I admit this is extremely lazy, especially seeing as I already have a Bluetooth mouse, but that doesn't mean it didn't bring a smile to my face when it worked!

Android devices can be used as remote control devices for the free VLC Media Player application on both Windows and MacOS. In this post I am using a Mac Mini running Snow Leopard and VLC Media Player 1.0.5 ....and an HTC Legend.

Configure the Firewall

If your Mac's firewall is enabled, you will need to allow the VLC application to accept incoming requests - this is configured within the Security System Preferences:

Configure VLC Media Player

Within VLC Media Player on the Mac, select the option to add a Web Interface:

Now launch the VLC Preferences pane and select the option to view All Preferences. Scroll to Interface -> HTTP and enter in the IP address of the Mac's wireless adapter:

Configure the Wireless Router

If your wireless access point is configured to only allow specific MAC addresses, you will need to locate the MAC address of your Android device and add it to your access point. The MAC address, on the HTC Legend at any rate, is located under Settings --> About Phone --> Hardware Information:

Add this address to your wireless router:

Configure the Android device

The VLC Remote application is free to download from the Android Market.

Ensure that the Android device is connected to the same wireless network as the Mac and is assigned an IP address on the same local network (or on a network that can route to the destination network). NOTE - the destination machine to be controlled does not itself necessarily need to be connected to the network wirelessly, provided that it is on the same network as the wireless access point.

Launch the VLC Remote application on the Android device and select Settings. Add a new VLC Server and enter in the IP address of the Mac to be controlled:

You will now be connected to your Mac's VLC Media Player and be able to stop, pause and play media files as well as access any Playlists configured:

NOTE - to locate the IP address of the target machine, on that machine open the Network System Preferences and open the Advanced properties of the network adapter: