device control so far feels MORE complicated than having five remotes on the coffee table.

Here's my advice to all you multinational CE corporations who might be listening:

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