Make Your iPod A Universal Remote Control || The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

Choose text size:

Featured Article: Apple's Seasonal Sales Fluctuations Can Confuse Observers

Make Your iPod A Universal Remote Control

by , 6:00 PM EDT, July 27th, 2004

Engadget, a site dedicated to gadgets and the use of gadgets (the top story as of this writing is about playing polo with Segways) has published step-by-step directions on turning your iPod into a universal remote control. From Engadget:

This week's How-To is a fun one, we take an iPod and turn it in to a universal infrared remote control which can be used to control all your home electronic equipment, or just about anything that uses a remote control, for example in our place we have our iPod controlling our TV, DVD Player, Direct TV, Ultimate TV PVR, Media Center PC, Xbox, XM Satellite Radio, Roomba and a few other random things like a Robot.

The instructions are quite detailed, and include images and screen shots of the most important steps. Engadget used a PC for some of the steps, but the site says it can be done with a Mac, too. The instructions also require a PocketPC-based PDA, like an iPaq. Anyone successfully doing this using their Mac is encouraged to post in the comments below.

Thanks to Observer John for the link.

How-To Turn your iPod in to a Universal Infrared Remote Control

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments

Close Name:jcbeckman Posts: 55 Joined: 06 May 2004
Tue Jul 27, 2004 6:49 pm Subject: and why...

...if I need a Pocket PC, wouldn't I just, uh...USE THAT???

I guess it's interesting it can be done, but seems kind of pointless.

Jack

Reply | Quote

Close Name:Bryan - TMO Staff Posts: 7331 Joined: 11 Jun 2001
Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:12 pm Subject:

This is clearly a case of climbing the mountain because it is there, but it's still pretty darned cool.

Besides, you could then trash your PocketPC.

Reply | Quote

Close Name:jcbeckman Posts: 55 Joined: 06 May 2004
Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:43 pm Subject:

No, I need it as a wireless WiFi remote for iTunes. I can't trash it until Apple gets me my remote for my AirPort Express.

And I take my iPod with me wherever I go. But I need to leave the remote behind so my wife can still watch TV when I'm gone. So no trashing the PPC just yet.

Jack

Reply | Quote

Comment on this Article

Guest Posts Hidden. View Them.
Back to top Page 1 of 1

You cannot edit your comments. You cannot delete your comments.

Recent Headlines - Updated Thursday, August 28th, 2008

Thu., 4:55 PM: Ars: IE8, Beta 2, Shows MS is Serious About Catch-Up
4:10 PM: iPodObserver - AI: iPhone 2.0.2 Update Performance Affected by Those with Older Versions.
3:15 PM: The Complete Text of Steve Jobs' Obit, Accidentally Posted by Bloomberg
2:15 PM: BBEdit 9 Beefs Up Searches, Adds Text Completion, More
1:50 PM: iPodObserver - Apple iPhone 2.0.2 Fix is Subtle - Too Subtle for Some
1:15 PM: Apple Stores Generally Mirror U.S. Population Density
12:30 PM: iPO Review - FlowerVest case for iPhone 3G
12:10 PM: BW: Students Will Save Apple's Fourth Quarter
12:10 PM: OmniPlan 1.6 Adds Project 2007 Support, More
11:30 AM: Apple Patent Shows Off Tablet Technology
10:35 AM: Hot Forum Topic - How Much Use Does Your iPhone Get?
9:25 AM: iPodObserver - Orange: No Padded iPhone Lines in Poland
8:45 AM: iPO Ted Landau's User Friendly View - The iPhone Takes Some Hits
8:10 AM: iPodObserver - VimpelCom Lands Russia iPhone 3G Deal

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
OWC: Top Quality Memory for Faster Mac Performance 1GB/2GB/4GB Kits from $23.99/$47.99/$94.99 Expert Support, Free Installation Videos & Guides, Lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty - www.MacSales.com
New MacPro Memory 800Mhz With Apple Spec Heat Sink 2GB $104 / 4GB $172 / 8GB $338. Click to Maximize your Macs...
Mac observers can now play Party Poker for Mac as well as Mac casino games by going to MacPokerOnline.com.
RamJet Memory: Mac Pro FB-DIMMs: 2Gig kit $115, 4Gig kit $179, 8Gig kit for $355! 500G Seagate Hard Drive $129! Click here
For the latest Apple products use Ciao a comparison website to find laptops like MacBook Air. Then find the best prices on MP3 players and use our comparison tool to evaluate cell phones.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

Special Report: WWDC 2008
Special Report: iPhone
__________
Help TMO Grow
Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
TMO on Twitter!

Apple Stock Quote

AAPL: $173.74. Change Today: -0.93.
(Prices delayed up to 20 minutes.)
Discuss in our Apple Finance Board

Hot Topics

What's the buzz? These articles have TMO readers talking.

What a Touchscreen Would do for the Mac - (29 Comments)
Psystar Responds to Apple's Lawsuit - (17 Comments)
Steve Jobs' E-mail to Jerry Seinfeld (Cartoon) - (13 Comments)
Ars: IE8, Beta 2, Shows MS is Serious About Catch-Up - (9 Comments)
BW: Students Will Save Apple's Fourth Quarter - (6 Comments)
Laptop Locks: Not Quite So Secure - (6 Comments)

Top Deals From DealsOnTheWeb

© The Mac Observer, Inc. -- All rights reserved. All information presented on this site is copyrighted by The Mac Observer, Inc. except where otherwise noted. No portion of this site may be copied without express written consent. Other sites are invited to link to any aspect of this site provided that all content is presented in its original form and is not placed within another frame. The Mac Observer is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple, Inc.