Peel ships universal control hardware to match iPhone app
updated 03:25 pm EST, Thu March 10, 2011
App now controls home theatre systems
Peel says it is now shipping the universal control peripheral meant to interact with the company's matching iPhone app. On its own the app simply provides recommendations for shows, sports and movies on TV. The universal control, also known as the "fruit," allows the app to switch a home theater system over to the appropriate channels and inputs.
Beyond TVs, the fruit is able to control receivers, DVRs, Blu-ray drives and cable and satellite boxes. Supported media set-tops include the Roku and the Apple TV. Gesture controls in the app allow users to control volume or playback without having to look down.
The fruit requires a C battery, and a roughly five-minute setup process. After this however it can be simply left in place, and control a theater setup without an iOS device having to be in direct line-of-sight. The hardware costs $99, and is being sold online and at Apple Stores.
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how
So how does it work? Does the iPhone communicate to it via Bluetooth, and it sends IR to the TV?