Turn Your iPhone or iPod Touch into a Remote Control for Your PC

What You’ll Need:

• Windows, Mac, or Linux host computer. (Are steps below are shown in Windows 7)
• HippoVNC server software installed on your host computer. (Linux users can use included VNC server software)
• HippoRemote Lite app installed from the App Store.
• A WiFi router.

HippoVNC Server Install

Download the HippoVNC Server file. The link can be found at the end of the article.

Open the file and select Run

Choose a folder to which you’d like to extract the file.

Run the WinVNC.exe file.

If prompted by your firewall application, choose to allow access to HippoVNC.

In the Settings window, type in a password under Authentication and select OK.

Next, if you don’t have iTunes installed on your PC, you’ll need to obtain the IP Address of your host machine. There are plenty of ways to go about this, but the easiest is to hover you mouse over the HippoRemote Lite icon in the System Tray.

Note: If iTunes is installed on the host computer, HippoRemote can automatically detect your computer, so you won’t need to enter the IP address

Running HippoVNC as a Service

If you’d like HippoVNC to run every time you start your PC, you can run it as a service. (Otherwise you’ll need to start it manually each time you want to use it.) To run HippoVNC as a service, right click on the System Tray icon and select Install Service.

Next, you’ll need to connect your iPhone or iPod Touch to your WiFi network. Once you are connected, open the HippoRemote Lite App and select Add Connection.

Type in the IP Address for host and the password you entered earlier on the HippoVNC Settings window. Tap Done when finished.

You should now see your computer’s IP address appear under Saved Connections. Select it to connect to your PC.

You’ll be greeted by the HippoRemote Settings screen where can can make certain adjustments such as tracking and scrolling speed. Some options, such as setting macros, are only available in the full (commercial) version of HippoRemote. Tap the Trackpad button at the top left to switch to the trackpad.

Now you’re ready to control your computer. To move the cursor on the computer screen, flick or drag your finger across the trackpad.

The buttons at the top act as right and left mouse buttons. Simply tap them for right and left mouse clicks.

Select the Keyboard button to switch to bring up the onscreen keyboard mode enter text

The Split Screen button will give you both the keyboard and trackpad at the same time.

Conclusion

HippoRemote Lite is a slick and easy way to control your PC from your iPhone or iPod Touch. If you are interested in some of extra features available in the commercial version of HippoRemote, check out our review of HippoRemote Pro 2.2.

Download HippoVNC

HippoRemote Lite