A couple of months ago the remote for our Samsing TV stopped working. We replaced the batteries, but to no avail.
My first instinct was to see if there was a remote app I could download from the app store to replace the physical remote, and indeed there was. In fact there were many to choose from.
I went with the SmartThings app, which seemed to be tied into Samsung devices.
The app works fine, but it is slow and awkward.
For example. we can use the app to navigate to the YouTube TV app, record a show, and then play it at a later day. So far, so good.
But every time you want to fast forward through a commercial, you have to start the app again, and then make sure you are touching the forwared arrow in just the right spot (hard to do because you have to be looking at the TV to see how far to advance it, and so you end up pressing the wrong part of the app screen. As I said, it’s both slow, and awkward.
But it does work, and there is no need to worry about losing your physical remote.
However, after a couple of weeks, we just couldn’t take it any longer.
So we decided to order a repalcement remote.
It arrived yesterday, and what a difference it has made.
We didn’t realize how much we took that remote for granted. Well, no longer.
It is so much easier to use than the remote app. It’s also faster and more accurate.
The physical remote cost $15, while the remote app was free.
But I think it’s one of those times where you get what you pay for…
I’m constantly losing my bedroom tv remote. After similar app frustration, I bought a spare. And I applied small glow stickers to each, to make them easier to find. One has been missing for weeks but that’s mainly due to me not caring enough to really search for it.
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yes, we’ve lost many remotes over the years…
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The missing remotes must be partying with the missing socks!!
I once found a missing sock months later. Still had it’s mate. Paired them up then lost the pair!!
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it’s funny that everybody seems to lose the same things. Seems like someone should design a solution for such problems!
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Here’s your chance to make a million!!
I was looking at more Roku remotes and a lot now come with ridiculous covers. Since they aren’t prone to breaking I wonder if they’re meant to prevent loss.
Waaay back when, a friend learned about people cutting their hands when slicing bagels. He was ready to invent something and quite disappointed when I said many people already did so!
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our bagel slicer is one of our most used hand appliances!
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Yes, why do they make everything in black – we need fluorescent orange remotes!
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there’s your million dollar business opportunity! I’d buy one…
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Day glo…. so they absorb light then glow at night!
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even better!
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I would have got the physical remote as well. We have a universal remote which is quite useful if you need a back up.
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I was on the fence with a universal remote, but we ended up getting a replica of the one that came with the tv. seems to do the trick.
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Remotes can be very frustrating. They are never at hand when I need them and with Dish Network, I need two remotes. Springing for the new remote was definitely a good decision in your situation.
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we used to need two remotes, but now that we’ve dropped cable, we no longer do. the new remote has worked well so far…
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I want a go-back button on the remote. There are so many functions that I don’t need. I can’t be the only one who inadvertently hits a button just to spend the next half hour trying to figure out what happened.
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we got a very simple remote for that same reason. and wouldn’t it be nice to have a go-back button in real life? 🙂
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I feel a Borden’s Blather article coming up. There must be a study on what moments in our lives we’d like a do-over.
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I’d have to give some thought to that one 🙂
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I’m with Pete. I just want 4 or 5 options that I can easily get in or out, and I’m team physical remote –
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I agree as well, the simpler the better…
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I would be lost without my remote. I guess I would try the app if I had no alternative, but it would only be while I await for my replacement remote to arrive.
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it’s nice to have the app as a backup…
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This reminds me of all those times I’ve mistaken our cordless phone for the TV remote, and tried to change channels with it. I’d like a physical remote that doesn’t look like a phone. Not even remotely.
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and how many times have you tried to answer your TV remote when the phone is ringing?
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That happens to. And it really ticks me off when I accidentally change the channel.
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or hang up on someone instead of turning off the tv…
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Or hit the mute button, but the person on the other end keeps talking.
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that would be a nice feature…
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A remote app, in my house, would likely be on someone else’s phone or device in a room other than the TV, making it only useful for not watching anything.
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and that may be a good thing… 🙂
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Except for baseball games.
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are you a baseball fan?
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A big Blue Jays fan.
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that sounds familiar; maybe you had told me that before. I’m a Phillies fan…
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So also a Bryce Harper fan I am guessing.
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he seems ok; I was much more into the team back in the Chase Utley era…
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Remotes can be such a pain! Took me awhile to learn how to work the remote for the elderly lady I take care of. I was like, well you may be able to watch a movie by tomorrow! Now its no problem but she better never get a new Tv. LOL!
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thankfully my remote only has about six buttons on it. but I have had remotes that took a while to learn. bad design by the maker…
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Only 6 buttons would be great!
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👍
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I’d have gone for the replacement, too. My tv provider’s remote works with my TV set as well as their remote, as does the Apple TV remote, and I’d be lost without either of them. Apple provide an iPhone app for the Apple TV, but if it can switch my tv on and off I’ve yet to find out how!
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I’ve had the same problems with remotes that can do a lot of things, but not turn the tv off or on. seems like that should be part of every remote…
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I agree, and it can’t be that hard to do: most boxes come with a list of codes to link them to a brand of tv, so why can’t they all do it?
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it seems as if some remotes can do it, then all are capable…
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They should be 😊
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👍
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The tv in my guestroom is really getting on my nerves lol it’s so dang so and I feel like it’s possessed lol but I’m too lazy to call the cable company (my husband is convinced it’s the service m not the tv) and luckily it’s not our main tv in the house so I’ve not really cared as much… You get what you give… 🤷♀️
But you’re right, sometimes you get what you paid for and change the littlest inconvenience can make the biggest difference!
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there’s the chance when you call the cable company they will blame it on the tv, and vice versa…
but yes, it’s nice when you can find a way to fix life’s little inconveniences, especially for just $15 🙂
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Awesome! The Borden household is no longer remotely connected through an App. Hmm, now where did my remote wander to?
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they are tough to keep track of!
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Always encouraging to read someone else lives in my world of loss. It happens everyday with something I need. I don’t realize I need what ever it is till I can’t find it. acceptance is the key at my age, losing come with the territory, aging is frustrating and just down right hard at times, unless you can laugh about it. I like your sense of humor. Blessings.
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I guess absence (loss) makes the heart grow fonder. And yes, laughing at ourselves is critical 🙂
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Hi Jim, your remote experience sounds a lot like my new computer. The mouse is embedded in a panel at the bottom and it is so difficult to use. I am now using an external mouse.
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for certain apps, I like using a separate mouse as well…
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We lost 2 remotes in the past few months, just like you, just kaput, no battery could help. I ordered a cheap universal Phillips remote on Amazon and presto! 🙂
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thank heaven for Amazon, and universal remotes!
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No kidding! 🙂
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