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Use Your iPhone to Control Almost Anything

by Terrence O'Brien on July 23, 2009 at 07:35 AM

You may not realize it, but your iPhone is even more powerful than you think. Sure it can place calls, browse the Web, and even play 3-D games, but did you know you can use it to control almost any other gadget in your house? Seriously.

Silicon Alley Insider has compiled a list of 15 things you can control with your iPhone. If you have a TiVo, AT&T, or DirecTV DVR for your television, guess what? Control it with an iPhone app. There are home automation apps for your thermostat and lights, and any computer is at your command with Remote Desktop Protocol or VNC (Virtual Network Computing) on the iPhone. And, of course, there are the countless media players and media centers -- iTunes, AppleTV, XBMC, Boxee, SongBird, VLC -- all controllable on your iPhone.

Hit that read link below to find out the rest, but before you do, check out a couple we dug up that you won't find over at Silicon Alley Insider:
  • Cubase iC: Lets you control your Cubase recording software from your iPhone or iPod touch.
  • SkyVoyager: A planetarium program with a database of hundreds on thousands of stars, comets, nebulae, etc. But more impressively it can also control some telescope models via WiFi.
  • iLauncher: Control the ever popular USB Missile Launcher from your iPhone.
  • PhotoKeys: Puts the Photoshop toolbar on your iPhone, saving precious screen real estate on your computer for the actual image.
  • Remote Control for MLB 2K9: Control the PC version of 'MLB 2K9' from you iPhone. 'nuff said.
[From: Silicon Alley Insider, Via: StreetLevel.com]

Banned iPhone Apps

    When Apple first introduced its App Store, we knew that it would only be a matter of time until the small number of amateur designers and budding entrepreneurs who submitted their apps would soon grow to be a free-for-all of humanity. Indeed, we were right, and Apple has -- at times -- made decisions to cut apps from their roster. Here are a few of the most notorious outlaws.

    'Wallpaper Universe'
    This benignly named app was, in fact, a way for users to decorate their home screens with images of nude women. Within mere hours of its being uploaded this past November, Apple had taken it down.

    'South Park'
    The official iPhone app of the hit TV show "South Park" was struck down by Apple this week, due to "potentially offensive" content. You'd think that, with all those episodes of "South Park" available on iTunes, the Apple folks would lighten up a bit. Or at least be consistent.

    'Murderdrome'
    A synthesis of graphic novel and iPhone app, 'Murderdrome' was banned from Apple's App Store due to -- we would gather -- scenes of extreme violence. Sure, seeing one cartoon character behead another might make somebody queasy, but this is America, ain't it?

    'Wobble!'
    Designed to enable users to take their own photos of scantily clad women and make their naughty parts "wobble," this app was -- surprisingly enough -- not censored by Apple. Its advertisement video, on the other hand, was banned due to its use of the words "boobs" and "booty." Go figure.

    'Pull My Finger'
    Apple banned this straightforwardly named app last year, citing its "limited utility." In December, though, 'Pull My Finger' made its triumphant return as the Apple arbiters changed their minds. We're glad that Apple finally accepted the timeless truth: nothing -- and we mean nothing -- is funnier than a fart joke.

    - Lee Bains

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