25 Things You Can Remote Control With Your iPhone [Apple]
One of the more interesting things you can do with the iPhone is use it as a remote control for other devices. Since the iPhone App Store launched almost two years ago, developers have created hundreds of remote control applications.
Some of them are for entertainment — designed to control A/V equipment in your living room. Others control household appliances, functions on your computer, 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 device. But one company is developing an infrared iPhone accessory, which will open the doors for even more remote control applications.
It's conceivable that, with these apps and accessories, an iPod touch could replace the fanciest of universal remotes, and have the bonus of shipping with a Web browser and all the other apps on the App Store.
DVR
More TV providers are releasing iPhone apps to use as DVR remotes. Recently, Comcast published an app that allows some of its digital cable subscribers program their DVRs remotely. And free apps from DirecTV, DISH Network, and AT&T let you program your digital video recorder from anywhere.
Zipcar rental car
The free Zipcar app lets you find and book rental cars. But the impressive part is that you can also use your iPhone to unlock the car or make its horn beep.
Home lights and automation system
A recent Apple commercial highlights this app for the Schlage LiNK home automation and security systems. You can watch your doors, lock and unlock them, turn lights on and off, etc.
TV, other gadgets
This isn't just an app but a $50 hardware add-on that gives your iPhone infrared support.
When it ships — supposedly soon — the L5 remote accessory will let you turn your iPhone into a universal remote, replacing any number of remote controls that are on your coffee table.
Chevy Volt
This free app lets you access info for a Chevy Volt electric car via OnStar, including charging info, driving stats, door locks, horn, and lights.
iTunes
Via Apple's free Remote app, search and change the song playing on your computer's iTunes jukebox from bed, across the house, or even outside. Or change volume settings, or hit pause, etc.
Another app called PodLink ($2.99) lets you wirelessly control music playing on another iPhone or iPod touch, perhaps one that is being played in a docking station across the room.
There's also a $3.99 app to control WinAmp if you use that.
Mouse and keyboard
Apps like the $1.99 Air Mouse Pro (limited free version also available) turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a wireless trackpad and keyboard.
This is helpful if you want to kick back and don't have a wireless keyboard, or if you're using an old computer hooked up to your TV and want to access the cursor or type something from the couch.
A reader notes a free, similar app from Logitech. The $3.99 TouchPad app is another alternative.
Blu-ray Discs
Several Blu-ray discs include Internet features that can be accessed via iPhone apps. For example, the free "pocket BLU" app can act as a remote for Blu-ray discs that support "pocket BLU" — including "Bruno," "Funny People," other movies. Features include controlling playback, browsing through chapters, the soundtrack, etc.
Other Blu-ray remote apps are available for different systems, including the Sony PS3.
Roku video player
If you use a Roku video player — the cheap, no-frills box that plays Netflix, Amazon, MLB.TV videos, etc. — you can get the free Rokumote app and control your Roku without its plastic remote.
Presentations
Apple's $0.99 Keynote remote lets you control Keynote presentations if you own the iWork suite.
Other apps, like Evan Schoenberg's versatile $0.99 Rowmote can steer PowerPoint slides.
Desktop PC or Mac
This one takes a little tinkering, but free VNC — "virtual network computing" — remote desktop software on your computer (Mac, PC, Linux, etc.) will let you view and control it from anywhere, provided it's turned on and hooked up to the Internet.
A search for "VNC" in the App Store turns up more than 30 apps. The VNC app we've been using for our iPhone is the free Mocha VNC Lite; there's also a pro version for $5.99.
Logitech Squeezebox
If you use a Logitech Squeezebox home audio system, the $9.99 iPeng app seems to be the best reviewed remote control. Control volume, switch songs, etc.
Slingbox
If you have a SlingBox — a device designed to let you watch your home TV/cable service from anywhere, over the Internet — you can use your iPhone to watch TV.
The $29.99 SlingPlayer Mobile app recently got an important new feature, which allows you to stream TV from your SlingBox over 3G. Previously, it only worked 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 Remote puts the Adobe Photoshop toolbar on your iPhone. Not for everyone, but could be helpful for some setups.
Apple TV
Apple's free Remote software also controls the Apple TV set-top box, if you have one of those.
A recent update adds a nifty feature that lets you use your iPhone's multi-touch screen as a "gesture pad" to scoot around the Apple TV display. This is much easier than using the small, plastic remote that came with Apple TV.
You can also use the Boxee remote app to remote-control Boxee, if you've loaded that onto your Apple TV.
Sonos Home Stereo
If you have a Sonos multi-room sound system — especially the popular, newish S5 — your iPhone is a remote via the free Sonos Controller app.
Pro audio software
The ProRemote ($99.99) and ProRemote Lite ($35.99) act as sliders and other controls for pro audio editing software, including ProTools and Apple's Logic software.
Burglar Alarm
CPI Security customers can use a free iPhone app (with additional service) to monitor their home security system, turn it on and off, see activity history, etc.
X-Plane Flight Simulator
Sort of like how Nintendo's DS has a touch-sensitive second screen that often controls what's happening on the first screen, this will let you control and observe some of your flight simulator's features — on your computer — using the iPhone as a smaller, second screen.
Requires the $4.99 X-Plane Remote app and the $29 desktop X-Plane software.
Boyfriend
Ladies: We're not quite sure how this one works, but the $9.99 "Boyfriend remote" app is worth every penny if it performs magic.
You can tell it to "give me money," "forget about beer," and even "take me to the mall." Classy.
Also available: Girlfriend Remote and Parent Remote.
Boxee
If you use the free Boxee media center software on your Mac, PC, Linux box, or Apple TV, you can use your iPhone as a remote via Boxee's free app.
(What's Boxee? Think of it as a multimedia-specialized Web browser that you're supposed to steer from your couch. Lets you watch Netflix movies, MLB.TV, and other Web video streams.)
VLC Media Player
If you use the free, popular VLC (Video LAN client) media player app, you can control it with your iPhone via the free VLC Remote app or its $2.99 premium cousin.
Security Camera
Plenty of security 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 delivers "a video command center to the palm of your hand."
Digital SLR Camera
onOne software makes a lite ($1.99) and pro ($19.99) version of its DSLR remote app.
If you hook your Canon EOS or Nikon DSLR camera up to a computer via USB, you can remotely control settings, fire the shutter release, and see your camera's viewfinder remotely over wi-fi.
The main drawback is that your camera has to be hooked up to a computer.
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Feed : Gizmodo: Blu-Ray
Shopping for a Shopping Cart? Make Sure you Weigh your Options
If you sell more than a handful of products on your website,you'll need to add what's known as a shopping cart. This is afunction that allows your customers to pick out the items theywant and send them to a cart, which holds onto them untilthey're ready to check out. The program then totals the orderand adds any applicable taxes and shipping charges.So how do you add a shopping cart to your site? There are threedifferent options you can choose from. Link out to a third-party service hosted Buy y...
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"Lumber core" plywood - be sure you know what you're getting
I thought I’d try a new (to me) product I found at my local “good” lumberyard – “lumber core plywood” – to build a few utility-grade shop projects. It’s made of solid lumber pieces laminated with thin face veneers. The core pieces are tongue-and-groove joined along their edges, which you can see in the first picture (if you can’t make out the part in focus, look below and to the right at the piece in the clamps. You can see the contrast between a light and a dark piece).
This seems great at first glance, but there’s a problem: only the pieces on the edges are the full length of the sheet. The interior pieces are of random lengths, and the ends are simply butted – there are even little gaps. See the second picture with a utility knife for scale. This edge is parallel to the long dimension of the sheet. The edge below it is the factory edge, which looks continuous and beautiful.
This construction method SERIOUSLY compromises the bending strength. The piece in the second picture was going to be a shelf, but with those two gaps, which are typical, I have serious reservations about using it – in fact, I’m not going to. Since the core pieces are of random lengths, and are edge-jointed, the problem isn’t so bad on a wide piece (more continuity), but it gets worse as you rip it narrower. About the only suitable application I can see for this material is as big pieces subject to edge-to-edge compression, like sides for a base cabinet or a cabinet-style bench.
There is one upside: it’s light, probably because it isn’t all soaked through with glue, like conventional plywood.
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Feed : Woodworking Reviews at LumberJocks.com
Want Your Ex Girlfriend Back? Here's How To Act To Make It Happen by Derek Blandford
(SkyNewswire.com)--- Chances are you're here reading this because you're frustrated and confused about how to go about getting your ex girlfriend back. It's OK. Most men are. Learning how to deal with a breakup and knowing the right steps to take to repair the relationship isn't something Mom and Dad teach us growing up and there isn't a Breakups 101 class in high school or college.
If you're like most men, getting an ex girlfriend to take you back will be a trial and error process. However, this is often a dangerous and costly approach as you can make many critical mistakes without even realizing it. When you do, you will push your ex further away and ruin any chance you might have to win her back. It's like walking through a field of land mines, and it's extremely easy to end up stepping on a mine that forces your relationship to go KABOOM!
Keep in mind the subject of breakups and relationships is a vast, complex topic that can be difficult to comprehend because the "right" things to do are often counter intuitive. Luckily there are many step-by-step guides you can follow that will show you exactly what to do and what to say to get your ex back.
You just have to make sure you follow the advice of experts and not your buddy next door who will probably just tell you, "Don't worry about it. There's plenty of fish in the sea." While this saying may have some truth to it, it's not much comfort when there's really only ONE specific fish you'd like to catch.
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Last Day of SXSW, Heading to San Diego and it's Greystone Greeters Today
SXSW has been a freakin blast but like all good things it has to come to an end. I'm heading out this afternoon to San Diego, but not before meeting some great new people as well as finally meeting some social media people in person.
Greystone Greeters is the shirt of the day and we LOVE our interactive, online video ads. What better way to engage your customers then to greet them the second they visit your website! Check out some of the programs they’ve produced here. Plus, you can do a demo to see what Greystone Greeters will look like on your company website. Just type in your URL in the “TRY YOUR SITE HERE” demo box. Check it out. It’s pretty cool stuff. You can take my word for it or read some stats:
- In February 2005, roughly 50% of purchases were preceded by an online search. In 2008, that number has skyrocketed to about 85%. (Source: Double Click)
- 80% of online visitors recall seeing a video ad, 52% take action (Source: Online Publishers Association)
- 16% of online video viewers make a purchase (Source: Online Publishers Association)
- Video scores five times the click through rates as display or banners ads (Source: Online Publishers Association)
- Online video trends deliver more informative, relevant, entertaining, often helpful videos (Source: Enterprise RSS Promotion)
A big thank you to Georgia from Greystone Greeters for producing some fun, interactive walk on ads for IWYS. Oh, and make sure you check out the interactive video of Evan and me on our Proud Partners page too!
Jason's Photos
» Videos on YouTube
Evan's Photos
» Videos on YouTube
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Manage your March Madness brackets with Yahoo! Tourney Pick ‘em
It’s just about that time of year again, when the sports-loving population checks out of work and tries, for a few Thursdays and Fridays, to follow the NCAA basketball tournament without their boss finding out. The boss knows, of course. But I’m sure that won’t stop most people from enjoying the five rounds of tournament action. For fans, the tourney centers on brackets, our blind predictions that are, for the most part, based on how each school fared while we were in college. Yahoo! has a bracket management application, and it’s available now for your BlackBerry
The mobile application works in the same manner as the desktop interface, so there won’t be much to figure out. You can create brackets and even enter into Yahoo’s $10,000 bracket contest. The best bracket takes home a $10,000 prize, and if you pick a perfect ballot you win a million. Fat chance of that, though. You know you’re going to pick the wrong 7-10 upset.
Once you make the picks, you can check out live scores — though since you’ll be watching from your computer at work you might not need that feature. You can also get new, analysis, and more from Yahoo’s writers. The selection show is on Sunday evening, and the tournament starts on Thursday.
You can download the Tourney Pick ‘Em application by going to m.yahoo.com/tourneypickem from your BlackBerry handset, or you can go to http://mobile.yahoo.com/tourneypickem for more information.
Hat tip BerryReview.
This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.
Manage your March Madness brackets with Yahoo! Tourney Pick ‘em
This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.
Manage your March Madness brackets with Yahoo! Tourney Pick ‘em
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Feed : BB Geeks
