The editorial staff of Telecharger.com has selected five free applications to control your media center from your Android device, your iPhone or your Windows Phone.
Owner of a Raspberry Pi or a great fan of the organization, you have certainly indexed and stored your multimedia content in a media center. One of the most famous, Kodi, allows you to organize your files according to their types, and thus easily find videos, music and images that you can broadcast on your television. While there are dedicated physical remotes and keyboards today, it is also possible to download mobile applications that allow you to control Kodi remotely, as well as access its media library from your smartphone or tablet. Telecharger.com has therefore selected five free remote controls, compatible with Kodi and its derivatives, available on Android, iPhone and Windows Phone.
Kore
Developed by the XBMC Foundation, Kore is touted as the official Kodi remote control. Very intuitive, the application automatically detects the media centers present on the network and saves in memory those to which you connect. No need to enter the required network information, Kore takes care of it for you.
In its remote control function, Kore is perfectly functional. The virtual pad composed of directional arrows and a validation button facilitates navigation and selection of files in the media library. Swiping the interface to the left takes you to advanced playback controls. Discreet but useful options allow you to adjust the volume, manage the audio stream, synchronize the offset subtitles.
If you have taken the time to organize the contents of your media library by type, Kore offers the possibility of browsing your media directly from the application. Launching a film or a series from your smartphone is all the more quickly done since you can hide the elements already viewed. Small bonus point for Kore who proposes to automatically pause the media played when you receive a call.
The +:
+ Intuitive handling
+ Navigation in the Kodi media library from the application
+ Audio flow management (language)
+ Synchronization of subtitles in case of delay
+ Automatic pause of reading in case of phone call
+ Wake on LAN
The – :
– The remote control icons are not always very meaningful
– Text entry not very ergonomic
Download Kore (apk) for Android (Free)
Yatse
A serious alternative to Kore, Yatse has similar features combined in a user-friendly interface. Like its competitor, the application automatically detects media centers on the network and connects to them without going through manual entry mode.
Yatse’s remote displays few surprises in terms of its layout but has more options than Kore’s. The volume is summarily adjusted, an integrated keyboard facilitates text entry, and you can swap the traditional directional arrows against a virtual touchpad. By tapping on the block of the media being broadcast, you access advanced playback controls with the ability to download subtitles for movies and TV series.
Yatse supports the addition of many plugins and allows the configuration of custom HTTP (S) commands for the more resourceful. The media library is accessible from the mobile device, and it is possible to browse all the multimedia content from the application and then launch them on television. Additional settings save you from spoilers by hiding movie and episode recaps you haven’t seen yet. We also appreciate the integration of widgets allowing you to browse the media library and manage playlists from the home page of your Android smartphone or tablet.
The +:
+ Complete interface pleasant to navigate
+ Navigation in the Kodi media library from the application
+ Support adding plugins and configuring custom commands
+ Integrated keyboard for easy text entry
+ Many widgets
+ Wake on LAN
The – :
– No synchronization possible if the subtitles are offset
Download Yatse (apk) for Android (Free)
Official Kodi Remote
Officially developed by one of the members of the Kodi team, Official Kodi Remote is in fact ultra-functional. Recognition of your media center is done automatically, sparing you the tedious step of manual entry.
Official Kodi Remote offers a perfectly intuitive and aesthetically flawless remote control. Directional arrows are responsive when it comes to browsing media center content. Additional options such as audio stream and subtitle settings allow easy management of playback properties.
Like the apps tested so far, Official Kodi Remote manages browsing and launching content directly from your smartphone or tablet. The reading window includes the elementary expected controls bar. A side panel gives access to sound management and even offers some non-essential but welcome tools: the keyboard facilitates text entries, the customization of the remote control pad is left to your liking, and a shortcut to the flashlight provides a little light for those who prefer to watch movies in the dark.
The +:
+ Intuitive and aesthetic interface
+ Navigation in the Kodi media library from the application
+ Easy management of audio and subtitle streams (languages)
+ Keyboard for easy text entry
+ Possible customization of the main button of the remote control
+ Wake on LAN
The – :
– No synchronization of the subtitles possible in the event of a shift
Download Official Kodi Remote for iPhone / iPad (Free)
Sybu
A convincing alternative on iPhone and iPad, Sybu offers a more visual interface than Official Kodi Remote, highlighting images and graphics that inspire simplicity. The association with the media center is done automatically, but it is also possible to enter the connection information manually.
The remote control integrated in Sybu combines all the essential functions without giving the impression of clutter or overload. As with other applications, the directional pad takes up most of the available space. All around, buttons and control bars allow the management of audio streams, subtitles, sound, the search for a specific passage in multimedia content and access to the media library. However, we deplore a not very ergonomic language selector showing no overview of the idiomatic possibilities. The keyboard facilitates text entry and access to the media library.
Sybu has the tools necessary for browsing the content from the application. It is also possible to directly launch a movie, music or slide show, add media to a playlist, and manually search for a file.
The +:
+ Fluid and visually aesthetic interface
+ Navigation in the Kodi media library from the application
+ All major functions are accessible from the remote control
+ Keyboard for easy text entry
The – :
– Management of languages (audio and subtitles) not very intuitive
– Application in English
Download Sybu for iPhone / iPad (Free)
XBMC Assist
XBMC Assist is certainly one of the most convincing solutions on Windows Phone. Unlike its counterparts on Android and iOS, the app doesn’t automatically connect to Kodi. You must then go to the connection parameters and enter the name, IP address and port number of your media center. A little longer, handling remains accessible to less experienced users.
The remote control offered by XBMC Assist is no exception to a classic display. The directional arrows facilitate navigation within the different directories. Advanced playback controls are directly accessible under the pad and offer precise volume adjustment. These same controls are also present on the file of the current media, supplemented by a cursor that is positioned at the place from where you want to resume a video.
XBMC Assist offers multimedia navigation from the app, allowing you to launch content from your smartphone and display it on your television. Some additional parameters can be the subject of a personalized configuration, such as the choice of shortcut icons to be displayed on the remote control or the actions to be linked to the “previous” and “next” buttons.
The +:
+ Intuitive interface
+ Navigation in the Kodi media library from the application
+ Customization of the buttons to display on the remote control
The – :
– No automatic connection to the media center
– No management of the audio stream (language)
– No synchronization possible if the subtitles are offset
Download XBMC Assist for Windows Phone (Free)
Verdict
The competition raged on Android, but it was ultimately Kore who won against Yatse. Although this remote control reserves some gray areas for new users, we can only recognize its functional qualities. Resynchronizing the shifted captions tipped the scales for this easy-to-learn app that can automatically pause playing media when you receive a phone call.
On the iOS side, it is still an official application that convinces the editorial staff with Official Kodi Remote. All the criteria required for a Kodi remote control come together in a single solution that surprisingly pushes perfection to include a shortcut to the flashlight.
Kodi remotes are ultimately not very present on the Windows Store. XBMC Assist remains the one that seemed to us to be the most relevant and the most complete on Windows Phone. Compatible with the oldest operating systems, the application embeds the major features that make this remote control an honorable tool despite some shortcomings.