By Chris Scott Barr
Some days it really does seem like the iPhone has an app for everything. Heck, if the phone lacks a piece of hardware that you’d need to accomplish something, there’s an accessory for it. At CES we saw the L5 IR Remote Dongle, which (as the name implies) turns your phone into an IR remote. While I thought the idea was good, a dongle like that is just asking to get lost or broken. A better solution is this iPhone case from Power A which adds the same functionality, only in a case.
The Power A iPhone Universal Remote Case is a rather ordinary-looking case, except for the larger bottom portion. This is where the IR remote is stored, which is connected through the standard iPod connector. As for software, you’ll be able to download a free app that will allow you to control virtually any device that uses an IR receiver. The case will be on sale sale soon for $60.
[ Power A ] VIA [ Geeky-Gadgets ]
It's interesting to watch the iPhone or iPhone touch beginning to expand in application with accessories via the MFI program. The challenge will be for consumers to determine which accessories have value. The two products mentioned here are interesting, but after studying their websites, neither offer an IR code database, the most critical component in building a universal remote. These learning remotes are cannot be easily setup since every button has to be learned. They cannot replace a lost or damaged remote. A complete solutions are available today that use WiFi at the expense of portability and high cost. A near term solution, the Re from http://www.newkinetix.com, is a complete universal remote that is portable, contains an extensive database, and has features that exceed high end universal remotes like the Harmony One.
Okay, what can't the iPhone and iPod touch not do? lol
Okay, what can't the iPhone and iPod touch not do? lol