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Explain "Remote" to me please....

W

WannaApple?

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 9, 2008
629
70
Ok, so I know what Remote does, but I see a lot of people with it and I'd like to know how its used.

When I want to play music through my computer, I'm usually close enough to it to use the controls directly on the computer. Dont have Apple TV or know what that is.

Is there something else it does that I am missing that makes it insanely popular?

The only thing I can currently think of using it for is when I am in my hot tub and playing music through my computer outside, but dont think I'd want to chance having my iphone near the hot tub.

So, please explain to me how exactly you use it. I want to know if Im missing something and really could use it, or if its just not for me. Thanks! :D
 
Basically, 'Remote by Apple' opens up an internet port on your computer, through your home wireless network and attaches itself to iTunes.

Of course, for it to do this, you have to connect the remote to iTunes manually, by entering a code, for security reasons.

As you say, it's really designed for people who like controlling their music library from a distance ..
or who have music playing upstairs, while they are downstairs.

R-Fly
 
You're eating dinner with guests, and want to turn up/down the music that's playing from the stereo system next door.

For example.
 
You're in the living room, and your stereo is hooked up to an airport express. You want to access the library on your computer in the office and play it over your stereo. Now you can do it without running upstairs, or bringing a laptop into the room.
 
in addition, you have a brilliant interface with which to explore your music on, for example, your AppleTV. you can flip through this interface and see all of your content, movies, tv shows, etc. When you see a show or song you like, just select it, and voila it plays. it is super smooth and responsive over WiFi. I have many high end remote controls and home automation devices, but this is the slickest remote control for content.
 
I manage most of the sound system at my church. Sometimes I'll be in church on a weekday with some music playing over the sound system in the sanctuary with the laptop in the sound booth. Just connect my iPhone to the Ad Hoc WiFi I set up for this purpouse (secure of course) and I can change the song, very handy. It may not be for everyone but for me it's VERY useful.
 
You are having a party and in party shuffle mode and a song you don't care for comes on. Rather than walking up to your Mac (or even a PC) with iTunes, you use your remote to skip to the next song. You don't even have to leave the conversation you're having.

:)
 
Here's my scenario..

I have one mac with all the music on it. I also have a nice soundsystem in my living room and have another one in my bedroom. I also have a nice home theater.

I have a computer in my soundsystem but I dont want to have to keep multiple copies of my music on multiple computers. So I can use rogue ameobas AirFoil Speakers program on the computer in the soundsystem and have two airport expresses in my bedroom and home theater. I can keep ONE copy of all my music, controlling it from my iphone while roaming around the house.

Works pretty great.
Zack
 
If you are ever listening to music from your computer, but are not next to your computer, <exaggeration> it is the single greatest invention in the history of mankind. </exaggeration>

I do love it, though.
 
Why I love Remote:

I have a G5 iMac hooked up to my TV. I will often rent movies from the iTunes store and watch them on my TV. In the past, I had get up and go to the computer to pause the movie. Now I just pause it with my iRemote. When I get back to the couch, I hit play. It is a beautiful thing.
 
applebum said:
Why I love Remote:

I have a G5 iMac hooked up to my TV. I will often rent movies from the iTunes store and watch them on my TV. In the past, I had get up and go to the computer to pause the movie. Now I just pause it with my iRemote. When I get back to the couch, I hit play. It is a beautiful thing.
Click to expand...

You can control rentals???? I did not know that... Cool.. you are sure? for some reasons i didnt think it did. excellent
 
mark34 said:
You can control rentals???? I did not know that... Cool.. you are sure? for some reasons i didnt think it did. excellent
Click to expand...

Yeah, Apple's 'Remote' can control your entire iTunes library.

From Music, to podcasts, to video content, its all controllable with one tap.

You can even FFW and REW on video by holding the appropriate arrows for a few seconds.

R-Fly
 
I didn't really see why this was so popular, especially when newer Macs come with their own remotes. But the interface makes it that much better.
 
saminsocks said:
I didn't really see why this was so popular, especially when newer Macs come with their own remotes. But the interface makes it that much better.
Click to expand...
The reason it's so great is for those who have Airport Expresses or AppleTV's. My airport express is hooked up to my home theater system which I can hear throughout the entire house and outside. Now I don't have to be in sight of my computer to change tracks etc.
 
QuarterSwede said:
The reason it's so great is for those who have Airport Expresses or AppleTV's. My airport express is hooked up to my home theater system which I can hear throughout the entire house and outside. Now I don't have to be in sight of my computer to change tracks etc.
Click to expand...

That's true, too. And I definitely see the appeal there. I just found it hard to believe that that many people had an Airport Express and/or AppleTV, enough to make it one of the most popular apps in the store.
 
saminsocks said:
That's true, too. And I definitely see the appeal there. I just found it hard to believe that that many people had an Airport Express and/or AppleTV, enough to make it one of the most popular apps in the store.
Click to expand...

Well, the early adopters of the iPhone and the iPod touch upgraders aren't exactly typical mac users. They're pretty die-hard fans. I think that probably explains it.
 
wordmunger said:
Well, the early adopters of the iPhone and the iPod touch upgraders aren't exactly typical mac users. They're pretty die-hard fans. I think that probably explains it.
Click to expand...

saminsocks said:
That's true, too. And I definitely see the appeal there. I just found it hard to believe that that many people had an Airport Express and/or AppleTV, enough to make it one of the most popular apps in the store.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but also, who says you have to own an airport express or :apple:TV to download remote?
People want it on their iPod or iPhone, simply, for convenience. :cool:

R-Fly
 
Here's my favorite use:

1. Make sure the volume is sufficiently high on my computer speakers.
2. Go into another room of the house.
3. Wait for my wife to get on the computer.
4. Use Remote to turn on something hard and heavy -- Usually old Metallica or Black Sabbath.
5. Listen to my wife freak out.

That right there makes it worth the price...
 
My Plans

We are building a house right now and I have all my movies/tv shows/music on my Time Capsule (connected to my iMac via network).

I plan to put an airport express or speakers with airport express on the back patio next to the pool, an Apple TV in the Family, Media, Master and Kids bedrooms.

My uses will be controlling tunes around the house while computer is out of the way. Kids yell at me to watch a movie, instead of getting up I can select movie from iPhone. Throwing a party, I can select what speakers play music and control volume. I think the biggest gain is the pool speakers, get a water proof case for an iPod Touch and your set with a floating remote in the pool for tunes.

I love this app, but won't get much use out of it until I have the new house.
 
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