How To Turn Your Smartphone Into A Universal Remote

As you lay back in your favorite comfy chair with popcorn in your hands ready to enjoy a TV show or movie, you realize that you can’t find the TV remote. You find yourself flipping over cushions, searching through drawers and finding remotes for the lights, speakers, and DVD player but not the TV! Well your nights of endless searching and empty comfy chairs are soon to be over, because we've found three apps that can turn your smartphone into a universal remote.

1. Roomie: The Roomie app lets you connect to your home theater devices through your home Wifi network, and when used with the Roomie Service and Adapter, you can connect to infrared devices. When first downloaded, the app allows you to control up to two systems, but you can always upgrade the app to include more. Roomie allows you to create personalized TV guides so you can have your favorite TV channels instantly available. The app provides you with live feedback from the connected devices so you can see TV show listings, turn power on and off, adjust the volume, and control any other commands that your devices offer. Roomie is also compatible with various Internet Protocol systems like Insteon lighting systems and Roku media players; compatible with the iPhone, 9.99.

2. Touchsquid: This universal remote control app connects to over 700,000 home theater devices through Wifi and infrared. The Touchsquid Home version allows you to control up to 6 devices, and customize an unlimited amount of room profiles, a setup used to control devices in a given room. Touchsquid offers and lets you create various commands, or Activities, that allow you to control your TV viewing, media playback devices like DVD/CD players, gaming consoles like Xbox 360, PS3 and PS4, and apps that stream internet radio like Sirus, as well as many more; compatible with Android phones, free 10 day trial, then 49.99.

3. Logitech Harmony Smart Control: The Harmony app lets you combine 8 remote controls, and is compatible with over 225,000 devices. The app allows you to adjust the volume, switch channels, customize up to 50 of your favorite channels, and control play settings on your favorite shows. With the included Harmony Hub your are also connected to Bluetooth and infrared built in devices, allowing you to sync to gaming consoles and access apps and internet services like Netflix and Skype. The Harmony remote control, also included, allows you to control these devices if your smartphone is not available; compatible with iPhone and Android phones, 129.99 for the set including the Harmony app, Harmony Hub, and remote.

So the next time you’re searching for your remote control, you might want to try out one of these smart home apps that will make watching your favorite TV shows a lot easier.