Updated Jul 16, 2007 by jnj
Labels:	Featured, Phase-Implementation

CreatingApplications

How to add functionality to iPhone Remote with 'tapps'

Introduction

Adding functionality to iPhone Remote is simple, there are two approaches, basic web pages and custom servers.

Both of these are still very much in flux, advice and suggestions are welcome!

Make sure to let us know about .tapps you've made -- we'll add them to the telekinesis-tapps project.

Basic Web Page

Since access to pages will be restricted to the current user and the communications encrypted, you can feel free to blatantly disregard any normal security concerns in web pages. That's the whole point. :)

Create a simple web page in html/php, etc and install it in

~/Library/Application Support/iPhone Remote/Apps/<App Name>.tapp

Changed: The .tapp extension is required for an app to be recognized. This is eventually intended to make installing them easier.
Give it a custom icon. (Get the template. It's there, just white)

.../Apps/<App Name>.tapp/<App Name>.png

Custom Servers

For more advanced apps, you may want to provide web content directly. iPhone Remote is able to launch another program and proxy traffic to its port. An Info.plist inside the tapp defines this behavior:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
	<key>proxyPort</key>
	<integer>8022</integer>
	<key>startTask</key>
	<dict>
		<key>arguments</key>
		<array>
			<string>-c</string>
			<string>/bin/sh</string>
		</array>
		<key>path</key>
		<string>./WebShell-0.2.2/ajaxterm.py</string>
	</dict>
</dict>
</plist>

This task is run the first time the application is clicked after the server starts. A "stopTask" key with the same structure will be used to shut down the server. If none is specified, the original task will just be terminated.

Built in functionality

The iPhone Remote server supports some basic functionality that may be useful in any application:

Running Applescripts: /t/runscript?path=<relative path>&app=<App Name>

Optional arguments: &handler=<handler_name>&argument=<argument1>&argument=<argument2>....

Screen capture: /t/grabscreen
Move click: /t/click?x=100&y=100
Move mouse: /t/mousemove?x=100&y=100
File Icons: /t/icon?path=<Absolute path>

Comment by jimmi...@bientinhxanh.com, Jul 13, 2007

test

Comment by lundystorm, Jul 28, 2007

There is now an iBank application for iPhone Remote. It allows you to enter transactions for your accounts while you are on the go, http://web.mac.com/dwk/iWeb/pulletsforever/iBank.html

Comment by jtjdt2k, Jul 28, 2007

Any way to make the remote control keynote presentations?

Comment by Neil.Here, Aug 06, 2007

If you want to control Keynote, use my Uniremote.tapp

Comment by mgarci...@miners.utep.edu, Aug 20, 2007

Anyway to get this working with skype?

Comment by jevaun, Sep 16, 2007

What i REALLY want is a slick way to have this control the appleTV

Comment by jevaun, Sep 16, 2007

What i REALLY want is a slick way to have this control the appleTV

Comment by RaymondTKelly, Sep 20, 2007

Can this work on the iPod Touch as well as the iPhone?

Comment by RaymondTKelly, Sep 20, 2007

Does this work on the iPod Touch as well as the iPhone

Comment by RaymondTKelly, Sep 20, 2007

Does this work on the iPod Touch as well as the iPhone

Comment by peterjwright, Sep 20, 2007

yes, it works on the ipod touch

Comment by rogerhcolwell, Oct 02, 2007

Is it possible to do a search/find on an Excel spreadsheet?

Comment by chaseholden, Oct 31, 2007

1) I would do anything for a Front Row remote controller !!!

--especially now that Front Row comes for all Macs with Leopard now! Yay!

2) How can I have it work non-securely (https>http) & with saved password or none at all !?!??

Comment by dontbee...@image31.com, Nov 12, 2007

http://www.img31.com/iPhone with Front Row and EyeTV support :)

Comment by p...@abitbol.org, Nov 21, 2007

http://www.img31.com/iPhone I don't understand what to download or even if it's a .tapp :-/

Comment by alex.sohoproductions, Dec 15, 2007

is there an easy way to create an app?

does it require programming skills?

does it require html/CSS programming skills?

does it require Apple Script skills?

please reply soon!

thanks!

Comment by anahon3566, Dec 15, 2007

can someone who knows how, create a way to use the iphone as a track pad and use cover flow on the iPhone to fiew your computers files?

also

I hope that the creators of iPhone Remote will create a "native application" for the iPhone when Apple releases the availability to create a "native application" for the iPhone, sometime in 2008.

Comment by volker.kress, Jan 13, 2008

did someone an app for centerstage?

Comment by dotpage, Jan 18, 2008

can this be ran as a service, thus giving me access to the camera even with the display in energy save mode(iMac) and can it awake my computer from sleep?

Comment by macravin, Jan 28, 2008

tapp template does't exist anymore

Comment by namjam105, Feb 07, 2008

Add Source installer : http://iphonebaidu.com/app/ Test iPhone - iPhone Simulator : http://iphonebaidu.com/test/ All Software for Apple MAC : http://iphonebaidu.com/mac-iphone/ All Software for Apple iPhone : http://iphonebaidu.com/mac-iphone/iphone.html

Install iTransformy (.swf) view for iPhone : http://iphonebaidu.com/beta/ Forum iPhone : http://iphonebaidu.com/forum/

Comment by glennalexa, Apr 22, 2008

Can somebody please add Audio Capture to iPhone Remote functionality?

iPhone Remote should be able to see AND hear.

Comment by geoff430, Jun 22, 2008

hi, just wondering how i go about making a tapp that just runs a script in a designated folder with a designated name straight from the menu?

Comment by adam.wulf, Jul 01, 2008

I talked with JNJ, and I've begun development on this project (under a different name) at http://code.google.com/p/welcometoyourmac/

I've made some fairly significant changes to the PHP front-end, so thought it best to fork the project into a new one. Suggestions/Input/Help wanted. thanks!

Comment by james.qian, Aug 15, 2008

This is brilliant guys. Keep up the good work. Is there a web apps port coming up any time soon?

Comment by weighsm, Nov 30, 2008

could someone please post a wiki on how to build from source? A SSD (System Sequence Diagram) would also be usefull to those a little more technologically advanced people. It seems as though Apache Web Sever is involved and Apple Scripts are involved. Why can't I deploy/add something to my existing Apache/PHP sever and be ready to go. There is not much/enough developer documentation out on this to enspire exponentail growth. I would love to know more...Thanks.

Comment by ffink94, Jan 04, 2009

Would there be a way to make a tapp that would that could access the iphones microphone and use it with your mac's speakable items?

Comment by ffink94, Feb 14, 2009

Can someone post a how-to on how to make a tapp??

Comment by Krazykizza, Apr 05, 2009

This is great, but I would like to make a few suggestions

1. Add sound 2. improve FPS by lowering quality 3. clicking is tempremental - any workaround?

Comment by maildumpster, May 25, 2009

@ffink94,

Right click on the iPhone Remote (where you installed it) and choose "Show Package Contents". For the tapps used by iPhone Remote, look in Resouces -> www -> tapps.

As far as I can tell, there's no manual so good luck. I hope to create a few and will post them when done.