A group of students at the University of Toronto, have completed something that could potentially replace all your remotes. It's called the UiRemote for iPhone.
----- With the help of this small accessory, you will be able to use your iPhone to control your TV, DVD, Cable box, Projectors, Digital Photo Frames, AC, Fans, & Backyard evil robots, wherever you go. Not only does it send out the remote control signals, you can easily teach it to learn any button on any standard Remote, or even a sequence of button clicks as a macro.
Take note, this is not some bulky infrared remote boxes that you have to connect using Wifi, and cannot be moved around. This standalone accessory, in its final prototype form, is only the size of a finger tip, and require nothing but your iPhone to control devices and learn new remote commands. We are going to make it even smaller after further adjustments. You can conveniently slip it into your pocket and take it to your friends/bars/meetings/work/etc. and impress them with this new thing you can do with your iPhone. -----
There is already "iRedTouch" out there. It is quite expensive and needs a separate device on your LAN, but it's powerful and allows for beautiful designed remotes. I've put all my remotes into my iPod touch - as photos!
I agree, it isn't a very nice interface at all.
How would you buy the hardware though ?
Unless you paid for the hardware plus the cost of the app in the shop and they gave you a code to reedem the app from the appstore maybe.
I'd definatly buy it, looks real handy