Universal Remote

[Cloverfield]

Has anyone brought an app yet that turns your phone into one of those universal remotes that allow you to turn your tv, radio, hi fi and other stuff on off, change channels, volume etc?

[impaler]

Without the iPhone having a IR lens, how do you expect this will work? The Apple remote app really works over WiFi.

[Rip]

Check out intelliremote in the app store. That can do it. I use it for all my AV equipment. You'll need an IR transmitter connected to your PC. Search for USBIRT.

[Cloverfield]

Is the IR Transmitter free?

[Rip]

Here's the website for the USBIRT (http://www.usbuirt.com/overview.htm)

[Hawk]

While this is a decent idea in Theory, it's not very practical. My PC is on the second floor of my house, and my entertainment center is down on the first floor.
Buying this app would cost a LOT more than just the very high app price, since I would need to run a USB extension cable about 100 feet and then buy the iR transmitter as well.
Like I said, good idea in theory, but NOT practical. ( unless you can make the screen flash a powerful iR pulse at whatever device you are trying to control, and we know that's not possible)

[Rip]

Why not use one of those IR RF transmitter things instead of running a cable?

[chris]

I tried something along these lines years back with my Treo. Novii Remote (http://www.everythingtreo.com/d/reviews/novii-remote-blaster-review-2005090518/)was not a very good app the usability was poor at best. On a related note, I jumped back into the world of unified remotes with the Harmony One (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/3898&cl=us,en) which was on sale at Dell. It's pricey, but man it works great and doesn't leave me wishing I was using the TiVo peanut (which I still believe to be the best remote on the market). The Harmony 550 is also well reviewed, but without the bells and whistles.

The Harmony One allows you to customize the screen with you favorite television channel icons (http://www.iconharmony.com/icons/watchtv?category=harmonyOne).

[Rip]

I have a Harmony 895, which is a great remote. However, the beauty of the Intelliremote app for iPhone is that it supports AutoIt scripting so there's no limit to what you can do with it. I also have it operating X10 devices to control lights, garage door etc, all from my iPhone!

[psylichon]

I have this one. It is completely programmable with macros and "punchthru" buttons. You can't beat the price on it. You can get it for this price almost anywhere online:


http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=205811340&listingid=33068837&dcaid=17902

http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/06/philips_remote_front.jpg

[Witness]

I have this one. It is completely programmable with macros and "punchthru" buttons. You can't beat the price on it. You can get it for this price almost anywhere online:


http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=205811340&listingid=33068837&dcaid=17902

http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/06/philips_remote_front.jpg



It says its no longer available on that website.

[psylichon]

It says its no longer available on that website.

Wow, they must have just sold out today, because it was there earlier! Weird...

Anyway, It's a Philips SRU8010, and here's a Google link for a bunch of places that have it:

http://www.google.com/products?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=philips+sru8010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

[SikShift]

I have this one. It is completely programmable with macros and "punchthru" buttons. You can't beat the price on it. You can get it for this price almost anywhere online:


http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=205811340&listingid=33068837&dcaid=17902

http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/06/philips_remote_front.jpg


LOL, why am I not surprised to see the Spice channel on the "his" screen? :tounge:

[Luckykelleyk]

LOL, why am I not surprised to see the Spice channel on the "his" screen? :tounge:

Lol, I was thinking the same thing. Spice, Playboy, and cinemax. (And ABC for the family...HA!)

On a relevant note, I bought my husband one of these (harmony 880) for valentines day, and it stopped charging after only using it maybe six months......

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

check out intelliremote in the app store. That can do it. I use it for all my av equipment. You'll need an ir transmitter connected to your pc. Search for usbirt.

usb-uirt.....

[oakie]

Why not use one of those IR RF transmitter things instead of running a cable?
because the iphone doesnt emit a usable RF signal for remote control.

[Rip]

because the iphone doesnt emit a usable RF signal for remote control.

Correct!

That's the purpose of the Intelliremote app used in conjunction with the USB-UIRT.

The IR extender would extend the output of the USB-UIRT to cover a 'through walls' situation.

The iPhone doesn't need IR output for this to work, hence the replies to this thread.

[Cloverfield]

Is there an app that would allow you to turn off lights in your house from you phone????? Or am I just being too unrealistic now?

[impaler]

Is there an app that would allow you to turn off lights in your house from you phone????? Or am I just being too unrealistic now?

As cool as that would be, it doesn't exist at this point.

[Rip]

I use X10 Commander (search app store) to control lights and appliances and open/close my garage door from my iPhone.

It allowsbypir iPhone to talk to X10 home control devices. Really simple and works great.

[jsntrenkler]

I use X10 Commander (search app store) to control lights and appliances and open/close my garage door from my iPhone.

It allowsbypir iPhone to talk to X10 home control devices. Really simple and works great.

Wow, very cool to know.

[Rip]

Wow, very cool to know.

Yes, it is cool. It's by the same developer that's responsible for Intelliremote and I beta tested both. I'm pleased to say I had a good deal of input on X10 Commander (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=293175400&mt=8) and it turned out really well.

It does require a PC and some hardware investment though, but in the US X10 modules are really cheap compared to what we pay over here.

I would start with a CM15 and a couple of appliance modules to get you going.

Active Home (http://www.x10.com/homepage.htm).