iPad remote control for Keynote?

Hi Bill,

I read your post and I'm searching for exactly the same thing.
Did you find a way to control your iPad presentation with an iPhone?
If so, please, could you tell me how to do that?

Many thanks,
Alberto

I'd also like this for events that we do

Hi,
I bought iPhone's Keynote Remote and use it effortlessly with my iPad too. It still requires that I hook up a laptop that runs Keynote to the projector, but I control it from the iPad. Adjust the view to x2 mode so that all is clearly visible (unlike trying to read an iPhone screen). Also, I find it best to adjust Keynote Remote to portrait mode in order to see and then scroll through my presenter notes. Can't seem to do that in Landscape for some reason. Of course a WiFi connection is still required, but usually if I'm not sure if the event location provides WiFi I will take along an Airport Express. Not elegant, but effective.

isaacr wrote:

I bought iPhone's Keynote Remote and use it effortlessly with my iPad too. It still requires that I hook up a laptop that runs Keynote to the projector, but I control it from the iPad.

I think people in this thread are looking for a way to remote-control the Keynote app for the iPad. To my knowledge, there's still no way to do that.

I think a better solution to using a remote wireless or bluetooth "clicker" for Keynote on iPad, would be a wireless VGA transmitter/receiver. The transmitter on the iPad and receiver in the VGA port of the projector.

The iPad could then be carried around the room and you would have the controls at your fingertips.

There probably is already a device out there that will do this for conventional laptop presentations because, in some venues, it is impractical to run a long VGA cord from the projector to the podium.

"The Keynote solution on the iPad was meant as a (very) basic option for basic presentations from the iPad, not a full blown replacement for a Macbook. You're making a mistake if you thought that getting an iPad would be a way to save money on a Macbook. This is a different beast. In my opinion, Apple's only mistake was giving the apps names like "Keynote" instead of "Keynote Express" or "Keynote Lite" because it just gets everyone's mouths watering as if it's the same thing as on the desktop computer. But the users are making mistakes if they think this is a desktop computer."

I do not think we are asking too much of apple to allow up to connect our iPhone to iPad and control Keynote. If you don't expect that then you have too low expectations. We should expect the most from our companies! You sound like a passive consumer that just takes what he gets. Get proactive!

What about the future of the iPad? Isn't there hope to turn Keynote for iPad into full-blown Keynote? Have you ever gone to a conference and given a presentation? I'd like to see you carry your MacBook on stage, connect it and set it up.

I use my iPad on the road for slide presentations in theaters and offices. It works great, hooks up by VGA connector and projects beautifully / plays great on a flatscreen.

Here's the problem I have. When I'm in some older theaters, there is no A/V hookup or cable long enough for me to run my presentation from the front of the room. I'm either relegated to not doing the presentation or doing it from the projection booth (where the iPad is connected on a short cable). But that leaves me stuck in the booth, where I can't be heard.

I was excited to download the Keynote remote for my iPhone, but it doesn't work for iPad. Any ideas when there might be an update to Keynote to allow linking to iPad (or are there 3rd party apps out there that do this?).

I've been a PC user all my life. I have recently converted to Mac because of the iPad.

I use Keynote on my iPad for presentations regularly now.

I came upon this forum looking for an answer to exactly this issue. Here is what I have learned:

The legendary Mac user arrogance abounds around here. Oddly it seems to be manifest in Mac user/ iPad haters. So here's a suggestion. If you don't like the iPad, don't read or post in the iPad forum. Running down iPad users by claiming "we" don't understand the iPad or are expecting too much from it or that we are just trying to avoid buying a MacBook is only showing off your own ignorance. It is rich that MacBook acolytes have become dinosaurs.

I used to use a PC for my PowerPoint presentations because MacBooks are crap for this same purpose. On a full function computer PowerPoint kills keynote. Worse is the ubiquitous "Mac choke" that everyone dreads at big meetings. On a whole slate of presenters, there is always the Mac user that insists on using their own computer. As they approach the podium the audience holds their breath for the inevitable "why can't I get this working / it worked fine in the speaker prep room" delay.

This is not the case with the iPad. With the VGA dongle, the iPad is a compact, portable, flawless plug and play system for giving presentations. It ALWAYS works. I have never had a problem. Isn't that what Apple is all about?

Yes, Keynote on the iPad is a not a full feature version. While you guys fuss about what to call the app, I keep using it to give talks at international venues with large audiences. It works just fine. There are ways of getting around the limited functionality on the iPad. Many features that cannot be used in design on the iPad still work if the presentation is designed on a Mac and transferred to the iPad.

The single biggest challenge I face is the need for a remote clicker. I too like to walk around and have my hands free. I don't blame Apple for this. This is a simple innovation challenge. Some third party is going to solve it soon. When they do, please folks post it here so I can buy one.

In the meantime you Mac user / iPad haters would be better to use your time watching for comets and let those of us that are embracing this technology and pushing it beyond it your weak imagination share our experiences and needs.

* submitted from my iPad.

Most of the shortcomings covered in this discussion do not seem to be fixed with the iPad 2. However this early review from TidBITS indicates that the need for charging while connected to external display has been addressed:
http://db.tidbits.com/article/12007
"Finally, and this accessory will likely make the iPad a popular presentation device, Apple announced the $39 Digital AV Adapter, which provides mirrored output in 1080p HD video. It works for all apps, making it possible to connect an iPad to a large video screen or HDMI-capable projector and demo anything you can show on the iPad screen. The Digital AV Adapter actually has two ports, one for HDMI and the other for a dock-connector, enabling you to charge the iPad while you’re presenting with it."

The answer is here, for musicians with their hands full
http://www.airturn.com/home/
they should diversify into presentation market

I found a solution that is slightly cumbersome but seems to work until a better solution comes along. There is an app called "Point" in the App Store that allows your iPhone to advance slides on your iPad via a Bluetooth connection. You have to save each slide as a jpeg image and then add to the photo gallery on the iPad. Through the app you build a presentation by selecting slide images from the photo gallery and then name it. You then use your iPhone to move forward, back, and to control presentation volume. This seems to be the best solution I have found so far that allows you to advance slides in your presentation using the iPhone.

Great idea, but it won't work for Keynote.

Hey Dave,
So you have the Apple Composite AV Cable. I don't know if you have an iPad2 or not, but on your iPad 1, can you display applications like Keynote or iPhoto on a standard definition TV with this Composite AV Cable? Can the iPad 2, with this cable, display everything that's on the iPad, onto a Standard Def TV?

Any input would be great! Thanks!

Yes, I have the new iPad 2. The composite cable will display Keynote on a SD Tv.

As for displaying everything from the iPad (mirroring the screen) no. You need to use either the VGA or HDMI cable to be able to do that...

To find a SD Tv with a VGA connection is a thing in the past. As for using an HDMI cable on a SD Tv, no such thing. There are box sold with many inputs and output for different types of cables and connections. For example, HDMI in composite out. You can search the Internet for this type of box. But, it will not be cheap.

As of the date of this post, you can control a presentation through Bluetooth for Keynote, PowerPoint, and PDFs on your iPad using your iPhone with 2Screens (and their iPhone remote). It's not as nice as Keynote, but it is handy for PDF documents.
The Apple Keynote remote app, which works nice on the iPhone, is wifi only. Yes, I could bring my MacBook Pro and set up an ad hoc network, and connect my iPad and iPhone to it, and remote control the iPad from the iPhone -- but then I might as well just use the MBP for the presentation.
The iPhone and iPad CAN communicate through Bluetooth, as the excellent PhotoSync app shows. [This app allows you to shoot pictures on your iPhone, and then transfer them by bluetooth to the iPad for editing.] The Apple Keynote Remote app simply does not do this, at this time.
With an iPad 2, there is full mirroring of the iPad on external displays. The VGA connector does not support power while connected, but the other connectors do. Perhaps a future VGA connector will support power as the latest HDMI connector does.
I can not find any Bluetooth hardware for advancing slides on an iPad, so far. I remain hopeful...