I've lost the remote! Fury as Samsung yoinks TV control from its iOS app

Samsung is taking heat after an update to its iPhone app removed remote-control features for many smart TV owners.

Reg reader Robin was first to tip us off that the South Korean electronics giant's latest version of the Smart View App has removed the ability to use an iOS device as a wireless remote control.

The Smart View iOS app was last updated on October 30. It supports Samsung Smart View TVs sold as far back as 2011. Android-loving Samsung is, of course, an arch rival of iPhone-maker Apple.

"The TVs were sold with the promise of being able to use mobile phones – iOS and Android – as remote controls," Robin told us earlier today.

"Samsung have now updated their app without any warning. They have also said it is in beta, which is even worse because there is no warning whatsoever that the app is a beta in the App Store description."

In correspondence we've seen between Robin and Samsung, we couldn't help but notice this line from a "Samsung Smart View Customer Care" person:

Please accept our sincere apology for your inconvenience ... We will endeavor to reflect your precious opinion in Full Version.

Robin is not alone in his complaints over the suddenly missing features. The latest version of the Smart View app on iOS handsets has 155 ratings at an average of one star, with many peeps decrying the sudden decision to kill off the remote feature.

With the remote control feature now gone, users are complaining that the only real use left for the app is sharing videos between the TV and the handset, a far less useful feature set in the eyes of many customers.

"Logically this should have been set as a new app, leaving what we had before, even if no longer supported, as they were," writes one reviewer.

"But to replace an app that had TV remote control & streamed view with one that just puts photos and videos from a device to on-screen, a feature that was already available ... This is a massive downgrade."

El Reg has prodded Samsung for comment on the matter, but has yet to hear back from any spokespeople. Perhaps Samsung is just feeling a little bitter after word leaked of its $50m phone snub by James Bond. ®