New Potato's FLPR IR dongle gives your iPhone home automation capabilities
By Darren Murph 
posted March 4th 2010 9:00AM
posted March 4th 2010 9:00AM
Instantly Turn Your iPhone® or iPod touch® into a Universal Remote Control with FLPR from New Potato™
WILMINGTON, NC -March 4, 2010 -New Potato Technologies, an innovator and developer of iPod and iPhone accessories, today introduced FLPR™, a revolutionary new accessory and app that transforms iPhone and iPod touch into a universal remote control. FLPR lets users control multiple electronic devices, including televisions, cable and satellite boxes, stereo systems, lights, ceiling fans and just about anything else that uses an infrared remote control. Available this month from Best Buy stores nationwide, and online at http://www.newpotatotech.com, the revolutionary FLPR replaces a sea of remotes cluttering up the home.
FLPR is a snap to set up. After purchasing the FLPR infrared interface and popping it into the iPhone/iPod touch dock connector, users simply download the free FLPR app from the App Store℠ online store. Once the app is launched, choose the device "type," select "brand," "name it" and "use it." It's that easy. FLPR comes pre‐programmed with over 14,000 remote control codes, including all major electronics brands.
Unlike other universal remote solutions for iPhone and iPod touch, FLPR's extensive database of over 14,000 pre‐programmed remote control codes means that you don't have to spend time learning your existing remotes "button by button." FLPR works with hundreds of brands of devices out of box with no programming necessary.
FLPR is also a learning remote. If the remote control code for that old television in the guest bedroom is not in the extensive FLPR database, you can easily teach FLPR the code for that old relic, creating a brand new remote.
The user‐friendly, stylish interface of FLPR rivals that of expensive, high‐end universal remotes. What's more, FLPR can be personalized with the included free background skins. The screen for each device you control can have a distinct look so you can instantly tell the remote for the television apart from the iPod docking sound system.
FLPR has a range of about 30 feet and is powered by the iPhone/iPod touch. The free FLPR app is available now in the iTunes store. For more, visit http://www.newpotatotech.com/flpr.
The FLPR infrared interface will be available March 4, 2010 at NewPotatoTech.com and in‐store nationwide at Best Buy on March 28, 2010 for $79.99.
About New Potato Technologies
New Potato Technologies is a consumer electronics company headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, and focused on extending the amazing iPhone, iPod and iPad™ platforms into new innovative areas.
For more details on FLPR and New Potato, visit newpotatotech.com or contact sarah@newpotatotech.com
Or you could spend $80 on a Logitech Harmony, and have an awesome remote that other people could use when you make a run to the store.
@RandomGuy
I've got a harmony remote and think it's great, but it's not perfect. In a household of 5, only my son and I know how to use it. Something like an IR iPhone addon may just work for the others.
@dnono
So you are saying 3 people in your house cannot look at the buttons labeled "Watch Video", "Watch TV", or "Play Music" and press the one they want to do?
@dnono
Ummm ... not sure what you think is so magical about iPhone app that runs as a remote. Harmony's are the easiest remotes around. As someone else pointed out, how hard is it to show someone to push a button called "Watch TV"? When you are done you push "Off".
I can't believe that the iPhone version is going to have easy macro creation (like the Harmony) or that is will have a database of commands like the Harmony.
For those curious - this device supports 14,000 different devices. At last check the Harmony supports over 225,000 different devices - and it is updated daily.
You can get a very nice 880 for this price. For $40 more you can get a Harmony One. Something like this only makes sense if it's in the $30-40 range.
@ArhcAngel
It's difficult to understand but it's actually true. My wife can't use our Harmony remote for an unknown reason as well... I still haven't figured out why... It does say Watch TV/DVD, etc right on the screen :)
@RandomGuy The usual issue is people forget to keep the device pointed in the right direction for a while after they press a macro key. They think they're done once they release the key. Is that the problem?
OR, you have the system set up so its too sensitive to direction, with the TV in one spot, and your other devices someplace else. If this is the problem, you should install an IR repeater on top of the TV and hook it up to the other devices. Then you just always point at the TV.
Haha, the first photo demonstrates the FLPR attached to an upside down iPod touch with AT&T signal bars and battery icon...which are displayed on the wrong end.
@To Hell
The screen rotates.
Will anyone actually use these things? I couldn't imagine a remote without tactile feedback from real buttons.
@(Unverified)
Last I checked, iPod touches didn't have AT&T or signal bars...even with rotation ;)
@(Unverified)
That's super, but how does an iPod touch get onto At&T's cellular network exactly?
@To Hell
Probably about as well an an iPhone?
@(Unverified)
Everything you do on an iPhone doesn't have tactile feedback. Why not just abolish touch screens!
Actually, with a good button layout, sound and the back-light, I haven't found tactile feedback an issue.
awesome except randomguy has a point
So we have to use the iphone upside down with this app as shown in the picture? Seems likely since IR is directional, and the dongle plugs in the bottom. However, if you look at the first pic the iphone speaker has been airbrushed out. Is this done to somehow try to mask the fact that the operator has to hold the iphone upside down?!?
@reakt
This is why I'll be holding out for the RF version
@reakt
IT's an iPod (hence not speaker), but they put the screen of an iPhone (otherwise it would say iPod vs. AT&T with full bars)...
Aparently AT&T's more bars everywhere is now valid for my iPod touch =D
Leave it to a marketing department to feel that they need to "make it prettier" vs. just show real pictures of a product...
The indicator bar and clock being upside down in the real device (can they flip it?) would mess with my head.
If this thing works on the iPad, it would actually make it a great couch computer. I have to go take a shower after saying something nice about that tablet.
@seven5suited Bleach and steel wool are te only things to get that out.
The iPhone does!!! The droid doesn't!!!
@Mtmrob
Careful, that works both ways. My WinMo phone still has IR *built in*.
This accessory market is getting busy. It will be interesting to see how the buyers respond to the features & make decisions. For me I see it this way:
PowerA: $60, - - No activities -No macros, - No favorites, - no remote editieng, - Learning only DQ
L5: $50, + good UI features, + Good price - Learning only DQ
RedEye WiFi: $188 - too expensive & limited portability - DQ
RedEye Mini: $50, + maybe the low price leader, ? what is the learning module - Database is not local so slower setup. OK
Flipper: $80 + Downloaded Local database - No Rooms - No Activity Remotes, - No Favorites - Limited macros & difficult programming, - No favorites - DQ
NewKinetix Re: $70 + Local Database, + Complete Universal Remote activity based UI with unlimited Rooms, macros and favorites. + easy to setup - Largest dongle BEST BUY
@aB2review Agreed that activities and macros are key here, at least for me since this WON'T be the primary remote. Rather its a way for my wife to get herself out of trouble. Even just a few activities would do the job. Watch TV. Watch DVD. Watch Apple TV. Play Wii. The rest of the time she would mostly use the Tivo Remote to do the usual stuff. She'd only need this when things weren't working...
I thought about getting one, but then I realized my phone would be a remote. So if I'm playing game and the wife needs to change the channel for Housewives of Orange County, I have to quit my game.
So no, I'll keep my Logitech.
@Kid Red
I'm confused....isn't preventing your wife from watching Housewives of Orange County while you play am iPhone game a plus for getting the FLPR?
Where does he get those wonderful dongles?
Just waiting now for the apple accessory dongle-belt.
BBBBBBBBB-But... The iPhone is locked down and proprietary!!! HOw is this possible!?
At that price just why not just get a fancy Harmony or something similar? Anyone else who lives with you would always get annoyed when you're taking the remote every time you leave the house. Plus, then you always have to make sure you don't loose the dongle, and that the iPod/iPhone is always charged.
I like the idea of something like this, but why the hell do all these add-on hardware accessories have to stick out like a sore thumb when it comes to the lines of the phone?
Stupid dongles like this will never catch on until they allow you to pocket your phone without fear of the accessory breaking off or stabbing you in the leg while you walk.
Screen flipping is what makes the iPhone and iPod touch a great device since you can wswitch between portrait and landscape depending on wht your need is...
I dunno bout this thing
looks like an addon for a CPU
bit big
Nobody is thinking about the best potential use for this. Turning off annoying TVs in public.
Are there any home automation components driven by IR? I'd be more impressed if it was a Z-wave controller or something.
Why in God's name do they keep making these devices that actually physically connect to the iPhone?
Someone needs to make a small device that connects to your wireless network and sends out IR commands. Then you could use an iPhone app to send commands to it. It would eliminate the need for RF versions and the stupid Dongle. First company that produces something like that gets my $50. (oh yeah, it needs to cost less than $50, too)
@elnacho
Exactly!
I'd go one step further and give that device a minimal web server, so you can control your devices by any phone with a web browser.
@elnacho
My thoughts exactly; no way I'm paying even $20 for a dongle I have to attach to the phone... AFTER I remember where it is.
Apple got it right with the iTunes Remote app; I can't understand why there's such a wave of stupid (lloking at aB2review's post) to make these phones into actual IR emitters.
@Eddy Kilowatt
The iTunes App is a totally different product. It controls the Apple TV.
These products are IR remotes that will control all of your AV devices.
I like the idea if the implementation is complete. Most don't appear to have done a thorough job though.
I'm also not so concerned about a dongle. I have to keep track of chargers, earphones, etc. What's the difference. Phone upside down..who cares.
As for pricing, Apple could have built in the IR emitter and these would be free.
I like how these IR dongles are coming out for the iPhone. I can't wait to see how these remote apps evolve when the iPad is released. For me, I would much rather get an iPad with one of these dongles for a home theatre than something like the Harmony 1100.
Crosses fingers than Harmony one day sees the light and develops an app/dongle as well for the iPad.