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Universal TV Remote Control - Turning Smartphones into Smart TV Command Centers

Info

Category :Mobile App Development

Client :Eli Yamin

Introduction

The Universal TV Remote Control project tasked DevsTree with replacing the clutter of physical remotes with a single, intuitive smartphone app. Available on both Android and iOS, the app discovers any Smart TV on the same Wi‑Fi network and delivers full remote‑control functionality—power on/off, volume, channel surf, menu navigation, even launching installed TV apps.

Client Requirements

The client sought a universal smartphone app for both Android and iOS that could replace multiple TV remotes by discovering and reliably controlling any Smart TV over the same Wi-Fi network, offering power on/off, volume and channel control, navigation, app launching, and seamless cross-brand compatibility, including advanced features like Wake-On-LAN for powering TVs from standby.

Key features of Remote Control Apps

01

Universal Discovery

Seamless pairing with LG, Samsung, Roku, Android TV, Google TV & more.
02

Full Remote Controls

Power, volume, channel, D‑pad navigation, app launcher.
03

Wake‑On‑LAN

One‑tap power‑on from standby across supported models.
04

Favorites & Shortcuts

Save frequently used channels or apps for quick access.

Challenges and Approach

  • Multi‑brand fragmentation – Most third‑party remote apps support one or two TV brands; users expect a truly universal experience.
  • Network limitations – Smart TVs drop off the network once powered down, blocking remote power‑on capabilities.
  • Cross‑platform UX – Maintain feature‑parity and native performance on Android and iOS.

  • Broad Device Coverage: Supports 90 %+ of Smart TVs sold over the past decade.
  • 5‑Star Adoption: Rapid climb in store ratings thanks to reliability and brand breadth.
  • Competitive Edge: Wake‑On‑LAN feature differentiates the app in a crowded marketplace.

Key Outcome

Technology Stack

Technologies we used

Kotlin

HTTP APIs

Firebase

Swift

Conclusion

DevsTree delivered a robust cross-platform solution built natively in Kotlin and Swift with shared protocol logic that supported over 90% of Smart TVs sold in the past decade, earned 5-star store ratings for its reliability and breadth, and stood out in the market thanks to its Wake-On-LAN capability and seamless brand-agnostic user experience.