Mobile computing device for initiating with a household appliance using wireless communication

A method of controlling an appliance 13 includes wirelessly initiating with a mobile computing device 12 a performance of content herein after referred to as a user's preference setting on at least one appliance of a plurality of appliances. The method includes interrupting the a user preference setting by at least one of: switching the user preference setting from a first appliance 13 to a second appliance 13 of the plurality of the appliances 13; splitting the user preference setting 16 between the first appliance 13 and the second appliance 13; and splitting the user preference setting 16 on the first appliance 13 to include only a portion of the user preference setting 16. The method optionally includes maintaining the continuity of the user preference setting during the switching step and/or splitting step. Preferably, the mobile computing device comprises a controller; a memory; a wireless communicator and a user preference setting interrupt manager for either switching and/or splitting the user preference setting among the appliances, while maintaining continuity of performance. The appliances may be televisions, video recorders, DVD players, stereos, cookers etc. The user preference setting interrupt manager may comprise a telephone call switcher for selectively switching an ongoing call between a landline and a mobile phone during the ongoing call.