Universal Media Remote: An Indispensable (and Unsung) Tool for the Xbox 360

With movies now available on the Xbox 360 from both Netflix and the growing Video Marketplace, isn't it time you stopped pausing, rewinding, and navigating menus with your controller? The Universal Media Remote was one of the first accessories I bought when I got my Xbox 360 and it has been a blessing; an indispensable tool. For those of you gamers too hardcore to even think about using anything but a controller, let me point out the biggest benefit of all; battery savings. The Xbox 360's Dashboard is a sprawling marketplace full of games, content, videos, decorative themes, friends and user profiles. You can spend hours poking around the interface and never once play an actual game. So why drain the power from your wireless controllers when all you really need is an old school, one handed remote? Totally honest, I've never once changed the batteries in my remote and I've had it for nearly three years.

It may not be as fancy as the PlayStation 3's bluetooth remote that can navigate the system through walls and it's not a $100+, all-in-one touchscreen remote but it works splendidly and has all the exclusive Xbox 360 buttons you'll need to really take advantage of the system. At top-center is the familiar Xbox Guide button which brings quick access to everything on the dashboard with a single press. You've also got the four face buttons (A,B,X,Y) just below the directional buttons which let you quickly hop all around the dashboard.

For watching DVDs or TV there's a numbered keypad, volume and channel controls, full playback controls, and buttons for Display, Menu, Title, and Info. Also handy is the inclusion of an Input button, open/close button for the Xbox's disc tray, and a Power button. No holding down the Guide button on your controller to shut down the system; simply grab the remote and hit Off!

There's even a button built in to turn on your connected Windows Media Center PC to access music, video, and pictures stored on a computer. But best of all, you can use the remote's playback buttons while in a game to control any music you might have playing. Using just a controller requires you to stop playing, press the Guide button, navigate to the Media blade and use the on-screen buttons. It may not be the wisest idea to reach for the remote during a firefight or in the middle of a race just to change songs, but it's wonderful knowing the option is just an arm's length away.

For about fifteen dollars there's not much room to complain but there are a few nagging shortcomings to the Universal Media Remote. Biggest of all is that the infrared sensor that picks up your button presses is located below the disc tray (which completely blocks the sensor when open) and requires a pretty straight shot to be seen. And despite having a volume control for the TV there's no way to adjust the Xbox's volume itself. If an ear-splittingly loud song or video starts up you'll still have to adjust the volume by navigating to the on-screen volume slider (a pain).

Those few quibbles aside, I can't imagine using my Xbox 360 without the Universal Media Remote. If you've got an Xbox 360 or know someone who does, a Universal Media Remote would make a thoughtful gift for yourself or others.