Apple

By Adam TURNER , Categories: Play Remote Buddy turns Apple’s fancy iPod Touch into the mother of all universal remote controls. Of course “universal” only stretches as far as Apple devices, but if you’re drinking the Cupertino Kool-Aid then the Apple ecosystem is the universe, isn’t it? Swipes at Apple-worshippers aside, Remote Buddy is an amazing third-party app that lets you control every aspect of a Mac from a variety of devices including the iPhone and iPod Touch.

If you’re searching for an excuse to splash out on an iPod Touch, Remote Buddy could be what you’re looking for. When I caught up with the lads from Apple for coffee last week they were running Remote Buddy on an iPod Touch, controlling a MacBook Air via a wifi network. I’d already been eyeing off the iPod Touch, wondering if it could be turned into a universal remote control. I knew it didn’t have Bluetooth so I asked if it had an infra-red port.

They looked at me horrified, as if I’d just asked if it was steam-powered. I said I was hoping to use it as a universal remote and that’s when they pulled out the Remote Buddy app. Remote Buddy lets you access every app on a Mac you could want to control from the couch, such as Front Row, iTunes, QuickTime, iPhoto and third party apps like Elgato’s EyeTV. Sure you can find other learning universal remotes to do the job, but Remote Buddy running on the iPod Touch has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Digging further into the menus reveals the ability to access virtually every app and setting on your Mac. Running over wifi means you don’t have to rely on line of site and you can use it anywhere in the house, which is great if you’re pumping audio and video between rooms or to the backyard. The real killer app is that Remote Buddy can turn the iPod Touch into a wireless keyboard and trackpad for controlling your Mac. Awesome.