Filed under: iPod Family, iTunes, Apple, iPhone, App Store
Two Apple iPhone apps: Remote Control and Texas Hold'em
The App Store is kinda live, live enough that we can see the two applications that Apple has to offer. The first app is called 'Remote' [iTunes link] and oddly enough it lets you control iTunes on your Mac from your iPhone. You can stop, start, and pause music, and browse your library... all via your iPhone or iPod touch. Remote requires the use of a Wi-Fi network, and is free.
The other Apple app is Texas Hold'em [iTunes link], which is the first in a very long list of card games that third parties are going to be making for the iPhone. You can play Texas Hold'em (a type of Poker) against the app's built-in opponents or against your friends over Wi-Fi (your friends must be running Texas Hold'em on their iPhones as well). Multiplayer supports up to 9 players so you can finally get rid of all those messy cards you have! Texas Hold'em costs $4.99.
Update: Apple has posted some more info about Remote here.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Adam said 9:11AM on 7-10-2008
Leave it to Apple to charge for their own cheap app.
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Constantin said 9:12AM on 7-10-2008
You can actually browse the store, there are plenty of apps available for review. Just search for one and then click on the applications link on top.
I am somewhat shocked how many people wanna sell sh!t and make money. C'mon, flashlight for .99???!!
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emil Hedaya said 9:17AM on 7-10-2008
Yeah, who likes money? :-\
Reuven said 9:56AM on 7-10-2008
Yeah, that's bizarre.
On the other hand, Light is free. (Gotta love those screenshots!)
Flannel said 9:13AM on 7-10-2008
The app store is live proper here now. Wheeeee.
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antangil said 9:14AM on 7-10-2008
Is remote Mac-only? I'm looking at the blurb in iTunes, and it says "computer" where normally I'd expect to see "Mac". The requirements don't appear to include Mac OSX... I guess we'll know for sure in a few short hours.
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Bob Y said 9:23AM on 7-10-2008
It's said "computer" there for the past couple versions, that's in reference to what speakers Itunes should play to. You can either play to your computer or Apple TV. I have my home theater set up with Apple TV, so I often flip that switch to ATV and play my Itunes off my macbook over my stereo. Not sure when that function came out, but a least 1-2 versions before 7.7
antangil said 10:00AM on 7-10-2008
Right, but I'm interested to know whether Remote will recognize and control iTunes on my XP machine; it was implied in the post that Remote is Mac-only, but I'm not sure where they draw that conclusion from the information available.
Wayne said 9:17AM on 7-10-2008
I have one question about all of these apps - will I be able to transfer them to another phone?
I've got the first gen iPhone and I'm not in a rush to upgrade - the new phone offers nothing that I will benefit from (no 3G coverage 2.2KM from city airport in London, and the GPS is useless when you're out of cell coverage). But I'd like to buy apps.
Should I be thinking of upgrading just because it will save me having to buy apps twice? Or will I be able to move these when I do upgrade ?
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Casey said 9:18AM on 7-10-2008
Finally, no one will be able to screw around with the music on my stereo next time I throw a house party! I can see this being a pretty popular way to DJ your tunes.
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Andrew said 9:18AM on 7-10-2008
Go to Applications in the sidebar, and in the bottom right, select "Get More Applications" for the full store. Im sure some of you know this, but some of the sites reporting dont seem to.
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Ryan said 9:19AM on 7-10-2008
Unless apple bought it from them, I'm sure the guys doing Remote Buddy can't be very happy about the Remote app.
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Rich UK said 9:52AM on 7-10-2008
Why would apple have to buy anything from remote buddy. They're developing an app for the iphone to control itunes? What do iospirit own in that link. As a developer of any program surely you're always conscious of the fact that the os maker could always turn around and develop a native app that may well out do your own.
While remote buddy is useful it is still limited and quite awkward at times. I welcome apple to the foray, as with anything that makes my life easier.
John Brissenden said 10:09AM on 7-10-2008
Remote Buddy is a POS, because it connects via the web. I tried using it to run Keynote presentations on my old PowerBook, and gave up. Looking forward to trying out the new Apple app when they eventually put iPhone 2.0 up!
Bob Y said 9:20AM on 7-10-2008
Not sure what you guys are looking at Tuaw, but as of 07:15AM EST this morning, I've already downloaded 45+ Apps. Stocking up now, we know 8AM tomorrow those servers are going to be PACKED, better to just dl what you want now, bring the phone home, sync and blaow! All set.
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Elam said 9:49AM on 7-10-2008
Agreed! I've DL'd about 20 - just waiting for 2.0 and I'll be ready to fly.
ZrO-1 said 9:27AM on 7-10-2008
Once you install iTunes 7.7 open iTunes' preferences and check-off Applications in the "Show:" section. Once you do that, you can then select Applications in the source column. It will initially be empty, but at the bottom of the window is a link to the full App Store (It says: Get More Applications ->) where you can access ALL of the apps currently available, free or otherwise.
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Bob Y said 9:30AM on 7-10-2008
I'm curious as to what type of protection Apple has put on these Apps so they can not be shared via the same computer/itunes account. For instance, say I download 100apps, what is preventing me from taking a friend's iphone, plugging it in, restoring it as mine and syncing all my apps with theirs? I don't see how they can block this?
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Ed said 6:25AM on 7-11-2008
The same way they stop you doing that with your music. They use fairplay which limits the apps to a certain number of devices. With music I think thats 5, could be less for apps...
Joe V. said 10:09AM on 7-10-2008
So, it looks like the Remote app will only control your iTunes music library. It doesn't mention being able to browse AppleTV movies, photos, YouTube, etc. That's kind of a bummer, and I'm not sure why it's the case. Lord knows it would be much easier to type a search phrase on the iPhone than to go. one. letter. at. a. time. with the Apple Remote.
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