Sure, the remote control Panasonic showed off as part of its Viera update this week looks like any other overly complicated, SD-slot equipped, universal home theater remote. But there's more to it ...

Basically the app turns your iPhone or iPad into a big touchpad remote control for your telly, giving you advanced gesture controls for apps and programming from Panasonic's online platforms as well ...

Panasonic has released a new version of its Viera Remote App for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. The new remote control application enables you to control Viera TVs over your wireless network (Wi-Fi).

For example, when the DMP-BD10A is connected to a Panasonic VIERA flat-panel TV with an HDMI cable, you can turn on the DMP-BD10A and switch the TV's input source to the DMP-BD10A using only the VIERA ...