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Control iTunes Remotely

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It's more than controlling itunes, it's seeing what you are doing, without being at your computer-- and playing your music anywhere!  You can do it inside, outside, all by looking at your Pocket PC running Windows!    Your music lives on your main computer, and the Pocket PC acts like a remote control on steriods!

Music is a great thing-- controlling it from anywhere in your home is even better!  Going back to the computer to see what is currently playing, or to select something new isn't exactly convenient.  I had several goals that I wanted to accomplish-- after trying several different setups, I finally acheived what I wanted:

1.  Control my music without going to my computer, while being able to SEE what is playing currently, and what I wanted to listen to next.  Maybe I'm lazy, eh?

2. Play the SAME music in different areas of my home.  It's cool to walk from outside, to the living room, to the bedroom upstairs, and hear the same music exactly in sync.

The parts and tools

I have the following devices setup and working together in unison to make the system work.

Apple, iTunes, and Airport Express are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
  1. Windows based PC with iTunes, and wireless access (the computer must have a WiFi card installed in it)
  2. A wireless router
  3. A Windows based Pocket PC with Wifi capability
  4. Apple's Airport Express-- Multiple ones if you want music in several locations
  5. RemoteAmp-- This is the software that lives on your Pocket PC and main computer.

    http://www.smashcasi.com/remoteamp/

Getting the "stuff"..

Get Remote Amp!
This is where you download Remote Amp. It's the software that runs on your PC, and your Windows Based Pocket PC!

I tried many different products that were similar in function. Remote Amp seemed to be the less buggy of them all.

Ok-- how does it all work?

So you have the equipment now, it's time to make it all work.

1. You've set up your wireless network successfully and your ready to go. Make sure if you are using a secure network, you are using "WPA" and not "WEP". Why? The Apple Airport Express "likes WPA better. It's just easier in the end. (you'll have to change all parts of your network to WPA after the change-- your Pocket PC, your laptop, your main computer (it need to have a wireless card in it too!), etc.

2. Your main computer has the latest version of iTunes installed, your music is loaded, and it's on your home network.

3. You've downloaded Remote Amp (see link) and installed it on your main computer, and your Pocket PC. (Pocket PC must be running Windows) When configuring Remote Amp, make sure you select it to work with iTunes, not WinAmp. Start the scan of your computer for music.

4. You've configured your Airport Express to connect to your network. (this is were the WPA security protocol comes in handy).

5. You have the Airport Express connected to your home stereo! (or several, if you want to listen to the SAME music throughout your home... I LOVE this part of it..)

I like using playlists and accessing those through the Remote Amp software running on your Pocket PC-- it just makes things easier. You can make playlists on your main computer, and then they show up on your Pocket PC, or you can create them on the Pocket PC, and they then show up on your main computer.

Enjoy!!!!

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Remote_itunes

Lee is an overall technology freak and loves home automation and cool toys in general.   Music rocks his house from room to room, and even outside,... more »

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