AirRemote for iPhone: ‘Greatest Little TV Remote’

The iPhone has become an increasingly popular interface for home-control systems such as home automation (HAI, Savant), multiroom audio (SpeakerCraft), media servers (Sooloos), and so much more.

But there hasn't been a low-cost solution for using the iPhone (or iPod Touch) as an ordinary universal remote control … until now.

London-based integrator Steve Moore has created AirRemote, "the greatest little TV remote you've ever used," he says, "and way cheaper than most of the things in [CE Pro's] Remote Control round-up."

Along with the AirRemote application for iPhone, the heart of the system is a low-cost communications box from Global Caché, which takes IP commands from the iPhone and converts them to infrared, serial or contact-closure for controlling everything from a home theater system to lighting controls to motorized blinds.

"The beauty of the iPod Touch or iPhone versus other tablets is that it has bullet-proof WiFi, doesn't need to wait for Windows to boot up, and can be held in a hand," says Moore. "And they sell loads of them so they cost almost nothing."

The AirRemote application is expected to retail for about $99 (from the iTunes Application store after July 11).

Take that, and an iPod Touch ($299) and the Global Caché box (about $100 - Correction, the least expensive Global Caché adapter, the GC-100-6 retails for about $120-$150.) "and you are still WAY less than the cost of a Pronto Pro, for example, without the need for a a programmer camped out on your living room floor for days trying to make it work," Moore says.

AirRemote is programmed easily via menus on the iPhone handset, Moore explains.

And you should trust the guy when he says something like that. Moore has run one of the most reputable home systems integration firms in Europe.

"We get custom integration," he says.

iPhone Control of AMX, Crestron, More

In addition to the basic AirRemote control solution, the application also enables control of AMX or Crestron automation system, allowing users to operate lights, security, audio/video, thermostats and virtually any other electronic system connected to an AMX or Crestron system.

AirRemote also supports the Kaleidescape media server "with all the album/cover art on the iPhone, and it links to the Web to bring you more artist/actor/director information," Moore says.

Support for more devices is on the way.

Expect more interesting stuff from Steve Moore, who brought us the Sonos-powered wireless "Free Speakers" last year.

The Apple Trend in the CE Channel

The home technology industry is starting to take Apple more seriously. Here are just a few examples:

• Completely Apple-centric home-control/media system from Savant, featuring virtually every technology that Apple licenses. Even Apple product manager Sal Soghoian says, "Savant is doing incredible, innovative things."


• iPhone interfaces for HAI (automation), SpeakerCraft (multiroom audio), Sooloos (media server), and others


• Fearful CE professionals, like Bob Gartland of distributor AVAD, who have been focused on a Windows-centric environment. He says, "Apple could own the home, which scares me."


• First Z-Wave-enabled automation system for the Mac, Houseport from Wayne Dalton (That story and related slideshow generated about 20,000 page views, which is a lot for us).


• More activity in Mac-based home-control systems, like Perceptive Automation's Indigo


• New vendors, like IP video provider Vudu, selling explicitly against Apple TV