Review of Logitech's Touch Mouse IPhone App

With the advent of so much online content, more and more users are viewing television shows and movies on the internet using their personal computer desktops and laptops. iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, and even television networks offer downloadable or stream-capable content for consumers to enjoy. And hardware companies have gotten in on this media revolution by providing connectors and cables for hooking computers up to high-definition televisions so that all this great online/downloaded content can be viewed on TV.

My family is no exception. We have forgone cable and satellite service and have chose instead to get all of our television needs satisfied by iTunes, Netflix, and the other services I mentioned before. A few simple connections and I was able to connect my Apple Macbook to my Vizio television. The one problem I had was that any time I needed to pause or rewind the video, I had to walk across the room (since my Macbook sits next to the TV when connected). Thanks to my iPod Touch and a nifty Logitech app, this problem was recently solved! Say hello to Touch Mouse.

Touch Mouse

Logitech's Touch Mouse is a free app for the iPhone and iPod Touch available now in the iTunes store. This is a simple app whose simple interface features a blank dark grey area with Left and Right buttons at the top. The app connects with your PC over your home's network via wifi and allows the user to control the PC's cursor from across the room. The user can move the cursor, right click, left click and even scroll all on the iPhone/iPod Touch. In this way it is possible to control video playback on the computer without leaving the sofa, just like a remote control or Bluetooth mouse.

How is it used?

First Touch Mouse must be installed on the iPhone/Touch that is to be used. As mentioned before it is a free download from the iTunes store. Before running the app on the device, an additional download must be made to the PC with which Touch Mouse is to be used. Download and install the Logitech Touch Mouse Server application from Logitech's website. Like the app itself, this is a free download.

Upon installation, run the application on your PC and it will automatically detect your computer's IP address and display it for you. Take note of this number (it will look like xxx.xx.x.x, or similar format) for it will be needed to sink the Touch Mouse app with the computer.

Now run the app on the iPhone/Touch and enter the IP address in the field that appears at the bottom of the screen. You will see the app working and it should detect the Touch Mouse Server app running from your computer and display the name of your PC in the "servers" list. Select the name of your PC.

Immediately you will be taking to the "mouse." Move your finger around on the empty space and you should see the cursor on the PC move likewise. To click a link, play/pause button, or other object, move your finger so that the cursor is position over the object and tap the iPhone/Touch screen. The cursor on the computer will select that item, just like using a real mouse! To scroll a web page place two fingers together on the iPhone/Touch screen and slide them downward or upward. The web page will scroll likewise just as if a mouse scroll wheel was being used. To view a contextual menu, select the Right button at the top of the Touch Mouse application and it will be just as if you right-clicked a mouse.

Why should I care?

With this great free app from Logitech it is now possible to control a PC from the comfort of your sofa or armchair. Even though the online content viewing experience has grown by leaps and bounds, it still lacks the convenience that a remote control provides. But with Touch Mouse this hurdle is easily overcome so that now any content, website, or application you wish to view on your PC (but you need to be far away from your computer to do so), can viewed, clicked, paused, played, turned up or turned down without having to be close to the PC itself.

The only downside I have found with Touch Mouse is that if the network is particularly overloaded, the responsiveness of Touch Mouse suffers. At times you may experience "jittery" or lagging behavior from the cursor in response to your commands. Also If, while you are viewing content, your iPhone/Touch goes into sleep mode, it may be necessary to re-select the PC from the servers list. This can be prevented by selecting the option to keep the device from sleeping from Touch Mouse's preferences.

This little app saved me the hassle of having to purchase a Bluetooth mouse (about $50 USD) and gave me all the remote access I need to enjoy online content on television via my Macbook. Give Touch Mouse a try and let me know what you think. Good luck!