Filed under: iTunes, Apple, iPhone, App Store
First Look: Remote
Apple has a treat waiting for all you iPhone/iPod touch owners who also happen to be iTunes users (I imagine there is a high level of overlap between the two groups): Remote. Remote is a free application that turns your iPhone (or iPod touch) into a remote control for iTunes. Sounds simple, but once you use it you'll wonder how you did without it.Apple's implementation makes it a fairly seamless experience. Your iPhone and Mac that hosts your iTunes library need to be on the same Wi-Fi network (nope, it doesn't work over EDGE or 3G), and you need to enter a code from your iPhone into iTunes but that's it. From there it feels like your entire iTunes library is now on your iPhone. The best part is that if you have multiple sets of AirTunes speakers, like I do, you can control where your music is routed to.
Did I mention that Remote is free? Yep, this great little app costs nothing.
Check out this gallery for a bunch of screenshots.
Gallery: Apple's Remote
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ethan said 7:08AM on 7-11-2008
It's called remote but you mentioned playing it through your iphone - does it do playback through your computer or to your hifi by airtunes?
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holo said 7:30AM on 7-11-2008
It plays back on the computer you connect to. If the computer has remote speakers setup, it will give you the option to change over and play to them.
It doesn't play the music locally on the iphone/ipod touch
Ethan said 8:02AM on 7-11-2008
Great, don't really see the point of playback on the device, but I saw a pic of a movie on the screen? Albeit, hanging.
MrsShark166 said 8:10AM on 7-11-2008
Ok, where's the freaking update? It's after 8a.m. and still nothing?
lagomiami said 7:14AM on 7-11-2008
love it, quick set up (more like instant), and it works.
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BENCH said 7:16AM on 7-11-2008
Damn, it's time for Wireless sync, this would be great!
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David said 7:22AM on 7-11-2008
Hi, a question:
When I use the remote to set up my computer to play a song, can i then exit the remote and play super monkey ball (or whatever) and still have the computer continue to play the item(and if so, will it continue to play through a selected playlist if i tell it to?) Or do you have to keep the remote application open at all times?
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Rubbinz said 7:26AM on 7-11-2008
You can start up a playlist and exit, it'll keep playing.
Travis said 7:29AM on 7-11-2008
you absolutely can do that David - you can leave the app and come back to it whenever you like, and the computer will continue to play your music as if you had controlled it directly with the mouse (likewise for an AppleTV too).
Travis said 7:28AM on 7-11-2008
This application is just brilliant - I've been hoping Apple would do something like this for a long time! Works really well with the AppleTV too.
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Tony said 7:36AM on 7-11-2008
What bugs me is that it works with Apple TV but not Front Row. C’mon Apple, sort it out.
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Rubbinz said 7:40AM on 7-11-2008
Yep, that kinda ticked me off last night. Also, iTunes has to be open in order for it to work, it doesn't start up iTunes for you.
HGS said 7:40AM on 7-11-2008
Remote Buddy ( http://www.iospirit.com/ ) and Signal ( http://alloysoft.com ) could do this since last year already. Many things in Apple's product are identical to theirs, especially the way the search function works. Sad that nobody gives these developers credit for their work. Really sad.
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Viper007Bond said 7:41AM on 7-11-2008
Does it work on Windows?
I'm just curious, but I wouldn't use it even if it did. iTunes on Windows is a horrible experience (it locks up, crashes, etc. etc. on a daily basis). I wish Apple would get off their asses and make it work as well on Windows as it probably does on Mac. I literally had to work on it for an hour to get it to install (ended up having to wipe iTunes and then install standalone QuickTime first).
*goes to huggle Winamp*
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Leo M. said 4:25PM on 7-11-2008
"I wish Apple would get off their asses and make it work as well on Windows as it probably does on Mac. I literally had to work on it for an hour to get it to install (ended up having to wipe iTunes and then install standalone QuickTime first)."
I wish people would get off their asses and just buy macs...I don't like apple having to accommodate every windows user out there...it's pretty much their fault that they're in that mess.
Viper007Bond said 6:52PM on 7-11-2008
So now I have to buy and use Mac OS which I absolutely hate just to use a MP3 player? Yeah, that makes a bunch of sense.
Stop being an Apple fanboy. iTunes is literally the only problem I've ever had on Vista and unlike you, I can actually play more than half a dozen games.
Bryan Liles said 7:42AM on 7-11-2008
Pictures doesn't do it justice. I took some video http://smartic.us/2008/7/10/appletv-iphone-bliss
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jonny said 7:44AM on 7-11-2008
more importantly, this remote app can be used with TV. This in itself is the most impressive thing so far I think. No more tedious inputting to search on youtube? We hope?
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Randy Spencer said 5:53PM on 7-14-2008
The software does NOT work with YouTube, the main reason to get a new remote for the AppleTV, it is quite difficult typing in the item you are searching for. What Remote does is cool, as previously described, the cover art displayed on the iPhone while the music plays via your AirTunes under the volume control of the iPhone. But with all the effort of putting out a new version of the AppleTV software why did they leave out the ability to type on the iPhone and have it immediately show up on the aTV?
-Randy
Tj said 3:03PM on 7-11-2008
Remote only provides access to Music on the Mac, PC, or ATV. No video control or access to other ATV categories.
Still, very impressive - especially if you have speakers throughout your home and you're listening to music but not sitting in front of the playback system.