Why do you think the iPad does not have an IR transmitter?

[mrfrosty]

Because the iPad is not a remote

If you install the remote app it is. The iPad is a multifunction device, why shouldn't it be able to change a channel on the TV ?

 

[bizadvizor]

Infrared accessory - iPad Universal Remote

http://www.newpotatotech.com/FLPR/flpr.html

 

[ucfgrad93]

I have no need for the iPad to have IR. I have never been able to get universal remotes to work with all of my devices, and I don't think I'd have better luck with the iPad.

 

[Skika]

Lol IR transmitter is you serious?

 

[saberahul]

Then that equipment was probably not manufactured in 2010.


No, most use RF remotes now; no line-of-sight needed.

Actually many are beginning to sell with BT remotes now. Just bought a Vizio (and a Samsung) and received Bluetooth remotes with them.

 

[frosse]

Telia, a major player in the Swedish set-top box market has an iPhone (and maybe iPad?) app that uses Wifi, by far the best solution, I'd say. Their box is already connected to wifi since they're an internet TV distributor.

Edit: And IR is slow, unreliable and requires design trade-offs on the product.

 

[iSee]

Again, let me try to explain to those apparently who are living in the future and have travelled back in time to respond to my post.

Unlike you, I'd afraid I'm still living in the year 2010, soon to be 2011

I'm happy that the year you live in, which make be somewhere between 2015 and 2020 that in your era all the TV's, HiFi's, Cable Box's etc are indeed Blue Tooth or Wifi.

That's fantastic, I'm happy for you and if you have time, I'd appreciate you sending me a PM with next weeks lottery numbers if you have time.

Also, in your years, you are also using the iPad5 to iPad10 which I bet is a fantastic machine, ant info on which we'd love to hear I'm sure.

Unfortunately, as I say, for the rest of us, we are living in a time when the equipment we own now does not work via Blue Tooth or Wifi, so it would be handy if an iPad of Today talked to the other items we owned Today.

We're worry about the items we own tomorrow in a few years time, by which time new iPads will be out anyway.

LOL! Excellent post! I'm glad this thread got resurrected.

Especially since I will now send a message back from the future…

I didn’t see this mentioned, but I think the main reason the iPad didn’t have an IR transmitter (not then, and not now) is because it would take up space, cost money and has very limited functionality.

No way was Apple going to make the iPad bigger (or the battery smaller) or even $1 more expensive so the iPad could be used as a remote control for crappy A/V equipment.

And, obviously, Apple thinks you should be consuming media through their services. They don’t care about helping you to consume video and music through non-Apple devices!

Not to mention, adding an IR transmitter is just one small part of making an iPad into a great remote. You also need great configuration software with a highly complete IR code database (and/or an IR receiver so the iPad can learn codes) and a great UI for the actual remote app.

Really, when I start thinking about what a really good remote would be, IR isn’t really in the picture. E.g., for TV, you want to be able to see the channels as live previews and have full guide access.

 

[Medic311]

IR is LOS. anything LOS is dead technology these days - instead being replaced by Bluetooth and Wifi.

the one benefit of IR is low power consumption...the one benefit, oh and low cost. IR transmitters are pennies when bought from China

eventually TV's, DVD/Blu-Ray players, receivers, etc won't even ship with remotes. they will reduce costs by just allow you to download an app. people will likely flip out, so they might initially allow for the request of (1) free remote. eventually they will make the complete transition.

but then again, how much longer will we have fragmented devices anyways? everything will get merged within the next 2-3 years