Towards the end of December, WD released an Android and iOS remote app for the WD TV Live and Live Hub, which just might be one of the coolest and most useful add-on features we have seen for a media hub. WD Remote as its called, puts the same features as the standard remote into the your phone, lifting the restrictions of the line-of-sight IR interface and making navigation much simpler. In this quick review we show you the basic features of this app which is easily filed in the "must have" category if you own one of Western Digital’s newer home media players.
Towards the end of December, WD released an Android and iOS remote app for the WD TV Live and Live Hub, which just might be one of the coolest and most useful add-on features we have seen for a media hub. WD Remote as its called, puts the same features as the standard remote into the your phone, lifting the restrictions of the line-of-sight IR interface and making navigation much simpler. In this quick review we show you the basic features of this app which is easily filed in the "must have" category if you own one of Western Digital’s newer home media players.
First, some readers might be asking is why does this type of application need to exist? The answer from a user’s standpoint is simple, you no longer need to remember where you put the remote, nor do you need to fight with old cursor movement for text input. This app brings to your mobile phone what the Apple Remote brings to the Apple TV, ease of use. There are three main screens to the application, consisting of the function key screen, quick access to applications such as Netflix, as well as a text input area that relies on the keyboard on your phone for entering in login information for applications or user/password combos to access network shares.
Using the WD Remote is as simple as installing the app from the proper app store depending on if you use iOS or Android. Once installed, the application looks for compatible devices on the network, shows you a list of every media player that it finds, and gives you instant control as long as it has open permissions. In roughly 5-10 seconds from first loading it up it works exactly like the remote included with the WD TV Live or Live Hub. If you happen to have multiple compatible phones in the household, you no longer have to worry about finding the remote to watch a movie, just fire up the app on your phone and go. The software also supports gesture input to replace the standard up/down/left/right and other motions, making it more intuitive to operate the WD TV Live.
The application is not without its flaws though. First it only works with the latest generation of WD TV Live and Live Hub media players. Models that came out before the latest OS aren’t compatible with the remote app. You also need to be running the latest software if you do have compatible hardware, which isn’t a downside, just a requirement to get everything working. Another possible flaw that may allow for some household or office shenanigans is the open nature of the WD TV in how it pairs with the remote. By default there is no security enabled, which will let you remotely control the unit in question from anywhere as long as it is visible in the network. The flip side is you are no longer limited by the short range of IR to control media players hidden away in closets or in other rooms.
Overall the WD Remote iOS app adds a good deal of usability to the WD TV Live and Live Hub and does it without costing a penny. Users finally gain easy keyboard input and gesture support and no longer have to rely on third-party remote extenders to operate the WD TV Live with the remote interface. Now the only thing limiting range is the strength of the Wi-Fi network in your home or office, making it easier to relax and unwind enjoying your favorite TV show or movie.
