When I bought my MacBook Pro at the end of February, it was one of the first Macs shipped that didn’t include the Apple Remote. This meant that I would have to buy one for $30 at the Apple Store or less if I shopped around.
Remote Buddy iPhone Interface: one of the unique features
that sets Remote Buddy apart from other Mac remote
control software.
I decided that I would start using the MacBook Pro and see if I missed the Apple Remote.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve thought about buying an Apple Remote but not pulled the trigger. I haven’t needed to make any Keynote presentations, and I don’t use iTunes locally on my Mac enough to make it worthwhile because I use my iPhone so much.
One thing I hadn’t counted on was finding a Mac application that made my iPhone into a remote control for my Mac. Remote Buddy provides a framework in which remote control actions for many Mac applications can live. It supports a number of remote control devices including:
- Apple Remote
- iPhone and iPod Touch
- Griffin Airclick
- Nintendo Wii Remote
This makes Remote Buddy quite similar to Salling Clicker, a program that has existed for a long time and has many of the same features.
What makes Remote Buddy different is the mini Ajax-based web application that ships with it. You can install this app on your Mac and use it to present a remote control user interface on a non-jailbroken iPhone. This is a really cool idea if you ask me.
I’m sure that lots of people who use a MacOS X-based computer and an iPhone won’t need something like Remote Buddy. However, if you are using your Mac as an automation hub, you may find Remote Buddy very useful.
Remote Buddy costs €19.99 (about $31.00 at current exchange rates) and is available directly from the developer, IOSpirit.