Samsung Galaxy smartphones are among the most advanced smartphones out there. Each new generation comes with a few unique and groundbreaking features and technological improvements. The IR blaster feature became available with the Galaxy S4 mobile phone and was last used on the Galaxy S6.
The company has stopped implementing the IR blaster in its latest products because not many people have used it. The feature is outdated, so you won't find it on your Galaxy S8. However, there are some apps and devices that let you can achieve the same results.
What is IR Blaster?
IR Blaster is Samsung's infrared control sensor that allows you to use your phone as a remote control for your TV, air conditioner, music player, etc. IR Blaster was introduced with the Galaxy S4 and was a standard feature until the Galaxy S6.
Turns out, many people who owned Galaxy S series phones didn't even know this feature existed. Only a handful of users actually made use of the IR blaster, so Samsung decided to remove it altogether. Same users often chose to stick with their old Galaxy S6 phones due to the IR blaster feature.
The feature is still very popular in Asia, so Samsung has developed two apps that users can use to get the same results. You can install these apps on your Galaxy S8 and use them as a remote control.
SmartView
The SmartView app lets you pair your smartphone with other Samsung devices and use it as a remote control. However, you can do a lot more with this feature. You can also stream videos, music and pictures from other devices to your S8.
You can install the app on your PC and stream any content to your phone with a few taps.The only requirement is that the devices are connected to the same home network.Setting up takes just a few minutes and you can connect your S8 smartphone to the Smart Grid of your home. Here's what you need to do:
Swipe down on your phone's home screen to open the quick settings menus.
From there, select the “Smart View” feature. It will show you a list of all available devices to pair with.
Connect to the Samsung TV and your phone becomes a remote control.
Since the app only works with Samsung devices, you can't pair it with other brands' smart devices. However, Samsung has also developed an app that lets you do just that. It's called SmartThings.
SmartThings
Just a few years ago, smart home was a dream, but with the rapid advancement of technology, they became a reality. Samsung is one of the leading names in smart technology and its solution for connecting your phone to smart devices of different brands is the app called SmartThings.
The app lets you control lights, appliances, cameras, locks, outlets, thermostats, and other smart devices around the house. The only requirement is that they are all connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Here's what you need to do :
Download and install it
SmartThings
Open the app and select "Add device".
Find the device you want to control with your S8 Galaxy phone in the Available Devices section. The app will show you a list of devices that are connected to the network.
After you have paired it with your phone, the app will ask you to enter your PIN code. This step is only necessary if you are pairing your phone with a TV. The code should appear on the TV screen.
If your TV is not connected to the Wi-Fi network, the app will prompt you to do so first.
Agree to the terms of use and click OK.
Enter your email address and register your TV to your Samsung account.
Select "Accept" and select your TV from the list. Click "Next".
Enter your zip code and click Next again.
When you're done setting up, the app will ask if you want to add more apps to your TV. Select apps from the list.
Finally, tap "Done" and you can control the TV with your Galaxy S8.
The best thing about the SmartThings app is that you can stream your TV screen straight to your phone and vice versa. So if you enjoy playing mobile games, you can enjoy them on your TV screen too.
Wrisky universal IR remote control
If you don't have a smart home and don't own a Samsung TV, you need the Wrisky universal IR remote. It's really a tiny infrared transmitter that you plug into the audio jack on your S8. It emulates remote controls and allows you to use your smartphone as a using a device. It's not the perfect solution, but it gets the job done. Here's what you need to do:
Buy the Wrisky Universal IR Remote Control Attachment.
Load the . down
Remote ZaZa app
from GooglePlay.
Open the app and tap on "Settings".
Tap on "IR driver settings" and turn off the function "Detect device automatically".
Go back to the Settings page and select Advanced Settings.
Enable "Audio Reversal" and set the "ZaZa Sensitivity" to the highest setting.
Navigate back to the app's home screen and select "3M TV" from the available options.
Plug in the Wrisky Universal IR Remote and your smartphone turns into a remote control.
Where there is a will, there's a way
Although Samsung has decided to remove the IR blaster feature, the demand for remote controls is still there. Samsung responded with two handy apps, SmartThings and SmartView, but they only work with smart devices. Featuring the Wrisky Universal IR Remote Control Attachment you can turn your S8 into a remote control for any TV in just a few simple steps.
How did you turn your Samsung Galaxy S8 phone into a TV remote control? Which app did you use? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.
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