Lifehacker.com has an interesting article  on looking for an iPhone or iPod Touch app before buying a new piece of hardware.  The Apple App Store has more than 100,000 apps apparently.  Some are actually useful!  For instance, instead of buying a new universal remote control, you can buy an app that turns your iPod Touch into a remote control (additional hardware is needed).  

This is of course assuming that you have or will get an iPod Touch or iPhone.  Many manufacturers have very good apps to control their devices directly, such as, Sonos.  We wrote previously about iPod Touches being used for whole-home control touchscreens.  There are apps for that.  Red Atom Networks can work with you to design and implement a strategy to meet your unique requirements.  Contact us to get started.