100% this. I used to be able to control my ceiling fan, my portable a/c, and my TV from my phone.

Now I have to use the fan remote, the a/c remote, and install and create an account with some stupid TV app.

...it was also fun for changing the channel of TVs at bars & restaurants.

This brings memories back for when IR data exchange was a thing and you had to carefully place two phones head-to-head and not move them for minutes just to transfer a song lol.

One of the reasons I had Xiaomy phones in the past 5 years. Many models still have IR blaster.

Funny thing is I work for a company who manufactures products with infrared sensors and we have an app specifically for IR capable snartphones to fine tune these products. In the past 5 years I did not see a single client who would have IR on their phones, so basically the app is not used by a single person anymore. Either this or they can buy our official remote... for 200 euros a piece.

Pubs were fun with these.

There is a USB-C IR blaster that exists, but the Tiqiaa/ZaZaRemote app is awful.

Not everything uses IR blasters anymore.

I remember seeing these everywhere and was super disappointed that by the time I could afford phones not bought at Dollar General, they weren't a thing anymore.

Yep. My final phone to have one came with this app to control it that was straight malware. Force click a pop up every time you open the app type shit. I still miss it