Regular Rate & Rhythm

Claudiu Ursache has a nice blog post detailing the command sequence to combine a set of multi-architecture (‘fat’) static libraries into a single static library.  I needed to follow this technique for a recent project… and of course preferred to invest more time on the front-side to develop a small tool to automate the process.

This bash script combines all of the .a libraries in a given directory into a single library.  It is hardcoded to use the i386, armv7, and armv7s architectures; this can easily be changed at the top, or it may be left as an exercise for the reader to determine the common set of architectures amongst the files.  The script takes a single argument, which is the name of the final, combined library to be created.

Another useful script I wrote while working on the same project is a convenient way to combine .a libraries compiled separately into fat binaries.  For example, it’s difficult to convince Xcode to build for both i386 (iOS Simulator) and arm (iOS Device) simultaneously.  Building each separately, then running this script, produces fat (universal) binaries.

We're proud to announce that Rowmote and Rowmote Pro 3.6 were approved today.  Along with support for a few great new applications, including Rdio and Ecoute, the new version sports a redesign of the Applications menu.  Display, computer-wide, and application-specific commands are split out into easy-access popup menus from simple buttons.  The applications list now shows only installed applications on the connected Mac (rather than showing every application that Rowmote knows about, even if each is not installed, as was done previously).  Icons are pulled from the Mac, too, so that the list can be quickly scanned by image rather than just name.

Learn more about Rowmote and Rowmote Pro on their application page.

We're very proud to announce the release of Rowmote Pro 3.4.  This is a feature release with some very cool improvements to our Mac and Apple TV remote control.

An intelligent 'Pause on Call' function for the iPhone now lets Rowmote pause your Mac's movie or music when you answer a phone call while Rowmote is running.

The iPhone or iPod Touch screen can be turned off automatically when it is face down through the use of the proximity sensor - perfect for conserving battery.

Those devices also sport a Mute button on the main remote, and all iOS devices can control your Mac's volume through the hardware volume buttons on the side. Intuitive audio control without cluttering the interface.

By popular demand, the iPad now has a full-screen multitouch trackpad and much better trackpad+keyboard handling when holding the iPad in landscape orientation.

Please update via the App Store.  You'll automatically be prompted to update Rowmote Helper when you connect with the new version; the Sparkle automated installation process will do the rest.

We're very proud to announce that Rowmote and Rowmote Pro can now control the 2nd generation Apple TV!  This marks the first time that an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad can control all original and third-party software available for the jailbroken Apple TV.  The wireless keyboard of Rowmote Pro works flawlessly, too!

Installation instructions are available here. I look forward to any feedback.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Orleans, LA - Regular Rate and Rhythm Software has announced Rowmote Pro 3.2 for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, a major update to their complete remote control solution for Mac OS X and Apple TV. Rowmote Pro emulates the Apple hardware remote control, providing application-specific controls through a consistent interface, while featuring a multitouch trackpad and keyboard.

New in the version 3.2 release, its trackpad sports true multitouch, with one, two, three, and four finger gestures - positioning it as a competitor to Apple's own Magic Trackpad for Mac users who own an iOS device, at just one-fourtheenth the cost. The Rowmote Pro keyboard continues to handle anything the device itself can - including accented characters and international layouts.

Rowmote Pro controls thirty popular applications, from music applications like iTunes and PandoraBoy to video players such as DVD Player, Hulu Desktop, Plex, and Front Row, to presentation tools such as Microsoft Powerpoint and Apple Keynote, precisely as the Apple hardware remote would. Its consistent, attractive interface makes it easy to manage a media center computer or a presentation. On the iPad, the central Gesture Pad provides intuitive no-look control via taps and swipes as well as access to the trackpad.

Rowmote Pro evolved from Rowmote for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, which offers the same features except without keyboard and mouse support. An in-app upgrade path is available for Rowmote users who wish to add the Pro version's capabilities.

Device Requirements:
- iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad with iOS version 3.0 or later.
- Three and four finger gestures require iOS 3.2 or later.
- The free Rowmote Helper software must be running on the Mac or Apple TV.

Pricing and Availability:
Rowmote Pro 3.2 is $4.99 (USD) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Utilities category.

I've been trying hard to get back into shape; part of my plan includes running. My exercise room features a treadmill, a wall-mounted TV, and an AppleTV.  The iPod Touch comes with me and, via Rowmote, controls the AppleTV.  I find it much easier to run while catching up on TV.

If I want to watch episodes for shows I have on my Mac, I need to convert them to the AppleTV movie format (MPEG-4) first so that iTunes will happily sync them to the aTV.  Handbrake is a great, open source, free tool to perform that conversion, but its queueing system - for batch conversion of multiple files - is very cumbersome.  Fortunately, the command line interface (CLI) version of Handbrake can do the job with just a touch of magic.

To convert a folder of movie files to the AppleTV format:

1. Download the HandbrakeCLI tool.  I installed it to ~/bin but anywhere on your path will do.

2. Load Terminal and cd to the folder with your movie files.

3. Run the following one-line command:

for f in *; do HandBrakeCLI -i "$f" -o "~/Desktop/$f.mp4" --preset="AppleTV"; done

Rowmote and Rowmote Pro 3.1 on the iPad introduce an exciting new feature, the Gesture Pad.  Found in the center of the remote control screen, the Gesture Pad lets you control the computer using, as the name implies, gestures.  This is a new level of no-look control over your Mac or Apple TV.

Flick your finger down to move down in a menu; hold it to scroll.  Flick right to move forward a track, or hold it to the right to fast forward.  A single tap is Play/Pause (or Select), while a two-finger tap is Menu (or Back).

In Rowmote Pro, the Gesture Pad can also be toggled to a standard trackpad by touching the mouse cursor icon in the corner; for the first time in Rowmote, your one-touch media controls, multitouch trackpad, and keyboard can all be easily managed on the same screen.

I hope you enjoy the new feature as much as I do :)

Note: Rowmote Pro 3.1 was approved today and displays as '3.0.8' in some of the iTunes and App Store screens; Rowmote 3.1 should follow shortly, as it's in review with Apple. You'll need to update to Rowmote Helper 3.1 – for which you'll be prompted automatically – to use the new features.