So the 2.0 launch has come and gone and while I haven't followed every release on the App store, I haven't heard of anything like a VLC remote. I'd love to be able to browse and play/pause. I know Remote Buddy can do this (for $30!) but only synthetically via Safari, and after seeing how much better actual apps work vs the web apps we saw before, I'm still hopeful that a VLC remote will come before long.

Does anyone know something I don't? Might come via Cydia, not the App Store...?

why not just use a VNC app? Forget the name right now, but I'm pretty sure one has already been mentioned on threads...Mocha VNC maybe?

Or Apple Remote?

The down side of Apple Remote is that everything has to be iTunes-friendly. My Files are not, and I don't want to convert my 600GB-ish library. Love it for iTunes, though.

Mocha VNC looks interesting. Not really what I was looking for, but it will navigate and allow me to hit the big play/pause button :) Lite version seems good enough. A native app would be a lot less clumsy and more responsive (here's hoping) but thanks, guys, for the thoughts.

.... thinking more of Apple Remote, I remember hearing about having iTunes soft-links or something to QT files (and QT can play most of what VLC plays Perian). Is that what you were suggesting, Further? Flesh the idea out for me a bit?

.... thinking more of Apple Remote, I remember hearing about having iTunes soft-links or something to QT files (and QT can play most of what VLC plays Perian). Is that what you were suggesting, Further? Flesh the idea out for me a bit?

No. VLC can be controlled directly by Apple Remote. Pause, play, next, etc. I thought that's what you were looking for.

Hmm well I'm still a bit confused. More fleshing out would be helpful.

Do you mean the new App 'Remote' for the iPhone? That's an iTunes remote afaik.

or do you mean the white plastic Apple Remote? I have one, but I don't have an IR receiver on my Mac Pro which is my HTPC. Also can't browse from it.

Or do you mean something else - a web interface ajax server or...? Help me out.

or do you mean the white plastic Apple Remote? I have one, but I don't have an IR receiver on my Mac Pro which is my HTPC. Also can't browse from it.


Yes, that's the one I mean. Well, if you don't an IR receiver, why not just use a wireless mouse?

Or add a cheap IR receiver?

The last time I checked for an IR receiver it was like $50 to find one that was Mac Compatible. Would be glad to be wrong :)

While I like the geekiness of using my iPhone for the remote, a tactile 5 button unit makes good sense.

If I'm running 3 screens from 2 video cards on my Mac Pro, does Front Row always just go fullscreen on the 'primary' display (the one with clock menu bar and dock)? It would be a hassle to switch that back and forth all the time to get full screen output by default.

The last time I checked for an IR receiver it was like $50 to find one that was Mac Compatible. Would be glad to be wrong :)

While I like the geekiness of using my iPhone for the remote, a tactile 5 button unit makes good sense.

If I'm running 3 screens from 2 video cards on my Mac Pro, does Front Row always just go fullscreen on the 'primary' display (the one with clock menu bar and dock)? It would be a hassle to switch that back and forth all the time to get full screen output by default.

http://twistedmelon.com/mira/

I'm told FrontRow only does fullscreen on the primary display, unfortunately. I wonder how tough it would be to make an Automator script that could swap which display is primary?

(I'm with you on the iPhone vs. real remote, though... I'm a hard button guy.)

Hmm $15 looks quite reasonable. This is probably the best solution for HT use (whether or not I use Front Row or just VLC helper and manually que the movie(s) I want remains to be seen. Then I'll just use 'Remote' for whole-house audio via Airport Expresses via iTunes.

Thanks for helping me think this through.

For a simplistic set up like mine... I have a 6 zone A/V system through the house. I use the simple, free REMOTE app to control my itunes. My house system is always ON with the iTunes source active.. So, using my iPhone, I can select play lists, control the volume, skip, see all my music, etc from the comfort of my patio with my iPhone (with Airport Express input to my distribution pre-amp). Very slick. Of course, I cannot change sources or control other sources... but it is a start and since music / iTunes is what we use the A/V system for 99% of the time, I'm very pleased.

thats similar to what i will be doing. but since i have my own laptop on xp and my wife has a macbook, we can play 2 different streams to 2 different airport expresses at the same time. never do though since its only the 2 of us, but overall the remote app is awesome. no lag like other programs i tried and it works like a charm.