Re transforms your iPhone into a universal remote (which seems like a step backwards, to be honest)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted December 20th 2009 2:25AM
posted December 20th 2009 2:25AM
OK, so we know a thing or two about the "convenience" of using your iPhone as a remote control. For instance, using it to control Boxee was alright -- until we needed to make a call. Or we received a call. Not to rain on anyone's parade, but the idea of re-purposing your phone to act as a universal remote seems a little silly. But what do we know? Maybe you hold all calls while Jersey Shore is on anyways. In that case, Re could be your next favorite gadget. This bad boy lets your handset communicate with all your AV equipment via infrared, contains an extensive database of devices, and can learn from any IR remote. If that weren't enough, New Kinetix promises regular updates to the app -- and your typical remote can't do that! Compatible with the iPod Touch as well, there's no word yet on a price or release date, but we're expecting that we'll be getting plenty more details come CES time.
S T U P I D !
this is actually a really cool idea. awkward you have to hold it like that, but very convenient, in conjunction with a dock to place it so it has juice when you need to go out
I'll just stick with my Harmony Remote, tyvm. It doesn't get any better than these, and I can leave it at home for anyone/everyone to use.
Amen!! I know a few people who do exactly what you just described. Hangup calls to take a note or check email etc. I show them and they freak with excitement. Then I bash them for being a dumbass.. ;-)
I agree, it's not for everyone and pricing will play a big role. but I think it's decent enough to leave by the bed at night and just pop it on when you want to change channels etc. The iPhone does so many things, I'd throw this in my bag of tricks for sure.
thats kinda cool, reminds me of when i used to put IR programs on my palm IIIxe to control my tv, since they had IR on them, also sending files over ir was interesting....
Something no one ever seems to point out: you have to turn it on before you use it. That's fine for starting a dvd/bluray/mkv movie, but is TERRIBLE when controlling your DVR and it's time to skip commercials. Short of setting your iphone/touch to not sleep for extended periods, it's a PITA to click/swipe before each action....am I missing something?
The idea of a device being more than a phone is a cool one. Gone are the days when I used to have a separate music player. Now I can browse the internet, search maps/my location, play games, take pictures-- all from the same device. I like the convenience. So if it were a universal remote? Why not! I already use the iPhone to control iTunes.
Meh! I was excited when my IPAQ H2210 came with an industrial IR with the Nevo software. All I ended up having a use for it was changing the channels on a bar to watch what I want. The confused look on patrons and bartender was priceless. Even moar fun was going into Blockbusters and turning off their TV's and confused employees running around trying to find the remote to turn the TV's back on. When I felt like a dick, I would be at an electronic store and turn off the TV's the salesman trying demo to other potential customers. It's all in subtlety that I never got caught. Ahh, the college years.
I use Apple's "Remote" app to control my Apple TV and queue up music for the Airport Express connected to speakers in my kitchen and it works great!
I always have my iPhone with me, and the iPhone touch screen is context sensitive to what you're doing (for instance, a keyboard appears for entering text for searches, while a list of movies appears when selecting a film to watch, while a gesture-based nav pad appears for navigating menus, etc.
If one of these devices worked well and supported all my devices (like communicating with my PS3 and displayed the appropriate keys for Blu-ray/PS3 controls), then I'd instantly ditch my universal remote.
If it costs less then a fancy remote it will be very sweet.
I think its a wonderful idea. And it would with iPod Touches too.
It sort makes those really expensive Logitech remotes seem like toys now, doesn't it?
Now as someone else mentioned, a Bluetooth IR blaster would be also a cool idea. If they got it working with multiple phone OS's (Windows Mobile, Symbian,....etc.) I would easily want it now.
The first time that thing falls off the coffee table and onto the floor (which if your house is anything like mine, is inevitable) that dongle is going to snap off and break, quite possibly wrecking my iPhones dock connector along with it.
Thanks, I'll pass. Bring on a bluetooth solution with customizable UI software (like the Pronto) and I'm all over it.