VooMote Zapper dongle lets you control your home theater with an iPhone, iPad

By Andy Boxall December 8, 2011

The iPhone and iPad lends themselves perfectly to use as cool universal remote controls, but thanks to their lack of infrared sensors, it was never going to be a standard feature. However, a legion of aftermarket manufacturers have come up with ingenious ways of getting around this problem; the latest of which is the VooMote Zapper.

Unlike the recently announced Logitech Harmony Link, the VooMote Zapper goes down the tried and tested route of adding a infrared sensor to your Apple device, in the form of a small dongle — the size of a paperclip, apparently — which plugs into the dock connector. With the help of a free-to-download app from the App Store, you’ll be able to control a wide variety of home theater and audio equipment.

The Zapper is powered through the dock connector too, plus for extra convenience has a total of four IR sensors, meaning it won’t be necessary to point it in the exact direction of the device you want to control. The app is completely customizable, with the ability to program multiple room setups, macros for often used functions, gestures and in a future update, Twitter and Facebook integration too.

The dongle is compatible with iOS 5 on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. It will initially be sold for $69.99 on its own, but in January 2012 you’ll be able to buy a case to match the Zapper too. Available in a range of colors and including the Zapper itself, the iPhone case will be priced at $79.99, while the iPad version will cost $89.99.

VooMote Zapper Case Dongle — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Senior Mobile Writer

Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…

Mobile

Why you should buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max instead of the iPhone 15 Pro

Someone holding an iPhone 15 Pro Max outside on a patio, showing the back of the Natural Titanium color.

If you want the best iPhone money can buy in 2024, you have two options: the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. They have the same chipset, similar display technology, nearly identical cameras, etc. It's a really close battle, save for the fact that the iPhone 15 Pro is $200 cheaper.

It might be tempting to save some cash and choose the iPhone 15 Pro, but I recommend you splurge for the larger (and more expensive) iPhone 15 Pro Max. Why? Let me explain.
It's a big iPhone you won't hate using

Mobile

How to set up a VPN on an iPhone or iPad

iPhone 15 Pro Max showing the YouTube Music app.

Introducing a virtual private network (VPN) to your everyday web browsing is a smart move for a few reasons. For starters, it’s a great way to safeguard your user data when you’re surfing the internet. Because VPNs switch you to a different network and IP address, they’re terrific for accessing region-specific content. Have you been wanting to watch a series or two that’s only available for streaming in certain countries? A VPN will let you watch these movies and shows! And one of the best parts of the VPN experience is it’s not just limited to your PC.

In fact, you’ll even be able to use one on your iPhone. Back when iOS 15 rolled out, Apple also introduced a feature called Private Relay, which can be used alongside a VPN for an even bigger boost in web security.

Mobile

Buying an iPad Mini today? You need to know about this deal

The Apple Pencil attaches to the iPad mini magnetically.

If you've had an eye on iPad deals for the latest model of the Apple iPad Mini for a while now, this may be the offer that you've been waiting for -- a $100 discount from Best Buy on the tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, slashing its price to $400 from $500. It's still pretty popular years after its release, so we don't expect stocks of the device for this sale to last long. If you're thinking about taking advantage of this bargain, you better push through with your purchase as soon as possible to make sure that you don't miss out on the savings.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad Mini 2021
The latest generation of the Apple iPad Mini was released in 2021, but it's still featured in our roundup of the best iPads because it's the model that you should buy if you want a smaller and more compact version of Apple's tablets. Its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is smaller than the screens of its peers, but it's still big enough to enjoy watching streaming shows and browsing websites, while allowing you to use the device with one hand. Unlike its predecessor, there's no Home button, so the Touch ID sensor is instead built into the power button at the side of the Apple iPad Mini 2021.