Control your PS3 with your universal remote

We've been huge supporters of the Sony PlayStation 3 as a Blu-ray player since the console was released, but one of the main drawbacks to using it in a home theater has always been that it lacks an IR receptor. That means that home theater aficionados accustomed to using an activity-based universal remote like a Harmony either have to fumble with the separate Sony Blu-ray DVD Remote or just use the game controller to watch their movies.

Luckily, a small group of basically homemade products have popped up on independent Web sites, offering the ability to convert standard IR commands to Bluetooth and use some clever macros to get around the PS3's peculiarities. These converters, paired with a standard universal remote, can control essentially all the functions of the PS3, including turning it on and off, which have been sticking points for other converters in the past. We found all three of these products were pretty much flawless at their task, but they all cost $90 and up--a lot for such simple devices. You'll note there aren't any prices listed via CNET stores and that's because these products are sold directly through independent Web sites--you won't find them at Best Buy.

If you're not willing to shell out close to $100 for one of these homemade converters, you can opt for the Nyko Blu-Wave Infrared remote which is priced as a much more palatable $20. Using the included USB dongle and remote, you can use a standard universal remote with it, but note that it's not capable of turning the PS3 on and off.