TuneConnect Controls ITunes Playback From Any Computer In Your Home
Mac OS X only: Free, open-source application TuneConnect controls iTunes playback on any computer in your house from any other computer through an attractive interface focused on album art.
In fact, as weblog MacApper points out, it’s easy to think of this as a desktop version of the Remote iPhone application. The app requires you to install a preference pane that acts as the server (you’d only need to install this on the computer(s) you wanted to control), meaning the download comes with both the preference pane and the main application—which you’ll use on any computer from which you want to control the server.
TuneConnect loads libraries from server computers quickly, and control is snappy. Best of all, the application is free and open source. Unfortunately it’s Mac only.
TuneConnect [via MacApper]
Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
great song
Alex Kahan
there's a beer for anyone who can write this for Windows/Linux.
How is this better than just sharing your library across the network?
Chris Fort
@Al Iguana:
Done. Its still a little rough, but it works :). [tr.im]
Ch Ase
@Chris Fort: Because sharing your library isn't the same thing as remotely controlling the playback on another machine.
blak111
@Ch Ase: Thank you man, it works PERFECTLY ^_^
@Chris Fort: For example, while surfing the web on your laptop, you could control the music playing on your home theater PC which is wired to your stereo.
SpriteMV
@Alex Kahan: AGREED: ANAL COLLECTIVE FTW
JenniferEscardadente
Check out Airfoil for Windows (http://rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/windows/). It works with any music source, not just iTunes.
AnnunziataHippolytus
I just use RDP or VNC for such things.
SamburgerHandwich
@tablespork: And yes I know I can use Remote Desktop (and I have in the past), but this is quite a bit more slim and attractive.
tablespork
I've been craving something like this. This way I can use my Powerbook (in my living room) to remotely control my iMac (downstairs) which holds my iTunes library, which streams back to my Airport Express in my living room.
It's too bad they couldn't just reverse-engineer the iPhone Remote app to work on a desktop (or Apple release one please!), so then I wouldn't have to install a preference pane.
tablespork
protip: this makes for a super attractive and easy to use alternative to the actual itunes interface on your local machine. just installed the server and launched the app and closed the itunes window on my mac. now i have all the playback functionality i need out of itunes with the bonus of album art displayed all the time without needing the huge itunes window or mostly useless small itunes zoomed window.
milsyobtaf
So, technically the title "Any Computer in Your Home" is incorrect. Some of use live in gloriously diversified communities, you know. :-)
ShyamariHill
I tried this and it's ok but i actually prefer a lighter app called ITRC -
[www.them.ws]
it doesn't show covers but does work with growl. and is much quicker.
Jedd Ehrmann
@AnnunziataHippolytus: I use Airfoil on all the macs in my house, and it works wonderfully. I love being able to have synchronized music playing throughout the house. Especially useful for parties. It comes in handy as an intercom using the built in mic, too.
Tariq Ismael
@soggy_cheerio: This is specifically in reference to a cross platform solution.
soggy_cheerio
Just a cursory examination reveals that iTunes is controllable from the command line. Natively using Applescript on OSX, and with the COM interface SDK on Windows.
Therefore, it's not impossible to assume that a solution to control iTunes remotely via the web or standalone application exists. If it doesn't exist, I'm sure I could whip something up if there's enough interest.
(And, yes, I do consider a proper solution to include the ability to browse through one's library. Such a feature only requires access to the iTunes database.)
soggy_cheerio
@JenniferEscardadente: +1
Unfortunately it's Mac only.""
Unfortunately huh?
bufftbone
@AnnunziataHippolytus: Is there a difference between using Airfoil to get audio to stream from 1 computer and output on serveral, versus using Nicecast to broadcast the audio from the source computer, then using iTunes to tune into it on the output computers?
BorisDer
Cheers on the Animal Collective kinda-plug!
cannibalpeas
Good song from their best Album. I like the pic :-)
mrosedal
@BorisDer: I think the concept behind Airfoil is that it syncs with it's source, which is more appropriate for parties. Nicecast is simply broadcasting through the IP, so you might have different delay on each computer you tune in with.