Remote Hardships
Remember way back when you had to turn your TV on by getting up and walking over to it? Or forcing the youngest kid in the family to do it? If you said YES, then you are from my generation. If you said NO, then you are spoiled and do not know the hardship we went through (I was the youngest). Now that we have these wonderful devices called remotes, we still have one issue with changing the channel– losing the darn thing all the time, or walking off with it and forgetting where you put it. So how are we going to solve The Mystery of the Amazing Vanishing Remote?
Well, there is probably a way to track it but that would mean we still need to get up off the couch. I’m not lazy, I just don’t want to get up if I do not have to. So I did some research and think I might have come up with something that should work for most of us. What I figured out is most of us like to have our cell phones with us everywhere we go: bed, couch, kitchen and even the bathroom. Since we know this is true there must be some Apps out there that could help us with our problem. With a little searching I think I have found some Apps that will turn your cell phone into your new best friend.
Apps to Turn Your Android Into a Universal Remote
Here are four Apps that I think might work for you:
SURE Universal Smart TV Remote
Information provided by Google App store:
SURE can be downloaded on all Android IR devices, such as, Galaxy, Samsung, LG, etc.
★ SURE Universal™ Makes Your Smart Home Simple ★
SURE Universal remote is very easy to use! Within minutes of downloading, you can control your smart TV, media streamer, air conditioner, and many more devices. Please give SURE a try.
★ SURE Universal – How it Works ★
SURE Universal remote works best on smartphones equipped with an Infra-Red (IR) blaster. For phones with no IR, such as Samsung Galaxy S7 and Note 5, you can use Broadlink WiFi-to-IR converter for the full functionality. Using WiFi, you can control numerous smart TVs and media streamers, such as, Samsung, LG, Vizio, Android, Roku, Kodi, and Apple TV.
You can find step by step instructions on how to setup your SURE App here.
And here’s a short video to help you, too:
Remote Control For TV
Information provided by Google App store:
App Features:
★Control your home theater devices from Android mobile phone you already own
★Control by IR which is supported by almost all new and old TVs
★Compatible with over 220,000 home theater devices
★Clean user interface and easy to use
Note: It is an IR-based remote controller, and you should have a built-in IR transmitter or external infrared to control the TV.
Note #2: This is the only App listed here that I couldn’t find a FAQ page or Help page or Video. It is easy to follow the directions on-screen so you should be good.
AnyMote Universal Remote + Wifi
Information provided by Google App store:
The only Universal Smart Remote Control for TVs and Home Electronics you’ll ever need!
Works best to control Samsung, Avr, Sharp, Panasonic, Xfinity, Xbox and many more! For MCE and WMC you may need an additional IR receiver.
Free Access (local features):
★ customize remote by re-arranging buttons, changing colors, positions, text, icons & more
★ create macros to execute multiple commands on a single touch
★ use automated tasks to execute commands without interaction (like Mute on Call)
★ Tasker integration
★ voice commands through Google Now
★ floating remotes for access even while using other Apps
★ air gestures (limited to Galaxy S4)
★ add one remote, use it for as long as you want
Paid Access (in-App upgrade, or FREE for AnyMote Home customers)
★ add unlimited remotes
★ backup / restore remotes
★ get personalized customer support
★ (more to come)
Here is the FAQ’s from Anymote’s website that will help if you are having any difficulties.
Peel Smart Remote TV Guide
Information provided by Google App store:
This Remote Changes Everything!
Peel Smart Remote revolutionizes your home entertainment experience by combining universal remote control and live or streamed TV listings into one simple-to-use App. This is the only remote and TV guide you need.
Universal Remote Control
Reliably control your TV, set-top box, DVD player, Blu-ray, Roku, Apple TV, audio system, and home appliances like air conditioners and heaters, using the built-in infrared IR blaster on your smartphone.
Here is the place to find answers for when you are setting up your App.
Final Thoughts
I found most of these Apps to have a nice layout, features and helpful information to get started. With every TV and phone, you might have a slightly different result, but these are some of the best ones that I found. You will just have to do some trial and error with these Apps. At least you now know there are options out there for keeping you from leaving the couch. If only my new phone came with the remote widget my old LG Volt did. I really miss that about my old phone. Yep, now that was nice.
Side Note: The free versions of these can be very annoying with the ads that pop up, but that is a little thing when getting something free. They do have paid versions for some of these, just for your information.
Here are some helpful links. I figured I should list these down here for easy access.
Do you have an App that you would suggest?
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i wish cellphones in 2018 still had ir blasters, unfortunately newer cellphones don’t have this feature. i keep an old galaxy s6 that has an ir blaster for this sole purpose i use it all over the house not to mention i prank friends with the ir feature.