L5 Universal Remote Control for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch (works with most media center brands of TVs, DVD Players, DirectTV, Xbox 360, Apple TV and more)

I recently upgraded my older DLP TV to a new Samsung Smart TV. Because the new TV doesn't have the superb sound that the older DLP had, I decided to pump it through my amplifier and speakers. That, unfortunately, then required yet another remote to control my Yamaha amplifier. I ended up with at least 4 remotes, including the Samsung Smart TV, TiVo HD, Yamaha amplifier and Apple TV. This doesn't include my BluRay player, which I seldom use these days, but is yet another remote!OY!I've tried the Harmony universal remotes before, and found them lacking. There were tons of buttons, and to go from one remote's functionality to another, you had to choose it first from the remote, then use it. They're also really expensive and I found they were always lacking in one way or another. I really didn't want to go down that road again.Enter the L5. I found the software (app) in iTunes, which leads me to the first myth about this device I'd like to dispel.Myth: there seems to be a lot of criticism on iTunes that the L5 app is a rip-off because it makes you buy the remote while the app is free.The reason that's a myth is that what you're buying is the remote and L5 distributes the software for it via the iTunes App Store, for free. The prices for the physical device vary widely, so you should shop around before you buy. If you go to the L5 site, it's a whopping $59. I found mine on Amazon, via Beach Camera, for $26 and free shipping. The software, as I just said, is free.The remote is currently only available for the older iPads and iPhones since it is not available with the new Lightening connector. Hopefully L5 will manufacture the newer one shortly, but be careful if you own the new iPad Mini or iPhone 5 as you'll need the expensive Lightening adapter, currently only sold by Apple, to use the remote.I chose to use this with my iPad 2, and when I received it I set about to program it. There was also the option to take advantage of other L5 user's remotes who decided to publicly share them via the L5 Cloud, and there are a ton of them. You can use those "out-of-the-box" or modify them to your personal usage.Because I'm somewhat of a geek, I decided to try and create the remotes myself, starting with my Tivo. It really is easy. There are lots of controls (buttons, volume controls, channel changers) that you get to in Design mode at the bottom of the screen. You drag them onto the screen and place them however you'd like. In my case, I left the TiVo layout pretty much the same as their excellent physical remote. Once you've designed your device, you go into Assign Mode, chose the control you want to program--say the Off/On switch--and point the existing physical remote at the L5, and press the button. The L5 learns the code and that becomes associated with the control you've chosen. In a matter of minutes I had created my TiVo remote, and it worked perfectly!You exit Assign Mode by clicking Save and you're ready to rock 'n roll!! You can upload your new remote to the L5 cloud, which protects it for future use, and if you choose to share it, allow others to take advantage of your remote.If you have any technical ability at all, this process is dead simple. I repeated it for every remote I use, and within an hour had the ability to put all of my remotes in a drawer and use my iPad to completely control my TV and peripherals. You can change remotes by simply swiping left or right, or chose it (on the iPad app) from a list of remotes you've created or downloaded which displays on the left side of the screen.Then it occurred to me that I could combine remotes so I wouldn't have to switch from one to the other. As an example, the volume control on the TiVo controls the TV, which is somewhat meaningless with my new TV since I use my stereo system for sound. I simply merged to two remotes--a built in function of the L5 app--and now had both the TiVo and Yamaha on the same remote! I also could have had the option to go back into Design mode and add a new control for the Yamaha volume.L5 has thought of almost everything. You can change the label and/or color of any button with the tap of an icon in Design mode. If you need custom icons for your virtual remote, go into the L5 Cloud and search on TiVo and, voilé, there are the custom icons. You can also create your own, upload them to the L5 cloud and start using them. You can also create macros, just like the more expensive remotes, where you can replicate multiple button pushes from multiple remotes and assign it to one L5 control!Lastly, there is no end to the number of remotes you can create. Maybe you create a simple one for most of your TV watching while leaving the complete remote as an alternative when needed. Maybe you have a couple different TVs, so you can create remotes for all of your viewing devices. If the device uses IR, which most TVs, stereos, BluRay players, etc. do, the L5 can control it!I ran into only one problem, and that was, ironically, with my 3rd generation Apple TV (ATV) remote. When I went to create it like I described above, the L5 didn't recognize it when I pushed the corresponding buttons. That led me to the L5 forum where the support was very good. It turns out that with that one remote, I needed to download it from the dozens that are available, preprogrammed, in the L5 Cloud, then unpair my existing ATV remote, and pair the one your downloaded. (It sounds much more complicated than it really is.) While it took me a while to unravel this solution, it now works perfectly! I also want to stress that I'm convinced this is an Apple problem and not an issue with L5.I really can't express how satisfied I am with this device. While my iPad may not feel as comfortable in my hand as the physical remote, it's far easier to use, and completely eliminates the clutter on my coffee table. I have an iPhone 5 and tried the L5 using the 30-pin Lightning adapter. I downloaded the free L5 app from the App Store, then downloaded my remotes that were now living safely in the L5 Cloud. Bingo, my iPhone was now working as a remote with no additional programming required!Keep in mind that a Harmony remote starts at $150 and goes all the way to $299. The L5 was $26 and has the same or more functionality! There are, however, a couple things you should keep in mind that could be drawbacks for some people.* The first is the adapter itself. It's really small and has the potential to get lost easily. If you're a slob and have tons of stuff on your coffee table, or if you have small children who insist on playing with everything, or worse yet putting everything in their mouth, this may not be your solution. Without the physical L5 device, the software is useless.* The second is that the device is only available with the 30-pin adapter for older iPads and iPhones, not the new generation of the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini. I can only assume that L5 will ultimately have to come out with a revised adapter if they want to stay in business, but so far not a peep on their website as to their release plans. The L5 works well with the new 30-pin to Lightening adapter, but the adapter is expensive ($30), only available from Apple, and means you now have to keep track of two devices, not one.* The third and final caution has to do with support. I was really impressed with how fast L5 posted suggestions in their Forum to resolve my ATV issue, but if you need to talk to someone face-to-face, this product isn't for you. In addition, if you're uncomfortable with technology, you might not understand the design process and become easily frustrated. If that's the case, my suggestion would be to have your kids or grandchildren help you as they'll be able to figure it out in a heartbeat. For the record, I'm 66 and technically adept, so this isn't a gibe at old people. I just know that there are plenty of people, both young and old, who find technology challenging. You can download the app for free from iTunes and the adapter is not required to create a remote, only to use it. You might want to test drive it before your purchase to make sure you're comfortable with the idea behind the L5.So what do I think could be improved with this fine product? Here are a few suggestions.* The L5 Cloud is a bit pokey. I assume that L5 is a small company and using external hosting services like Amazon Web Services, to host its technology environment. The L5 Cloud needs to be much more responsive. Watching a spinning wheel on your iPad for 60 seconds while a search takes place is unacceptable. Google starts returning results as I'm typing, so the performance expectations of L5 users will compare L5's services to what they know is possible. For the moment, they'll be disappointed.* There needs to be a Lightning connector adapter in the near future. I'd be happy to buy a second L5 to use with my iPhone as well as the one I already own for my iPad 2. Since L5 only makes money from selling the adapter, I'm a bit confounded why this isn't already available, or that they haven't announced a release date.* There should be more opportunity to find and/or design the remote on the L5 website and then download it to your iPad or iPhone. At the time of this writing, you can search for things on the L5 site, but can't do anything with them. Not only is this confusing to new users, it wastes what could be a valuable resource for many people. I'd like to be able to search for a remote, add it to my account, then simply download it via the L5 Cloud when I start the app. This would be especially true for remotes that have been shared by others in order to jump start the use of the L5.* The L5 only replicates an existing physical remote, the kind that shipped with your appliance. Therefore, when alphanumeric entry is required, you'll still need to hunt and peck the way you currently do with, say, your TiVo remote. I realize that the L5 is using IR and not wireless to communicate with devices, but where a common network exists for devices (think Smart TVs, TiVos and Apple or Roku TV) it would be great to take advantage of the iPad or iPhone built-in keyboard. This is a difficult request, I know, but what a win it would be if L5 could provide this functionality.So in summary, this is a knockout universal remote at a very low price. It has worked perfectly for me, and other than the areas I've noted above, I'd recommend the L5 wholeheartedly!

This is quite capable as a remote. I really like it. I used an old 3rd generation iPod touch as the supporting i-device, but you can attach it to an iPhone 3 or 4 or an iPad if they have the 30-pin plug.It's fun and challenging to create and modify remotes as you feel like it. I'm constantly modifying buttons and positions. Unfortunately, you have to unplug the emitter to charge the iPod/iPhone/iPad and my iPod's battery goes dead pretty fast.An iPod is a bit small to be a full-fledged remote, but it can work. You have to do an lot of vertical scrolling up and down. Also, most annoying is that you have to look at the remote to find the button you want to touch. Real buttons are still handier as you can feel them. You also have to aim carefully. It doesn't really "blast" the room with IR.The cloud function attached to the "L5 Remote" app is very handy. Design on one device, upload to the cloud and then pull that down to as many different devices as you like. Thus you can make design changes on any device and upload that to the cloud and download the latest version to any other device. As more people upload designs, you can also download premade designs.One tip: when you upload a particular remote, you should name it by the actual model number of the device (either the electronic component or its remote control model number or both) so others can take advantage of your work. It doesn't help if you upload a design called "living room" as everyone else will have no idea what components you are controlling. So, if you are cloning a Sony RM-YD024 remote that controls an KDL-52XBR7 TV, name the remote you are designing it by the TV's model number or the remote's model number. If we all did this, we could use each others' designs a lot easier. You can tell who the professional AV people are who post designs because they are clearly named.As for actual programming, you first download and install the free L5 Remote from iTunes. Then you can use their pre-designed standard remote, download one someone else designed from the cloud or start building your own.There are a lot of creative designs out there that employ pictures as a background and different kinds of buttons. You can start with one of those and re-teach each button by pointing your remote at the L5 emitter when it's in learning mode.For me, the best way is to start with a blank screen and try to copy every button on each remote you want to create. Studying the designs in the cloud shows that's the way the pros do it.1. Create a new remote and name it the model number of the device: "FiOS Motorola QIP6416-2" for instance. That tells you exactly which device you are creating a remote for.2. Go into Design mode and drag a button from the library up to the main screen, say, the on/off button. Go into learning mode and teach it the code by transmitting from your device's remote. You can do this with each button or fill the the remote with un-taught buttons, naming each button like it is on the physical remote, and then teach them one after another (you'll end up doing it this way.) The vertical length of the remote is unlimited: you can scroll the screen vertically a long way, adding as many buttons as you wish per remote. You can also make them small, medium or large. You can't scroll horizontally, however. At this time, it appears the app is for the iPhone only, not the iPad. Even if you download the iPad version of the app, the remote is still narrow. You can zoom it 2x size, but it's still iPhone shaped and doesn't take full advantage of the iPad's real estate.3. Now that you've made your first remote for the first device (say, the cable box) upload it to the cloud for safe keeping. If you foul up your subsequent design, you can always download your saved version from the cloud.4. Now you pick up your second device's remote (the TV, say) and name and design its remote. When you are finished, you now have a second remote on your iPhone. Upload that design to the cloud. You access each remote on your phone by scrolling left and right. It's like having your six remotes sitting on a coffee table arranged left to right and you decide to pick one up.5. If you have an X-10 light control system, it gets tricky. The L5 is IR only while the X-10 system is RF/house wiring. X-10 sells an interface device called the IR543-S. It receives the IR signal from your L5 and converts it to the X-10 signal that moves through the house wiring. The next trick is to find the X-10 codes to put into your L5. I found I had to enter what are called HEX codes, which you can find at remotecentral dot com. Do a google search for "X-10 hex codes" and go to the remotecentral site. You can copy them to the clipboard and paste them into the L5 if you allow Hex code programming. I ended up creating a Hex Codes page in my Notes app and copying from there into the L5. Getting into geek territory here, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do to achieve remote control.6. So now after a couple of evenings fooling with this, you have all your remotes in the L5, side by side. Turns out it's a pain scrolling left/right to get to the remote you want to use, just like it is when you had six remotes on the coffee table.The answer is to copy the button you want to use from one remote and paste it into what will become your Master Remote. Pick the remote you use the most, and copy the buttons you need from other remotes into the One Remote To Rule Them All. You don't mess up the other remotes. You can even copy a remote, rename it and fool with that one so you don't foul up all the work you did earlier creating each individual remote.One of the nicest features is what they call "drawers." That's a button that opens up a window that can be populated with more buttons that disappear if you want. I created a drawer with all my favorites in it. Each of these buttons is actually a little macro (another nice feature) that sends out the channel number -- you go into macro learning mode and enter "5-0-4" for instance to tune to channel 504. You can then name that button NBC or even put its peacock logo on it from the symbols library. I ended up making a button in the drawer for all my favorite channels. So far there are 20 favorites in the drawer, each a different color and named as I wish. You could even put whole remotes in drawers if you wanted, I suppose. This is the kind of customization you can do for weeks as you play with the L5.Now after all this work, it becomes obvious that there are shortcomings. Just when you want to use the remote, it's dead because you didn't unplug the emitter and plug in the charger. And if it's charging, you have to unplug the charger and plug in the emitter. And if it's charged and the emitter plugged in, the i-device may still tell you to "plug in the emitter" because it's lost contact with it. So you're constantly plugging and unplugging. It'd have been a lot easier if there was a charging pass-through on the emitter, but there isn't. What I want is what any well-designed remote does: when you put it down, it goes into a cradle that immediately starts charging it. When I pick it up it lights up and is ready to go. Keeping an iPod illuminated for hours as you watch TV really drains its battery fast.Finally, you can't "feel" the buttons. They light up, of course, because of the iPhone's screen. But you have to find each button carefully and hold the remote up to aim it.After it's all said and done, I prefer a remote with physical buttons you can feel in the dark that is rechargeable in a cradle and is backlit.