Things have certainly changed a great deal in past few years. A few years ago, you could see many people searching frantically for remote controls for their television sets, set top boxes, DVD players, music systems and so on. But now smartphones have started to come with an infrared blaster (IR blaster) of their own and can be made to replace all these remote controls using a single app with multiple configuration. Even if your smartphone does not come with an IR blaster, you can buy a cheap IR blaster that fits into the 3.5mm jack socket and can then be used to transmit IR signals with most of the devices.
Such an IR blaster costs only around $5 on Amazon and even cheaper on some of the local stores. The ones being specifically designed for iPhone are costlier for some unexplained reason. After you have plugged it into the 3.5mm jack socket of your Android device, you can proceed to the installation of the Peel Smart Remote App which can configure and use the IR blaster for multiple devices automatically.
In the Peel Smart Remote app, you have to through multiple steps to choose your TV brand and model so that your IR blaster can send the right signals to control it. You are given various tests like switching off/on the TV or turning the volume up/down to make sure that the configuration is working well.
Similar to the TV remote, you have to setup the remote for your set-top box provided by your cable or DTH company. Just like with the TV remote configuration, you are given some tests to make sure that the remote configuration works properly.
Based on your location, your cable or DTH provider, you are then shown the TV guide – a list of shows that are on right now, will be available later on and so on. In addition, you can also check some of the videos available online (mostly on Youtube) through the streaming section.
Peel’s app can work with multiple profiles (for different places like your place and your friend’s house etc.) and each of the profiles can have multiple room’s configured (each room could have a different setup of devices). The app can automatically switch from one room’s configuration to another based on the change in smartphone’s location (as determined by the GPS).
Conclusion: Peel’s Smart Remote app is essential for a smarter experience with your television. With this app properly configured in your smartphone, you can finally do away with those remote controls piling up on your coffee table.
You can get the Peel Smart Remote app from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.peel.smartremote.
I STAY IN SOUTH AFRICA AND HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS GADGET FOR YEARS NOW. IS THERE A STORE AROUND WHERE I CAN GET IT? I AM USING A SONY EXPERIA Z3
I’m also from south africa.. also looking.. did you perhaps find a place