If you have an iPhone or iPod soupcon and delight master a Mac from afar , you ’re aware of the many remote control coating uncommitted at the App Store . Handy those these applications are , they ’re absolutely no use for the bulk of AV devices — TVs , AV receiving system , and DVD and Blu - electron beam players — that are remotely controlled via infrared ( IR).ThinkFloodhas just released the $ 188 RedEye Remote Control System — a Wi - Fi - enable hardware IR chargeman configured and control via a devoid iPhone app — to address this thorny issue . I ’ve had a RedEye for a couple of days and these are my initial observations .
How it works
The RedEye Remote Control System comprises two parts — the hardware and applications programme . The ironware is a filmy blue plastic base station that you power with an include AC adapter . Within the base post are six light-emitting diode arrayed in such a way that they shine from all sides of the base . On top of the floor post is a dock connector . You practice this dock connecter to make the initial connection between the RedEye software on your iPhone or iPod touch and the radical post . after , you ’re welcome to apply it as a bear down station for your iPhone or iPod touch .
After downloading the free RedEye software , you dive your iPhone or iPod pinch into the dock connector , and move to the iPhone or iPod touch ’s preferences sieve , where you choose an ad hoc RedEye internet that appears within the Wi - Fi Networks cover . found the RedEye app and chances are that its software will be update via the iPhone app . Once that ’s done , an entrance will appear in the app ’s Rooms screen . eventually , pink the Setup icon at the bottom of the screen , choose the room you desire to edit ( there will only be one at this point ) , and choose your even wireless connection in the Room Setup silver screen .
It ’s within this Room Setup screen that you add machine and activities to the RedEye app . To add a equipment — TV , Ab receiver , or DVD player , for example — tap Add New equipment and in the Add A equipment screen that appears take a manufacturer and twist eccentric , enrol a display name ( tv set or DVD , for instance ) , and , if you wish , a modelling name . Tap Save and the software link up to ThinkFlood ’s servers and attempt to download a configuration Indian file for the gimmick . If no such configuration file cabinet exists , you ’re welcome to teach RedEye its commands by pointing the gadget ’s remote at the RedEye fundament station and bewitch its button presses .
RedEye base station
Once you ’ve tote up some equipment you’re able to then make activities such as Watch telly or Watch DVD . To do so , solicit Add An Activity and in the screen that appears , tap the machine that you ’d like to be part of that business . For instance , fo the Watch A videodisk activity you ’d include your TV , DVD , and AV liquidator . bring through your body process and it appear on an Activities screen door . Tap an natural action , all the good gear wheel fires up , and you ’re presented with a screen that includes such common controls as swordplay , Pause , Next , premature , Up , Down , Left , Right , OK , Mute , and Volume Up and Volume Down , as well as a computer keyboard . rap a button and the base place should fire the right command to the appropriate machine .
RedEye pedestal station
When choosing an activity , do so carefully . I created a Watch idiot box activity that I hoped would involve my TiVo . Regrettably , the Watch TV templet is set up so that control for changing channels and record numbers are assigned to the TV rather than the TiVo . I later created a Watch DVR activity or else and the TiVo engage as I ’d initially hop it would .
RedEye app
you could add commands / buttons for specific devices via the Devices area of the Room Setup screen . If the mastery you ’re after is n’t offered , you may tap a Capture Control Signal , point the equipment ’s remote at the RedEye base station , and record the command . After testing that this command works ( a Test Control Signal button can also be found on this screen ) , you’re able to create a button for the command and add it to an bodily process ’s practical remote .
Detail oriented
RedEye app
It ’s potential to get very fiddly with the RedEye . For exemplar , you could configure a button so that it has a unmarried office — enroll the identification number 2 , for instance — toggles as you would with an On / Off clit , fires a series of steps in a macro ( for configure a button to call up Comedy Central , for example ) , or repeats a instruction as long as the button is held . you may also assign gestures to keystrokes — flick up to scroll down a inclination of programs in a template , for representative . And you’re able to sum up actions beyond simple Power On commands to activeness . You might , for instance , not only have it turn on your AV receiver , but also have it select especial audio and picture production as well as substitution from 5.1 sound to stereo .
But with this fiddling comes a level of complexity . While it takes very footling feat to get the fundamentals right , there will be times when you need to turn over deep to squeeze the remote to do what you desire . And this may stand for travelling several screen door in to do the job . I own a Logitech Harmony remote and there ’s no interrogation that it ’s an easier gimmick to configure .
Rough edges
speak of hardware remotes , the RedEye has a degree of latency that you do n’t find with traditional computer hardware remotes . Where a hardware remote may come forth a commandnow , the RedEye mozies a number as in … Nnnnnooww . That jump from Wi - Fi to IR merely takes more time . The app can be configure to make a sound , vibrate , or do both when you issue a instruction . And that ’s helpful for those times when you ’re not quite sure your last command took .
I also experienced instances where the web would time out and shape filing cabinet fill a long meter to download . The developer is cognisant of the issues and an update is expected presently that will deal with some of RedEyes ’ carrying out quirks . And that ’s one of the advantages this ( and the Harmony remotes ) enjoy . It ’s programmable so new features can be add and melioration made .
I plan to drop more clip with the RedEye in the coming days and issue a brushup after I ’ve explored further .
