Remote control for PC?

iain_j
iain_j Posts: 1,941
edited February 2010 in The bottom bracket
Whilst riding home from work this evening (on topic you see :P ) I was wondering. Now I've invested in some decent speakers and spent hours converting my CD's to MP3 I've ditched my old stereo in favour of my laptop. But my laptop hasn't got a remote control. Do such things exist? I use Media Monkey on Windows Vista.

Comments

  • fast as fupp
    fast as fupp Posts: 2,277
    they exist for macs but for pc's i dunno?
    'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'
  • iain_j
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    Done some googling but all I get is remote access through another PC, sort of stuff :?
  • d_retallack
    d_retallack Posts: 27
    Sony Ericsson phones have a bluetooth remote that have a desktop and media remote functions works with my laptop fine
    5138028552_5b583a9b56_t.jpg
  • deptfordmarmoset
    deptfordmarmoset Posts: 3,118
    I've got a remote with my PC - I've only ever used it for the Media Center (which is what I think it was designed for). I just tried to see whether I could operate iTunes with it with very limited success. No idea about using it with Media Monkey though.
    Looking for a cycling buddy?
  • Thread8
    Thread8 Posts: 479
    If you used iTunes and had an iPhone/iPod touch then you can download an app that controls it through a wireless network :D
    Haro Thread 8
    Please help!

    "It's like parkour, on a bike"
  • iain_j
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    I don't use iTunes because it won't co-operate with my non-iPhone/iPod player :P

    (which caused a problem when my sister got me an iTunes voucher for my birthday!)
  • craker
    craker Posts: 1,739
    'of course' I thought but I didn't manage to find anything in stock

    http://www.dabs.com/products/gyration-m ... c%20remote

    hang on - ebay to the rescue... search for PC remote, stuff came up from £2 plus.

    The difficulty is having the right software to communicate conveniently with the remote. I've got a media centre pc - ok just my old desktop pc but connected up to the tv and running Media Portal (which is freeware alternative to Microsoft Media Centre, if you're into Linux have a look at MythBuntu).

    Anyway, media centres basically give you an interface that makes the remote control useable. Navigating through shedloads of mp3s photos movies and stuff is made much easier with the TV as an interface.

    And if the remote's not handy then use your laptop or phone to remote desktop to the media centre PC and control it over the network.
  • couldashouldawoulda
    couldashouldawoulda Posts: 186
    My only experience are with an iPhone + VLC on the laptop works great (install VLC remote on the iPhone). Or if you've got a Dell laptop - some come with remote (bluetooth).
  • ravey1981
    ravey1981 Posts: 1,111
    should have bought a mac ;)
  • freehub
    freehub Posts: 4,257
    I use my C902 as a remote control for WMP, I remember I used to have a sound card called X-Fi Fatal1ty from Creative, that came with a big unit to fit in the expansion bay in your PC with lots of add ons, it came with a remote control too which was pretty good, I sold it so I could afford an NV8800GTS.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    If you have a smartphone, there's probably software available for it to remote control your pc via bluetooth or wifi. I use an iPhone to control my Macs, but previously I used Salling Clicker for my Nokia N95 (also available for Sony phones). This approach may make use of hardware you already own, and saves using an infra-red dongle.
  • iain_j
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    Haven't got a smartphone either.

    Found this on ebay (thanks for the hint mr si - never thought to try ebay), if it doesn't work then it's only a few quid wasted.

    Thanks all for the tips!

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