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I have a Sony media streamer that's been discontinued. The remote is broken. Getting a new one is $50. You can control it with WiFi but you need IR to turn it on. So glad my phone had the blaster, it saved me replacing it. Thats just one example why an Ir blaster is pretty useful

So you think a phone should have something because you're too cheap to replace a broken remote? Got it.

Yeah I think every one in line will leave the line when they find out the i6 might not have an "IR blaster". LoL..... did you keep a straight face when you typed the OP?

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Point of this thread basically......
There's a point?

I thought it was "cool" when I could change the channel with my palm pilot back in the day (2003)..... never actually used it other than to screw around with people as they enjoyed their program.
 
IR is crap. It's an ancient technology that should be dead. Give me Bluetooth that supports multiple devices.
 
It's pretty much limited to things like TV's without an internet connection.

For me I'd rather not have it as I don't want to get my iPhone, launch an app and then change channel, volume etc.

I have the Tivo app for Virgin Media Tivo which allows me to change channel, I have used it when I first downloaded to hang the channel but since then the only reason I have used it is if I'm out and I remember that I want to record something, so I set it to record. It really is too much hassle to go through everything to launch an app to do a job that I can do by picking up the remote control next to my iPhone.

In future the iPhone could be great for controlling things like lighting, temperature etc all at once or for when your out of the house, but thats different then using an IR blaster for something like changing the channel on your TV which currently requires launching an app when I already have a remote control.
 
It's pretty much limited to things like TV's without an internet connection.

For me I'd rather not have it as I don't want to get my iPhone, launch an app and then change channel, volume etc.

I have the Tivo app for Virgin Media Tivo which allows me to change channel, I have used it when I first downloaded to hang the channel but since then the only reason I have used it is if I'm out and I remember that I want to record something, so I set it to record. It really is too much hassle to go through everything to launch an app to do a job that I can do by picking up the remote control next to my iPhone.

In future the iPhone could be great for controlling things like lighting, temperature etc all at once or for when your out of the house, but thats different then using an IR blaster for something like changing the channel on your TV which currently requires launching an app when I already have a remote control.

Actually two apps and two remote Controls and a joystick on the tv. Remote and app from cable box and remote and app from samsung.
 
I have a Note 3 and use the IR blaster all of the time. It's a nice feature, but not imperative to have on a device.
 
I had to look up what an IR Blaster was as I thought it was something Han Solo fired in Star Wars.

I highly doubt the new iPhone 6 would fail 'if' it doesn't include one. We don't know what the spec will be yet so 'if' is definitely the operative word there. ;)
 
I have never ever reached for my iPhone and wish it had an ir blaster. 1988 called and said they want their tech back along with their radio shack. All jokes aside Sony has been using Bluetooth on their remotes for ps4 and some of their bluray players and Microsoft started using it with their one. Bluetooth is the way to go for wireless connection. IR blast is another gimmick to "feature" pack Android phones. Just like NFC.
 
I have never ever reached for my iPhone and wish it had an ir blaster. 1988 called and said they want their tech back along with their radio shack. All jokes aside Sony has been using Bluetooth on their remotes for ps4 and some of their bluray players and Microsoft started using it with their one. Bluetooth is the way to go for wireless connection. IR blast is another gimmick to "feature" pack Android phones. Just like NFC.


I agree IR blaster is a bit gimmicky this day in age.

But I would argue NFC and it's uses. Even in the states where it's not that popular you can still pay at, mcdonalds, cvs, wall greens, wawa, 7-11, foot locker, Home Depot, tons of gas stations, even modern soda machines (the ones that take credit), etc etc. Most places that have a device that you manually swipe a credit card yourself accept it.
 
It's bit old tech but since not everything is connected via BT or WiFi, it can be useful though I seriously doubt Apple will ever include it. They'll sell you BT/WiFi enabled devices so you can connect that way instead.
 
I agree IR blaster is a bit gimmicky this day in age.

But I would argue NFC and it's uses. Even in the states where it's not that popular you can still pay at, mcdonalds, cvs, wall greens, wawa, 7-11, foot locker, Home Depot, tons of gas stations, even modern soda machines (the ones that take credit), etc etc. Most places that have a device that you manually swipe a credit card yourself accept it.


IMO NFC is great on low tech items like a credit card but not so much with a smartphone. When I make purchases in an Apple store using my camera and Bluetooth connection I'm always reminded why Apple is two steps ahead of the competition. If NFC on smartphones are the MP3 players of old then iBeacon is the new iPod. I don't have to wait on line for anything. I bought a mophie case just by me scanning it and tapping on the purchase button. How is that not easier and better then NFC?
 
Yes. Complete failure. They'll be lucky to sell 4 without an (what was it?) ER Blister. They also will fail if the flux capacitor remains reliant on Plutonium, and I have heard rumors that they might remove it altogether :eek:.

Before you say I'm being ridiculous and that an IR Blaster would be "useful", so would a million other things. Hell, why not put a knife that pulls out of one side, or make it have a laser pointer?

Just because something is cheap and a handful of people would find a use for it, doesn't mean they should compromise their entire design philosophy (which seems to be utilizing every square mm of space) to add it.

IR Blaster? Nope. Won't have a record player anytime soon either.
 
Phones come with IR? Damn, thought that died years ago for everything but a TV remote.
 
Phones come with IR? Damn, thought that died years ago for everything but a TV remote.

I had a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0" that had one. It was almost cool for about 30 seconds, but then I realized that-

1. I already had a remote for the tv.
2. The included software really sucked.
3. If I'm watching TV, I should put the tablet down.
4. If I'm using the tablet, it probably doesn't matter what's on TV.
 
IMO NFC is great on low tech items like a credit card but not so much with a smartphone. When I make purchases in an Apple store using my camera and Bluetooth connection I'm always reminded why Apple is two steps ahead of the competition. If NFC on smartphones are the MP3 players of old then iBeacon is the new iPod. I don't have to wait on line for anything. I bought a mophie case just by me scanning it and tapping on the purchase button. How is that not easier and better then NFC?


Don't go there. People already complain that no place takes NFC (although it's just cause they aren't looking for it). No place excepts Apples method in reality. I'd love if every place did and I do agree it's easier/better in that respect. But until it's wide spread it's pretty useless.
 
Will the new iPhone fail because no IR blaster

Because it isn't available anywhere except an Apple store?


It needs time to roll out of course. NFC has been around since the 90s and it's still waiting to catch on. I know it's big in Japan but so is the fax machine. Oh and there's a few more places accept that kind of transaction or using the technology. I know baseball stadiums that use it.

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Don't go there. People already complain that no place takes NFC (although it's just cause they aren't looking for it). No place excepts Apples method in reality. I'd love if every place did and I do agree it's easier/better in that respect. But until it's wide spread it's pretty useless.


Almost all stores in the USA accepts it. It's on almost all credits cards but people still rather swipe. Second it's not Apple's method. Pretty much all smartphones can do it and that of course includes Android phones. The fact is that no one truly uses NFC because there is just no point. You still have to wait on line to make your purchase. And if you're going to your pocket why would you pull out your smartphone versus your wallet? What's the real benefit? Using Bluetooth allows a real benefits that requires a few taps. There's a reason why NFC didn't really take off and I believe Bluetooth transactions will.
 
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Will the new iPhone fail because no IR blaster

It needs time to roll out of course. NFC has been around since the 90s and it's still waiting to catch on. I know it's big in Japan but so is the fax machine.

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Almost all stores in the USA accepts it. It's on almost all credits cards but people still rather swipe. Second it's not Apple's method. Pretty much all smartphones can do it and that of course includes Android phones. The fact is that no one truly uses NFC because there is just no point. You still have to wait on line to make your purchase. And if you're going to your pocket why would you pull out your smartphone versus your wallet? What's the real benefit? Using Bluetooth allows a real benefits that requires a few taps. There's a reason why NFC didn't really take off and I believe Bluetooth transactions will.


Wait, I'm confused.

Link me to the payment method you speak of. I'm completely clueless of it apparently. I saw iBeacon and may have gotten confused.
 
Will the new iPhone fail because no IR blaster

Wait, I'm confused.

Link me to the payment method you speak of. I'm completely clueless of it apparently. I saw iBeacon and may have gotten confused.


IBeacons is what Apple is calling their version on it. Kind of iMessage and say Facebook messanger. Same type of app. PayPal uses a version of this with their own app as well. Google wallet really should start using it as well. The difference here is that iBeacon is os based. Meaning it's all automatic and it activates when I enter the Apple store. You have to log into the PayPal app to use it.
http://ul-ts.com/downloads/whitepap...282-mobile-payment-transactions-ble-andor-nfc
 
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It needs time to roll out of course. NFC has been around since the 90s and it's still waiting to catch on.

Time, maybe. What it (Bluetooth) would really need is incentive. A motivation for shop owners to implement it. And of that there is none. All the credit card companies and payment terminal providers are betting on NFC, and that's the only thing they endorse and produce. Every shop is already or about to be outfitted with an NFC enabled terminal as the leases on current systems run out.

Even if someone was to install whatever is needed to do what the Apple stores do, what good would that be to him, since there are no way for anyone to actually make a payment using that system?

And even if there some CC company would provide an app for that, how would that work? Add 30% to the purchase price so Apple can have their IAP commission?

And even if that would be sorted out and even if the CC companies would somehow accept giving a tiny commission to Apple, where is the incentive for the shop owner to implement a payment system that only perhaps 10 % of his clients could ever use, and that only if every iPhone owning customer would choose to use his phone as the preferred method of payment?

Nope, not holding my breath on this one. Even if they would sort out the huge security and/or convenience issues involved in Bluetooth.
 
I don't want to pirate this thread, but I think the iPhone 6 might also fail if it doesn't have an extendable antenna.

;)
 
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