The Only Remote You’ll Need - Until the iTV
Despite the many rumors about Apple’s impending iTV, there is an accessory that can make your iPad and/or iPhone the next best thing to an iTV: a Bluetooth (BT) Remote by Satechi, an Authorized Apple Accessory Developer. After connecting an iOS device to an HD TV with Apple’s Digital AV Adapter, you’ll be able to use the BT Remote to enjoy HD videos from iTunes, Netflix and many other sources. This patent pending invention is the only Bluetooth Remote Control in the U.S. that is fully compatible with iOS devices and offers convenience and control for video/music playback as well as other compelling features.
After testing the BT Remote with the new iPad and the iPhone 4S, I was surprised at how easy it is to pair an iDevice with the BT Remote; it took less than a minute. You can view a quick overview of the set-up and features here on YouTube. Given that it’s slightly larger than a keyless car fob, you can use it wherever you go – at home, in the car or on the move. Although the published specification suggests that it can be used at a distance of only 33 feet, I successfully tested it at a distance of 75 feet with volume controls, play/pause, next/previous tracks and the mute.
Additionally, there are three other features which make this a must-have accessory for iOS devices:
- A Home/Siri button on the Remote enables voice commands for video or song selection;
- A Remote Camera Shutter Click allows you to take an iPhone/iPad photo with one-touch of the Volume Up button without leaving yourself out of the picture. You can easily use a tripod or mount your iOS device in a way that will produce high-quality photos; and
- A Presentation Remote: Because it works with Apple OS-compatible devices (iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, etc.), you can use the BT Remote with Keynote on Bluetooth-enabled Mac computers. After starting the presentation with the Play button, use the Forward and Rewind buttons for the next and previous slide.
Some of you may ask “Why don’t you buy an Apple TV (if you want to use your iPhone or iPad for streaming video and/or music content?” Given a choice between an Apple TV ($99) and a Satechi Bluetooth Remote ($39.99), I’d choose the BT Remote because it’s portable, it enables blur-free camera snapshots (via your iPad/iPhone) and it can be used with a TV, stereo dock station, car stereo and Bluetooth-enabled Mac computers. With a six-month battery life, it’s the best multimedia marvel that you’ll enjoy as your next iDevice accessory.
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