Apple is rumored to be working on its own Apple-branded HDTV, and a new patent filed by the company suggests it may also be working to turn your iPhone or iPad into a universal remote for that television and a whole lot more.
According to Patently Apple, the patent suggests a remote that could control an upcoming Apple television as well as potentially other televisions already on the market. The patent shows your iOS device becoming a universal remote, capable of controlling not only an Apple-branded television, but also a DVD player or DVR.
The patent suggests a remote that could automatically look up the code for connecting to your television, and could create a virtual version of your existing remote for a device by simply taking a photograph of it. The photo would be sent to iCloud for analysis, then allow you to use the virtual version to control your device while also taking advantage of additional features offered by Apple.
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Apple already offers a Remote app, and the new functionality would likely be an extension of the current offering. Remote is currently something that users choose to download themselves; in the future, however, Apple may choose to include the app preinstalled on new devices when they are released.
The patent arrived at the United States Patent & Trademark Office on Thursday, although it was originally filed in 2010. Filing a patent is also not necessarily a sign that a product will be made, although an Apple-branded HDTV is a rumor that has been circulating for quite some time.
Would you want to use your iPhone or iPad as a universal remote? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Mashable
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