Popalive remote lets you spin iPod tunes at a distance

If there's one downside of having an iPod dock speaker setup in your corner, it's the fact that in order to skip a track, you have to actually walk up to the iPod and press the forward button. Fortunately, various companies have been hard at work on solving this problem by making additional peripherals for existing iPod accessories. While KeySpan already came out with one of the first iPod remotes, called the TuneView, complete with a screen and controls, Alive Style is ready to release a rival remote -- the Popalive -- which looks surprisingly like a knockoff iPod. But possibly the best part of the Popalive is that it uses radio waves, so you can control your iPod through walls just to freak your housemate / spouse out -- that is, if you're willing to throw down $150 for the pleasure.

[Via Sci Fi Tech]

[Gil @ Dec 23rd 2006 11:15AM]

So you place your iPod down and pick up a remote that is identical only thicker...

...


...yeah...

[Zadillo @ Dec 23rd 2006 1:18PM]

Again, the idea is to use this as a remote if you have your iPod docked and connected to a larger speaker system. Without a remote that has a screen like this, you are more limited in controlling it from a distance. With a screenless remote you can at least pause and play, adjust volume and skip tracks, but you can't navigate. With this, you get the benefits of having your iPod hooked up to a speaker, and can still control it from afar.

[Tyler @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:11PM]

does it have the ability to scroll through lists and such?

[Charles R Hamilton @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:20PM]

By simply adding Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the Ipod BECOMES the remote. Why Apple isn't all over this, I do not know.

[Kevin @ Dec 23rd 2006 4:00PM]

Griffin makes a remote that uses radio waves for $40

[Vences5 @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:32PM]

Solution: Belkin Bluetrip LE

[peter @ Dec 23rd 2006 1:34PM]

hey thats a cool addition to the ipod.i always felt the need of a remote while mounting it on the speakers.

by the way rip or download videos from : YouTube.com, Google.com, Myspace at KeepV.com.

[mikey @ Dec 23rd 2006 1:16PM]

surley it would make sense just to have some type of wireless iPod -> reciever connector that woudl sit in the dock connector of the ipod and link up with the speaker dock/reciever via bluetooth etc? no?

[Zadillo @ Dec 23rd 2006 1:19PM]

Possibly, although I think there might be a question of how well it could transmit the audio. It's probably feasible though.

[bradwjensen @ Dec 23rd 2006 1:18PM]

Awesome, i so thought of this years ago when the iPod was just getting popular.. But now what they really need to do is make it for iTunes on your computer cause who wants to play stuff off their iPod when they already got it on their computer which is already hooked up to their system? AH!

[mastershake916 @ Dec 23rd 2006 2:42PM]

If I had an ipod (never will, never want to), I would be all over this.
The sound quality will be much better because only the orders are being transmitted wirelessly instead of the actual audio, which would lose at least some of it quality. Plus when you're having a party, you can keep this locked in a cabinet, safe from spilled drinks while all that you risk is the $150 remote control unit.

[Ryan @ Dec 23rd 2006 6:54PM]

Yeah it does seem like it would be alot simpler just to carry the ipod and transmit the audio to your stereo...but then battery life would be a big issue...since you'd be broadcasting audio for the entire time the music is playing (as opposed to just broadcasting "track change" orders back and forth between the remote). as a very rough comparison, think about how often you have to charge the battery in your cellular or cordless telephone...vs how many times you have to replace the batteries in your television remote.

[v_dogg @ Dec 23rd 2006 3:24PM]

looks just like an LG chocolate

[mitch @ Dec 23rd 2006 4:16PM]

I think that what people really want is not something that controls their remote when docked, it is something that allows their ipod to be docked while in their hand. A wireless extension for the bottom port of the iPod would be ideal. So you could put the extension on the dock and still have you iPod in your hand.

[Camperton @ Dec 23rd 2006 4:56PM]

Now if only Logitech would release a Harmony remote with this functionality built in (full color display of songs and playlists).

[Matt @ Dec 23rd 2006 6:14PM]

Why does it need a color screen? Why not make a thinner, smaller remote with a smaller black and white screen?

[fraxyl @ Dec 23rd 2006 7:42PM]

I think keeping the iPod, remote and speaker dock all separate entities is a good idea. For the previously mentioned batteries and such. Until they get an iPod that can stream it's music from itself to a dock system effectively, then it makes more sense to plug your pod into a dock and use a remote.

[coprock @ Dec 23rd 2006 10:04PM]

Why the Microsoft Zune does not sell a wifi receiver to stream music is beyond me. I expect this to happen, hopefully sooner than later. If it was available now, it would be a huge incentive over the ipod.

[Charles R Hamilton @ Dec 24th 2006 12:03PM]

"But now what they really need to do is make it for iTunes on your computer cause who wants to play stuff off their iPod when they already got it on their computer which is already hooked up to their system? AH!"

Check out http://www.salling.com
The Salling clicker software lets you do just that with your bluetooth enabled phone or Wi-Fi or bluetooth enabled PDA. (Palm or Pocket PC) It is an awesome piece of software.

"Yeah it does seem like it would be alot simpler just to carry the ipod and transmit the audio to your stereo...but then battery life would be a big issue"

Good point, but you should be able to get an hour or two out of such a setup. If Apple had a setup where I could dock my Ipod and use the apple remote, OR stream music to said device, I would be all over it. I never use headphones with my Ipod. I use it at home, in the car, at work and it is always using the Griffin iTrip or plugged into a preamp. I would love it my car stereo had a seemless wireless connection.

[Lindsey @ Dec 25th 2006 2:38PM]

I've always used my iTrip to play songs inside my house, though it is a bit of a pain to find an empty channel. I think this idea is a good one, but their "remote" looks bulky and toyish, like a 1st gen ipod or something. I think they should have invested more time in making it look sleek and attractive. I guarantee I would not want to be caught holding that at a party.

[Kevin @ Jan 15th 2007 9:50AM]

Does this work with the iPod nano?

[KavithaShrinivasan @ Jan 24th 2007 1:23AM]

I like i-pod because while your going to travel you can lisiten to all the different type of music. But load upto 500 songs.