Apple Thoughts - News & Reviews on all things Apple

Be sure to register in our forums and post your comments - we want to hear from you!


Android Thoughts

Loading feed...

Laptop Thoughts

Loading feed...

Digital Home Thoughts

Loading feed...





All posts tagged "remote"


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

AT&T Announces Home Security Service Called Digital Life

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 04:00 AM

http://www.imore.com/2012/05/07/att...te-control-app/

"AT&T has announced a new home security and automation service called Digital Life that comes with an iPad and iPhone app with a bunch of security and remote control options."

I like these home automation set ups, makes it easy to monitor things in case you aren't home. And with this one you actually get them to install and monitor. If you are in Dallas or Atlanta, you might want to go to the AT&T site for this since those areas are the first to go live this summer.


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Use Your iPhone as Your Remote

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 06:00 AM

http://www.cultofmac.com/144837/get...nationwide-now/

"One of the best accessories you can purchase for your new iPhone is a little device that allows you to control your television and other audio/visual gear from your smartphone. It means you don't have to search around for that lost remote, get up to change the channel, or keep replacing the batteries in all the remotes already littering your home."

On the surface, it sounds like a great idea and I'm anxious to try this since it is available now from Apple for $70.00 USD. However, after reading this article I may give it a bit before ordering until they work out the bugs. Then again, since Apple is great letting you return your purchases I might try it anyway and return it if it doesn't work out.


Thursday, December 23, 2010

Remote App From Apple Updated to Add Streaming Support

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 10:00 AM

http://gizmodo.com/5716134/stream-i.../full+(Gizmodo)

"The iOS remote app just got updated! One great feature is letting you take content from iTunes, on your computer, and streaming it to your Apple TV over AirPlay. Also, controlling iTunes Movies/TV directly on your Mac."

It's a free universal app, and they have also included Internet Radio support with version 2.1. You can also control iTunes on your computer from any iOS device to play TV shows, movies and other iTunes content, and this works with all iOS hardware running v3.1.2 or later.


Thursday, October 21, 2010

Verizon FiOS Customers Get Remote App

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 03:00 AM

http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/20/veri...ady-for-iphone/

"Verizon has had their FiOS DVR Manager app available for some time now. Now the company has released another offering to the App Store in the way of a wireless remote."

The app is free and available now on iTunes [link], and if you are connected to your FiOS wireless network you can pair your iPhone to your cable box and use it as you would any remote. Setup is supposed to be painless, but I have to wonder, like the author of this article, why they didn't just roll it into the DVR app? Oh well, who knows. I don't have Verizon FiOS anyway so why should I care right?


Monday, October 18, 2010

An Update for the Apple Remote App

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 04:00 AM

http://www.9to5mac.com/30700/apple-...e+Intelligence)

"Apple has just updated their Remote App Store application with a bunch of bug fixes. The update includes performance and stability enhancements and addresses some major issues that users have been reporting."

If you have had any of the following issues:

  • Includes stability and performance improvements;
  • Improves performance using Remote on an iPhone when Bluetooth is enabled;
  • Addresses a problem browsing artists with a large number of albums;
  • Addresses some issues waking up computers when using Home Sharing;
  • Addresses some issues with connecting to an iTunes library or Apple TV when using Home Sharing or a Passcode;
  • Addresses some issues with connecting to a Wi-Fi network;

then you might want to update your Remote app since all of those are supposed to be fixed!


Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Battle of the Remotes

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Other Apple Hardware" @ 07:30 AM

http://www.tipb.com/2010/10/06/sony...ne,+iPad,+iPod)

"Sony's Google TV remote (left) as compared to Apple TV's remote (right) help make manifest just how different these products will be, and they're just two of the competitors poised to battle it out for next generation rights to your living room this holiday season."

I suppose it makes sense to have the Google TV remote have all those buttons since their UI is going to be search based, but wow, it is huge! I'm sure most will be using the remote app on their phone instead of this giant.


Friday, September 17, 2010

A Tray for Your Keyboard, Trackpad and Remote

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Other Apple Hardware" @ 04:39 AM

http://gizmodo.com/5640288/house-yo.../full+(Gizmodo)

"Keep your wireless keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Apple remote neat, perfectly placed, and right at your fingertips. For those of us who don't have the full collection, there are three variations of this black walnut keyboard tray, so no worries."

This would be perfect in the living room or home theater, but I can also see it sitting on a desk in any office, Well done setup to hold all of the items, or you can get a modified version if you don't have all three accessories. A keyboard only tray runs $69.00 USD, keyboard and trackpad cost $74.00 USD and the one pictured above sells for $79.00 USD. You can find more info about these setups at the Combine Collective site.


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Schlage LiNK Has a Deal for You

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "The Competition" @ 05:30 AM

"Schlage LiNK works 24/7, to keep you in control of what's going on at home from anywhere. And it's completely secure, using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology, the same security used for online banking."

The monthly subscription price for the LiNK system from Schlage has dropped to $8.95 USD per month, and they throw in two months free. You can also buy annually for $99.95 USD. They also have their $50.00 USD rebate program on the starter kit going until the end of September. I like the idea of managing and monitoring several things on the homestead remotely, and they certainly are making it attractive to give this setup a try. It's on my short list.


Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Want a Soda? There is an App for That!

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 09:00 AM

http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/23/soda...-by-iphone-app/

"Recent MIT comp sci grad Chris Varenhorst found a cheap soda machine on Craigslist a while back, and he decided to do what any self-respecting computer science student would do nowadays: hook it up to the Internet."

Pretty cool, but on eBay it only sold for $76.00 USD, so I guess it is one of those items that you have to find just the right buyer.


Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Bang & Olufsen in the App Store

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 09:00 AM

http://www.ipodnn.com/articles/10/0...ols.av.gateway/

"Bang & Olufsen has thrown itself into the iPhone app realm by launching BeoLink as a companion to its home theater gear."

Bang & Olufsen making the jump into the app store with one of their own, BeoLink, which is free. This app will allow your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch communicate with the Master Link Gateway over Wi-Fi to control just about anything related to your home entertainment center. And not only that, it will also let you control your door locks or lights. This isn't a made for iPad app but will work on it, albeit at the upscaled resolution.


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Turn Your iPhone/iPod Touch Into a Remote With RedEye Mini

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone & iPod Touch" @ 11:00 AM

http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/03/...iversal-remote/

"ThinkFlood's first RedEye infrared controller for the iPhone and iPod touch was kind of neat but somewhat inconvenient and expensive. Their second attempt, however, looks to be a much more practical and affordable solution for controlling all of your home infrared devices and it's called the RedEye mini."

Pretty cool idea if it works. The app is free in iTunes, and from the information on their website, it appears it the RedEye Mini will cost around $50.00 USD when it is released. That sure beats their RedEye system that sells for $188.00 USD.


Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Sony Blu-ray Player, Now With Free iPhone Remote

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch)" @ 09:00 AM

http://www.ipodnn.com/articles/10/0...3d.ipod.remote/

"Sony today touted a pair of firsts in a new Blu-ray player. The BDP-S470 is its first player explicitly labeled as 3D capable and will show the format in 1080p with a firmware upgrade due to arrive in the summer. It's also one of the first that can be controlled through an iPhone or iPod touch: a recently launched BD Remote app not only provides basic control but will show related content for a given movie."

The app is free and available now in iTunes, and lets you control pretty much everything on the Sony BDP-S470, as well as get info about the movie and all the actors. This would be good for the iPad. The player is set to ship by March and cost roughly $200.00 USD.


Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Magic Mouse Instead of Mighty Mouse, And More...

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Other Apple Hardware" @ 01:30 PM

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/appl...he-magic-mouse/

"As rumored, Apple has just introduced a new mouse called the Magic Mouse. This mouse will bring Multi-Touch capabilities to desktop Macs for the first time, something that the iPhone has had since its release in June 2007 and the MacBook Air since it was released in February 2008."

Image Credit: Apple

Ugh, I hate this name too, but I love the mouse itself. This requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 and will go on sale in late October for $69.00 USD. But wait! There is more...

Read more...


Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Viper Car Alarm System App

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch)" @ 12:00 PM

http://www.cultofmac.com/iphone-app...r-for-500/18518

"iPhone users can now go keyless, if they want to spend $500 for the Viper SmartStart system."

If you have a Viper system this is a cool add on, but it will set you back $299.00. If you don't have one already then you will have to ante up some more bucks in the neighborhood of $500.00 USD to get it done. Other than the app, though, which is free. I like seeing apps like this that add functionality, I mean real functionality to your phone. If you have questions, check out their FAQ page to see if it is something that you will find useful.


Friday, June 26, 2009

Apple Updates AppleTV and Remote

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Other Apple Hardware" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...ch_control.html

"Apple breathed some new life into its Apple TV media hub on Wednesday with upgrades to both its firmware and the iPhone's Remote app that let owners control the wireless media hub through multi-touch input on their handheld's touch-screen."

Apple posted a list of the updated features that 2.4 features, among them Flickr search and finger gesture controls. I'm looking forward to giving this a test run when I can especially since it incorporates finger gestures. With the last version of Remote I wasn't too impressed, I just couldn't get it working right. Granted that may have, ok is likely to have been, user error, but that is besides the point. Now I have a new version that I can attempt to master, I just hope it goes better than the last time I tried.


Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Boxee Remote App Now Available

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch)" @ 08:00 AM

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/03/1...-now-available/

"Great news for boxee and iPhone users. The official boxee app was finally approved by Apple and is now available on the App Store. We hear the app is basic but it should be good enough for simple playback controls. It's too bad that it took so fraking long for Apple's stamp of approval."

The app works on iPhone or iPod Touch, and has a fairly simple interface. There are two modes, gesture and button. In gesture simply hold your finger on the Boxee logo and move it around to navigate the lists. There is also the ability to enter text should you need to via the iPhone/iPod Touch keyboard. Reminds me of how the Air Mouse app works. Its a basic remote with simple playback controls but if you lost your apple remote, or you like making your iPhone your all in one device this might be good choice. More info can be found at the Boxee blog, and if you have suggestions for it, feel free to submit them here.


Thursday, March 5, 2009

Media Center Computer? Control It With Your iPhone or iPod Touch

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch)" @ 12:00 PM

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/macworld...amediacentermac

"I've been impatiently waiting for the arrival of the new Mac Mini, so I could run out and buy one to use as my living-room media center. So on Tuesday, I did just that. (Yes, I left work and walked down to the local Apple Store on day one, put down my credit card and left with a Mac in a bag. Told you I was impatient.) Then I went home and attached it to my high-definition TV. It looks great, and the Apple Remote works well with the built-in Front Row software to display media files on my hard drive and in my iTunes library."

But the reviewer found out his Apple Remote only goes so far, so he had been thinking of getting a bluetooth mouse and keyboard, until he found this program. My findings with the remotes limitations are similar although my situation is a little different. I use my MBP as my DVD player and Front Row interface for my TV in the bedroom, and when I'm done watching my programs, I've always had to get out of bed and turn the computer off. Yea, lazy I know, but when I relax I don't want to have to get out of bed to turn off my computer!

This program works pretty much as it says it will, turning your iPhone or iPod Touch into your keyboard/mouse. So now I don't have to get out of bed to shut down my computer! There is much more to it than that of course, and regardless of your opinion about my laziness, if you have a similar situation with a media computer, you might want to give this a look.


Featured Product
News Tip or Feedback?

Contact us

Other Apple Resources

All iOS News

iPhone Life

Thoughts Media Sites

Windows Phone Thoughts

Digital Home Thoughts

Zune Thoughts

Apple Thoughts

Android Thoughts

Reviews & Articles

Loading feed...

News

Loading feed...

Reviews & Articles

Loading feed...

News

Loading feed...

Reviews & Articles

Loading feed...

News

Loading feed...

Reviews & Articles

Loading feed...

News

Loading feed...

Reviews & Articles

Loading feed...

News

Loading feed...

Sponsored links