On their site, Verizon touts the fact the new FIOS remote has Bluetooth, which means you no longer have to point the remote at the set top box. I've found this is NOT the case. The remote may have Bluetooth, but it DEFINITELY still needs to be pointed at the STB. I tried pointing the remote in various directions and it doesn't work - consistently anyway. The majority of the time, if the remote is not pointed directly at the STB it does not work. Also, if there is any obstacle blocking the STB, the remote will not work. For example - if my foot is between the remote and the STB, it doesn't work.
For such an "advanced" remote, it seems pretty feeble.