The popularity of iOS devices and the explosion of the App Store as a distribution platform for indie devs have opened the door to clever (and unexpected) uses for iPhones and iPads Apple didn’t think of in the design stages inside their labs at Cupertino, or perhaps simply put on the shelf waiting for third-party developers to come up with their own alternative solutions.

We’ve seen iPads being used as cash registers and medical tools, let alone iPhones paired with the Square credit card reader for quick secure payments or apps to create music. And just like Square launched on the market a device that goes straight into an iPhone’s or iPad’s headphone jack to accept payments on the go, Apptwee believes an iOS device can become an infrared remote compatible with hundreds of televisions thanks to a small dongle that, once configured with an app, will allow you to control your TV using multitouch. Once inserted in your device’s headphone jack, Apptwee’s Ri infrared communicator will take care of all the settings behind pairing and IR codes thanks to an app (available in the App Store) that supports “225 most popular brands, over 72 Different device types, and over 845 devices”. Apptwee says new ones are being added every day, and your current television should work out of the box with the Ri. The device is not a “learning remote” – meaning that you can’t “teach it” to work with your TV like you can do with many universal remotes sold at electronic stores. However, the Ri app has a colorful interface and lots of functionalities – you can easily switch between TV sets and even create a list of “favorites” to access at any time.

The Ri dongle is available at $29.99 on Amazon, and it currently ships only in North America. The app is available in App Store for free, and it’s universal. Check out a demo video below. [via TUAW]