This patent describes an intelligent, programmable, universal remote control device which can be used by a user to control any device that responds to commands sent via infrared, Bluetooth, or other wireless personal area network technology. The invention includes an integrated program guide that may be updated either manually or automatically from a remote server. The program guide is structured so that it can contain any information about the devices to be controlled, is searchable, and can be customized by the user. For example the program guide may contain information about the channels a device can receive, the programs on each channel, detailed information about each program, and supplemental content for selected programs, including executable and interactive content. The user may search the program guide for desirable programs and may customize the guide to show only those programs or channels that are of interest to the user. The invention can be embodied using existing mobile communications devices, or any programmable device that includes a display, input system, wide area network, for example the Internet, access to remote servers, and wireless local/personal area network access, for example infrared, to devices to be controlled. The invention also allows users to save their settings, preferences, and identification to a remote server and to restore these values from the remote server.