How to control your TV with your phone if it doesn't have a built-in IR blaster
After being forgotten for a long time, the infrared sensor is seeing somewhat of a resurgence in mobile phones, with a bunch of handsets now coming with their own IR blasters, letting you easily control your TV, set-top box, home stereo, or even AC unit, from the comfort of your phone.
Those come with adjacent apps that have tons of TV makes and models preinstalled already, so there is a chance you can start annoying your sister by lowering the volume of that Bieber song right after you unpack your new handset. Some of those, like the apps on Samsung or LG phones, even let you manage more exotic gear, like your air conditioner, for example. What about phones or tablets that don't come from the factory with infrared sensors in them, though? Here are a few of your options:
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