Comments on: Remote app in reverse?

Question: Remote app in reverse?

slow graffiti — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 12:53:15 -0800

I have a Macbook Air and an iPad. When they're both at home I want to be able to control music playback on the iPad from the Air. What do I want?

The idea is to control song playback on my iPad connected to the stereo from my laptop across the room while I'm at my desk without getting up, so assume all devices are on the same wifi, could be VPN connected.

I tried a few apps (TunesRemote comes closest) designed specifically for control of the Music app on the iPad but really I want a better interface and integrated control of all music apps, like MusicControl offers for Music plus Spotify/Pandora, but that will only work between two Macbooks, not Macbook + iPad. The Remote app Apple offers goes the other way, iPad to Mac, I want the reverse.

Next step is to consider some kind of full remote desktop solution I suppose. What do I want?

By: Good Brain

Good Brain — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 13:01:05 -0800

Given my understanding of how iOS approaches security, I doubt you'll be able to do what you want, at least not without jailbreaking. I'd look in Cydia (though I don't know of a web interface for browsing Cydia).

By: kdern

kdern — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:16:30 -0800

I don't think you can do that... but if you get a $99 apple TV, perhaps that could be a good alternate solution?

By: ConstantineXVI

ConstantineXVI — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:43:12 -0800

Not cheap; but Sonos gear can do exactly what you're looking for, including Spotify and Pandora. Strictly speaking it's the one doing the playing (it'll tap your Mac's iTunes library), and either the Mac or iPad (or iPhone, or Android phone) can control it w/o interruption.

By: slow graffiti

slow graffiti — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:50:33 -0800

I don't have the budget for new hardware, and it seems silly to acquire yet another device when what I want is entirely possible in the hardware sense with what I have on hand. But good to know about the underlying security issue.

By: nevan

nevan — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 15:24:40 -0800

Reverse Remote might be what you're looking for. I haven't tried it so I can't vouch for how well it works.

By: guster4lovers

guster4lovers — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 16:27:40 -0800

Reflection works perfectly for this, as long as you have the iPad 3 and Mountain Lion and you're on WiFi.

You mirror them using AirPlay (only comes with ML), then the music plays through the MBair but is controlled by the iPad. It also works great as a document camera and is pretty fun.

By: Good Brain

Good Brain — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 23:15:58 -0800

How is Reflection going to help? The point isn't to mirror the iPad to the Mac, it is to somehow put the mac in control of audio coming out of the iPad.

A possible avenue to explore, provided the OP doesn't mind leaving the Mac running while it is playing audio through the iPad:

1. Find an app (like this) that lets you route OS X app audio to HTTP streaming audio.

2. Use Tuner, or a similar app, or the streaming audio support in Mobile Safari to play the audio stream on the iPad.