Report: iPhone TV Remote Set For CES

Are you tired of putting down your iPhone to pick up the remote for changing TV channels? A new product set to unveil at CES may put an end to that tiresome routine. With the aid of a $50 bit of hardware and a free app you can use your iPhone or iPod touch as a universal remote.

The L5 Remote (measures 1.25 x .85 inches) , available in February, attaches to the iPhone or iPod touch dock connection.

The remote works with a free app available from the App Store. The app allows you to customize your remote, moving buttons for your home entertainment devices.

The gadget doesn’t require batteries, Wi-Fi or external power and has a 30-foot range. Although the Loop links to the L5 Technology website, the pages detailing the remote seem to be password-protected.

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[Via The Loop]

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chaos_disorder
While I can’t say that I’m lazy enough yet to label putting down one device to pick up another a hassle, this does seem like a neat idea, although one I think will have a hard time catching on.
ChrisM
While it IS a cool idea, for that price, I’d rather have a little wifi enabled IR emitter that communicates with the iPhone. Then you wouldn’t have to attach a little dongle to the iPhone and point it at the TV every time you want to use it as a remote. Multiple iPhone could also access the HW at the same time.
GQB
I hope this is just a mock-up picture.
The thing REALLY needs to have a USB pass-thru for charging.
But if it does, this is going to be killer.
Bring on more dock-connector devices, starting with a really good camera body.
Chris
I would hope that it could be integrated into a case in some form really. It would be a bit awkward carrying around the little block in case you need to use it.
However, it’s still good to see people using the dock adaptor and it’ll be better for me instead of buying a Logitech Harmony.
OlsonBW
Yes that has to be a “Proof of Concept” in its current form.
I hope it works with HD TiVo.
http://www.totalcontrolapp.com Mike
http://www.totalcontrolapp.com
no dongle required
full IR dbase
IR learner
wifi so no line of sight issues
no pc required for use
other functionality