DVR Remote Lite is a great app which gives you the power to control TiVo over WiFi with the use of your iPhone. According to the developer’s website, the remote work with both the TiVo HD and Series 3. I have used the app for a while now and it works great. It does take a few minutes to get through the set up process, so let me walk you through it. The first thing you want to do is get to your TiVo and select “Messages/Settings” from the main screen.
Then select “Settings”, “Remote and Devices”, then finally select enable under “Network Remote Control”. DVR Remote Lite should now be connected to TiVo (via WiFi) and you should see your DVR listed now. In the Device List screen you will see your TiVo (model number by default) located at the top followed by the Mobile TiVo Viewer then Support. The Mobile TiVo Viewer gives you built-in access to TiVo Mobile. You can easily browse for movies or shows to record without having to leave the app.
To access the remote just tap on your listed DVR on the Device List screen. You will notice a few familiar buttons. DVR Remote Lite gives you access to most of TiVo’s remote functionality, such as the popular “Thumbs-up /Thumbs-down”. If you need to access the number pad just simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen. You will notice a button that resembles a keyboard. DVR Remote Lite makes searching for something via keyword simple. You just have to match the TiVo keyboard screen to the one shown in the app. To change screen configurations just simply swipe from side to side. You will also notice a menu icon located on the top right side. When you tap on the menu icon you are presented with six selections: “Now Playing”, “Timeout”, “Favorites”, “Themes”, “Move Buttons”, and “Mobile Viewer”.
Now Playing gives you quick access to view your TiVo recordings. However, there is a minor step involved to get the “Now Playing” feature to work. You have to visit TiVo Central online and sign into your account. Once you are logged into TiVo Central, located under “Messages and Settings” select “Account and System Information”. You will notice your Media Access Key number. This is the number you will enter into the app and then you should be able to view your list of TiVo recordings. When you tap on a recording DVR Remote Lite will show you detailed information about the recording such as: Title, Episode, Description, Recording info., and the Source (Channel).
In addition under menu, you can select “Allow Timeout” which will prevent your iPhone from going into sleep mode. DVR Remote Lite makes channel surfing easier giving you the option to store your favorite channels and access them with one tap. You can even change the appearance of the remote.
The remote has five themes pre-installed: Guifx, Default, Default (Large), Ruby, and Starry Night. You can download four more themes as well: Real Remote, Retro, Candy Floss, and Misty Dawn. Another nice feature gives you the ability to move the remote buttons and drag them into any order you prefer.
Now there a few differences between the Lite and Paid version. The Lite version is missing the Pause, Replay, and Skip buttons, limited to saving two favorite channels, text entry is limited to five characters, your remote skins are not saved upon closing the app, and the Now Playing feature is limited to showing five recordings.
I have found DVR Remote Lite to be very responsive working over WiFi with TiVo and I have no complaints. I have to recommend this app to anyone who owns a TiVo HD or Series 3. Since TiVo has not developed their own remote app, this is definitely a handy one to download. Even though the Lite version restricts you to five characters in keyword search, I have found that is all I really needed to find a program. I also couldn’t resist playing a joke on my wife by changing the channels (which I found rather funny, although, of course, she did not).
The setup did take a few minutes to do connecting it to TiVo, but it was worth it in the end. Please note: TiVo is not associated with DVR Remote in anyway. DVR Remote Lite was running the lastest version 3.2 at the time of this review.
DVR Remote Lite is available for FREE in the App Store.
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