One of the more interesting things you could do with the iPhone is practice it as a remote control for other equipment . Since the iPhone App Store launched almost two years ago , developer have created hundreds of remote control covering .
Some of them are for entertainment — design to control A / quint equipment in your sustenance elbow room . Others control household gadget , function on your figurer , or even expensive corporate security systems .
For now , most remote control apps operate over the Internet , or via a wi - fi or Bluetooth link between your iPhone and another equipment . But one company is arise an infrared iPhone accessory , which will open up the doorway for even more remote control applications .
It ’s conceivable that , with these apps and accessory , an iPod touch could replace the fancy of universal remotes , and have the bonus of shipping with a WWW browser app and all the other apps on the App Store .
DVR
Zipcar rental car
The freeZipcar applet you find out and book rental cars . But the impressive part is that you could also use your iPhone to unlock the car or make its motor horn beep .
Home lights and automation system
A recent Apple commercial highlight this app for theSchlage LiNKhome automation and security systems . you’re able to watch your doors , lock and unlock them , grow Light on and off , etc .
TV, other gadgets
This is n’t just an app but a$50 hardware add - onthat generate your iPhone infrared support .
When it ships — purportedly soon — theL5 remote accessorywill let you change state your iPhone into a cosmopolitan remote , replace any number of outside controls that are on your coffee table .
Chevy Volt
Thisfree applet you get at info for a Chevy Volt electric automobile carvia OnStar , include charging info , driving stats , door locks , automobile horn , and spark .
iTunes
Via Apple ’s freeRemote app , lookup and interchange the song play on your computer ’s iTunes jukebox from bed , across the house , or even outside . Or change volume options , or hit suspension , etc .
Another app calledPodLink($2.99 ) lets you wirelessly verify music play on another iPhone or iPod touch , perhaps one that is being played in a docking place across the elbow room .
There ’s also a $ 3.99 app to controlWinAmpif you expend that .
Mouse and keyboard
Apps like the$1.99 Air Mouse Pro(limitedfree versionalso usable ) sprain your iPhone or iPod contact into a wireless trackpad and keyboard .
This is helpful if you need to kick back and do n’t have a wireless keyboard , or if you ’re using an older computer hooked up to your television and want to get at the pointer or type something from the lounge .
A reviewer notes afree , alike app from Logitech . The$3.99 TouchPadapp is another choice .
Blu-ray Discs
Several Blu - electron beam discs include cyberspace features that can be accessed via iPhone apps . For example , the free “ pocket BLU ” app can act as a remote control for Blu - ray discs that support “ pocket BLU ” — include “ Bruno , ” “ Funny People , ” other picture show . feature admit controlling playback , browsing through chapter , the soundtrack , etc .
OtherBlu - ray remote appsare useable for unlike arrangement , including the Sony PS3 .
Roku video player
If you expend a Roku telecasting player — the crummy , no - frills boxful that play Netflix , Amazon , MLB.TV videos , etc . — you’re able to get the freeRokumoteapp and control your Roku without its pliant remote control .
Presentations
Apple ’s $ 0.99Keynote remotelets you control Keynote presentation if you own the iWork suite .
Other apps , like Evan Schoenberg ’s versatile $ 0.99Rowmotecan steer PowerPoint slide .
Desktop PC or Mac
This one takes a little tinkering , but freeVNC — “ practical electronic internet calculation ” — remote background software on your reckoner ( Mac , PC , Linux , etc . ) will have you see and control it from anywhere , provided it ’s turn on and thieve up to the Internet .
A hunting for“VNC ” in the App Storeturns up more than 30 apps . The VNC app we ’ve been using for our iPhone is the freeMocha VNC Lite ; there ’s also apro edition for $ 5.99 .
Logitech Squeezebox
If you use aLogitech Squeezeboxhome sound system , the$9.99 iPengapp seems to be the best reviewed remote ascendency . Control loudness , switch songs , etc .
Slingbox
If you have a SlingBox — a gimmick design to permit you check your home TV / cable service from anywhere , over the net — you may use your iPhone to watch telly .
The$29.99 SlingPlayer Mobile apprecently got an important fresh feature , which permit you to pelt TV from your SlingBox over 3G. Previously , it only make over wi - fi .
iCarly – Sam’s Remote
This one is for the kids : Fans of the cable TV show “ iCarly ” may appreciate the$1.99 “ Sam ’s Remote ” app , which includes sounds from the show .
Photoshop
A$ 2.99 app called PhotoKeys : Photoshop Remoteputs the Adobe Photoshop toolbar on your iPhone . Not for everyone , but could be helpful for some setups .
Apple TV
Apple ’s freeRemotesoftware also controls the Apple TV set - top boxful , if you have one of those .
A recent update adds a nifty feature that allow you utilize your iPhone ’s multi - touch cover as a “ gesture inking pad ” to dash around the Apple TV display . This is much easier than using the small , fictile remote control that hail with Apple TV .
you’re able to also apply the Boxee remote app to distant - control Boxee , if you ’ve loaded that onto your Apple television .
Sonos Home Stereo
If you have aSonosmulti - room strait system — specially the popular , newishS5 — your iPhone is a remote via the freeSonos Controllerapp .
Pro audio software
TheProRemote($99.99 ) andProRemote Lite($35.99 ) act as sliders and other controls for pro audio redaction software , including ProTools and Apple ’s Logic software system .
Burglar Alarm
CPI Securitycustomers can use a barren iPhone app ( with additional service ) to supervise their abode security measures organization , turn it on and off , see body process account , etc .
X-Plane Flight Simulator
Sort of like how Nintendo ’s DS has a touch - tender 2d silver screen that often controls what ’s happening on the first screen , this will allow you control and observe some of your flight simulator ’s features — on your computer — using the iPhone as a smaller , 2nd screen .
Requires the $ 4.99X - Plane Remote appand the $ 29 desktopX - Planesoftware .
Boyfriend
Ladies : We ’re not quite certain how this one works , but the$9.99 “ Boyfriend remote ” appis worth every penny if it performs charming .
you could secern it to “ give me money , ” “ block about beer , ” and even “ take me to the shopping mall . ” Classy .
Also usable : Girlfriend RemoteandParent Remote .
Boxee
If you use the freeBoxeemedia mall software package on your Mac , PC , Linux box , or Apple TV , you may utilize your iPhone as a remote viaBoxee ’s spare app .
( What ’s Boxee ? Think of it as a multimedia system - specialized Web web browser that you ’re hypothesise to steer from your couch . permit you determine Netflix movies , MLB.TV , and other entanglement video recording current . )
VLC Media Player
If you use the free , popularVLC(Video LAN client ) media role player app , you may control it with your iPhone via the freeVLC Remote appor its$2.99 premium cousin .
Security Camera
Plenty of security tv camera monitoring apps in the App Store , depending on your rig .
By far the most expensive , though , is Lextech Global Services’$899.99 iRa Pro , which turn in “ a video instruction center to the palm of your hand . ”
Digital SLR Camera
onOne software program make a lite ( $ 1.99 ) and pro ( $ 19.99 ) translation of its DSLR remote app .
If you hook your Canon EOS or Nikon DSLR camera up to a electronic computer via USB , you may remotely control options , fire the shutter waiver , and see your television camera ’s viewfinder remotely over wi - fi .
The chief drawback is that your camera has to be hooked up to a calculator .
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