iPhone roundup: iTunes remote, Apple ready for real software in the App Store

Who would've thought that rumored iControl app would not only turn out to be real, but survive the inevitable internal politics, delays, and feature cutbacks to make it all the way through to a summer release? Sure enough, iTunes 7.7 has been pushed out to developers in the past several hours, and the installer encourages iPhone and iPod touch owners to "use the new Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch to control iTunes playback from anywhere in your home -- a free download from the App Store." No further details are given -- and it's not clear whether the "iControl" name seen earlier has been scrapped altogether -- but we can guess that it'll use WiFi to hook up with your mainframe, which really makes the idea of an AirPort Express appealing all over again.

On another note, Apple has released Beta 8 of the iPhone SDK and is using the occasion to kick off acceptances of applications to the real, live App Store in preparation for its July 11 launch. It appears that Beta 8 is actually required to complete the process, so don't go jumping the gun now -- goodness knows the rest of the iPhone-toting world doesn't want your half-baked apps in a couple weeks, you shady developer, you.

Read - iPhone / iTunes Remote app
Read - Applications to App Store now being accepted

[bernie16wb @ Jun 27th 2008 1:31AM]

Woohoo?

[Pieter @ Jun 27th 2008 5:38AM]

Not woohoo for companies like this one: http://www.iospirit.com/
Who have been turning iphones and ipod touches into remote controls for some time now.

[John @ Jun 27th 2008 9:18AM]

IOSpirit's Remote Buddy is one of the few shareware programs I actually threw down the money for. It's great for AirTunes, but it can be slow at times, especially since it's all web based and Mobile Safari quickly becomes a nightmare when it has to download the same images every time you reload the page. Luckily for IOSpirit, the iPhone/iTouch functionality is only one of the several services they offer in their remote buddy package. There's other cool features like using your Wii as a remote, as well as regular universal remotes.

[V Langs @ Jun 27th 2008 1:31AM]

sickk

this is excellent news.

i'd love to have an RF style remote for my comp. now let me access the rest of OS X!

[Reid @ Jun 27th 2008 1:37AM]

That's pretty cool. I remember using Salling Clicker on my Ericsson T39. Man that was an awesome phone.

It would definitely make the airport express more functional, they've been talking about an iTunes remote ever since then.

[PittHockey @ Jun 27th 2008 1:49AM]

Wait, free for the ipod touch?

That can't be right.

[Shinigami @ Jun 27th 2008 1:58AM]

Nobody said it is going to be free for either iPhone or iPod Touch ;)

[Shinigami @ Jun 27th 2008 1:59AM]

Oops, misread. "Free download".
True. Can't be right...

[Atanas Boev @ Jun 27th 2008 2:32AM]

Free download does not have to be free app. Haven't you heard about "free trial"? :)

[heshmati4 @ Jun 27th 2008 2:36AM]

Shinigami, don't you know how to read???

[heshmati4 @ Jun 27th 2008 2:38AM]

Atanas Boev....

The app store doesn't have an option for a trial version.... Free is free...

Plus most apps from the app store will be free anyway :)

[Tinu @ Jun 27th 2008 9:42AM]

Yes it is free but here is how it works for the iPod Touch.

First you will have to pay for the July 11th firmware upgrade. Once you pay for that, you will be able to get the free apps for free indeed.

[Squid7085 @ Jun 27th 2008 1:49AM]

Can't wait! Seems like the one "Duh" feature... Okay, there are a lot of those. Lol But either way, I hope its a bit more than a "remote" matter of fact, have it look exactly like the current iPod part of the iPhone, except have it control your iTunes. Sounds good to me.

[Matt @ Jun 27th 2008 1:50AM]

umm.. this already exists for free. google 'signal server'.

[craig#2 @ Jun 27th 2008 2:28AM]

I'll take your word for it, thanks!

[f00fighter @ Jun 27th 2008 8:50AM]

@Matt - Signal Server is NOT free. The licensed version costs $24.95. A demo (with limitations, see below) is available for free...

Demo Version Limitations
The demo version has all features enabled and no time limit. Instead, it will display a "please register" message for one third of the items in your media library. This limitation will be removed immediately after purchasing and entering a license key.
http://www.alloysoft.com/download.html

[craig#2 @ Jun 27th 2008 2:26AM]

What do you mean, "..makes the idea of an AirPort Express appealing all over again?"

Are there people out there without wifi?

[Dave @ Jun 27th 2008 3:05AM]

Not so much wifi, as AirTunes

[craig#2 @ Jun 27th 2008 3:10AM]

Dave: Ohhh, of course! Thanks. Yaknow, I could never wrap my head around that for some reason..

[furquanatique @ Jun 27th 2008 2:48AM]

This seems to be quite a nice addition to the iPhone! Though we must be aware this tech was present for the Symbian OS (Nokia N95, N80 etc) for quite some time, a software developed called "Salling Clicker" which works with WMP, iTunes, Winamp, mPlayer, and more! It even controls the mouse ;) Looking forward to this app!

[heshmati4 @ Jun 27th 2008 2:51AM]

This is free though :)

[furquanatique @ Jun 27th 2008 3:03AM]

So is salling clicker, you need to know the right place to go for it though ;)

[heshmati4 @ Jun 27th 2008 3:12AM]

Bit Torrent???

[Bad Beaver @ Jun 27th 2008 6:13AM]

Salling Clicker is actually worth paying for.

[fanman @ Jun 27th 2008 8:03AM]

I bet the iPhone version wont do wmp etc.

[nicolas.exc @ Jun 27th 2008 4:02AM]

I got a remote control for my mac anyway. But i don't mind to have more FREE functionality.

[ryan @ Jun 27th 2008 6:54AM]

This is really more for enhanced control of iTUnes. Also people who have a mac pro(like me) dont even have an IR port for the apple remote and this is a god send

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 27th 2008 4:12AM]

A nice feature and a good example of Apple's attention to detail.

[fanman @ Jun 27th 2008 8:04AM]

...and Nokias, Sony Ericsons, Sony Walkmans, Samsungs, Motorolla's, LG's, etc.

[matt @ Jun 27th 2008 5:54AM]

Great to see the functionality finally show up... but now they need to do the same thing for AppleTV... no more typing with an IR remote...

[Richy @ Jun 27th 2008 7:15AM]

Aye, that's what I really want. In fact, if the Apple TV could deliver up Airtunes goodness to an Airport Express without the need for my MBP to be switched on, then I'd be over the moon.

[Bad Beaver @ Jun 27th 2008 6:20AM]

Oh, ALREADY? Consider me wowed. One would have thought this to be included at launch. Last year. The best remote is the one that is almost always by your side, like your mobile. One also hopes Apple found a way around the one problem stifling the plethora of other iTunes remotes, namely the inability to easily switch between multiple AirPort Express units. Presently, you can do it with via the somewhat bland but very functional Salling Clicker but it involves some script fiddling.

[James Quilty @ Jun 27th 2008 7:20AM]

I'm still confused as to why they can give out the remote app for free (if this is true) and yet must charge for the other 2.0 apps (new calculator, ect.) if you are a Touch owner.

[ChrisM @ Jun 27th 2008 8:57AM]

That's a good question; I have a feeling it has to do with legal garbage. I bet in the world of legalese, adding features via firmware needs to be charged, but offering a free program for installation on the same firmware does not. It's dumb.

[MadCow234 @ Jun 27th 2008 5:52PM]

From what I understand from previous posts, the iPhone business model is different from the iTouch because apple gets paid revenue sharing per month from AT&T for the iPhone, which is worked into their finances. The iTouch, on the other hand, is a one time fee, with no revenue sharing from AT&T, obviously, and therefore a different business model. This is just relaying what an accountant said in a comment a few months ago when the 1.1.4 firmware was released. I am not a CPA by any means, so please don't low rank the messenger, lol.

[huffmansteve @ Jun 27th 2008 9:01AM]

Check out http://www.alloysoft.com/. They have a web application called Signal that allows you to control your itunes for a mac or PC. I have my media center hooked up to my stereo and TV, it's like having a jukebox in your hand.

Also allows you to control your media center by your laptop...

The app cost $20, but is very cool.

[SteveJ @ Jun 27th 2008 9:39AM]

This will be a great feature and something I will be willing to upgrade my iPod touch for. Especially if it lets me browse the iTunes library and playlists and choose what to listen to, and not just pause and skip/scan.

[absurdio @ Jun 30th 2008 2:03PM]

Um. If this controls only iTunes and not FrontRow, there's absolutely no excuse for it.

Sure, there's that IR remote that came with your computer, but it seems to me that the point of having an iphone is to consolidate devices (ipod + phone). So why not take this a step further and do the extra 10 minutes of coding so that you can run FrontRow without an extra device?

Still, an exciting step in the right direction.

[FuzzyCat @ Jul 10th 2008 4:07AM]

..but then how would Apple be able to sell you an overpriced remote control if the did that. You silly thing, you're thinking with your mind not Steve Jobs' wallet.

[BG @ Jul 12th 2008 7:05PM]

I've tried this today; I have to say, it beats the pants off the wireless mic/voice recognition solution I was using before to control iTunes. And since it's free, it's yet one more small bit of value added to an integrated set of Apple applications. The responsiveness is fantastic; on my home network, the response is instantaneous when selecting, playing, and pausing music. Initial connection is only slightl slower. With my Express connected to my stereo, it also lets me easily shift speakers to let my music or internet radio follow me around the house. Before, I hesitated to use iTunes for video. This has me reconsidering that decision and starting to look at how to use iTunes as my video and audio player, streaming to my stereos or new very large iMac.