Key chain remote control turns off most TVs

SAN JOSE, California (AP) -- Ticked off by the TV? Turn it off -- anywhere.

A new key chain gadget that lets people turn off most TVs -- anywhere from airports to restaurants -- is selling at a faster clip than expected.

Hundreds of orders for Altman's $14.99 TV-B-Gone gadget poured in Monday after the tiny remote control was announced in Wired magazine and other online media outlets. At times, the unexpected attention overloaded and crashed the Web site of his company, Cornfield Electronics.

The key chain fob works like a universal remote control -- but one that only turns TVs on or off. With a zap of a button, the gizmo goes through a string of about 200 infrared codes that controls the power of about 1,000 television models. Altman said the majority of TVs should react within 17 seconds, though it takes a little more than a minute for the gizmo to emit all the trigger codes.

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The self-described geek with a masters in electrical engineering started tinkering full-time on the project a few years ago with help from money he had earned from a company he co-founded, data-storage maker 3ware Inc.

Altman remembers spending most of his childhood unwittingly captivated by TV, watching shows like "Gilligan's Island" and others, regardless of whether they were entertaining.

He quit as an adult and hasn't owned a television in 24 years.

He has tested the TV-B-Gone remote discreetly in many places, including in other countries, and says he usually gets little to no reaction from others after the background TV noise and glare disappears.

But he said he would never dare silently kill the machines in places like sports bars, where patrons expect TVs to be on.

"I can be mischievous, but I'm not going to do anything malicious, and I don't want to make anyone's life more difficult," Altman said. "I just don't like TV, and I'd like people to think more about this powerful medium in their lives."

This is actually a good Idea. I know exactly what it feels like to walk in to a place and have a tv blasting away when no one is even watching it. I bet they are right, that most people wouldn't say much if the tv was turned off. Now if we only had one of these gadgets to turn off cellphones...

I disagree.. if it's not your place or your tv, then you have no business messing with it.

The proper thing, would be to ask if it could be turned off if no one is watching it...

shoot, at my Dad's house.... the tv in his bedroom, the family room tv and my brothers bedroom tv is on 24-7, that's no lie, I've never seen them turned off... ever.

My Palm Zire 72 will do that with any TV, Stereo, VCR, DVD made on this planet.

That may be true, but it probably cost a lot more than $14.99. That's the big deal with this product. The low price that any kid in school can afford. These will probably end up being a fad like laser pointers were for a while.

Well I have the remedy for this on my website at

www.smallpieceofblackelectricaltapeoversensor.com...

I sell a device for $29.99 that combats these remote control militia.
The device is easy to install in less then 10 seconds over your exsiting IR sensor.

Removes in seconds when you need to use functions with you own remote.

Comes in 5 different colors to match the exterior of your TV Set.

Originally posted by evecasino
Well I have the remedy for this on my website at

www.smallpieceofblackelectricaltapeoversensor.com...

I sell a device for $29.99 that combats these remote control militia.
The device is easy to install in less then 10 seconds over your exsiting IR sensor.

Removes in seconds when you need to use functions with you own remote.

Comes in 5 different colors to match the exterior of your TV Set.

that's funny..... by the way your links doesn't work, if it was supposed to ...

still funny....