Monster MoveNew handheld remote pulls together Z-Wave and entertainment apps.

THE HOLY GRAIL: Monster Cable promises a single remote for well under $1,000 that can manage a home's entertainment and home-automation functions. The new remote is also Z-Wave compatible.

Sure, home buyers want large plasma screens and distributed audio, but what they really want is for all that home automation and entertainment to work easily on one handheld remote—at a price they can afford.

Now, Monster Cable is shipping its Monster Central products, featuring the Monster Control AVL300 remote and the Illumin-Essence lighting line. The AVL300 costs $599; the lighting products, which are manufactured by Leviton, start at $99.

This means that for well under $1,000, a home buyer can own a remote that, with the push of a button, dims the lights, turns on the DVD, sets the correct inputs on the television, and sets the preconfigured surround-sound levels. Even better, the remote is Z-Wave compatible, so home buyers can also use it to manage Z-Wave thermostats, security systems, and blinds.

Leviton is marketing the Monster Central products through builders, and Monster Cable is marketing them through retailers such as Best Buy and Circuit City. (www.monstercable.com)