SURE Universal

SURE Universal makes an Android phone work as a remote for the appliances around the house. On a phone with an infrared blaster it drives TVs, receivers and even air conditioners just like the remote that came in the box. Over Wi-Fi it reaches Smart TVs, Chromecast and other devices that accept network control.

Beyond replacing buttons, the app can push photos and videos from the phone to the TV screen. You can step through pictures by hand or build a slideshow and decide how it plays, which is handy for showing holiday shots to the family on the big screen instead of passing the phone around.

It suits homes with a pile of remotes and anyone whose TV or air-conditioner remote has gone missing. The main requirement is an infrared port on the phone; without one, only Wi-Fi control of compatible devices remains. For network features the phone and the TV should be on the same home network.