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Rowmote: Remote Control for Mac Hot

Philip Roy Written by Philip Roy     March 28, 2009    
 
Rowmote: Remote Control for Mac
Rowmote: Remote Control for Mac
Rowmote: Remote Control for Mac
User rating
 
 4.0 (1)

Software

Version 1.5
Cost $1.29 NZD
Suitable For iPod Touch • iPhone 3G
Company/Developer Evan Schoenberg
Company/Product Website
Purchase via this iTunes link
iTunes

You love the remote control which came with your Mac - so simple yet elegant, with easy control of Front Row, iTunes, Quicktime, DVD Player, Keynote, and more. Or, your Mac didn't come with a remote control or doesn't even have an infrared port. The Apple Remote would cost $20; a third party infrared receiver would be even more.

You carry your iPhone or iPod Touch wherever you go... so why should you carry a second device just to control your computer? Furthermore, why should you need line-of-sight to do so? Enter Rowmote! Rowmote is just like your Mac’s remote control but over the wireless network. Additionally, by tapping the Apps button, you get bonus abilities, switching between controlled programs, toggling the iTunes Visualizer, and more.

FEATURES

  • Control your Mac over a wireless network.
  • Functions just like the hardware Apple Remote Control in:
    • Front Row
    • Airfoil Video
    • Boxee
    • DVD Player
    • iPhoto
    • iTunes
    • Keynote '08 and '09
    • Microsoft Powerpoint 2008
    • Quicktime
    • Plex
    • Skim
    • Spotify
    • VLC
    • eyeTV (Work in progress: Currently can change channels and adjust volume)
  • Apps Remote allows switching to controllable applications, toggling iTunes visualizer and coverflow, and toggling fullscreen mode in many applications (remote features worth the price of admission alone). The order is customisable, and you can turn on or off display of any controllable app.
  • Click-and-hold works just like on the physical remote in applications; for example, holding the right button fast-forwards, while a single click is 'next'. This is a feature no other iPhone remote control I know of does properly!
  • Stay Connected option allows Rowmote to be ready for action instantaneously after your device has automatically locked, and Prevent Device Sleep option lets you stop your device from automatically locking at all.
  • Automatically enables Front Row in Mac OS X 10.4, even if your computer doesn't have an infrared port.

User reviews

Average user rating from: 1 user(s)

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Overall rating: 
 
 4.0
Ease of Use:
 
 5.0   (1)
Help/Support Material:
 
 3.0   (1)
Graphics and Sound:
 
 3.0   (1)
Value for Money:
 
 5.0   (1)
 
 
Overall rating: 
 
 4.0
Ease of Use:
 
 5.0
Help/Support Material:
 
 3.0
Graphics and Sound:
 
 3.0
Value for Money:
 
 5.0
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Philip Roy Reviewed by Philip Roy
March 28, 2009
#1 Reviewer
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

This really is an impressive piece of technology for the iPhone, although sometimes I feel that attempts at simplified interfaces for remotes, make things a little too simplified. Rowmote installs easily into your iPhone or iPod Touch and then makes use of the wireless technology in your iPhone to look for a 'helper' app that you have installed on your Mac (no PC version at this point).

The fact that you actually have to have a piece of software installed on your Mac is kinda a neat idea...1, because the software is simple and a no-brainer, but 2, because this then means that the Rowmote software on your iPhone doesn't need a 'direct' wireless-to-wireless connection to work...it can be indirect. Let me explain.

Here at home I have an iMac. Wireless (Airport) is not switched on the iMac at all. However, if I choose to use iPhone apps like 1Password or Apple's Remote, I have to enable Airport on my iMac to make a direct 1-to-1 connection. With Rowmote, I don't have to do that. Instead, the iPhone looks for any wireless connection (in this case, my router that is sitting below my Mac that is wired into my Mac, but has wireless on for the rest of the flat) and finds the Rowmote helper sitting somewhere on the network and then makes the connection...much simpler!

The Rowmote software on the iPhone itself is a breeze to use. It's so simple, connecting to your Mac and launching an application works with no issues.

However, in order to make the Rowmote interface as simple as possible, there have been some compromises.

For example, the "+" and "-" buttons aren't always used for what you might assume (volume up and down) but to move up a list or down a list by one. OK, this might be nit-picking, but I do feel that it can be a bit confusing at first.

Next, once you start getting into an application, you may find Rowmote letting you down a bit. I was staggered how easily I could launch iPhoto, select an album and choose to play a slideshow. However, I found it a struggle to figure out how to get out of this slideshow. I also found myself wanting to quit applications at times, with no obvious way to do this.

But for $1.29, I'm certainly not complaining. I think the developer may find he has to start making the interface a little more complex as more applications and requested features are added it, but this is a superb app whose simplicity is a real credit to it.