Remote (Apple Inc.)
Cost as reviewed: FREE
Way before I got an iPhone I was dreaming of this app. I love music and I have always dreamed of having a music system throughout my house where I could basically send the same music all over the house. This process seemed incredibly daunting since it would include putting wiring behind the walls all over the house. There are drawback to this approach, like the wiring would be fixed in one place and you wouldn’t be able to take your system with you (easily) if you moved to a new house. These dilemmas got me thinking that it would be awesome to have a wireless system and it seemed like with wi-fi, which works so well for Internet, I should be able to set this up.
Well, when I really started getting into Apple products, I realized they have the Airport Express Base Station. This tiny device let’s you create or join a wireless network. The main feature that interested me, however, was the AirTunes feature where you can send music from iTunes anywhere on your network directly to the Airport Express. You can even use multiple Airports simultaneously from one computer. I picked one of these up and it works pretty well. You give up some reliability and audio quality by not using wires, but to me it’s worth it.
I quickly realized that the main drawback with this set up is that you have to adjust your music from the main computer where iTunes is running. The solution to that problem is this app. It allows you to easily control any iTunes on your network. You can set up which speakers it is using, you can browse and control music playback, and it even displays album artwork. I haven’t tried controlling an Apple TV with it but apparently that works really well too. You first need to pair the iPhone with each iTunes library you want it to have access to, but afterwards you have complete control over the iTunes library. Imagine the practical jokes you can play on someone if they don’t know you’ve paired your iPhone with their iTunes!!!
I’m loving this app and I can’t wait until I have my whole house set up with wireless speakers. It’s the pinnacle of laziness, but I prefer the term convenience!
September 2, 2008 at 8:13 pm
my Remote isn’t detected on my iTunes, that is, even if i select my iPhone on iTunes, there is nowhere to type the code i see on the iPhone Remote screen…
any tips?
thanks… great post btw
September 2, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Enzo – without knowing the steps you’ve taken so far, I can’t be sure why you are having this problem. However, I do have some ideas. First of all, I would suggest making sure you have the most up-to-date version of iTunes. Assuming you do, then the procedure for getting the iPhone to show up as a remote is as follows:
First – Make sure both computers are logged onto your local network. Your iPhone should be connected via WiFi and your computer can be connected via ethernet or WiFi. Also, I recommend keeping your iPhone disconnected from the computer during this process. It will make things more obvious I think.
Second – On you iPhone, launch the Remote app.
Third – After launching the app, you should see an option for “Add Library”. Click this button.
Fourth – The iPhone screen should show a 4-digit code. Go back to your computer and check for your iPhone to be listed on the left. This will be easier if your iPhone is NOT connected to the computer via USB. It should show up under “Devices” and it should have a symbol to the left that looks just like the Remote app’s icon on the phone.
Fifth – Click on your phone in this “Devices” list and you should get 4 boxes on the right hand side. Enter the code shown on your iPhone in these boxes and it should connect the two.
If these steps don’t work for you, you might need to look elsewhere because it isn’t something I would know about. Good luck and let me know if it works out for you.
Thanks for the comment!
September 7, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Hi Andrew,
I am having the exact same problem. My remote was working fine but then for some reason just stopped – I couldn’t find a way round as I tried a few things for it to work so I uninstalled remote then reinstalled it. This didn’t work so then I went extreme and reinstalled iTunes – this still didn’t work. Anyway I’ve spent a long while (TOO LONG) trying to find an answer which brings me to you – great post by the way – and I have followed your steps but remote still doesn’t work.
On the iPhone I get to the ‘Add library’ and shows the passcode screen – however iTunes does not show the ‘Passcode’ screen – in fact the remote icon does not show up where devices show up. I really don’t understand it. Also I tried the not connecting my iPhone via the USB lead however that doesn’t show up in iTunes either. I didn’t think the iPhone would show up in iTunes if it wasn’t connected?? am I wrong?
Both devices are on the same wireless network too?? I really don’t understand how remote was working fine and then doesn’t want to know – computers – got to love them!
(
September 7, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Thomas-
That is strange that it would work for a while and then suddenly stop working. The only times I’ve seen that happen is when my iPhone has lost the WiFi connection to my home network. The way the Remote app works, the iPhone does not need to be connected to the computer in order to link it as a remote. This type of “connection” without the USB cable is really only for the Remote functionality, it isn’t a true iPhone connection that would let you transfer files and such.
Since I haven’t had the problem you’ve described, I can’t really test anything out to see if it works. However, I did find a website with some troubleshooting tips. One step I didn’t mention above was making sure your iTunes was actually looking for iPhone remotes. I think this is on by default, but I suppose it’s possible that it got turned off.
http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/08/04/troubleshooting-remote-for-the-iphone-or-ipod-touch/
The other thing I didn’t mention was the possibility that you’re having a Firewall issue. I’m not sure why this would suddenly happen unless you made some changes to your system preferences. If you’re on a Windows PC, the article above will describe how to get it working. If you’re on a Mac, then I’m not quite sure what the correct settings would be.
I’m out of ideas for now, but hopefully you’ll be able to get it working. Let us know if you find a solution because I’m sure others out there are struggling as well.
Best of luck to you.
September 9, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Hi Andrew,
Just to let you know the outcome of my dilemma! Well my iPhone remote is working now – woohoo – but in order for it to work I had to restore the iPhone. After the factory settings finished and waiting for the back up to kick in I got the message which fills someone with more fear than someone who has p*ssed of Darth Vader – iPhone not recognised. So yup you guessed it after some deliberation I had to bite the bullet and go from scratch – i.e. my iPhone is like brand new minus EVERY-FREAKING-THING that was on it!
So I’m afraid this story didn’t end up like the fairytale – although the remote is working now however I’m not sure if I would sacrifice all my pics, texts, MY WHOLE address book and tunes just for it to work again. If it plays up – well do you know what? I think I might just live without it!!
Cheers for your help and your ears – writing this has been theraputic! well a bit anyway!
September 9, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Wow, that’s really lame I’m sorry to hear that. Make sure to grab the 2.1 software update on Friday. Hopefully it’ll reduce this kind of occurrence.
September 19, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I have the same problem with the phone showing up in the devices list. I don’t think it is a firewall setting, as I turned everything off to check it out. I have the latest version of everything. Set up on the same network. Have tried my both my wife and my phone. Very strange. If you hear anything, let me know. I will as well.
October 13, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Have a strange phenomenon on my iphone. After I upgraded to 2.1 Remote is not showing on the iphone anymore. It says it is installed, but I can’t find it. I deleted it from the applications folder on itunes as well it still shows as if it is installed.
Any clues what I can do as it is a neat feature controlling my tunes from the phone.
October 23, 2008 at 1:44 am
You have to make sure the bonjoure service is up and running.
1.) Close Itunes.
2.) Disconnect the iphone from the USB.
3.) on a PC, go to Start>Run> and type in “services.msc” with out the quotes.
4.) then find the Bonjoure service, right click it and hit start.
5.) open remote app on iphone and hit add library and get to the screen that has the 4 digit code.
6.) open itunes.
7.) if bonjoure is running, it should show up instantly in itunes
December 25, 2008 at 3:13 pm
thank you so much Max! it works perfect, but you have to restart Itunes.
January 29, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I can’t get the iTunes Remote to work. My iPhone is detedted in Devices on iTunes, but it will not take the remote passcode. I have, what I believe, is a different setup than most people – have a daisy chained wireless g router, which my iphone and wii use off of an n router that all my laptops and printers use. This is the only issue I can think off, but still makes no sense as iTunes on my MacBook Pro picks up the iPhone remote.
Any ideas?
March 21, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I had no success in getting iTunes to recognize the Remote. I followed Max’s instructions and found that Bonjour was already running. I restarted it anyway and, viola! it started working. Max, thank you so much.
March 27, 2009 at 11:28 pm
The only thing that consistently works for me is to restart my router – After trying everything – sharing library in itunes, look for remotes, enabling ports 3689,5353 in my firewall, turning off firewall, restart computer , restart itunes/iphone , turning off then turning back on the wifi on iphone, reinstaling bonjour , restarting the bonjour service. NONE of these things worked but when i restart my router – there is the remote – working like a charm , but then when i restart the computer i have to restart the router so i can find my library in the app. otherwise it keeps saying can’t find library.
Might have something to do with the DCHP lease time in the wireless settings on the router, if i figure it out i will repost. Hope this helps.
April 6, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I cant get the enter passcode to display in itunes either, even after following all the suggestions here.
June 30, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Thanks Max!! I have been having the same prob as everyone else. When I tried just stopping and starting Bonjoure, it didn’t work. However, we I finally followed ALL of your steps it works again. Thanks again.