I work with many people who give PowerPoint presentations. And no matter how experienced they are, invariably a few of them forget to bring (or don’t own) a remote control for advancing their PowerPoint slides. As such, whenever I’m working with clients I always take extra remotes with me and usually end up giving them away. I go through remotes faster than infants outgrow clothes.
I was recently on my latest search for the newest, highest quality and best priced PowerPoint remote. 
You can imagine how delighted I was to learn that there’s an app for that. It’s called the i-Clickr PowerPoint Remote, and it’s available for use on the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad (Apple iOS 3.1 or later), Android, Windows Mobile 6, and Windows Phone 7.
While I haven’t tried the app yet, the features and possibilities seem beneficial for busy presenters. For example, from your Smart Phone, you can have complete control of your PowerPoint presentation, including animations. You can navigate through your slides with finger swipes and taps, track your presentation time with an onboard clock, and even set a presentation alarm so that your Smart Phone will alert you with a silent buzz before your time runs out.
To use the app, though, you need a WiFi connection to your host PC or MAC. So if the venue you’re presenting in doesn’t have WiFi, the remote won’t work (meaning you can’t rely on this app as your only remote option). Therefore, you’ll want to make sure to have a Plan B.
Realize, too, that looking down at your screen can keep you from looking at your audience, so it will take some practice to get used to this sort of remote so you don’t sacrifice your delivery skills. Additionally, holding a bulkier tool like a phone instead of a more streamline remote unit will limit your use of gestures.
Still, for a one-time download fee of $9.99, this app could definitely come in handy when you’re getting ready for a presentation and realize you forgot to pack a remote.
If anyone has tried this app, I’d love to hear your feedback on how it worked for you.
March 21st, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Your advice about having a Plan B should be taken to heart by anyone using such technology. I don’t use PowerPoint but use Apple’s Keynote and a couple of years ago purchased the remote app for Keynote for my iPhone. During one presentation something happened and it stopped functioning thus the slides stopped advancing in the middle of my presentation. I made some humorous remark about the technology and continued on my merry way with the presentation.
March 22nd, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Thanks, Doug. Always good to have a Plan B. Thanks for your comment.
March 23rd, 2011 at 7:40 am
Interesting ap. I would consider keeping this as my plan B or even plan C, but not my primary. I prefer the Interlink RemotePoint Navigator as my plan A. It is simple to operate with only 4 buttons - forward, reverse, blackout, and pointer.
As long as I remember to bring it and the batteries work, it is fool proof. Well there is always the issue of the fool forgetting to check the batteries and also forgetting to have a spare set…
I could see forgetting my remote and asking “Is there an I-phone in the house?”
March 24th, 2011 at 7:55 am
Thanks, Ethan. I’ll look into the Interlink RemotePoint Navigator. Always in need of new tools to use and recommend.
March 26th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
I don’t have a smartphone, Angela.
I can’t imagine it being as good as theKeystone Presentation Remote Pro I purchased.
In addition to having a infrared button to use as a pointer and a long range, the feature I like and most don’t have, is the “B Button.”
The “B Button” blanks the screen. This immediately takes the audience’s attention off the screen on onto the presenter - where it should be!