Do Rock the 'mote

Let's look into the snowy TV screen and take a peek at the future of TV remote controls. Wait. The picture's clearing up. I can see it. It's a combo phone/remote with a flip-mouse and pull-out keyboard.

The US Patent & Trademark Office just published an app (20060080710) today that describes this future.

First, it's a universal remote control. But that's not all. It's also a cordless phone — you just have to keep your remote in a cradle so that it's always charged. Want to surf the web on your TV? Just use the pull-out keyboard to type away. Too good to be true? It only gets better. The top of the remote flips up and over so that you can use it like a mouse, as shown below. The keyboard slides out on the far right.