iPod and iTunes Hacks

Turn Your iPod into a Universal Remote Control

Use a Pocket PC to record the “sounds” an infrared remote makes, transfer them to your iPod, and start changing channels with your new universal remote control.

We’re going to take an iPod and turn it into a universal infrared (IR) remote control, which can be used to control all your home electronic equipment, or just about anything that uses a remote control. For example, in my home, my iPod controls my TV, DVD player, Direct TV, Ultimate TV PVR, Media Center PC, Xbox, XM Satellite Radio, Roomba, and a few other random things, such as a robot. Figure 1-14 shows a variety of remotes your iPod can replace.

To do this, we are going to “record” the “sounds” an infrared remote makes on a PC and then put them on an iPod as songs. Adding a special sound-to-IR converter then turns those sounds back to IR and allows you to use your iPod as a remote control. As an added bonus, it works from up to 100 feet away. It’s a slick all-in-one unit, and you’ll never go back to using multiple remotes again.

Here’s what you’ll need for this hack:

• An iPod (doesn’t matter which one)

• A Mac or PC with sound recording software

• A Pocket PC (any Pocket PC 2002/2003 should work)

• Griffin’s Total Remote software and IR device (http://www.griffintechnology.com/griffinmobile/totalremote/; $24.99)

Figure 1-14. One iPod to control a collection of remotes

Getting the IR Signal ...