Feature Request: Use iCloud syncing for performing remote actions from iPhone instead of wifi network

[TimeDelta]

I just recently bought Alfred and the remote to go with it. First, I should say that I love the remote. It is a great idea but I've noticed two annoyances with it. First, there is a major limitation in that it can only be used if you're on the same WiFi network as your computer. It would be more useful to be able to run workflows, etc. from anywhere (e.g. using my cellular data connection to issue a command when I'm not home). Second, when I'm at home using it to control music or a movie or something, it's pretty annoying to have to wait 5-10 seconds for the remote to connect before I'm able to do anything, especially because i'm usually only doing one action each time it connects. The option to "prevent device from sleeping when the remote is connected" indirectly addresses this but leaving my display on constantly drains my phone battery very quickly. For the iPhone remote app (not sure if there's an Android version), both of these problems can be addressed by using the new option (as of Yosemite I believe) to sync app files between mobile and desktop via iCloud for a more integrated experience. This could be used to pass messages back and forth in a way that circumvents the need for a local network and the need to wait for a computer to respond before issuing a command (you could use an "update remote layout" button instead of automatically updating the remote each time it connects to a computer). I'm not sure how you would address this for an Android version of the remote though. Maybe by adding the option to use Google Drive or Dropbox or something to automatically push the messages between apps.

 

Please and thank you,

Bryan

[dfay]

Hmmm....in my experience Alfred Remote is much, much faster at connecting and syncing than everything iCloud.

[TimeDelta]

Perhaps an option to allow the remote to stay connected when the display is sleeping then to address the first issue that I mentioned.

[Andrew]

What kind of network configuration do you have? With my Apple Airport Extreme, Alfred Remote reconnects so quickly that you don't even know the reconnection is taking place when you launch the app - the icons are just there.

 

It could be Apple's Bonjour being slow on your network, have you tried configuring Alfred Remote to directly connect to your Mac's IP?

[scraps18]

"What kind of network configuration do you have? With my Apple Airport Extreme, Alfred Remote reconnects so quickly that you don't even know the reconnection is taking place when you launch the app - the icons are just there."

 

Second this!  I was shocked that the icons were so stable in my iPhone 5.  I have the 2TB Airport Extreme, and this router is a must-have (in my opinion).  Nothing else comes close.

 

That being said, I am having some issues with Alfred Remote and dictation, just lag mind you, but I'm trying to determine if it's my iPhone, my MacBook, my network, the dictation program (Apple Dictation), or my word processer (Scrivener).  But that's for another post I think.

[TimeDelta]

What kind of network configuration do you have? With my Apple Airport Extreme, Alfred Remote reconnects so quickly that you don't even know the reconnection is taking place when you launch the app - the icons are just there.

 

It could be Apple's Bonjour being slow on your network, have you tried configuring Alfred Remote to directly connect to your Mac's IP?

I just have an all-in-one router/modem. I've been playing with it some more and it seems like the first time I connect it takes 5-10 seconds and then if I lock my phone and unlock it again within a certain amount of time (I don't know exactly how long), it connects almost immediately but if I wait a while before opening the remote again it takes 5-10 seconds again. I'm not sure why this would be happening.

 

I'll try connecting straight to the IP address later on today to see if that makes a difference and post the result here.

 

Do you have any thoughts on the other annoyance (being able to run a command from anywhere with an internet connection)?

[Andrew]

Do you have any thoughts on the other annoyance (being able to run a command from anywhere with an internet connection)?

 

A number of users have setup port forwarding on their router and setting the direct IP address as their external IP address, this allows direct connection from outside your local network.

 

Your suggestion of using e.g iCloud Sync (and files) to run commands fundamentally couldn't work for a few reasons, one primary reason being that if your Mac goes to sleep, it may not run commands until the next time you wake it, which could be days later (iCloud isn't in real time).

[dfay]

Is port forwarding necessary? I set up a direct connection on my work machine without changing any router settings, and have been able to control it via Alfred Remote running over cellular data from my iPad, with wifi turned off.

[TimeDelta]

So I tried using the direct to ip connection with port forwarding via my router. Works perfectly now. Thanks!