Add An IR Blaster To Your Smartphone With HiRemote

Gone are the days when people used to transfer content between mobile devices through Infrared. We’ve moved on to better and exponentially faster technologies like Wi-Fi and NFC. No one does data transmission over IR these days because its notoriously slow and also requires a line of sight. Its still good for changing channels on the TV though. While some high-end devices do come with one-way IR blasters, most do not. There is a way to add one to your smartphone.

Jeeqi, a startup based in China, has developed an accessory called HiRemote. Its a plug-in device which can be inserted in the smartphone’s 3.5mm headset jack. HiRemote is a full fledged IR blaster which can be used to control compatible devices like TVs, cameras and more through a companion application.

Its a great aftermarket solution for smartphones, particularly for those people who have a tendency to lose remote controls. To be honest we really do take a lot of care of our smartphones as opposed to the remote for the TV. So even if you end up losing it HiRemote will have you covered.

The startup launched a crowdfunding campaign on Ponzible, a site that’s poised to become the Kickstarter of Asia-Pacific. Its target goal of CNY2,000 or US$320 has been achieved, total funds generated as of this writing are CNY18,357 or nearly US$3,000. Its a minimum CNY39 or US$10 pledge to get a HiRemote in black or white. While shipping in China is free there’s a $39 international shipping charge at the very least.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Cellphones, Gadgets
Tags: Crowdfunding