Motorola's next-generation remote recharges in just 60 seconds

Motorola has unwrapped a pair of new HDTV remote controls, including one that has a QWERTY keyboard on one side and device control buttons on the other, and one that be recharged in just 60 seconds.

The NYXboard (pictured) not only has the dual-sided keys, but has sensors that can detect which side is upright, so that it can disable the keys on the bottom side to avoid inadvertent button pushes. The NYXgreen ditches batteries altogether, using what Motorola calls "super capacitors" that can hold a two-week charge after being recharged via USB for a mere minute.

That's the good news. The bad news is that you may have difficulty getting either one of these into your hands. Motorola doesn't sell its remotes at retail, so you're reliant on your pay-TV provider to make these available to its customers. In the case of the NYXgreen, Motorola is positioning the remote as ideal for hotels (which wouldn't have to replace scores of batteries each year), so maybe you'll handle one on your next trip. Both remotes should become available at the end of 2010.