Sunday, June 29, 2008 -- 3:51 p.m. -- at my desk

I mentioned earlier that there may or may not be a new application that is a remote control for iTunes coming to the iPhone.

Now we know that it's true. I've gotten all sorts of confirmation from folks who have sent along information from the builds of iTunes 7.7, including a screen shot. Click on it to see it a little bigger.

It's called Remote, and here's what the documentation says:

Use iTunes 7.7 to sync music, video, and more with iPhone 3G, and download applications from the iTunes Store exclusively designed for iPhone and iPod touch with software version 2.0 or later. Also use the new Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch to control iTunes playback from anywhere in your home -- a free download from the App Store.

I wrote a lengthy entry about what the remote control app could really mean in the long run, and I recommend taking a look at it. But knowing that it's really coming and that it's free is really good news at a time when we have so little news to go on (i.e. AT&T's silence, what time can we start lining up at Apple stores, etc.).

But you know what I think is coolest of all? If you have any sort of scenario where iTunes powers your home music collection, you now have the coolest looking remote control on the planet to control it -- think of when company comes over and your iPhone is on the coffee table and you push a button to change the song. The coolest Harmony remotes from Logitech, although still very cool, now just got a real contender with Apple's new offering.

And like anything else from Apple, expect Remote to be simple, elegant and just work.

So it will be interesting to see how it all works out.

Leave your comments in the comment section, of course, and let's talk about it.

Thanks for calling.

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Scott - will I be able to control my Apple TV with it?

The iPhone is starting to look more and more like that Letterman bit! (which was amazing that they produced that on the same day the iPhone came out. . .)

SCOTT'S REPLY: True, true! As far as Apple TV, you know, I don't know, but I'd be shocked if you couldn't. It's made for just that type of thing, it seems.

This is really cool. I have an Airport Express, so it'll be nice to actually control the songs remotely (although it would be even nicer if I could also play the songs directly from my iPhone to my stereo).

I'm happy with this little development (even though it's not copy-and-paste...what gives, Steve?).

SCOTT's REPLY: Well, we need to take these little steps and run with them!! Sometimes, it takes a while between said steps.

Hey Scott:

I want to know if I must have Airport Express to be able to use my iPhone as a remote or will it work just as I have it now with iTunes on my computer and hooked up to a speaker system?

Jeff

SCOTT'S REPLY: Well, Jeff, I haven't seen actual documentation on features yet, but I believe it also controls iTunes in general -- at least from what I've heard thus far. Hopefully, I'll know specifics soon.

Scott,

WRT the AppleTV, I would say yes, for one strange feature added to the Take2 release, AirTunes. AirTunes is the key to playing and controling an iTunes library remotely. It will most likely brodcast itself as a AirTunes client that you can connect to via the phone. This totally makes the addition of AirTunes to AppleTV a stroke of genious!

SCOTT'S REPLY: I agree, totally. What a fantastic way to control an Apple TV ... now I just need a flat screen and an Apple TV and I'm all good to go!!

iPhone...iTunes...AirTunes...TV...Remote...aaahhh, i think i'm almost on cloud 9 already. Maybe at about level 7. :-)

SCOTT'S REPLY: LOL.

Hey did you ever find out about what it is going to cost per month for the new iphone here in the states? Also--is there a contract minimum of one year or two years?

Thanks.

SCOTT'S REPLY: That's the million dollar question, kat. AT&T says they may have the info this week. It's definitely going to be a 2-year contract, though.

Hey, Scott, did you notice the lower-case "t" on iPod touch? I would question the source of the screen shot, though I have faith the remote control concept is real. Just seems like Apple would probably not let any interface changes go out with product names misspelled or not capitalized properly...

SCOTT'S REPLY: Good eye, Judie, however, that is 100 percent correct. Apple doesn't capitalize the first letter of the name. iPod nano, iPod touch, etc.

Check it out on Apple's main product page at http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/

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