Tag Archives: universal remote

Rē-purposing your old iPod touch or iPhone as a universal remote with the Rē – a new trend

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In the wake of the recent release of the new iPhone 4 and with Apple’s continued business model of consistent, staggered new hardware releases, there are and will be plenty of retired iPhones and iPod touches looking for a new purpose in life. One great idea, that I have to admit was inspired by a cheapchick.com review, is to pair those once pricey obsolete devices with the Rē to be re-purposed as a dedicated universal remote. The Rē is considered by many to be the most capable universal remote control available with its ability to control multiple entertainment devices in any room of your house, any house, or anywhere for that matter. It can also be customized to set up personal activities like “watching TV”, “listen to music” etc…

Not everyone is completely comfortable severing dependency from their phone while relaxing to watch a movie. Until now, there was no way to talk on the phone while using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch based universal remote. Now you can use that old iPhone in one hand to keep channel surfing while you tell mom about your week on your new iPhone 4. But you don’t necessarily have to be upgrading with a new iPhone or iPod touch. You don’t even have to be an AT&T user. Used versions are available everywhere. Check out the eBays and Craigslists of the world and you won’t have to search for long. Just remember you need to be able to charge it up (get a charger too) and make sure it’s functional.

Another great advantage: if you are anything like me, I need to keep my remotes, or in this case, one remote for every entertainment device, in one spot. This way I always know where it is and can always leave it charging, so I know it’s ready when I need it. Having dedicated hardware for the Rē allows you to always keep your remote with your entertainment devices.

Let’s go over the figures. Top rate universal remotes, limited in usability and features in comparison to the Rē, can cost around $200. (Yes, people pay that and more, actually). The Rē hardware costs $70 bucks and the required app is free. Even if you upgraded to a new phone, bought a used iPod touch and a Rē remote control, you would have a better universal remote and save money. Hmmmm…I think I know what I’m doing with my old iPhone, and now I can sleep better at night knowing I’m helping out those old 3G iPhones adjust to retirement.

This Father’s Day Give the Rē Universal Remote Control Solution for Your iPhone

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All dads are different, and if your dad happens to prefer their iPhone to a power tool, then Rē is an answer to your prayers. The Rē is an affordable, creative Father’s Day gift for any iPhone/iPod touch toting dad. The NewKinetix Rē NK100 IR Accessory and Rē Universal Remote Control App combine to turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a universal remote control that can serve your entire home and/or office. The $69 IR Accessory and required free app allow you to create a powerful universal remote for substantially less than WiFi based iPhone remotes and dedicated universal remote controls.

Re Universal Remote Control Solution for iPhone and iPod Touch

Some of the Rē features include:

• Features typically found only on High-End Dedicated Universal Remotes
• Easy to Setup and Fun to Use
• Works Everywhere – Take it from Room to Room and to the Office
• Remotes for all of your Devices are Instantly Accessible
• Transfer your Rē setup from one iPhone to another with Bump
• Supports Virtually all Brands & Types of AV Equipment
• PS3 compatibility using Schmartz wireless hardware
• Upgradable – It Won’t Become Obsolete

Not only does the Rē have the practical use of turning your iPhone or iPod Touch into a universal remote, it also has great prank playing possibilities. Imagine your dad hanging out at his buddies house and taking control of their tv, stereo, etc. Hilarious!

NewKinetix Bumps Up Performance In Rē V1.1 Software Release

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This week, we (NewKinetix) announced our first software update to the Rē, the first full-featured activity based IR remote for the iPhone with a built-in upgradable IR database support for nearly all AV devices. The V1.1 update includes more device brands listed in the database, Bump integration, settings and IR performance updates, and customizable backgrounds and skins.

Working out of our office here in Portland Oregon, we haven’t rested since the gratifying launch of the Rē IR Universal Remote Control in March, upon which Ali Heriyanto, co-editor of the online tech and gadgets boutique, ChipChick.com, had this to say “Compared to other iPhone remote control devices we tested recently, the Rē came in heads and shoulders above the rest in terms of ease of use and functionality.” Reviewers and the rapidly growing user community have been giving high marks to their use of the Rē on their iPhone, iPod touch or new iPad.

As software engineers, we like to focus on usability and after gathering lots of user feedback, we are happy to announce the release of this update-our first- just 2 months following our initial worldwide release. We feel it is very important to quickly address any requests and feature demands as we continue to evolve, and we understand that our product can only be at its best with the help of our customers. With V1.1 software, Rē users can expect an even more user-friendly experience when controlling their AV devices. Here is what we’ve added for you:

  • Transfer part or all of your personalized Rē setup from one iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to another through the popular data transfer program “Bump”, which is incorporated into the Re App.
  • More brands have been added to the already extensive IR database list.
  • Additional remote editing features and view customization.
  • Includes compatibility with Sony PS3 using the Schmartz wireless Infra-red adapter.
  • Auto-dimming can now be enabled in settings, with automatic activation based upon movement.
  • App specific timer that can control when the iPhone or iPod goes to sleep. V1.1 also offers vibrate on/off and volume control for button click specifically within the Rē app.

A major differentiating feature of using a Rē is the customizable Activity Remote interface that can control entire activities within one meta-remote, such as “Watch TV, “Play a CD”, or “Watch a Movie”. With an unlimited number of activities that can be programmed and an unlimited number of devices that can be controlled, we decided it would best serve you to include customizable skin colors you can assign to devices and activities to easily distinguish between them. You can personalize your  with selected background images as well.

We also love diving into the intricate technological aspects of the IR transmission codes, giving the Rē a significantly enhanced performance advantage. For instance, not all devices respond to the same IR signal timing. The Rē now compensates for the varied IR signal demands by integrating device specific IR timing control. The addition of these controls is invisible to the typical user, but the fact that they exist provides confidence that the Rē can handle demanding applications.

Download and see the features of the Rē Universal Remote Control App for free from the App Store.

Buy your Rē here