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ACCESSORY GUIDE
IPAD 2 BUYERS’ GUIDE
Universal Remotes
Controlling your home entertainment center from your iPad recently became a lot easier, thanks to
new Infrared blasters and dongles that range wildly in price and in overall quality of user experience.
The three options below require you to purchase an accessory, then download a free universal app;
each has an iPad-specific software interface but works almost identically on iPhones and iPod touches.
Gear4 Unity Remote
As the best universal remote we’ve yet tested, Unity Remote
combines a sleek Bluetooth wireless Infrared transmitter
with an extremely well-designed app. Because the glossy
black transmitter sits in front of your entertainment center
without wires, there’s no need to plug anything into your
iPad, but it does use three AA batteries to power its wireless
chip. The app auto-configures itself for your TV, DVR, receiver,
and other devices with minimal help, providing large and
intuitive on-screen buttons; Gear4 includes smart
battery conservation features and a “unity” feature
to create simplified master remote controls.
$100
Apptwee Ri
Ri is the cheapest universal
remote around and drains the
least battery power, attaching
to your iPad’s headphone port.
Half the price
of most rivals,
it has a simple
app with
less polish:
it switches
between
multiple
remotes one
at a time, requires you to turn
the iPad’s volume up for use,
and only works from short
distances away. It’s a
budget solution with
budget performance.
$30
NewKinetix Re Universal IR Remote
Re is a mid-priced Infrared blaster that connects
to the iPad’s bottom, and uses the 9.7” screen to
simultaneously show tons of buttons that required
scrolling on the iPhone and iPod. Tinkerers
will like the button customization options.
134
$70