For certain Android devices, like the newer versions of Samsung’s Galaxy tablets, the Peel Smart Remote app (free on Android) can perform that trick — if you’re lucky.

Peel Smart Remote is a specialized version of the Peel app (which I’ll describe in greater detail in a moment). Because the newer Galaxy tablets have an infrared transmitter, Peel Smart Remote can communicate with most televisions, at least in theory.

I configured the Samsung tablet four times, following the app’s directions, and while it was able to turn my television on and off, it somehow failed to change the channel. I’ll keep trying the app, though, because the idea of an integrated channel guide and remote is too enticing to ignore.

The less ambitious version of the app, known simply as Peel, is a personalized channel guide. To make its recommendations, Peel relies on you to select your favorite channels, but it can also offer recommendations that are based on what your friends watch (assuming they also use the app, and connect with you through Peel).

As a recommendation engine, Peel is good but not great. The app starts by asking for your ZIP code. Next you select your television provider — in my case, Comcast — from a list.

If I remember my last run-in with Comcast’s billing department well enough, it has at least a few cable packages to choose from, yet Peel didn’t want to know about that.

Rather, it only asked if I got Channel 100. I said yes, thinking that maybe this was enough information for it to discern my channels.