When Amazon first added Fire TV capabilities to the Echo Show 15, you could control the experience using the touchscreen when using a touch-enabled app and either a physical or virtual on-screen remote when an app didn’t support touch interaction. Not available at the time was the ability to use the Fire TV Remote app on a mobile device with the Echo Show 15. Amazon has now added support for the remote app with a few limitations. Read more ›
Just like all major streaming platforms, Android TV has had a remote app for some time. At today’s Google I/O conference, Google announced that those remote control capabilities will now be built directly into Android phones. The new built-in version gains some improvements over the existing stand-alone app, such as a Google Assistant button and TV control buttons. The new remote will roll out to Android devices “later this year.” Even though the Fire TV is based on Android, it is highly unlikely that this new built-in Android remote will be able to control Fire TV devices, so you’ll need to stick with the Fire TV’s Remote App if you want to control Amazon’s streaming devices with your phone.
The official Fire TV Remote app by Amazon is a handy way to control your Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. Whether you want to use the app’s voice function because you have a non-voice physical remote, or you want to use the app’s keyboard to input text quicker than the Fire TV’s onscreen keyboard permits, the Fire TV Remote app is great to have installed on all of your phones and tablets. The app has just received its most significant update since launch with a few handy new features. You can now launch your favorited Fire TV apps directly within the remote app, put the Fire TV to sleep, and sign into your Amazon account for easier discovery of your Fire TV devices. Read more ›
The developer of Remote Mouse for Fire TV has released an iOS version of his popular app. The app replicates the features of the official Fire TV Remote app but adds one killer feature. That feature being the ability to use your iPhone or iPad as a touchpad to control a virtual mouse on your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. Note that you need to buy and install the $1.99 Fire TV app on your Fire TV in order for the $0.99 iOS app to function.
I’ve reached out to the developer and he has agreed to give anyone who already purchased the Android version a promo code to get the iOS version of the app for free. Shoot him an email at androidtouchdev [at] gmail.com to get your promo code.
Roomie Remote is an iOS only universal remote app that uses your network to control your home theater and home automation devices. The app sports an impressive list of supported devices. The latest update to the app has added the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick to that list. Roomie will auto-discover Fire TV devices and control them over your network. The app even supports keyboard input via its own on-screen keyboard.
The number of alternate ways to control your Fire TV continues to grow. Roomie is now one of several apps capable of controlling the Fire TV via a smartphone or tablet. Last month we saw high end home automation systems gain Fire TV support via a set of pricey drivers. And if you prefer a good old fashioned physical remote, there’s always Logitech’s Harmony line of universal smart remotes.
The remote app launcher, App Shortcuts, that I was able to show off last month has been released for iOS. The app allows you to remotely launch any app on your Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick using your smartphone or tablet. An Android version is currently pending approval in the Google Play store and should be available soon. Read more ›
A new app called Remote Mouse for Fire TV has just been released for the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. Once installed on both your Fire TV and Android phone, the app allows you to use your phone to control your Fire TV in a number of ways.
Similar to the official Fire TV Remote App, this new app allows you to control media playback, use a directional pad for navigation, and enter text on your Fire TV using your smartphones keyboard. The apps killer feature, however, is its ability to act as a virtual mouse for the Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. Read more ›
The Amazon Fire TV Remote app has been released for the iPhone and iPad. The app is virtually identical to the Android version released in conjunction with the Fire TV Stick launch in November. It is compatible with both the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, and allows you to perform all the functionality of a voice remote. Additionally, it serves as an alternative to the onscreen keyboard, letting you enter text much quickly than with the physical remote controls.
The Amazon Fire TV Remote app is now available on the Amazon Appstore and Google Play Store. The iOS version for iPhone and iPad will be released at a later date. The app can currently only control the Fire TV Stick. Support for the Amazon Fire TV will be available 11/26, according to a note in the apps description. Launching the app on the same network as a Fire TV currently results in a never ending “Searching for Fire TV devices” message. The Fire TV likely needs the upcoming software update to work with the app. All indication is that the app functions just as described in my overview post.
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