Control Ipod from Computer?

[SpedInFargo]

I'm curious if there has been any programs written that will interface witn an Ipod from a computer interface.

What I'm talking about is the ability to have the Ipod be connected to a computer and control its volume, track selection, pause/play, what's playing, etc. so that you can still listen to it through the Ipods headphone jack.

The folks at Red Chair did this for their Zen Xtra program (Notmad) but it's not in Anapod.

I'm thinking that it could theoretically be done, but maybe the computer would have to hook through the remote jack instead of the cradle interface. Not sure why this would be useful or anything, but I was just thinking about it for some reason...

Any thoughts?

Sped

[Cantello]

Originally posted by SpedInFargo
I'm curious if there has been any programs written that will interface witn an Ipod from a computer interface.

One possibility would be PodPlayer (http://www.ipodsoft.com/podplayer.aspx).

edit: Sorry, misread the post. PodPlayer only plays back via the computer's speakers, not the iPod's.

[EvilDude]

Through the serial port it is possible. Work has been done to get information from it, send info etc. But there are problems:

When pluged into the computer you can't listen to music coz it's in disk mode.

Plugging it only through serial requries you to make your own connection.

And once that connection is made, you'd likely need linux to actually be able to customize commands to send to the iPod.

I'd rather have the option of controlling iTunes from the iPod when it's plugged in ;)

[thabenksta]

I've been trying to find the same thing for quite a while. I think this would require extra hardware. I'm pretty sure that there are remote control pins on the dock connector, so technically you should be able to create a device that recieves commands through USB.

This really wouldn't be cost effective and probably wouldn't do everything you wanted. It seems like a simple thing, but I just don't think it's going to happen.

[MOCKBA]

I have an idea. You can buy a toy robot controlled from PC. Just put iPod remote in a robot's arm and program robot's fingers movement. It should be very cool!