The user should not make a mocking smile, and among the advantages of a modern smartphone is the presence of an IR port. In 2017, the infrared sensor is not used to transfer data; its task is to provide comfort in the user’s home.
There are many reviews on the Internet where users are skeptical about manufacturers’ willingness to “revive” IR port technology. Modern smartphones can send information in many different ways and at the highest speeds. Thanks to such possibilities, it is stupid to return to the “stone age” of mobile technology, when you had to keep phones on the port and wait until the data exchange finished at 9 Kbps.
However, manufacturers are now equipping gadgets with infrared ports with additional data transfer functions. The infrared port in 2017 has a completely different function. What this feature is, we will explain in this article.
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Why do I need infrared on smartphones?
Infrared in a modern gadget enables remote control of digital and electronic electronics. Thanks to the infrared sensor, the smartphone can successfully perform functions such as TV remote control. However, the TV is not limited to: the infrared ports of mobile devices are compatible with any equipment – be it fridge, washing machine, even coffee maker. The smartphone can be transformed into a universal remote control “for everything” by sending specialized controls to the trash can.
You can send commands to some TV models via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but this is inconvenient. The connection between the smartphone and the TV constantly breaks.
Only one infrared port for remote control of equipment is not enough – the user will have to install a special program on the smartphone (if it is not loaded by the manufacturer). Fortunately, most of these applications are free.
Infrared mobile applications
Many programs for the smartphone’s infrared port are specialized. This means, for example, that you need the Panasonic Remote TV program to control a Panasonic TV . To control a Samsung air conditioner from the same smartphone, you will need to download another application – this is called the ” Universal Galaxy remote control ” and is distributed on a refund basis (cost is about PLN 5).
It is convenient and profitable to have the equipment of one manufacturer at home – there is no need to clutter the memory of the mobile device with numerous tools for the infrared transmitter.
If the user still has equipment from different brands, he should try out some of the universal applications. However, it is not worth expecting the same precise work from them as guaranteed by specialized programs.
What IR port tools deserve attention?
ZaZaRemote
The ZaZaRemote application supports over 6,000 Household appliances from various manufacturers and contains 250,000 Pilots . Fantastic numbers – especially if you think this program for Android is available on Google Play for free.
The ZaZaRemote application boasts not only exceptional compatibility, but also a comfortable minimalist design. All models of home appliances that can be controlled using the program are divided into categories – the gadget owner will find a few necessary devices in the catalog. An interesting feature of the application is the ability to group consoles into rooms – this function will be useful for the user who “brought” all his numerous household appliances to the program.
“In addition” to the application, the creators of ZaZaRemote offer a special hardware key that can turn even a smartphone that does not have an infrared port into a remote control. However, if the gadget is already equipped with an infrared sensor, the purchase of additional devices is useless.
ControlIT
With the Android Control It application, you can control completely different devices – not only TV sets, but also separated systems, tape recorders, DVD players. An interesting feature of the program is that it allows you to choose in the catalog not the device controlled by the console, but the console itself !
Unfortunately, this is convenient only if you know or remember what the remote control looks like. Otherwise, you must use the trial and error method, which requires a reliable and fast internet connection. Using the Control It tool, each console is loaded separately into the memory of a mobile device – the size of one file can be up to 15 MB.
How many total remote controls are in the application database, this is not determined by programmers. But application developers take responsibility for the constant replenishment of the database at the request of users. If the gadget owner finds in any store a console that is not represented in the Control , he can take a photo of the device and send the photo to the developer mail. The missing control will be added to the database within a few days.
The application is paid, but also has a free version. The owner of the free version of the program can work with only 3 remote controls at the same time , and also has to endure annoying ads.
SURE Universal Smart TV remote control
Sure Universal Remote is a fairly fresh application (released in 2016), but its army of fans already has over 10 million people. The program has a good average rating on Google Play (which, as a rule, can not boast of IR applications) and many positive reviews from satisfied users.
An infrared smartphone with the Sure Universal Remote application can replace consoles for televisions, air conditioners, DVD players, projectors and even cleaning robots. The only device that the program cannot support is a digital camera ; The problem is that there are no universal control panels for cameras. The separate “plus sign” of Sure Universal Remote deserves the Wi-Fi mode, which allows you to send photos and videos from your smartphone to a TV with the Smart TV function.
Among the disadvantages of the Sure Universal Remote application can be attributed to a large amount of advertising and impressive weight – the program takes almost 100 MB of memory.
If the smartphone does not have an infrared port: is it worth buying additional accessories?
The IR app itself “doesn’t make weather”; installation on a gadget that is not equipped with an infrared sensor makes no sense. Nowadays, there are not so many smartphones with infrared ports – another thing is that most of them are produced by Chinese “average arm” manufacturers (Ulefone, LeTV), to which Russian users are still quite cautious. What to do with a buyer who wants to buy a premium model from a known manufacturer and be able to use it as a pilot?
The answer is simple: you need to buy an infrared transmitter (or TV key) . Such devices are quite primitive, compact and cost only a penny, but effectively solve the problem of the lack of an infrared port on the smartphone. IR emitters are of two types:
- To 3.5 mm audio jack.
- To USB port.
The socket key has many advantages: firstly , they are cheaper, and secondly , they are universal and suitable even for the iPhone. Buying a transmitter for a USB port is unprofitable – after all, not all devices have a microUSB connector. There are Lightning, 30Pin, Type-C connectors – this means that the USB key for the Android device for iPhone is no longer suitable.
By climbing the catalogs of Chinese online stores, you can find many infrared transmitters. Quite often in the open spaces of the network there are photos of such a positive hardware key.
The manufacturer of this transmitter is the Chinese company VBESTLIFE. According to the manufacturer, the dongle is compatible with all household appliances and digital devices, suitable for iPhones and Android smartphones, and unbelievably high quality. This is confirmed by a large number of positive AliExpress ratings (in the absence of negative ones). The cost of the transmitter from VBESTLIFE is only about 10 USD. On the day of this article, the dongle is delivered to USA for free .
The company MVpower offers a very stylish IR Transmitter for iPhone – made of metal and equipped with a light bulb on blue.
The 3.5-Jack iPhone Transmitter boasts not only an attractive appearance, but also a “long range” – you can turn on the TV or turn it off, being at a distance of 12 meters from it. There is an MVpower dongle and minuses. First of all , it sets quite high requirements for the iPhone OS version (I need iOS at least 7.0). Secondly , it costs about 15 USD – it is relatively cheap for TV remote controls. AliExpress does not offer free delivery of the transmitter to Poland – the customer will have to pay about 5 USD “in advance” for courier services.
One of the most cost-effective infrared keys for the iPhone is Jetting .
The cost of this accessory is only about 5 USD. What’s more, the low price of the infrared transmitter from Jetting does not indicate its low quality at all. On AliExpress, the product has 96.2% positive feedback – it’s almost an excellent result. There is no free delivery of the dongle, but the shipment costs 2 USD.
The manufacturer Jetting recommends using an infrared transmitter in conjunction with the ZaZaRemote program. Judging by the reviews, this duo is great at managing electronics.
Proposal
The infrared port on your smartphone allows you to remotely control your devices at home. To take advantage of this opportunity, the gadget owner must download and install one of the special applications on the mobile device. The most well-known universal IR program is ZaZaRemote .
If your smartphone doesn’t have an infrared port, don’t despair. Available on one of the IR transmitters on the Chinese market. This small device will cost a maximum of 20 USD, and at the same time will be a full-fledged alternative to the gadget’s built-in infrared port.
