The TeamViewer remote control app. for iPhone and iPad allows you to access other devices using your iOS device when on the go: Access Windows, Mac and Linux PCs. Easily access computers and servers remotely using an iPhone or iPad. This iPhone app is exclusively designed to remotely control your Mac computer. Voice Control lets you fully control your iPhone using only your voice. 2 A comprehensive set of commands makes it easy to quickly open and interact with your favorite apps. And you can navigate virtually any app through numbered labels alongside clickable items or by superimposing a grid to precisely select, zoom, and drag.
With more than 140,000 apps in the iPhone App Store, finding task-specific apps or utilities for your iPhone or iPod touch (and soon iPad) isn't the hard part. The hard part is finding the best app for the job. That's why we're launching a new series here at Mashable, where we raid the App Store to find the best apps for a specific purpose. First on our docket: Remote Control apps!
The long-promised convergence of television and the Internet is finally coming. More and more consumer electronics devices come with features like WiFi and built-in support for Internet services. Tools like Boxee (even with the Apple TV) and Windows 7 Media Center make it easier than ever to connect your computer to your TV to enjoy online content.
Last summer, my personal project was creating the ultimate Mac mini HTPC, and in the end, it turned out great. However, one of the most frustrating (and potentially costly) factors of the whole project was finding a viable keyboard, mouse and remote setup. Controlling a computer from the couch is different than controlling it from a desk, and even though I found a lot of great software-based remote options (and a few hardware options too), it turned out that the best (and by far, most cost-effective) method for controlling my entire setup was right in my pocket.
There are literally dozens and dozens of iPhone and iPod touch apps that can control your PC (be it Mac, Windows or Linux), but after using and testing the big players in this field (and even the small ones), I've found five of my favorites. Check them out and be sure to leave your own suggestions in the comments.
*A Note: With one exception, all of these apps are multi-purpose, meaning they are designed to control more than one program. For that reason, some of the XBMC or Boxee-specific apps were left off my list.
1. HippoRemote Pro 2.0
Even before HippoRemote Pro 2.0 was released, this app had a permanent spot on my iPhone's home screen. The Pro version of the app is $4.99 and a less-feature rich basic version is available for $0.99 and a new Lite edition is available for free.
What makes this app so great is that it works with Mac, Windows and Linux, and acts not only as a viable trackpad/keyboard combo, but offers all kinds of app profiles (plus you can create your own) to control applications like Boxee, Windows Media Center 7, Hulu Desktop, your web browser, iTunes, and more. Plus, you can create macros, easily switch apps, wake up your device over LAN, and use international keyboards.
The new version of HippoRemote Pro also features an awesome Boxee plugin that adds the same kind of gesture control as the official Boxee iPhone app, as well as a built-in web browser (for checking the web, IMDB or Facebook) and Twitter client that lets you check your timeline, mentions and send tweets all from the remote application.
Check out this video the team made showing off the new HippoRemote 2.0:
At our house we use this on our Macs and Windows PCs and really, really love it.
2. Keymote
Keymote from Iced Cocoa is a Mac-only remote control that works by creating little application-specific keysets to control specific actions. Think of it like those macro-based IR remote controls (like the ones Sony used to sell before the Logitech Harmony series took over the market).
What sets Keymote apart is its built-in Keymote 'store' where you can download keysets from other users to use with your favorite apps. The interface is really nice and for users who really like to have key commands and shortcuts at their fingertips, Keymote is great.
3. Remote Jr.
Remote Jr. comes in two flavors, the full version for $7.99 or the lite version for $1.99. Remote Jr. Lite doesn't support Wake-on-LAN and doesn't have a keyboard or trackpad/airmouse, but will give you a taste of the app itself.
More than other remote control apps, Remote Jr. really is more of a fully-functional VNC (Virtual Network Computing) app. By this I mean you can view your computer's desktop, access specific elements or apps, and interact with them even when you aren't in front of your computer.
Most of the remote control apps just use WiFi to connect to your components or PC, which is great — but Remote Jr. can connect over GPRS/Edge or 3G, meaning you can access and control your Mac or PC even if you aren't at home. That's pretty powerful. There are other VNC apps out there (namely iTeleport: Jaadu VNC) that have more features, but they also cost a lot more ($24.99) and don't have the remote control and application switching interface built into them like Remote Jr.
A new version of Remote Jr. was just submitted to the App Store, and amongst other additions and improvements, it will bring audio streaming and Apple TV support. Apple TV support is a really great addition that I look forward to putting to use!
Check out this video to see Remote Jr. in action:
Remote Jr. is a great app for people that want a cross between a VNC app and a remote control, without having to buy both.
4. EyeTV
Elgato's EyeTV system is an absolutely fantastic way to turn your Mac into a DVR to record, edit and playback HDTV programming from over the air or cable.
The EyeTV iPhone app is a $4.99 companion that not only lets you control your EyeTV system, but lets you set up recording, view your schedule and programming guide, and play back recording from your computer on your iPhone. You can even stream live TV over a 3G connection, a la the SlingPlayer if you use the free EyeTV Live 3G web app (the EyeTV app will let you watch live TV and record over WiFi without a problem).
When you consider the price of a SlingPlayer and the corresponding mobile app, it makes the EyeTV that much more of a bargain.
5. Snatch
Snatch is a $3.99 remote control app that is extremely similar to both HippoRemote and Keymote. You can control your Mac or PC (and Snatch supports all the way back to Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger).
It has a multi-touch trackpad, a keyboard and a remote control editor. You can edit and design the layout of your remote control, adding buttons to specific functions. You can also create a 'dock' of sorts for the applications that you like to frequently access.
One feature I like about Snatch is that you can see what apps are running and easily switch between them.
Snatch has a ton of fans, and while I still defer to HippoRemote or Remote Jr., it is a worthy player in the remote control space. Before buying Snatch, you can download the free Snatch Trackpad Test app to make sure it will work with your configuration.
Your Picks
Did I leave out one of your favorite remotes? How do you control your Mac or Windows PC with your iPhone or iPod touch? What features are you looking for in a remote control app? Let us know!
[Image credit: Tanais Fox]
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Technology is taking everything by storm, now thanks to the readily available apps you can comfortably control your iPhone from a PC. Amazing, right?
Sadly, most of these apps require you to jailbreak your device, a practice most people are running away from. Do not despair yet. You will soon find out how to remotely control iPhone from your PC without jailbreaking your device. Here are the best apps to use for remotely controlling your iPhone or iPad from your PC without jailbreak:
Read Also:How to remotely mirror an iPhone or iPad to a computer using TeamViewer
6 Awesome Apps to Remotely Control Your iPhone from PC or MAC
[wpsm_numhead num=”1″ style=”4″ heading=”2″]AirServer[/wpsm_numhead]
AirServer is a solid applicaton that is simple to use when it comes to mirroring your iPhone directly from your Mac. Here is how to go about it:
How to control your iPhone from PC remotely using AirServer
- Open your browser and go to AirServer.com.
- Once the official webpage loads, on the bottom left of your screen, click on the download for free box. A small window will pop up on your screen prompting you to sign up for a free trial.
- Fill your name and email address then proceed. An email confirmation will be sent on your email.
- Confirm the email to get the activation codes. Copy and save the codes on a note pad.
- Choose the setup option you want to download according to your computer device.
- Once the download is complete, open your set up.
- Click next on your setup, and ensure that you check on all the things you need and also agree with the end user agreement. You will also be prompted to insert the activation code you got from the free registration.
- Copy and paste the codes and then proceed. This might take some time therefore you need to be patient. Once its complete click finish.
- Launch the application, if it asks for activation, copy and paste the codes again. This time you will get a message saying your code has been validated meaning you are good to go.
- Go to your iPhone device and swipe up. You will see the Air server application.
- Click on it and choose mirroring. Once this is done you will be able to see your iPhone screen on your PC. Note all the apps can be run perfectly. You can also resize your iPhone size and continue with whatever task you were doing. Talk of convenience!
Also:Control jailbroken devices from your desktop using Veency
Quicktime alternative for mac. QuickTime Alternative is a smaller package and lacks the full complement of software included in Apple QuickTime, including QuickTime Player, PictureViewer, and any features. In addition, QuickTime Alternative does not run background processes such as the optional QuickTime Tray Icon from the official distribution. QT Lite is a stripped-down version of QuickTime Alternative that contains only the base components, and does not install.
[wpsm_numhead num=”2″ style=”4″ heading=”2″]ISL Light[/wpsm_numhead]
If you need to access your iPhone directly from a computer and actually control what it does, then this method will be more helpful. It also comes in handy for those looking to troubleshoot problems with the iPhone as well as manage data and configure the device.
Here, you need to download the ISL light app for the computer, and this other ISL app for the iPhone. The computer app works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Once downloaded, follow the steps indicated below to control your computer from your iPhone:
How to control your iPhone from PC using ISL Light
- Open the ISL App on your computer and click to start a session
- The client should also open the app on the iPhone or Android device and connect to the existing session
- Share the session code with the client for the connection to happen
- Once connected, you can now access the iPhone from your computer through WiFi, 3G, or LTE
- You will be able to see live screenshots of the client’s device from your computer
- You can also chat with the iPhone’s user remotely
[wpsm_numhead num=”3″ style=”4″ heading=”2″]Mobile Gateways by Eggplant[/wpsm_numhead]
Mobile gateway provides for a simple and full control of your iPhone directly from your Mac.
The good thing with this software is that it can control other devices too, including Android, Windows Phone, and Blackberry remotely from your computer. It doesn’t require jailbreaking to install and use.
Visit Mobile Gateways
[wpsm_numhead num=”4″ style=”4″ heading=”2″]VMware AirWatch[/wpsm_numhead]
If you are in a corporate and are looking for a way to be able to remotely access all the company’s devices in possession of employees, then VMware AirWatch is the best software for this job. It allows you to install different apps to client’s computers and collaborate on tasks.
With the remote-control ability that the software provides across many platforms including Android and Windows, you have a better way of installing apps and collaborating at the workplace when you install VMware AirWatch.
[wpsm_numhead num=”5″ style=”4″ heading=”2″]iKeyboardRemote[/wpsm_numhead]
My Iphone App
iKeyboardRemote lets you control your iPad or iPhone remotely from your Mac. This is especially useful whenever you want to execute simple tasks such as watching multimedia and accessing files. If you want to leave your iPhone on the doc while you play music or even access your photos, then this is your ideal app.
Pairing it up with your iPhone or iPad is as simple as selecting its name when it appears on your Mac.
Apps For Iphone
Visit iKeyboardRemote
[wpsm_numhead num=”6″ style=”4″ heading=”2″]Chrome Remote Desktop[/wpsm_numhead]
Chrome Remote Desktop was originally developed by Google for Android, but has since been extended to cater for iPhone and iPad users. To use this app, you need to install the Chrome Remote Desktop extension and then download its free iOS version on your iPhone or iPad.
Once installed and a connection established, you can access your iOS device remotely and perform anything from playing videos, configuring apps, and even accessing documents. Connecting is as easy as entering an access code provided when you install the app on your Mac or PC.
Read Also:How to use your iPhone as an Apple TV remote
Iphone Apps For Controlling Your Macros
Finally…
Apps For Iphones Free
All these apps have their strengths and weaknesses hence you need to choose the best depending on the purpose you intend to use it for. For example, some of the apps will only allow you to control things like music but don’t give you access to photos. Others, on the other hand, are built for corporate use.