There are quite a few solutions that let you use your iPhone as a universal remote. But the Gear4 UnityRemote is the first that does away with the need for a clunky dongle in the bottom of your mobile. And it’s now available in Australia.
The UnityRemote is a Bluetooth IR transmitter – it connects to your iPhone over Bluetooth and when you give it a command using a dedicated app, it will beam out the signal in a 360 degree IR blast, controlling your devices like a universal remote.
You can pair up to eight iPhones to the device (although only one can control it at a time) so you don’t need to give your iPhone over to the missus when she wants to watch reruns of Sex In The City while you’re playing Fruit Ninja.
The downside is that the transmitter box costs $199, which is more expensive than picking up a cheap Logitech Harmony, despite the similar setup process. But if you prefer the idea of your phone doing everything for you, it sounds like it’s worth checking out.
[Gear4]
Simon Reidy
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 5:01 PMThis is hardly the first “dongle-less” iPhone universal remote system. The Peel and Griffin’s Beacon system both do the same thing. For a much cheaper price too.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/peel-turns-your-iphone-into-a-universal-remote-using-a-wirele/
http://www.kobakma.com/iphone-become-a-universal-remote-with-beacon
Nick Broughall
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 5:10 PMThe Gear4 was announced back in July last year – it just took this long to launch in Australia (nothing new there…)
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/07/unityremote-makes-any-ios-device-an-ir-universal-remote/
Tim
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 9:40 PMJuly last year? Still doesn’t make it the first one. Maybe you should try and lay off proclaiming things as being the first before checking facts…ring any bells?
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/03/3d-printing-now-available-in-australia/
Paul Gorman
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 11:52 PMI have a couple of Thinkflood’s RedEye which have been out for years and connect to the iPhone over wifi so I can fire things up in the media room from my bedroom :-) Their iOS app is iPhone or iPad.
johnd
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 8:22 AMIf you’re serious about home theatre, you rapidly find that these type of touch screen only remotes are not very usable. I’ve used several of touch-screen remotes, and found them less than usable.
Physical buttons make it much easier to manipulate the remote in the reduced lighting of a theatre. Plus, after a short while you learn to use the major functions by touch, and don’t need to take your eyes off the screen.
glennc
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 9:30 AMif you are serious about home theatre you would be spending $2500 for a high-end touchscreen tablet remote to control your lighting, curtains, air con as well as your gadgets. now you don’t need to spend that much to get a half decent experience.
i think our definitions of serious are different.
Michael
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at 3:24 PMI’ve just recently purchased a UnityRemote (prior to reading any of these posts I might add), and at this point cannot be happier. I’m not overly tech savvy yet managed to install and be operational with all my devices including Foxtel in less than 5 minutes…
I spent a little more time personalizing the remote with the buttons that are most commonly used, which is just as easy as moving icons around on your iphone, and it has finally eliminated the remote control clutter in my living room, as my phone is always within arms reach. Failing that, I’ve also synced the iPad!!!