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Turn your smartphone into a universal remote for your TV and other entertainment components

Turn your smartphone into a universal remote for your TV and other entertainment components

Vote: (7 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Peel Technologies

Version: 10.10.0.5

Works under: Android

Vote:

Program license

(7 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Peel Technologies

10.10.0.5

Works under:

Android

Pros

  • A free app to use for Android
  • Very easy and intuitive to set up and use
  • Provides you with a TV guide, weather app, etc
  • Can stream on your television set

Cons

  • Lock screen is very annoying
  • Advanced remote features for some devices can be tricky

A smart remote software app that transforms the IR blaster of your smartphone into a universal remote that can control almost all of your entertainment options

An Overview of Smart Remote 3

The concept of the universal remote has long been championed as a feat of entertainment engineering. Being able to control your stereo, television, cable box, etc, all with one remote was a revolutionary idea. That idea has changed with the times, however, and now you can use your Android smartphone to control those devices, thanks to a small app called the Smart Remote 3.

The actual name of the app in question here is the Peel Smart Remote 3, because it was developed and released by Peel Technologies. Though no matter by what name you call it, the basic functionality is the same. You can use your Android phone to control all of those settings, which may even include your lights, heat, etc, granted they're on a remote-based system.

This app has been around for a while, so it's nothing new. However, Peel Tech has done a great job at keeping things very current with updates. The current version is 10.7.1.4, so it has definitely been updating in order to work out the bugs. It's still not perfect, but it works very well to replace your physical remotes.

What Smart Remote 3 Is and What It Does

This is one of the most self-explanatory apps that you're going to find. It is a software application that can transform your Android smartphone into a remote control that can then be programmed to operate your TV, cable box, stereo surround system, and basically any other piece of popular tech that uses a remote control. These options may even include your lighting and your air conditioning, depending on the brand and compatibility.

The Peel Smart Remote 3 is also incredibly easy to use. There's no learning curve at all. If you can program a regular remote, then you can program this app to work as one. To turn on the remote functionality, all you'll want to do is open the app up. Once it's programmed, it's ready to go, and you will see all the functions on your screen.

What's so great about this is that it's far more than a remote. There are different pages here you can scroll through. You have live and accurate weather forecasts for your area. You will get a TV guide feature to show you what's on what channel. Then you will see a device list, AC Receiver, TV, Set Top Box, and much more. It's easy to tap on what you want to control, so that they're kept separate.

Features of Smart Remote 3

Keeping things separate in different lists is perhaps one of this app's best features. With those old-school physical universal remotes, you had to push those function buttons to control one thing or the other. This would always lead to conflicts and result in you having to reset the remote. With the Smart Remote 3, you tap on the device you want to control, and none of the other devices can be accessed.

Another great feature is that this app can also work to broadcast streaming platforms onto your larger television sets. For instance, you can open up YouTube and use the Smart Remote to actually stream the YouTube content on your TV. This is redundant for people with gaming consoles or smart TVs, but it's still a cool feature to have included with a universal remote control.

Pros and Cons of Smart Remote 3

Pros

  • A free app to use for Android
  • Very easy and intuitive to set up and use
  • Provides you with a TV guide, weather app, etc
  • Can stream on your television set

Cons

  • Lock screen is very annoying
  • Advanced remote features for some devices can be tricky