AppleRemote
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Apple updates nearly every app for iOS 6, sneaks in key GarageBand, iPhoto and Podcasts updates
If you didn't already know that iOS 6 was out in the wild, Apple just delivered a torrent of mobile app updates to make it perfectly clear. Virtually every app that isn't preloaded now has explicit iOS 6 support to keep it running smoothly, and some of the upgrades are thankfully more than just skin-deep compatibility tweaks. Among the highlights are Podcasts' new subscription list syncing through iCloud, ringtone creation with GarageBand and iPhoto support for 36.5-megapixel image editing on the latest devices -- you know, for that moment you need to tweak Nikon D800 photos on an iPhone 5. We're including direct links to a few of the juicier updates, but we'd recommend checking AppleInsider's comprehensive list to see everything that you're missing.
Retina Display MacBook Pro lacks IR sensor, is Apple offing the remote?
It appears that Apple is ditching the remote control on the latest retina-display MacBook Pro. Our side-by-side comparisons yesterday revealed the new hardware doesn't have an infra-red receiver. The news compelled a reader to contact Apple's support service, which apparently confirmed that the accessory won't work on the new laptop. We'll keep you updated when we know more. [Thanks, Robert]
Bluetooth keyboard support appears to be heading to your Apple TV
The upcoming iOS 5 software has pretty clear indications of support for Bluetooth keyboards for the second generation Apple TV. 9to5Mac reports that several hints of keyboard support are embedded in the code for iOS 5. It would be a welcome update. Using the little stick remote that comes with the Apple TV for entering text is like descending through the levels of hell in a Bosch painting. The Apple Remote app for iOS certainly helps, and allows you to use your iPhone or iPad keyboard to enter searches, but full keyboard support would be a great way to go, especially for Apple TV owners who don't have iOS devices. The Apple TV hardware has a Bluetooth chip on the motherboard that has been silently waiting for activation. If the feature does appear, it could also open the door to other devices like game controllers if Apple allows iOS games and other apps on the Apple TV.
Apple Remote app updated for AirPlay video streaming
Version 2.0 of the app already brought support for the new Apple TV and the iPad, but Apple's has now just released another more minor update to its Remote app for iOS devices that adds another much-anticipated feature: support for AirPlay video streaming. What's more, the app now also boasts the ability to access internet radio stations from iTunes on your computer, as well as the ability to control movies and TV shows on your computer that are rented from iTunes -- not to mention the usual stability and performance improvements. As always, it's also completely free -- you know where to find it.
Bringing the Remote app shine back to the iPod app
Sachin Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of Posterous, wrote a blog post yesterday calling Apple a "huge start-up." Fair enough description, but what really interested me about the post was Agarwal had some info on one of my favorite iPhone apps – the Apple Remote. The app, if you aren't familiar with it, allows you to turn any iPhone or iPod touch into a remote for your computer's iTunes library. It's a terrific little app that hasn't been updated in over eight months -- even while most of Apple's in-house apps have been. Why? Agarwal says that the Remote app is written by a single person at Apple and he is busy with other projects at the moment. All that's interesting, but the real reason I'm writing this is so that Apple will listen again and give this coder a big fat raise and put him to work on the actual iPod app for iPhone and Music app for iPod touch. As you can see above, the layout of the two apps are fairly similar. However, the Apple Remote app is much easier to navigate thanks to the big, colorful playlist icons that mimic the ones you see in iTunes. Those icons make your playlists more distinguishable -- something that is always welcomed on a small screen. It's a small difference, yes, but one that makes the user experience that much better. I always had wondered why Apple would add the colorful icon features in the Remote app, but not in the main music player apps on the iPhone and iPod touch. Now I know -- because it wasn't Apple, but a single developer on staff that put a little extra love into his project. For that, I hope Apple takes notice, gives the guy a raise, puts him back on the Remote app project so he can update it for the iPad, and most of all use his excellent ideas to make the regular music player apps that much better.
iPad roundup: Letterman licking, Colbert chopping, MobileMe and Remote support
Let's get straight to the meat. The iPad was doing the talk show rounds last night, with heavy hitters David Letterman and Stephen Colbert one-upping each other on who can do the sillier thing with it. Letterman went with the old school "if you don't know what to do with it, lick it" routine, while his competitor brought out a more sophisticated salsa preparation act. Pick your favorite from the videos after the break. In more material news, Apple has announced that MobileMe now includes the iPad among its supported devices, while some eager souls over at MacStories have spotted that iTunes 9.1 now references an "iPad remote," which suggests the nearly 10-inch tablet will soon be able to function as one of the most luxurious channel changers around. And you thought you wouldn't find a use for it.
Apple Remote coming for iPad
If you ever imagined your new iPad as a super-huge remote, a preference pane in iTunes 9.1 shows that an iPad Remote app is forthcoming. How do you imagine the iPad Remote app advancing beyond its iPhone sibling? [Via MacStories]
Hands-on with the new Apple Remote
Like many of the others at TUAW who really wanted to see this remote, I got my new Apple Remote a few days ago, and here are some of my impressions.
Hippo Remote is a great app, now you can win a copy
I've become very accustomed to remote-controlling my computers for a while, but nothing ever seemed to get it right. Apple's Remote for iTunes is great, of course, but what about all my other stuff on my Mac, like Boxee or VLC? Yeah, you can get some specific remotes for those apps (frankly the VLC remotes I've used were terrible and would just quit working sometimes). But what you really want is a master remote that'll take all those tasks over for you. Enter Hippo Remote [iTunes Link], a wonderful, simple, brilliant little remote app for your iPhone or iPod touch and Mac -- or PC. Hippo Remote starts off as a trackpad, and supports gestures, multi-touch (like scrolling and zooming) and even replicates circular scrolling. There's a keyboard with F-keys, a history and navigation keys. There are app profiles for Powerpoint, Boxee, VLC, even Gmail and Windows Media Center. There's also a login manager for stuff like Gmail or Twitter, so it's very, very fast at getting you to where you need to be all via iPhone screen. Hippo Remote's response is like butter. Scrolling, swiping, tracking are all wonderful, even on my congested network. I can even use wake-on-LAN or wake-on-wireless to zap those computers alive from anywhere in my house. All this and the only setup was to add a password for VNC connections in my System Preferences on my Mac. There is a HippoVNC application which enables a few other features, but I don't use it. Instead, I have a saved profile for the Mac I have hooked to my HDTV, and with one tap I'm controlling that Mac via iPhone. It just doesn't get any easier. Now you can win a copy of Hippo Remote for your own iPhone or iPod touch. Just leave a comment on this post and you're entered. Promo codes are only available for the US, sorry. Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older. To enter leave a comment on this post. The comment must be left before Saturday, November 7, 2009, 11:59PM Eastern Time. You may enter only once. Five winners will be selected in a random drawing. Prize: One promo code for Hippo Remote (Value: US$4.99) Click Here for complete Official Rules.
Plex 0.8.3 brings on the Snow Leopard love fest
If you're rocking the Mac mini -- or any other Mac, for that matter --as a media center, then chances are pretty good that you've had some tough times following the upgrade to Snow Leopard. Anticipating such problems, some of us held off upgrading to Mac OS X 10.6. Now the wait is over. Shortly after Elan discussed the details of a workaround for Plex, a new release has been let loose on the web. Plex 0.8.3 was announced earlier this week with improved Snow Leopard compatibility as well as several other fixes and new features. For users of Apple's latest OS, the biggest new feature is probably the integration of the Candelair driver which returns Plex to the days of Apple Remote compatibility. Other notable improvements and new features include: Fixed an issue with MKV playback over the network A problem with the media server crashing has been fixed Video playlists work again A new feature where downmixing 5.1 surround audio to 2.0 stereo audio has multiple dynamic range compression options. In other words, surround audio will not be as "quiet" when played through headphones. New handling of quitting/suspending commands that includes a new scheduling feature. The new release of Plex means I can finally stop holding my breath and upgrade my Mac mini to Snow Leopard. It is available now, for free (!!!) right here. Anybody else ready to upgrade to SL now that the Plex release is out? Once my mini is upgraded, rest assured that Plex will be the first thing I install. [via Macworld]
The hits just keep coming: now there's a new Apple Remote
In the universal scheme of things, it's not a big thing, but it's a welcome update. Apple has announced a new Apple Remote that has aluminum niceness and works with the iPhone, iPods with the Universal Dock, and iMacs introduced since 2005 that have a built-in infrared receiver. According to Apple, the remote "gives you total command of your music, photos, videos, and DVDs from anywhere in the room. It works with Front Row to make accessing the digital content on your Mac as simple as navigating your iPod." On an iPod or iPhone connected to a dock with IR you can "experience your songs, slideshows, and more from across the room. Plug your iPod into the Universal Dock and choose a playlist, slideshow, or video. Then sit back, relax, and enjoy. Ready to move on to the next song? No need to get up. Just press the Next button on the Apple Remote. Getting a call on your iPhone? Press Pause, then pick up where you left off." It's a spiffy new design, with darker buttons instead of the all-white older model. Might make it easier to use when fumbling in the dark. The remote will sell for U.S. $19.99 and is shipping in 2-4 weeks. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Apple updates $19 Remote, predictably coats it in aluminum
Apple's Remote -- which it stopped throwing in with its MacBook Pro machines awhile back -- has also seen a refresh today, ditching the iconic glossy white vibe now associated with the company's lower-end consumer machines and instead donning an all-aluminum coat to match the Mac Pro, MacBook and MacBook Pro range. As always, it's designed to control your iPod, iPhone or Mac from afar, with play / pause, menu, volume and track skip buttons at the ready. If you're looking to use it with your iPod or iPhone, you'll need an iPod Universal Dock ($49) and a device with a dock connector; if you're using it with your Mac, you'll need a compatible machine introduced in 2005 or later with an integrated IR receiver. It'll ship in two to four weeks for $19.
iLuv's iEA15 adapter lets any headphones work with VoiceOver, iPhone
The suits in Cupertino already confirmed the existence of a proprietary chip in the new iPod shuffle headphones, but if you're squarely in the tin foil hat crowd, we've got one more shred of evidence to win you over. iLuv's newest adapter, the iEA15, outrightly asserts that it is "equipped with a remote control chip provided by Apple, Inc.," but it's the functionality of said adapter that has our interest piqued. Rather than settling for a set of VoiceOver-capable earbuds that you aren't really fond of, this here go-between enables any headphones with a 3.5 millimeter jack to connect with (and control) Apple's newest shuffle. Moreover, it'll play nice with the iPhone family as well, and the built in microphone enables you to handle a call without ever removing your 'buds. The frightening part is that no price and release date have been set, which probably means iLuv's lobbying to get that Made for iPod tax down in order to not charge $50 for this thing.[Via CNET]
Apple TV software update adds gesture support via Remote
Apple has quietly pushed out software updates for both the Apple TV and the Remote application for the iPhone and iPod touch. The update, identified as version 2.4 for the Apple TV, and version 1.3 (24) for the Remote app, adds gesture support for controlling Apple TV from your iPhone or iPod. Our in-house Apple TV geeks, Megan Lavey and Christina Warren, both installed the updates and gave them a try. Megan indicated the gestures were quick and responsive, and coupled with the ability to use the iPhone/iPod keyboard to search for shows, the new versions made it much less tedious to navigate through your shows. Boxee users may wish to hold off on updating, however, as it seems that you may not be able to reinstall Boxee after completing the update. Also worth noting is that the new Remote app requires the 3.0 software update to be installed on your iPhone or iPod touch. Thanks to everyone who sent this in! %Gallery-66720%
Found Footage: Unboxing goes a wee bit wrong
Vimeo user UnBoxedLunch brings us this hilariously botched unboxing of an Apple Remote. Thankfully, no hospital visits were necessary as a result. As someone who professionally designs packaging, I'll know I've reached the apex of my career when someone destroys a container I've designed, and captures it on video. Nothing but a bit of levity for your Monday afternoon.
Mac 101: Pairing/Unpairing Apple remotes
If you're like me, then you have multiple Macs with IR sensors in the same room. What happens when you push the menu button on your Apple remote? Chances are it will launch Front Row on every Mac in the room. I had this problem until I discovered Apple remote pairing. To pair your remote with a specific Mac or Apple TV, just hold down the menu and the next (fast forward) buttons for 5 seconds making sure you're within 5 inches of the IR sensor on the device. You can unpair a remote by going into System Preferences (Apple menu > System Preferences) and click security. From the Security System Preference pane, select the "Unpair" button at the bottom the preference pane. Lastly, you can disable the use of remotes all together. To do this, head back to the Security System Preference pane and click the check box labeled "Disable remote control infrared receiver." This will keep rogue remotes away from your Mac.
NES controller Apple Remote
Here's a neat little hack with some retro gaming chic. A clever modder has basically stuffed the guts of an Apple Remote into an old NES controller sans cable. He's got step-by-step instructions if you want to make your very own very Mario-friendly Front Row / Apple TV controller. Personally, I'd love to leave one of these sitting on my coffee table.[via Gizmodo]
Apple Remote and classic NES controller meet in NesRemote
Nothing fits the hand quite like the old school, blockish NES controller, all square and squeaky -- and now the subject of loving merger with an Apple Remote. The NesRemote, not surprisingly, makes use of the D-pad for navigation, A and B play and pause, and Select for the back button. No, it won't make exploring your iTunes collection as fun as collecting Metroid energy tanks, but we might guarantee that watching the video after the break will bring a smile to your jaded, geeky face.
See a movie, get Mira for free
Bruno Fernandes of Twisted Melon software has an offer for you: get educated about the problems facing our world today, and get free software for it. He recently saw The 11th Hour, a film produced and narrated by Leonardo Dicaprio about global issues in 2007, and was so affected by it that, like the New York Times, he considers it "essential viewing."And he wants to give his program, Mira, to the first 50 people who go see the movie and send him a scan of their tickets. Mira usually runs $15.95, so depending on the theater you go to, you'll probably be saving a few bucks on a pretty good Apple Remote application.
TUAW Tip: Turn off your remote control infrared receiver
The Apple Remote is a slick little gadget, but Apple made a particular design choice that annoys the bejebus out of me: out of the box, every Mac is set up to work with any Apple Remote. If you have a couple of sleeping MacBooks in your living room like we do when you pick up a remote to watch something on the Apple TV, you could very well wake all three devices with the press of a button or two. To make matters worse, Apple isn't very forthcoming about solving this problem or giving you an easy way to bind an Apple Remote with one device or another. Fortunately, there are a few options that aren't hard to pull off.Your first choice is to completely disable the infrared receiver on your Mac. If you rarely or never use your Apple Remote, you can disable the infrared port on your Mac so it simply no longer accepts signals, intentional or otherwise. This is done with the setting you see above, accessible at the bottom of the Security Preferences Pane.Your next option is to pair your remote(s) with their respective devices, a step that I wish Apple could somehow implement from the get-go so you don't have to. Here is an Apple support doc detailing the one simple step to pair an Apple Remote with a Mac, and another on pairing and unpairing a remote with an Apple TV. In case you ever have to unpair a remote from your Mac, you can simply open the Security Preferences Pane and click the Unpair button at the bottom right (note that this button is only illuminated when an Apple Remote is actually paired with your Mac; otherwise it's faded out).For your sake, I hope you don't have too many Apple Remotes to pair, but this should solve those sudden waking moments for your Macs.
