Filed under: Fun, Utilities, Windows, Macintosh, Shareware, iPhone
Use your iPhone or iTouch as a remote for your Mac or PC
by Jay Hathaway Jun 11th 2008
With the announcement of the new iPhone, we figure there will be some new interest in this bit of software that's been around for a while: Do you have a computer without one of those newfangled infrared spots and a remote control? Do you still want to be able to change tracks on iTunes or pause a movie from across the room? As long as you have an iPod or an iPod Touch laying around, Signal is the app for you. Its interface is almost indistinguishable from the regular iTunes player on those devices, which makes it a breeze to use. Here's how it works: download Signal and open it up, then input the IP address it gives you into your iPhone or iPod. Boom! You can access all your iTunes media from your device. Signal lets you change speakers, adjust volume, turn on shuffle or repeat, and pretty much anything else you could do from within iTunes.
There's a full demo, so you might want to try it out before you shell out 25 bones, but here are a couple of things to consider:. If you're going to buy a standard remote anyway (like the Apple Remote, for example), remember that Signal will work with your iPhone or iTouch from anywhere your network reaches, so you can use it to shoot around walls. Also consider that Signal has both Mac and Windows versions, where some other remotes only work with one platform.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mr. Obsession said 3:32PM on 6-11-2008
Remote Buddy smokes Signal with a significantly larger set of features...for less $$$.
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anonymoose said 1:19PM on 6-12-2008
Only if you have a Mac . . .
Taylor said 2:30PM on 6-12-2008
Signal also works through the cellular connection if you don't want to use wifi for whatever reason, you just need to forward the port from your router to your computer, and if you use a service like DyDNS, you won't have to go find out what your outside IP address is all the time (because they give you a fixed web address... it's a slick service!). Both of those features are builtin and easy to setup on most routers (at least the WRT54G i have at work has them).
Also, TouchPad Pro is a sweet VNC app for jailbroken iPhones and iTouchs, and they have a media controlling app too (the media part isn't free tho).
And actually, TouchPad Media server, as it's called, can also be used on non-jailbroken devices because it can provide a web-app interface.
Also, signal has a version for windows mobile that installs on the device. forget what it's called but i played with the demo and it was cool.
:)
-Taylor
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